September 25, 2008
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: [email protected]
Website:
YOUTH GATHERING AND DIVINE LITURGY AT THE PRELACY
Under the auspices of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, a youth gathering has been organized at the Prelacy "Dikran and
Zarouhie Der Ghazarian" Hall on Saturday, October 4th, at 4:00 p.m. During
the gathering, the 11 youth who participated in the Youth Conference at the
Catholicosate of Cilicia last month will report on their experiences and
thoughts on the conference.
At 6:00 p.m., the youth will participate in Divine Liturgy at the
"St. Dertad and St. Ashkhen" Chapel. Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian will
celebrate Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon.
PRELATE TO ATTEND AEF CELEBRATION LUNCHEON
On the afternoon of Sunday, September 28th, the celebration luncheon
of the Armenian Educational Foundation will take place at the Roof Garden of
the Sheraton Universal Hotel, during which Mr. Vartkes Yeghiayan will be
honored with the AEF Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Prelate will attend and deliver the invocation.
PRELATE TO ATTEND HOMENETMEN "ARARAT" CHAPTER 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Homenetmen "Ararat" Chapter of Glendale will celebrate its 30th
anniversary on the evening of Sunday, September 28th, at the Hall of Liberty
of Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn.
The Prelate will be in attendance and will deliver the invocation.
"YEAR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION" LECTURE
The third lecture in the "Year of Christian Education" series took
place under the auspices of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate,
on the evening of Tuesday, September 23rd, at St. Mary’s Church in Glendale.
The lecture was the first of a three part series titled "Christian Education
in Family, School, Social, and Community Life", and was presented by
Christian Education Department Co-Director Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian.
The second and third lectures in this series will take place on October 1st
and October 8th respectively.
Following the opening prayer by the Prelate and clergy members,
Master of Ceremonies Mrs. Tamar Tufenkian-Seraydarian welcomed the guests
and reflected on the message of H.H. Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House
of Cilicia in declaring 2008 to be the "Year of Christian Education",
emphasizing that the Armenian Church, school, and family are all vital to
the proper development of our youth. Mrs. Seraydarian then invited Fr.
Muron to present his lecture.
Fr. Muron began his lecture by speaking on the bases that comprise
the overall mission of the Church, with Christian Education as the heart of
that mission. Referencing Biblical passages and the message of His
Holiness, Fr. Muron went on to speak of the different stages in the
development and rearing of children, and of the great responsibility of
parents, and especially of mothers, to provide the right instruction
starting at a very young age. Stressing that spiritual nourishment is just
as vital as physical growth and nourishment, Fr. Muron presented a number of
prayers that can be recited at different times of the day and in different
circumstances to assist parents in the religious instruction of their
children. He concluded by reminding the faithful that the first true
Christian family was the earthly parents of Jesus Christ, Joseph and Mary,
calling on each and every Christian family to hold as their ideal the family
of Jesus Christ.
The program also included an artistic portion in which high school
students from Rose and Alex Pilibos School participated with songs and
recitations.
In his closing remarks the Prelate first commended Fr. Muron, Mrs.
Seraydarian, and the students for their participation. The Prelate
emphasized the value of Christian Education and of living a Christian-based
life, which entails that one be God-fearing and follow in the path of
righteousness by living in accordance with the commandments set forth by
Jesus Christ. The Prelate then spoke of the family-church-school
connection, while stressing the individual role of each, and concluded by
noting the unique contributions of our clergy, parents, educators, and
community leaders in the instruction of our youth with our Christian and
Armenian values and traditions, and the importance of mutual cooperation
among all three towards this purpose.
The program came to a close with the benediction by the Prelate,
which was followed by a reception in the hall by the Board of Trustees and
Ladies Auxiliary.