October 10, 2008
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: info@westernprelacy.org
Website:

PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER DIVINE LITURGY AT
HOLY MARTYRS CHURCH

On Sunday, October 12th, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, will preside over Divine Liturgy at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino.
The Prelate will also deliver the sermon.

PRELATE TO DELIVER INVOCATION AT ANC BANQUET

The annual banquet of the Armenian National Committee Western Region
will take place on Sunday, October 12th, at the Ronald Reagan Library in
Simi Valley. This year’s honorees include the late President Ronald Reagan
(posthumously), Vice-Presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden, Los Angeles
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and national benefactor Mrs. Ashkhen Plavjian.
The Prelate will attend the banquet and deliver the invocation.

BURBANK COMMUNITY FESTIVAL

The Burbank Armenian Center has organized a community festival which
will take place on Sunday, October 12th, starting at 11:00 a.m. at Robert
Gross Park in Burbank.
Rev. Fr. Gomidas Torossian will attend on behalf of the Prelate.

PRELATE TO ATTEND HAMAZKAYIN RECEPTION IN HONOR OF DR. LILIT GALSTYAN

On Monday, October 13th, a reception in honor of Armenian Parliament
member and president of the Hamazkayin Foundation in Armenia Dr. Lilit
Galstyan will take place at the Prelacy "Dikran and Zarouhie Der Ghazarian"
Hall.
During the reception organized by the Regional Executive of
Hamazkayin, Dr. Galstyan will speak on the work of the Hamazkayin Foundation
over the last 17 years and of cultural life in Armenia in general.
The Prelate will attend the reception.
PRELATE’S VISIT TO PRELACY SCHOOLS

Over the past week the Prelate has been paying visits to Prelacy
Schools and meeting with principals, teachers, and students to convey his
blessings and well wishes for the 2008-2009 academic year.
On the morning of Thursday, October 9th, the Prelate visited Richard
Tufenkian Pre-School in Glendale. He was accompanied by St. Mary’s pastors
Rev. Fathers Vazken Atmajian and Gomidas Torossian, as well as Board of
Regents member Ms. Charlotte Sassounian. Upon their arrival the Prelate and
delegation were greeted by director Mrs. Arsine Aghazarian and school
administrators. Following a presentation by the students, the Prelate
offered his remarks in which he explained to the students the parable of the
Good Shephard.
On the afternoon of Friday, October 10th, the Prelate visited Vahan
and Anoush Chamlian Schools, accompanied by St. Mary’s pastors Rev. Fathers
Vazken Atmajian and Gomidas Torossian, and Board of Regents member Dr.
Vartkes Tomassian. The Prelate was welcomed by Principal Mr. Vazken
Madenlian and Vice-Principal Mrs. Rita Kaprielian, and administrators.
During his visits to the classrooms, the Prelate was welcomed by the
students with songs and recitations.
The Prelate’s visits will continue in the coming week.

PRELATE CONSECRATES DOME AND BELL TOWER CROSSES AT ST. SARKIS CHURCH

On Sunday, October 5th, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, celebrated Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon at St. Sarkis
Church in Pasadena. At the conclusion of Divine Liturgy, the Prelate
conducted the consecration and placement of the dome and bell tower Crosses.
The Prelate was assisted at the altar by Christian Education Department
Directors Very Rev. Fathers Muron Aznikian and Barthev Gulumian, and parish
priest Rev. Fr. Khoren Babochian.
The Prelate began his sermon by thanking God for the historic day,
then congratulated and commended the Pastor, Board of Trustees, Delegates,
Ladies Auxiliary, and building committee members for their diligence
throughout the construction phase and their commitment to seeing the project
through. The Prelate addressed the faithful saying though the physical
construction of the church is complete, that it is imperative that they
maintain and strengthen their ties with the church and have a more active
involvement in the endeavors of their parish community. He concluded by
praying to God for His "holy and venerable cross to deliver us all from
enemies both visible and invisible".
At the conclusion of services the Prelate was led in a procession to
the main entrance where the crosses were laid out. The Reverend Fathers
applied wine and water to the crosses, after which the Prelate began the
consecration with Holy Muron. Hundreds of faithful including main church
sponsors Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis and Suzan Kitsinian, and bell tower sponsors
Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis and Noune Septejian and Mr. and Mrs. Garo and Maral
Ghazarian. Following the consecration, the crosses were ceremoniously
placed atop the dome and bell tower. At the conclusion of the service, the
faithful were invited for a reception organized by the Ladies Auxiliary.
Later in the evening, over 350 guests attended the annual banquet of
the church at the Pasadena Armenian Center to celebrate this latest
accomplishment of the parish. During the banquet, the Pastor and Board of
Trustees commended the members of the building committee by presenting them
with mementos. Remarks were offered by Board of Trustees and an artistic
program also took place. The banquet came to a close with the Prelate’s
remarks and benediction.

YOUTH GATHERING AT THE PRELACY

On the afternoon of Saturday, October 4th, members of the Armenian
Church Youth Association assembled at the Prelacy "Dikran and Zarouhie Der
Ghazarian" Hall for a gathering organized by the Armenian Church Youth
Association (ACYA) central board and presided over by H.E. Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate.
The youth had gathered for a presentation by the delegation, led by
Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian, which had participated in the Catholicosate
of Cilicia Youth Conference which took place from August 13-20 in Bikfaya,
Lebanon.
The gathering opened with welcoming remarks by Chairman Raffi
Naljian, and was followed with remarks by delegation member Liza Sarkis who,
on behalf of all the participants, thanked the Prelate for the opportunity
to attend the conference, then shared the experiences of the delegation at
the conference.
The delegation members then presented a video clip and pictures for
the youth to get a better understanding of what took place at the
conference, as well as an audio recording of the message of H.H. Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, geared towards the youth. A
question and answer session followed.
Closing remarks were offered by the Prelate in which he commended
the event organizers for their efforts in the planning of the gathering, and
the delegates for their participation in the conference. He stressed the
importance of the active participation of our youth in parish life,
reminding them that His Holiness has declared 2009 as "The Year of the
Armenian Christian Youth".
At 6:00 p.m., the youth participated in Divine Liturgy which was
celebrated by Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian in the "St. Dertad and St.
Ashkhen" Chapel. Given that it was the Feast of the Seventy-two Disciples
of Christ, Fr. Barthev in his sermon addressed the youth saying that they
too are the students of Christ and are called upon to spread our faith.
A reception followed the service.