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: www.westernprelacy.org PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER LAST DIVINE LITURGY OF THE YEAR AT THE CRESCENTA VALLEY PARISH On Sunday, December 31, 2017, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, will preside over the last Divine Liturgy of the year and deliver the sermon at the Crescenta Valley parish. *** NEW YEAR'S DAY PRAYER SERVICE IN PRELACY CHURCHES On Monday, January 1st, 2018, Prelacy Churches will open their doors for a prayer service, offering faithful the opportunity to begin the New Year with collective prayer and to exchange well wishes for a healthy, joyful, and blessed year. We invite our faithful to attend the service and together give thanks to our Lord for the gift of another year. Please contact your local parish for service time. *** SCHEDULE OF CHRISTMAS SERVICES On Saturday, January 6, the Armenian Apostolic Church will celebrate the glorious Birth and Revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Within Western Prelacy parishes, the celebration will begin on Christmas Eve, Friday, January 5th, with Divine Liturgy followed by the Jrakalooyts service (lighting of candles). On Saturday, January 6, Divine Liturgy will be celebrated, during which water will be blessed symbolizing the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. On Christmas Eve, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, will celebrate Divine Liturgy, deliver the sermon, and preside over Jrakalooyts service at St. Mary's Church in Glendale. On Christmas Day, His Eminence will celebrate Divine Liturgy, deliver the sermon, and conduct the blessing of water at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino. On Christmas Day, H.E. Archbishop Yeprem Tabakian will celebrate Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at St. Mary's Church in Glendale. Very Rev. Fr. Torkom Donoyan, Vicar General, will celebrate Christmas Eve service at the North Hollywood parish and Christmas service at St. Sarkis Church in Pasadena. On Sunday, January 7, Memorial Day, requiem service will take place at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills "Hall of Liberty" and Forest Lawn Glendale "Church of the Recessional" beginning at 10:00 a.m. The Prelate will preside over the service at Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn. We invite our faithful to participate in these festive and spiritually uplifting Christmas celebrations. *** CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION AT ARARAT HOME On Friday, , H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, accompanied by clergy members, visited Ararat Home in Mission Hills to spread New Year and Christmas cheer and blessings to the elderly residents. The day began at the Skilled Nursing Facility. The Prelate firstly conveyed his blessings and well wishes to the Ararat Home family and introduced H.E. Archbishop Gomidas Ohanian, a senior member of the Holy See of Cilicia who was on a visit to the U.S. Archbishop Ohanian greeted the administration and residents and also conveyed his New Year and Christmas wishes. The blessing of the home service followed, after which the blessing of water was conducted, with Mr. Derek Ghoogasian, Ararat Home COO, serving as Godfather of the Cross. Mr. Ghoogasian and Skilled Nursing Facility Executive Director Ms. Margarita Kechichian thanked the Prelate and clergy for their traditional visit and prayers and wished them a happy New Year and a Merry Christmas. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Ghoogasian presented a gift basket to the Prelate, while His Eminence gifted copies of the Prelacy's latest publications to all. Next, Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Chapel by Rev. Fr. Movses Shannakian, who also delivered the sermon. Fr. Movses spoke of the importance of having our Lord Jesus Christ as the way and truth of our lives, and prayed for the tidings of Christ's Birth to fill the hearts and souls of all with boundless joy. The blessing of water followed, conducted by Archbishop Ohanian. Christmas hymns were sung and faithful received Holy Communion. Clergy members thereafter visited residents in their rooms to offer Holy Communion and prayers. Afterward, clergy members were hosted to a luncheon by the Board and administration. On behalf of the Prelate, Very Rev. Fr. Torkom Donoyan, Vicar General, wished all a blessed New Year. *** AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA PRESIDENT VISITS THE PRELACY On Thursday, , H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, welcomed the visit of Dr. Armen Kiureghian, President of the American University of Armenia, who was accompanied by Mr. Paul Yeghiayan, Vice President for Development. Dr. Der Kiureghian gave an overview of the degree programs offered in various academic disciplines for students from Armenia and abroad, collaboration with international educational institutions, and the university's plans for the future. The Prelate commended the guests for their dedicated service in maintaining the AUA's high level of academic excellence, conveyed his best wishes for continued success, wished both a happy and prosperous New Year and a merry Christmas, and gifted copies of the Prelacy's latest publications. *** PRELATE PRESIDES OVER COMMEMORATION OF THE FEAST OF ST. STEPHEN AT ST. SARKIS CHURCH IN PASADENA On Sunday, December 24, 2017, the eve of the Feast of St. Stephen the Protomartyr and first deacon, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, presided over Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon at St. Sarkis Church in Pasadena. Given that the Feast of St. Stephen is a celebration of altar servers, during the service the Prelate blessed and commended the parish's deacons, stole-bearers, and acolytes. Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Boghos Baltayan, Parish Pastor. On this day, in all Prelacy Churches prior to the sermon, the hymn dedicated to St. Stephen was sung and altar servers blessed. At St. Sarkis Church, during the singing of the hymn, deacons and altar servers ascended the altar candles in hand and were blessed by the Prelate. His Eminence thereafter delivered his sermon. He congratulated and commended all of the altar servers and noted that a seminar for deacons was held at the Prelacy the day prior which served as an occasion for the renewal of their dedication to serving our church. The Prelate spoke of St. Stephen's virtues, that he was full of wisdom, grace, and of the Holy Spirit, lived an exemplary and honorable life, stood firm against those who condoned him, was a fearless witness for Christ, and became worthy of the heavenly crown for his righteousness and martyrdom. The Prelate urged the altar servers to follow in St. Stephen's ideal example and continue to serve with humility, faithfulness, and courage, to pray and read the Bible and lead a God-pleasing life. *** DEACONS' SEMINAR HELD ON THE OCCASION OF THE FEAST OF ST. STEPHEN THE PROTOMARTYR AND PROTODEACON In commemoration of the Feast of St. Stephen the Protomartyr and Protodeacon and by the initiative of the Western Prelacy Religious Council, on Saturday, December 23, 2017, deacons, stole-bearers, and acolytes gathered at the Prelacy "Dikran and Zarouhie Der Ghazarian" Hall for a daylong seminar held under the auspices of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mradirossian, Prelate. The day began with a prayer service, after which Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian, Religious Council Chair, delivered opening remarks wishing for a fruitful and productive seminar. The first lecture was presented by Religious Council Secretary Rev. Fr. Karekin Bedourian, who spoke on the past and present role of deacons and the importance of serving with humility and devotion. The second lecture was presented by Vicar General Very Rev. Fr. Torkom Donoyan, focused on the important role deacons have during Divine Liturgy in particular, and offered practical suggestions for harmonious singing from the altar. The Prelate delivered his message and conveyed his blessings. His Eminence commended all of the altar servers, urged them to continue their service and mission with utmost humility and unwavering devotion in the example of St. Stephen, and wished all a happy New Year and a merry Christmas. The program concluded with "Cilicia" and the benediction. Participants received copies of the Prelacy's newly published "The Divine Liturgy" and "The Word of God" booklets. A lunch reception followed. *** PRELATE PRESIDES OVER CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT ST. SARKIS CHURCH IN PASADENA On Friday, December 22, 2017, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, presided over a Christmas concert at St. Sarkis Church in Pasadena presented by the church choir and conducted by Choirmaster Yervant Keshishian. The concert was organized by the parish Pastor and Board of Trustees. His Eminence was accompanied by Very Rev. Fr. Torkom Donoyan, Vicar General. On behalf of the parish family, Rev. Fr. Boghos Baltayan, Parish Pastor, delivered welcoming remarks and wished all a blessed New Year and merry Christmas. The program featured group and solo performances of Armenian hymns and Christmas carols in Armenian and various other languages. The Prelate delivered his message at the end of the program. His Eminence blessed and commended the parish family and in particular the choir and choirmaster Deacon Yervant Keshishian for their collective effort and dedication and heartfelt and soulful performance. The Prelate commended the initiative of the concert, stating that it created an atmosphere where we were able to relive in our hearts the Birth of our Lord and took us away from our daily concerns. His Eminence prayed for our Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, to inspire peace in the world, in our family and community life, and in our spiritual life, invited all to praise and thank God all the days of the New Year for His plentiful gifts and blessings, and conveyed his best wishes for a blessed year and a merry Christmas. Next, on behalf of the parish family, Fr. Boghos presented a plaque to Mr. Zaven Boyamian for over 30 years of service as a choir member. The Prelate blessed and commended Mr. Boyamian for his decades of service to the church, from Lebanon to the U.S. The program concluded with "Cilicia" and the benediction by the clergy. A reception followed. *** ARMENIAN ECCLESIASTICAL BROTHERHOOD'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY AND CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION On Saturday, December 23, 2017, the Armenian Ecclesiastical Brotherhood held a special event at their center in Glendale in celebration of their 20th anniversary as well as of the New Year and Christmas. The event was held under the auspices of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate. His Eminence was represented by Very Rev. Fr. Torkom Donoyan, Vicar General, Archpriest Fr. Nareg Pehlivanian, and Rev. Fr. Ghevont Kirazian. Mr. Avo Kabakjouzian, Brotherhood Chairman, delivered welcoming remarks. Youth presented Christmas hymns and carols and read Scripture passages. Fr. Torkom congratulated the Brotherhood leadership and members on their milestone anniversary and encouraged them to continue their mission faithfully, devotedly, and humbly. Guests viewed a video chronicling the Brotherhood's service over the past two decades. A reception followed. ***