PRESS RELEASE
October 1, 2007
St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church
2215 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91107
Contact: Carl Bardakian
Phone: 626-449-1523
Fax: 626-449-7039
Email: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
URL: <;
His Holiness Karekin II Consecrates Main Altar in Pasadena
PASADENA, CA — The main altar of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian
Apostolic Church of Pasadena was consecrated by His Holiness Karekin II,
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, on Monday, October 1,
2007. His Holiness Karekin II, the head of the worldwide Armenian
Apostolic Church, arrived yesterday from the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin in Armenia.
Upon Catholicos Karekin II’s arrival on the church grounds, four
students from the St. Gregory A & M Hovsepian School, dressed in
traditional Armenian costumes, greeted him with bread, salt and water,
which His Holiness blessed as a symbol of his safe arrival and
thanksgiving for his warm welcome by the parish.
A festive pontifical procession led by Catholicos Karekin II and the
clergy, deacons and choir members of the Western Diocese of the Armenian
Church of North America took place, as the faithful cheerfully received
His Holiness during the procession towards the main entrance of the church.
In the newly built sanctuary, which was consecrated on September 9, a
welcoming Hrashapar service was held. His Holiness Karekin II then
consecrated the main altar of the church, which was donated by brothers
Vahe, Daniel, and Vasken Imasdounian.
Very Rev. Fr. Baret Yeretzian, Pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator
Armenian Church, enthusiastically welcomed Catholicos Karekin II and
expressed his thanks on behalf of the entire parish to His Holiness, for
his historic visit to Pasadena. On behalf of the entire Western Diocese
of the Armenian Church of North America, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, Primate, also warmly welcomed His Holiness and thanked him
for his participation in the 80^th anniversary celebration of the
founding of the Western Diocese, and the historic consecration of the
main altar of the new church.
His Holiness Karekin II, then thanked the Primate and Pastor, and
encouraged the clergy and faithful to remain strong in their Christian
faith and love for the Armenian Church. His Holiness also noted the
significance of the 80^th anniversary of the founding of the Western
Diocese, as well as the importance of the completion of the new church
sanctuary and consecration of the main altar.
Upon the conclusion of the service the faithful participated in a
welcoming reception for His Holiness Karekin II, the 132^nd Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, held in the adjacent
Agajanian Hall.