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Western Prelacy News - 01/04/2013

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  • Western Prelacy News - 01/04/2013

    January 4, 2013
    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


    PRELACY FREEWAY AND STREET SIGNS INSTALLED

    We are pleased to announce that thanks to the efforts of the H.E.
    Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, Executive Council, and Prelacy
    Real Property Committee, in late December of 2012 freeway and surface street
    signs were installed directing faithful to the Prelacy building.
    Signs have been posted on the 210 Freeway East and West at the
    Lowell and La Tuna Canyon exits, and also near the intersections of Honolulu
    and Lowell and Honolulu and La Tuna Canyon.
    The Prelate, Councils, and Committee members express their
    appreciation to Assemblymember Charles Calderon and L.A. County Supervisor
    Michael Antonovich for their assistance in this endeavor. "We convey our
    thanks and gratitude to Assemblymember Calderon and Supervisor Antonovich
    for their support in facilitating the installment of the signs directing our
    faithful to our headquarters. We treasure their genuine friendship and
    continued support of our endeavors and mission, and we look forward to
    continuing this relationship in the New Year and in the years to come",
    stated the Prelate.


    PRELATE TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS DIVINE LITURGY
    AT HOLY MARTYRS CHURCH IN ENCINO

    On Sunday, January 6th, the Glorious Birth and Theophany of our Lord
    Jesus Christ will be ceremoniously celebrated with Divine Liturgy and the
    blessing of water symbolizing the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan River.
    The Prelate will celebrate Divine Liturgy, deliver the sermon, and
    conduct the blessing of water at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino.
    Catholicosate Seminary Dean H.E. Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, who
    will be in Los Angeles during this time, will celebrate Divine Liturgy and
    deliver the sermon at St. Mary's Church in Glendale.
    On Saturday, January 5th, Christmas Eve Divine Liturgy will be
    celebrated in Prelacy Churches, followed by the lighting of the candles
    service (Jrakalooyots).
    The Prelate will celebrate Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at
    St. Sarkis Church in Pasadena.
    On the morning of Monday, January 7, Christmas memorial day services
    will be held 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.


    CHRISTMAS PRAYER SERVICE AND BLESSING OF WATER
    AT GLENDALE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

    In celebration of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord Jesus
    Christ, on Friday, January 4, 2013, morning service was held and the
    blessing of water ceremony was conducted at Glendale Memorial Hospital.
    H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, led the prayer
    service, conducted the blessing of water, and conveyed his New Year and
    Christmas blessings and well wishes. St. Mary's Church Pastors assisted in
    the service.
    Upon their arrival, the Prelate and St. Mary's Church Pastors were
    greeted by Mr. Jack Ivie, President of Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health
    Center, and led to the auditorium for the service.
    Among the guests in attendance were Glendale City officials,
    hospital Board of Directors members, including Mr. Sarkis Ourfalian,
    Armenian and non-Armenians members of the administration, staff, and
    volunteers. Executive Council member Dr. Dikran Babikian was also present.
    During the service, the Prelate explained the meaning of the
    blessing of water, which symbolizes the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan
    River. His Eminence also explained that in the Armenian Church Holy Chrism
    is used to bless the water. Guests listened intently as the Prelate
    interestingly gave a history of the Holy Chrism explaining that every time a
    new batch is prepared, the remaining portion of the previous oil is poured
    in with the new, a procedure which has been followed for generations, thus
    the holy oil always contains small amounts from the original oil blessed
    over 1700 years ago by St. Gregory the Illuminator.
    Mr. Jack Ivie thanked the Prelate for this annual service and also
    for his explanation of the ceremony, stating that he has attended Armenian
    Christmas service in the past but was not aware of the history behind the
    traditions.
    The Prelate and Pastors distributed the blessed water to the guests,
    after which they were hosted to a reception by the Board and administration.



    CHRISTMAS SERVICE AT ARARAT HOME

    It has become a beautiful tradition within the Western Prelacy for
    clergy to visit Ararat Home at the start of each New Year to convey their
    New Year blessings and spread Christmas joy and tidings to the
    administration and residents.
    Continuing this tradition, on the morning of Wednesday, January 2nd,
    2013, Christmas service was held at Ararat Home in Mission Hills led by the
    Prelate, and with the participation of clergy members.
    The service began at 10:00 a.m. at the nursing facility dining room
    with the Prelate conveying his blessings and wishes for a happy New Year to
    the residents. Following the singing of hymns dedicated to the Nativity and
    Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Prelate conducted the blessing of
    water, bread, and salt. Residents were then offered Holy Communion.
    Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Sheen Chapel beginning at 10:30
    a.m. St. Mary's Church Pastor Rev. Gomidas Torossian celebrated Divine
    Liturgy and delivered the sermon. Holy Communion was offered to the
    faithful, after which the Prelate presided over the blessing of water.
    The Prelate and clergy were then hosted to a luncheon by the
    administration.


    PRELATE CONVEYS NEW YEAR AND CHRISTMAS
    WELL WISHES

    In mid-December, the Prelate sent congratulatory letters to His
    Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, Diocesan
    Archbishops, leaders of Armenian Catholic and Evangelical Churches, Oriental
    Orthodox and Maronite Churches, Consul Generals of Armenia and Lebanon,
    Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan, Pastors and Boards of Trustees,
    conveying his blessings and well wishes on the threshold of the New Year and
    Feast of the Birth and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    In his letter the Prelate noted, "Today in this ever-increasing
    chaotic and unstable world filled with economic crises and conflicts,
    mankind is more than ever in need of the good tidings of love, hope, peace,
    and harmony revealed centuries ago in that humble manger in Bethlehem. The
    Birth of our Savior heralded that at the heart of the world is One Who has
    boundless love and compassion for all who suffer, and as faithful
    Christians, we will draw strength from the promise of peace in the message
    of the angels and continue to be messengers of those good tidings and strive
    for a world that is just and peaceful. With these sentiments and with the
    promise to embody the message of the Birth of our Lord in our lives, we
    welcome a New Year and celebrate the "Great and Marvelous Mystery" of the
    Nativity as we join the angels of that first Christmas and proclaim in
    unison, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward
    men."
    The Prelate also received letters of good wishes from Clergy and
    dignitaries.


    PRELATE ATTENDS CHRISTMAS RECEPTIONS

    At the start of the New Year, a number of our sister organizations
    are hosting Christmas gatherings to celebrate the upcoming Feast of the
    Nativity and Theophany of our Lord.
    On Wednesday, January 2nd, the Prelate, accompanied by Rev. Fr.
    Ardak Demirjian, attended a reception hosted by the Armenian Relief
    Society-Western Region Executive and conveyed his New Year and Christmas
    blessings and well wishes. On this occasion, the Prelate presented the ARS
    member with newly published color illustrated copies of the Lords' Prayer.
    On Thursday, January 3rd, the Prelate, accompanied by Rev. Fr.
    Gomidas Torossian, attended a reception organized by Homenetmen Western
    Region Executive at their center in Glendale and conveyed his blessings and
    well wishes. The Prelate also presented Homenetmen members with copies of
    the Lords' Prayer.

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