March 27, 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: info@westernprelacy.org
Website:

DIVINE LITURGY, ORDINATIONS, AND BLESSING OF MADAGH
ON THE NAME DAY OF ST. GREGORY CHURCH

Saturday, March 28th, is the Feast of St. Gregory the Illuminator’s
Descent into the Pit, which is also the name day of St. Gregory Church in
San Francisco.
On this occasion, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate,
accompanied by Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian, and Executive Council
members, will pay a visit to the San Francisco parish and celebrate this
occasion with the community.
The Prelate and Executive Council members will arrive in San
Francisco on Saturday, March 28th, and will meet with the Pastor and Board
of Trustees to discuss issues concerning the parish.
On Sunday, March 29th, the Prelate will celebrate Divine Liturgy and
deliver the sermon at St. Gregory Church. The Prelate will also ordain
acolytes and stole bearers during the service. Very Rev. Fr. Barthev
Gulumian and parish pastor Rev. Fr. Avedis Torossian will assist at the
altar.
Following Divine Liturgy, the Prelate will preside over requiem
services for departed servants of the church, and the blessing of madagh.
The Prelate will also preside over the annual banquet of the parish
which will take place following services at the Saroyan Hall of the
Khachaturian Armenian Community Center.

PRELATE TO BE REPRESENTED AT THE OPENING OF THE
SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY GENOCIDE MEMORIAL

The Center for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide and the
Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust at Sonoma State University has
initiated a project to construct a multi-genocidal monument on campus to
honor the millions of lives lost in all the genocides throughout the world.
The opening ceremony of the Holocaust and Genocide Memorial Grove
will take place on the afternoon of Sunday, March 29th, with the
participation of religious and community leaders from various genocide
groups.
Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian will represent the Prelate and will
participate in the invocation.
DVD RELEASE OF THE BLUE HOUR

The DVD Release of Eric Nazarian’s acclaimed film The Blue Hour will
take place at the Pasadena Armenian Center on the evening of Sunday, March
29th.
The event is being held under the auspices of the Hamazkayin Western
Region Regional Executive and is organized by the Hamazkayin Pasadena
"Shahan Shahnour" chapter.
Rev. Fr. Khoren Babochian will deliver the invocation and convey the
Prelate’s blessings.

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF
CHORK MARZBAN/DORT YOL RESISTANCE

The 100th anniversary celebration of the Chork Marzban/Deurt Yeol
armed resistance will take place on Sunday, March 29th, at "Kalaydjian" Hall
in Burbank.
The event is being held under the auspices of the Consulate General
of Armenia in Los Angeles and is organized by the Chork Marzban/Deurt Yeol
Compatriotic Union.
Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian will represent the Prelate and will
present the encyclical of H.H. Catholicos Aram I.

35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
UCLA SOCIETY FOR ARMENIAN STUDIES

The UCLA Society for Armenian Studies has organized a three-day
conference which will convene on Thursday, March 26th and conclude with the
35th anniversary gala banquet on Saturday, March 28th, at "Taglyan" Hall in
Hollywood.35th
The theme of the conference is "Armenian Studies at a Threshold".
H.E. Archbishop Yeprem Tabakian will attend on behalf of the
Prelate. He will deliver the invocation and convey the Prelate’s blessings.

PRELATE CELEBRATES DIVINE LITURGY ON THE NAME DAY OF FORTY MARTYRS CHURCH

On Sunday, March 22nd, 2009, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian
celebrated Divine Liturgy, delivered the sermon, and blessed madagh at Forty
Martyrs Church in Orange County in commemoration of the Feast of the Forty
Martyrs, which is also the name day of the church.
Assisting at the altar were Prelacy Christian Education Department
Co-Director Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian and parish pastor Rev. Fr. Hrant
Yeretzian. Deacons and members of the ACYA served at the altar.
Prior to delivering the sermon, the Prelate thanked God for granting
the opportunity to once again gather in celebration of the name day of the
church, and invited the congregation to join in prayer for peace and the
wellbeing of all mankind.
The theme of the sermon was the deep and unyielding faith of the
forty youth of Sebastia who stood firm in their loyalty to God and were
martyred for their faith in the year 316, thus becoming champions of the
Christian faith. The Prelate exalted the strength and courage of the youth
who were subjected to every imaginable torture and temptation yet refused to
renounce their faith and convert to paganism. The Prelate stated that "like
the forty martyrs, we too are called to live our lives in faith, with
devotion to God through prayer, and with virtue".
The Prelate then focused his sermon on the message of the fifth
Sunday of Lent, the Sunday of the Judge, which directs us to pray
tirelessly. The Prelate concluded by saying "when we pray with sincerity
and true faith, we are cleansed and led towards salvation. The forty
martyrs were strengthened through prayer and they became heirs to the
heavenly kingdom of God through their unwavering trust in God. We must
remain steadfast in our prayers and place our utmost trust in Him because he
who endures through hardship will receive salvation".
At the conclusion of Divine Liturgy and requiem services, the
Prelate was led in a procession to "Gugasian" Hall where he blessed the
madagh.
A reception followed the blessing of madagh. Rev. Fr. Hrant
Yeretzian welcomed the guests and thanked the Prelate for conducting the
inspiring services. He also thanked Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian,
Executive Council Chair Dr. Garo Agopian and member Mr. Khatchig Yeretzian,
and the youth who participated in the services.
In his message the Prelate commended all the servants of the church
for their service and dedication to the progress of the parish and
community.
The reception came to a close with the benediction by the Prelate.