May 25, 2006
PRESS Release
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
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34TH PRELACY NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES ASSEMBLY CONVENES AT THE NEW PRELACY
BUILDING FOR THE FIRST TIME
WESTERN PRELACY NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES ASSEMBLY
HIGHLY PRAISED THE WORK OF THE PRELATE,
AND RELIGIOUS AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS
– REPRESENTATIVES CONGRATULATED THE PRELATE ON THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY
OF HIS ORDINATION AND HIS 10TH ANNIVERSARY AS PRELATE
– ELECTION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY DELEGATES, AND RELIGIOUS AND
EXECUTIVE COUNCILS
According to our Prelacy tradition, the National Representatives Assembly
(NRA) convenes on the third weekend of May.
In keeping with this tradition, the assembly took place from Friday, May 19,
to Saturday, May 20, at the `Dickran and Zarouhi Der Ghazarian’ Hall of the
new Prelacy building, under the auspices of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, and hosted by St. Sarkis Church, with the
participation of delegates, as well as representatives of the Board of
Regents, school principals, and parish Board of Trustees by invitation.
Also invited and in attendance were representatives from the newly
established parish communities of Riverside, La Crescenta, and Las Vegas.
The assembly was comprised of four sessions.
The first session opened on Friday, May 19, at 3:00 p.m. with prayer and
requiem service for the departed, specifically for Archbishop Ghevont
Chebeyan, and for the sponsors of the hall, Mr. & Mrs. Dickran & Zarouhi Der
Ghazarian.
Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian read the letter of blessing from H.H. Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, directed to the Prelate and the
representatives. The Catholicos, in his letter, commended the work of the
Prelate and delegates, which He witnessed first hand during His Pontifical
visit in October of last year, and wished them success for the future.
Afterward Mr. Khajag Dikijian, member of the Central Executive Council, made
remarks in which he commended the previous year’s works of the Prelate, and
the Religious and Executive Councils as evidenced in the annual reports
given to each representative.
Mr. Hrair Balian, Chairman of the Executive Council, briefly spoke of all
the endeavors undertaken by the Prelacy in the past year, highlighting the
Pontifical visit of His Holiness. He expressed thanks to the parishes and
Prelacy friends for contributing to these successes. He then thanked the
Prelate and fellow Executive Council members, wishing them all success.
Mr. Sarkis Tatuigian, Chairman of the St. Sarkis Board of Trustees,
expressed appreciation on behalf of the St. Sarkis Pastor and Board of
Trustees for entrusting them with the task of hosting the assembly.
Mr. Tatuigian subsequently invited the Prelate to deliver his remarks. The
Prelate began with welcoming remarks and by giving thanks to our Lord for
the successful completion of the previous year’s endeavors. He specifically
spoke of the Pontifical visit and the progress of the Prelacy building,
stressing that these successes are not the result of a few people but rather
due to the collaboration between all the parishes and Prelacy friends and
sponsors. The Prelate also gave special attention to the work being done by
the Christian Education Department and also of the addition of three new
parishes to the Prelacy family. He concluded by wishing success to the
assembly for the resolution of all the issues on the agenda, giving special
attention to issues regarding our schools and education, especially since
His Holiness has proclaimed 2006 to be the Year of the Armenian School.
Following the Prelate’s remarks the permanent divan was elected, consisting
of Chairmen Dr. Garo Agopian and Mr. Roubin Gourjian, and Secretaries Very
Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian and Mr. Hamo Kasbarian.
Elections then took place for the Resolutions and Election Committee.
Elected for the Resolutions Committee were Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian, Mr.
Haigaz Terterian, and Mr. Vartan Minassian, and for the Election Committee
Mr. Ara Jierian, Mr. Dajad Yeretsian, and Mr. Haroutioun Beshlian.
Before the end of the first session a representative from each parish Board
of Trustees, and also from the newly formed parishes, gave brief reports on
the activities of their respective church.
The second session opened at 6:30 p.m. of the same day.
Before getting back to the agenda, the Prelate reminded the attendees of the
lovely tradition of honoring a dedicated individual at every Representatives
Assembly. Prior honorees include Dr. Hagop Der Megerdichian and Brother
Krikor Misserlian. He announced that this year, the Executive Council has
decided to honor Chairman of the Prelacy Building Committee and Executive
Council member Mr. Vahan Bezdikian, who has devoted his time and efforts to
the building project even before he became a member of the Prelacy Executive
Council. Thus, the Prelate invited Mr. Hrair Balian so that they may
together present Mr. Bezdikian with the memento. Mr. Bezdikian expressed
sincere thanks on this occasion and graciously accepted the memento on
behalf of all the members of the Building Committee.
The Divan then invited Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian to say a few words. He
announced that this year’s assembly coincides with the 30th anniversary of
the Prelate’s ordination and his 10th anniversary as Prelate. He briefly
recounted the Prelate’s service over the past 30 years and expressed
congratulations and best wishes on behalf of all those present. He then
announced that on this occasion, Mr. Ghazaros Ghazarossian, a delegate from
Holy Martyrs Church, would like to present the Prelate with a ring.
Mr. Hrair Balian and Mr. Khajag Dikijian congratulated the Prelate and
expressed their best wishes, after which the Prelate articulated his sincere
thanks to all, but especially to Mr. Ghazarossian, and highly commended the
work of all the parishes and delegates, hoping that in this Year of the
Armenian School that we would be blessed with a new secondary school.
The assembly then returned to the agenda, with the presentation of the
Prelacy financial report, and the reports of the Auditing Committee, Board
of Regents, and CASPS (Committee for Armenian Students in Public Schools).
ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Taking into account that the General Assembly of the Catholicosate will take
place in October of this year, the assembly had on its agenda the election
of delegates to the General Assembly.
The representatives elected as delegates Mr.’s Khajag Dikijian, Hrair
Balian, Armand Keosian, Peklar Pilavjian, Dr. Hagop Der Megerdichian, Vahan
Bezdikian, Garbis Bezdjian, Boghos Sassounian, Hagop Yedalian, Garo Avakian,
Noubar Demirjian, Dr. Hagop Dickranian, Dr. Garo Agopian, Khatchig
Yeretsian, and Deacon Mark Shirin. The substitute delegates are Mr.’s
Krikor Sulahian, Sarkis Kitsinian, and Vartan Minassian.
The second session came to a close at 10:15 p.m.
ELECTION OF RELIGIOUS AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS
The second half of the National Representatives Assembly began on the
morning of Saturday, May 20, and concluded at 3:00 p.m.
Among the various items on the agenda was the by-laws of Prelacy schools.
The assembly decided that a special session would convene in four months to
further examine and analyze the by-laws.
Subsequently, the election of the Religious and Executive Councils took
place along with the election of the Auditing Committee.
The newly elected Religious Council consists of Very Rev. Fr. Muron
Aznikian, Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian, Rev.’s Vahan Gosdanian, Vazken
Atmajian, Ardak Demirjian, Razmig Khatchadourian, and Gomidas Torossian.
The newly elected Executive Council consists of Mr.’s Boghos Sassounian, Dr.
Hagop Der Megerdichian, Garbis Bezdjian, Vahan Bezdikian, Garo Avakian, Dr.
Garo Agopian, Dr. Navasart Kazazian, Nerses Melkonian, Vahe Hovaguimian,
Varoujan Der Simonian, and Mher Der Ohanessian.
Elected for the Auditing Committee were Mr.’s Roubin Gourjian, Garo Eshgian,
and Zareh Markarian.
On behalf of the Divan, Dr. Garo Agopian thanked the attendees for another
fruitful Representatives Assembly and wished the newly elected committee
success.
Closing remarks were made by the Prelate, who commended the activities of
the previous Religious and Executive Councils and wished success to the
newly elected councils and committees. He also thanked and commended
honorary Executive Council member Mr. Noubar Chorbajian for his many years
of service and support. Turning his attention to our schools, the Prelate
expressed hope that our parishes and schools will do their best to honor our
schools ceremoniously, especially being that His Holiness proclaimed 2006 to
be the Year of the Armenian School, and also expressed hope that we would be
blessed with a new secondary school in the near future. The Prelate also
hoped for a closer bond between our churches and schools and for more
emphasis to be placed on our youth groups.
The 34th National Representatives Assembly came to a close at 2:30 p.m. with
the Prelate’s `Bahbanich’ prayer and the collective singing of `Giligia’.