January 23, 2009
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]
Website:
PRELATE TO CELEBRATE DIVINE LITURGY AT HOLY TRINITY CHURCH IN FRESNO ON THE
108TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE PARISH
This weekend, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, will
visit the Fresno community where he will celebrate Divine Liturgy at Holy
Trinity Church on Sunday, January 25th, in celebration of the 108th
anniversary of the parish.
During the service, the Prelate will present parish pastor Rev. Fr.
Vahan Gosdanian with a Pontifical Encyclical by His Holiness Catholicos Aram
I, granting him the privilege of bearing an ornamental cope.
Following Divine Liturgy, the Prelate will preside over the
anniversary celebration, which will take place in the church hall, during
which he will convey his message to the guests. Executive Council members
Mr. Khatchig Yeretzian and Mr. Varoujan Der Simonian will also be in
attendance. Three longtime servants of the church will also be honored for
their service and dedication to the parish.
On Saturday evening, the Prelate will meet with the Pastor,
Delegates, and Board of Trustees to discuss the recent endeavors of the
parish and their upcoming endeavors.
On Sunday afternoon, the Prelate will attend the 118th anniversary
of the A.R.F. The keynote speaker is Bureau member Dr. Viken Hovsepian.
PRELATE WELCOMES DAVIDIAN & MARIAMIAN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
REPRESENTATIVES
On the afternoon of Wednesday, January 21st, the Prelate welcomed to
the Prelacy representatives of Davidian and Mariamian Educational
Foundation, Board Chairman Mr. Vahik Satoorian and Academic Director Dr.
Onnik Hairapetyan.
The guests briefed the Prelate on the recent and upcoming activities
of the Foundation, specifically the Telethon scheduled for May 17th.
The Prelate commended the dedication of the Foundation members and
once again affirmed the support of the Prelacy.
The Davidian and Mariamian Foundation, which was established two
decades years, has witnessed tremendous growth over the years and today
serves a large number of Armenian students in public schools.
PRELATE TO BE REPRESENTED AT
THE ANNUAL RESPECT LIFE MASS
H.E. Cardinal Roger Mahony has extended an invitation to the Prelate
to participate in the annual Respect Life Mass. The Mass has been organized
by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and will take place on the evening of
Saturday, January 24th, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los
Angeles.
Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian will represent the Prelate.
CELEBRATING THE FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE FORERUNNER AND THE NAME DAY OF ST.
GARABED CHURCH
On Sunday, January 18th, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, celebrated Divine Liturgy at St. Garabed Church in Hollywood in
honor of the name day of the Church as well the Feast of St. John the
Forerunner which according to the Armenian Church calendar fell on Thursday,
January 15th. Assisting at the altar were Christian Education Co-Director
Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian and parish pastor Archpriest Fr. Vicken
Vassilian.
At the start of his sermon the Prelate thanked Almighty God for
granting the celebration and beseeched the Lord to bless the memories of
those who established the church and faithfully served towards the progress
of the parish. The Prelate commended also the present servants of the
church, the Pastor, Delegates, Board of Trustees, Ladies Auxiliary, Choir,
sponsors, and parishioners who continue to labor for the advancement of the
church.
In his sermon the Prelate reflected on the life of St. John the
Forerunner and on the mission God sent him forth to fulfill. He emphasized
that throughout his life St. John remained unfaltering in his faith and
steadfast in his teachings and prepared disciples for the coming of Christ
by inviting them to live virtuously so that they too would become children
of God.
The Prelate concluded his sermon by calling on the faithful to asses
their lives to ensure that they are applying the teachings of St. John to
their everyday lives, to be resolute in their faith, live and act justly,
love one another, and abide by the Lord’s commandments.
At the conclusion of Divine Liturgy the Prelate blessed the madagh,
which was then distributed to the faithful, after which the Prelate presided
over the reception at "Karapetian" Hall.