November 9, 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 <mailto:prelacy@aol.com>
Website: <;

PRELATE PRESENTS REV. BARKEV DARAKJIAN WITH A PONTIFICAL ENCYCLICAL

On the morning of Wednesday, November 8, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, welcomed Rev. Barkev Darakjian, long time Pastor of
the Armenian Evangelical Church, to the temporary Prelacy offices, where he
presented him with a Pontifical Encyclical by H.H. Aram I, Catholicos of the
Great House of Cilicia, in honor of his 50 years of service.
On October 21, the Armenian Evangelical Union honored Rev.
Darakjian’s 50 years of service with a special ceremony. Very Rev. Fr.
Barthev Gulumian represented the Prelate at the event, where he read the
text of the Encyclical and conveyed the Prelate’s best wishes.
At the meeting, Rev. Darakjian was accompanied by a delegation
of clergy and representatives from the Armenian Evangelical Union, namely
Rev. Joe Matossian, Rev. Ron Tomassian, Mr. Hagop Lousararian, Mr. Avedis
Demirjian, and Mr. Zaven Khanjian. Also present were Prelacy Christian
Education Department Directors Very Rev. Fathers Muron Aznikian and Barthev
Gulumian.
The Prelate once again congratulated Rev. Darakjian, wishing for
God to grant him many more years of service. Rev. Darakijian then presented
the Prelate with a letter of thanks.
The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss issues of concern
to the Armenian people, and the efforts of both communities to alleviate
these issues.