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Western Prelacy News - 09/14/2007

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  • Western Prelacy News - 09/14/2007

    September 14, 2007

    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: www.westernprelacy.org


    DIVINE LITURGY ON THE FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS



    Sunday, September 16, is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
    as well as the name day of Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello.

    On this occasion, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate,
    will celebrate Divine Liturgy at Holy Cross Cathedral where he
    will also deliver the sermon.

    Following church services the Prelate and parish pastors will
    preside over madaghorhnek at `Bagramian' Hall.



    MEETING OF THE PRELATES AND COUNCIL MEMBERS OF NORTH AMERICA AND
    CANADA



    The Prelates of the Western United States, Eastern United States, and
    Canada, a representative of the Central Executive Council of the
    Catholicosate ofCilicia, and representatives of the Executive Councils
    of the three Prelacies held a joint meeting on Tuesday, September 11,
    at the offices of the Western Prelacy, in order to examine and plan
    joint programs.

    Participating in the meeting were: His Eminence Archbishop
    Oshagan Choloyan, Prelateof the Eastern Prelacy; His Eminence
    Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy; His
    Eminence Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelateof the Prelacy of Canada;
    V. Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian, chairman of the Religious Council (Western
    Prelacy); Mr. Khajag Dikijian, Central Executive Council
    representative; Jack Mardoian, Esq., chairman of the Executive Council
    ofthe Eastern Prelacy; and Dr. Garo Agopian, chairman of the Executive
    Council of the Western Prelacy. Participating in the meeting later in
    the day was V. Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian, vice chairman of the
    Religious Council (Western Prelacy).



    PRAYER SERVICE

    Prior tothe formal opening of the meeting, a prayer service took
    place in the Sts. Drtad and Ashken Chapel, with special remembrance of
    the victims of the attacks that took place exactly six years ago on
    September 11, 2001, in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania.



    MEETING

    The first session of the meeting convened at 11:30 a.m. The major
    items on the agenda concerned joint projects, especially because next
    year is the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Church in America, and
    the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy under the jurisdiction of the
    Catholicosate of Cilicia. Next year is also the 35th anniversary of
    the Western Prelacy and the 7th anniversary of the Canadian
    Prelacy. In light of these anniversaries, all three North American
    Prelacies are planning celebrations that require coordination and
    diligentwork.

    The meeting participants thoroughly studied the upcoming 50th
    anniversary. They discussed proposed plans and made decisions relative
    to this anniversary.

    Guiding the participants was a letter from His Holiness Aram I,
    Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, who advised the three
    Prelates to centralize their efforts in the field of religious and
    national education, youth gatherings, andthe Blessing of the Holy
    Muron which will take place next year in Antelias.

    The three Prelates each expressed their thoughts, and praised the
    importance of thisand future similar meetings. It was noted that
    although the Prelates have previously met, this was the first meeting
    of the Prelates with representatives of each Council. The
    representatives of the Central Executive Council andthe Executive
    Councils expressed their views and agreed on the importance of united
    joint endeavors.

    The meeting reviewed the list of joint publications and noted
    that the New Testamentand Psalms are already published, and the new
    Devine Liturgy Pew Book and the Clergy Handbook are being prepared.

    Before discussing educational matters, the meeting participants
    made note of the following:

    1. Vehapar's visit last December began an inter-Prelacy effort
    for youth gatherings. It is imperative to give further effort and make
    plans in this area.

    2. An international youth gathering will take place in Antelias,
    August 13-20, 2008.The three Prelacies must work to encourage
    participants from all areas.

    3. Next year, on June 7, 2008, His Holiness Aram I, will bless
    the Holy Muron in Antelias. The three Prelacies will develop and
    organize plans to encourage large numbers of the Faithful to join in
    pilgrimages to Antelias on this historic occasion.



    EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

    After a lunch break, the participants continued their meeting with
    discussions centered on religious and national education questions.

    Discussed were: Current religious and national educational programs,
    with special attention to texts for Christian education for use in
    Sunday schools, especially for those children who have been raised in
    North America, and the need toprepare teachers. The participants felt
    it vital that each Prelacy form a committee in order to bring forward
    concerns and plans in the field of education.

    The participants also discussed the question of inter-Prelacy youth
    gatherings, the importance of regular gatherings and the question of
    organizing the youth. It was suggested that inter-Prelacy youth
    gatherings take place every two years and to delegate this program to
    a special committee.

    The final portion of the meeting was devoted to questions connected to
    the general programs of the three Prelacies.

    The participants reiterated their belief that such meetings are very
    helpful for theexchange of experiences and ideas, the cultivation of
    joint programs, as well as the advancement of the mission of the Holy
    See of Cilicia in a productive manner.





