Burbank Leader, United States

Modified Sep 15, 2006 – 22:04:19 PDT

Armenian church festival scheduled
By Ani Amirkhanian

The Western Diocese of the Armenian Church will host
its inaugural Festival of Faith and Culture on
Saturday and Sunday at the Western Diocese
headquarters in Burbank.

"It’s a good tradition to have for the Armenian
church," said Shoghig Giragosian, festival committee
chair. "Once a year, it’s for people to get together,
to get to know the various diocese and to know the
services that are available to them."

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The festival will begin at 10 a.m. today with the
opening ceremonies starting at 11 a.m.

Thousands are expected to attend, Giragosian said.

"We are going to have a lot of visitors and we truly
want this to be a festival for the people," Giragosian
said.

Comedian Kev Orkian will host the two-day event, which
will feature performers, including Vartan and
Siranushe Dance Group, Winds of Passion, Menuet Dance
Group and more. advertisement

Participating Armenian comedians include Lori
Tatoulian and Chuko.

A children’s program presented by Vaco and a panel
discussion on modern Armenian identity is scheduled
for Saturday.

The festival will continue from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on
Sunday.

Archbishop Hovnan Derderian will conduct an open-air
divine liturgy at 10:30 a.m. on the occasion of the
Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.

"We have titled the first festival ‘Festival of Faith
and Culture,’" Derderian said. "It gives a specific
message to our parishioners and community members. We
cannot possibly forget it in our lives, they are
closely intermingled with one another." Following the
liturgy, the archbishop will partake in the ceremony
of the Blessing of the Stone Crosses.

Representatives from the Armenia Tree Project and the
Armenian Bone Marrow Foundation will be recognized for
their deeds within the diaspora communities,
Giragosian said. "The western diocese has been around
for some time," Giragosian said. "It seems to have
been rejuvenated since the arrival of the archbishop
[in 2003]. The entire western diocese has taken on a
new vigor, a new zeal."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress