May 1, 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:

PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER DIVINE LITURGY
AT FORTY MARTYRS CHURCH

On Sunday, May 3rd, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian will
preside over Divine Liturgy at Forty Martyrs Church in Orange County. The
Prelate will also deliver the sermon.

34TH NAVASARTIAN VICTORY BALL KICK-OFF CELEBRATION

The 34th Navasartian Victory Ball kick-off celebration will take
place on the ecening of Sunday, May 3rd, at Katsuya Restaurant at the
Americana in Glendale. The event has been organized by the Homenetmen
Regional Executive.
On behalf of the Prelate, Rev. Fr. Vazken Atmajian will attend a

SAHAG-MESROB ARM. CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ANNUAL BANQUET

The annual banquet of Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School will
take place on the evening of Sunday, May 3rd, at Ararat Home "Deukmejian
Hall" in Mission Hills.
Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian will represent the Prelate at the
banquet. Fr. Barthev is also the keynote speaker; he will speak on the
topic "The Importance of Christian and Armenian Education in the Lives of
Armenian Students".
Pastor of St. Sarkis Church Rev. Fr. Khoren Babochian will also
attend.

ARMENIAN INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL FUND ANNUAL GALA

The annual gala dinner of the Armenian International Medical Fund to
benefit hearing impaired children in Armenia, will take place at the
Glendale Hilton on the evening of Sunday, May 3rd.
Rev. Fr. Ardak Demirjian will represent the Prelate and will deliver
the invocation and the Prelate’s blessings.
PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER OPENING CEREMONY
OF THE 8TH ANNUAL A.R.S. FESTIVAL

On Saturday, May 2nd, the 8th annual Armenian Relief Society
Festival will be held at the Glendale Civic Auditorium.
The Prelate will preside over the opening ceremony of the festival
and deliver the invocation. He will be accompanied by Rev. Fr. Gomidas
Torossian.

PRELATE TO PRESENT ROUBINA PAKRADOUNI WITH
THE "ST. MESROB MASHDOTS" INSIGNIA

On the evening of Friday, May 1st, the annual banquet of Armenian
Mesrobian School will take place at "Bagramian" Hall of Holy Cross Cathedral
in Montebello.
The Prelate will deliver the invocation and convey his blessings.
In addition, the Prelate will present educator Roubina Pakradouni with the
"St. Mesrob Mashdots" insignia, awarded by H.H. Catholicos Aram I, in
recognition of her decades-long service and contributions to the field of
education.
Executive Council member Levon Kirakosian and Pastors of Holy Cross
Cathedral Rev. Fathers Nareg Pehlivanian and Ashod Kambourian will attend as
well.

PRELATE AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEET WITH
BOARDS OF TRUSTEES AND DELEGATES

By the invitation of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate,
and the Executive Council, on the evening of Tuesday ,April 28th, 2009,
Boards of Trustees and Delegates of Prelacy Churches and Parishes gathered
at the "Dikran and Zarouhie Der Ghazarian" Hall to discuss the general
activities as well as the concerns of their respective parishes. The
meeting was the third of its kind for the 2008-2009 year.
Following the opening prayer, Executive Council Chair Dr. Garo
Agopian welcomed the guests and on their behalf conveyed his condolences to
the Prelate on the loss of Diramayr Marie Mardirossian, which was followed
by a prayer in her memory. Dr. Agopian went on to inform the guests of the
issues that were to be discussed during the meeting. He welcomed all the
representatives and especially the parish council of the newly established
North Hollywood parish who were participating in this meeting for the first
time.
Subsequently, one by one the Chairmen or parish representatives were
invited to report on the past, present, and future activities of their
churches. Special attention was given by all to the importance of
strengthening ties with the youth.
Following the reports by each parish, Dr. Agopian presented
suggestions to ease concerns and allow for progress within our churches.
In his closing remarks the Prelate welcomed the input of the
representatives, stating that such discussions and exchange of ideas and
suggestions are beneficial to all. He commended the service and dedication
of the Pastors, Board members, and Delegates, and called upon them to
observe the "Year of the Youth" proclaimed by H.H. Catholicos Aram I and
focus their efforts on bridging the youth to our church. The Prelate
concluded by wishing the representatives success in their future endeavors
and service to our church.

PRELATE CONSECRATES NEW BAPTISMAL FONT AT
HOLY MARTYRS CHURCH

On Sunday, April 26th, 2009, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, presided over Divine Liturgy at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino,
where he also delivered the sermon, consecrated the new baptismal font, and
blessed the new altar curtain. At the conclusion of Divine Liturgy, the
Prelate presided over the requiem service during which prayers were offered
for the martyrs of the Adana massacres of 1909.
Prior to delivering the sermon, the Prelate, assisted by H.E.
Archbishop Yeprem Tabakian and Rev. Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian, consecrated
the new baptismal font blessed the new altar curtain.
The Prelate began his sermon by first and foremost thanking God for
bringing the faithful together to celebrate the third Sunday of Easter,
Green Sunday, and to proclaim triumphantly, "Praise be to You, O Lord, for
Your Glorious Resurrection".
The Prelate noted that this Sunday has particularly special meaning
since it was the day that Jesus’ disciples gathered at the same upper room
where the Last Supper had taken place and with the blessing of wine and
bread, in the example of Jesus, conducted the first Christian church service
and experienced a blossoming in their faith, likening it to the blossoming
of nature designated the third Sunday of Easter Green Sunday. The
disciples, reinforced in their faith, subsequently set out to spread the
Light and Word of God throughout the world. "We, as the heirs of that
staunch faith, must reaffirm and reassert that we too are unyielding in our
faith and manifest that faith through our deeds and in the way we live our
lives", continued the Prelate.
In speaking of the consecration of the baptismal font, the Prelate
referred to the day’s Scripture reading which records a conversation between
Jesus and Nicodemus during which Jesus speaks to him about the necessity of
being born again and of being born of water and the Spirit to enter the
kingdom of God, praying for the new font to be a symbol of spiritual rebirth
for us all. The Prelate thanked the sponsors of the baptismal font, Mr. and
Mrs. Armen and Ani Akian, and the sponsors of the altar curtain, the
Khodanian family, praying for the Lord to bless and reward them for their
devotion and support.
The Prelate noted that this year is the 100th anniversary of the
Adana massacres and invited the faithful to join in prayer for the souls of
our 30,000 martyrs and for a just resolution to our cause. He concluded by
stressing that we maintain our focus on the new generation and to instruct
them and instill in them the value of our centuries old religious and
national heritage to ensure not just the survival but the progress of our
church, our nation, and our cause.