June 15, 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: prelacy@aol.com

Website:

HOLY MASS, ORDINATION OF ACOLYTES, AND THE GRANTING OF STOLES, ON THE
FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE LA CRESCENTA PARISH

SERVE THE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH WITH FAITH, AND BY RECEIVING THE
STOLES REPRESENTING THE YOKE OF JESUS

HUMBLE YOURSELVES IN FRONT OF GOD,

SO THAT HE MAY EXALT YOU

Declared the Prelate

One year ago, with the guidance of His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, and the support of the Religious and Executive
Councils, the Armenian faithful of the Crescenta Valley made their
dream of having their own parish community a reality.

On the afternoon of Sunday, June 11, 2006, and on the first anniversary
of the establishment of the Crescenta Valley parish, the Prelate
conducted Holy Mass at the parish church, assisted at the altar by
Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian and Rev. Fr.

Ardag Demirjian. They entered the church in a procession accompanied
by the "Hrashapar" hymn.

During the Mass and prior to the sermon, ordination of acolytes
took place and the granting of stoles to eight candidates who serve
the local parish, and also St. Mary’s Church of Glendale and Holy
Martyrs Church of Encino. Those granted the privilege of wearing
a stole were Dikran Der Sarkissian, Varouj Bedigian, Aram Bekarian,
Harout Odabashian, Setrak Karadolian, Vahe Kassabian, Raffi Demirjian,
and Raffi Garabedian.

The ordination ceremony was conducted in modern Armenian so that
those in attendance would be able to fully comprehend the prayers.
The candidates knelt before the Prelate on the altar and received the
four ranks of acolytes; porter, reader, confessor, and illuminator,
and the privilege of wearing a stole at the conclusion.

In his sermon, the Prelate recognized that although kneeling during
an ordination can be difficult, it is necessary, because he who wants
to serve God must first humble himself to God.

He stressed that it is God’s Grace and Spirit that gives us wisdom
and guides us and it is with the Lord’s guidance that these eight
individuals became worthy of the rank of acolyte. "Study the Lord’s
commandments attentively and apply them to your daily lives. Learn
from God and use what you learn to serve the community. Let God’s
Word radiate from within you and let the Holy Spirit lead you.
Now that you have received the stoles that represent the yoke of
Jesus, humble yourselves in front of God so that He may exalt you.
Serve the Armenian Apostolic Church with love and faith", said the
Prelate, reminding the faithful that it was the first Sunday after
Pentecost and the only one that bears the name of a prophet, the
Prophet Elijah. "Live with faith in the example of Elijah, because
faith transforms and enlightens us. Just as today we conducted the
ordination of acolytes and the granting of stoles, in the future there
will be further ordinations and you will soon have your own church,
which we will anoint with this same faith", said the Prelate thus
concluding his sermon.

Following the sermon, the eight candidates received Holy Communion.
At the conclusion of Holy Mass, the faithful sang "Giligia" and
"Oorakh Ler" along with the Prelate and the procession.

Following church services, the faithful enjoyed a reception organized
by the parish council.