April 2, 2010
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:
EASTER MEMORIAL DAY
On Monday, April 5th, requiem service will be offered at Forest Lawn
in Hollywood Hills presided over by H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate and with the participation of clergy
members. The service begins at 10:00 a.m. and will take place at the
Hall of Liberty.
Requiem services will also be offered at the Glendale
Forest Lawn Church of the Recessional.
EASTER DIVINE LITURGY AT ARARAT HOME
On the morning of Thursday, April 8th, the Prelate will preside over
Easter Divine Liturgy at Ararat Home in Mission Hills. Prelacy clergy
members will participate in the Divine Liturgy, which is celebrated
each year on this occasion.
Clergy members will visit the nursing facility at 10:00
a.m., followed by Divine Liturgy at the Chapel at 10:30 a.m., which
will be celebrated by Rev. Fr. Avedis Torossian.
ACYA SPIRITUAL REVIVAL II
The central board of the Armenian Church Youth Association has
organized a 3-day spiritual retreat to be held under the auspices of
the Prelate from Friday, April 9th, to Sunday, April 11th. The
retreat will take place at Homenetmen Camp Tecuya.
Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian will lead the spiritual
revival retreat which will include prayer, spiritual meditations,
lectures, and discussions.
MAUNDY THURSDAY COMMEMORATIONS
Maundy Thursday is a day filled with several services observing
various events near the end of the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
On the morning of Thursday, April 1st, 2010, Divine
Liturgy was celebrated in all churches, commemorating the sacrament of
Holy Communion instituted by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper.
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate presided over Divine
Liturgy at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino.
In the afternoon, the Washing of the Feet service took
place in all churches, with the Prelate conducting the service at
St. Mary’s Church in Glendale. In his sermon, the Prelate spoke of
the great example of humility set by our Lord Jesus Christ with the
act of washing His disciples’ feet, calling on the faithful to live
and serve humbly and in His example.
In the evening, the solemn vigil service took place
commemorating the betrayal and torture of our Lord Jesus Christ. The
Prelate led services at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino and delivered
the sermon, in which he emphasized the immense and boundless love our
Lord has for us to go through the suffering He did for our salvation.
HOLY TUESDAY COMMEMORATION
On the evening of Tuesday, March 30th, 2010, the commemoration of Holy
Tuesday took place in Prelacy Churches. H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, conducted services at St. Sarkis Church in
Pasadena and delivered the sermon on the parable of the ten maidens.
Referencing the example of the five wise maidens who had
taken spare oil with them and were therefore ready to greet the
bridegroom upon his delayed arrival, the Prelate called on the
faithful to live a God-pleasing life and be spiritually ready at all
times for the second coming of Christ.
PALM SUNDAY CELEBRATED IN PRELACY CHURCHES
Sunday, March 28th, 2010, was a joyous day for Christians worldwide
who celebrated the triumphant entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into
Jerusalem, Palm Sunday.
Within the Western Prelacy, Palm Sunday was ceremoniously
celebrated in all churches with Divine Liturgy, followed by the
children’s procession, and concluding with the Opening of the Portals
service.
At Holy Martyrs Church in Encino, Divine Liturgy was
celebrated by H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, who also
delivered the sermon to the hundreds of faithful participating in the
celebration. The Prelate was assisted at the altar by parish pastor
Rev. Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian.
In his sermon the Prelate recounted the events leading up
to the entry of our Lord into Jerusalem and His eventual entrance.
Addressing the faithful, the Prelate rhetorically asked, of the
multitude that greeted our Lord Jesus Christ which group do we belong
to. We belong to the group of true and faithful followers, those who
truly accept Him and the salvation He offers, said the Prelate, and as
such, the message of Palm Sunday has great implications for us today.
Following Divine Liturgy, the children’s procession took place.
Accompanied by the singing of a hymn for the occasion, the Prelate
descended the altar and was led in a procession to the courtyard where
a large crowd of faithful, young and old, were waiting to kiss the
cross and receive his blessings. Upon returning to the altar, the
Prelate conducted the Opening of the Portals service, symbolizing the
second coming of Christ. The godfather of the service was Daniel
Yeghia Sarafian.
PRELATE WELCOMES REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
On Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, welcomed Chief Curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art
(MOCA) Mr. Paul Schimmel, and Director of Development Ms. Jennifer
Arceneaux.
The guests informed the Prelate that they are organizing
an exhibit to be featured at MOCA titled Arshile Gorky: A
Retrospective, which will run from June 6th to September 20th. The
exhibit was previously on view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and
the London Tate Museum, and features nearly 200 of the artist’s works
including paintings, sculptures, prints, and drawings.
The guests also reported that the " MOCA Friends of
Arshile Gorky" committee, comprised of both Armenian and non-Armenian
members, has undertaken the advertising for the upcoming exhibit among
both communities, and asked for the Prelacy’s assistance in
publicizing the exhibit among the Armenian community. A member of the
aforementioned committee, Mr. Hrair Garboushian, also participated in
the meeting.
The Prelate welcomed the initiative of the representatives
in the planning of this exhibit and expressed his support of the
endeavor. At the conclusion of their meeting the Prelate presented
the guests with mementos and the guest presented the Prelate with a
book on the life and works of Arshile Gorky.
MOCA is located at 250 S. Grand Ave. in Los Angeles.
A CALL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE U.S. CENSUS
In the coming weeks, the U.S. Census Bureau will be holding training
workshops at "Dikran and Zarouhie Der Ghazarian" Hall. Collaboration
between the Prelacy and the Census Bureau began nearly a year ago when
representatives from the agency met with the Prelate and asked for the
support of our churches, schools, and sister organizations.
At the time, the Prelate and council members called on our
churches to impart necessary information about the census to their
parishioners
The Prelate and council once again stress the importance
of participating in the census and call on our faithful to mark
"Armenian" for question nine to ensure that the Armenian community is
accurately counted and represented.