FIRST ARMENIAN CHURCH IN ARIZONA TO BE CONSECRATED SEPT. 20
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Tuesday September 22, 2009
American-Armenians from throughout the Valley of the Sun and
neighboring California will come together on Sunday, September 20,
to witness the consecration of St. Apkar Armenian Apostolic Church,
the first Armenian Church built in Arizona.
The sanctuary, architecturally inspired by the seventh century Saint
Hripsime Church in Armenia, will be consecrated by Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese. The ceremony will take
place at 10 a.m., after which the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated.
Parishioners, guest clergy, and dignitaries will enjoy a performance by
the Khachadourian Choir from Los Angeles. Following the festivities,
a celebration luncheon and program will take place in the Armenian
Church Cultural Center, 8849 E Cholla Street, Scottsdale, on the
property next to St. Apkar Armenian Church.
On the previous evening, a dinner dance at the center will have
featured live Armenian music by Khachig from California and a
family-style Armenian kebob dinner. Reservations are required for
both the Saturday night dinner dance and Sunday celebration lunch.
The parish priest, Rev. Fr. Zacharia Saribekyan, and Jerry Avakian,
the chairperson of the Parish Council, provided leadership, while the
members of the Parish Council, a Building Committee, a Fundraising
Committee, and many parishioners worked hard and gave generously for
the church to be built.