    PRELATE PARTICIPATES IN THE LOGO UNVEILING

    OF THE ARMENIA FUND TELETHON



    On the evening of Wednesday, September 12, the logo unveiling of the
    upcoming Armenia Fund Telethon took place in the courtyard of Alex
    Theatre in Glendale. Participating in the unveiling was President
    Mrs. Maria Mehranian, Consul General the Honorable Armen Liloyan,
    Glendale city Mayor Mr. Ara Najarian as well as city council members,
    representatives of community organizations, supporters, and friends.

    The Prelate attended the unveiling where he conveyed his blessings to
    the organization. Accompanying the Prelate were Christian Education
    Department Co-Director Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian, Rev. Vazken
    Atmajian and Rev. Ardag Demirjian, pastors of St. Mary's Church, and
    Rev. Nareg Pehlivanian, pastor of Holy Cross Cathedral.





    DELEGATION FROM THE A.R.S. REGIONAL EXECUTIVE VISITS THE PRELACY



    On the evening of Thursday, September 13, a delegation from the
    Armenian Relief Society Regional Executive of the Western United
    States visited the Prelacy. The delegation was headed by Chair of the
    Regional Executive Mrs. SoniaPeltekian, accompanied by Mrs. Seta
    Kojayan, Mrs. Rima Boghossian, and Mrs.Sona Bostanian. Also
    participated in the meeting was Prelacy Executive Council Vice-Chair
    Dr. Hagop Der Megerdichian.

    The members of the delegation once again congratulated the Prelate on
    the new headquarters and detailed the activities and future projects
    of the newly elected Executive, especially their efforts to aid the
    Armenian community in Iraq.

    The Prelate in turn familiarized the delegation with the various
    departments of the Prelacy and the work carried out by each, and
    commended the members for their commitment to providing assistance to
    the Armenian community





    PRELATE CELEBRATES DIVINE LITURGY AT THE CRESCENTA VALLY PARISH



    On Sunday, September 9, the Crescenta Valley parish celebrated its two
    yearanniversary with Divine Liturgy celebrated by H.E. Archbishop
    Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, who was assisted at the altar by Very
    Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian and Rev. Ardag Demirjian.

    The daily gospel reading was from Mark 7:31-37 which tells of how
    Jesus visited Decapolis where He performed a miracle by placing His
    hand on the ears and tongue of one who was deaf and had a speech
    impediment and opened his ears and cured his speech impediment,
    stressing that even today it is Jesus who makes the deaf hear and the
    mute speak blessing the worthy ones with the ability tohear the truth
    and to speak with courage.

    At the conclusion of Divine Liturgy, the Prelate headed in a
    procession to the hall adjacent to the church where he presided over
    the official opening of the hall. In his remarks the Prelate first
    thanked God for His blessings. He also commended the Board of
    Trustees, Delegates, Ladies Auxiliary, acolytes and choir members for
    their devotion and service to the parish, and congratulated them on
    the second anniversary of the establishment of the parish expressing
    his wishes for the community to have its own church in the near
    future.

    During the ensuing reception, remarks were made by Rev. Ardag
    Demirjian and Board ofTrustees Chairman Mr. Dikran Der Sarkissian,
    both of whom expressed their gratitude to the Prelate and to all those
    who tirelessly serve towards the development of the parish. Mr. Der
    Sarkissian also announced that by theordinance of the Prelate, Bible
    study classes will be offered in the newly opened hall by Very
    Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian on Wednesday evenings and by Very
    Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian on Monday evenings for the youth group.
    Sunday School classes will also be taught in the new building.

    The reception came to a close with the Prelate's benediction.





    DELEGATION FROM THE ARMENIAN EVANGELICAL UNION VISITS THE PRELACY



    On the afternoon of Monday, September 10, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
    Mardirossian, Prelate, welcomed a delegation of representatives from
    the Armenian Evangelical Union to the Prelacy headquarters.

    The delegation was comprised of Rev. Ron Tovmassian, President of the
    Armenian Evangelical Union, Rev. Joe Matossian, Minister of the Union,
    Rev. Dikran Shanlian, Rev. Habib Alajaji, Rev. Hovannes Melkonian,
    Rev. Hrag Karagozian, Mr. Harold Demirjian, and Mr. Zaven Khanjian.
    Also participating in the meeting were Very Rev. Fathers Muron
    Aznikian and Barthev Gulumian, Religious Council Chair and Vice-Chair
    respectively, Executive Council Vice-Chair Dr. Hagop Der Megerdichian,
    and Treasurer Mr. Vahan Bezdikian.

    The meeting began with the Prelate presenting the guests with a brief
    outline of theendeavors of the Prelacy and its affiliated bodies,
    focusing on the activities of the Christian Education Department,
    which encompasses Bible study sessions, and religious education in
    Sunday Schools as well as day schools. The guests congratulated the
    Prelate on the new headquarters and expressed appreciation for the
    close collaboration that exists between the two Churches.

    The meeting concluded with the exchange of mementos and with the
    guests receiving a tour of the headquarters to become more closely
    familiarized with the various departments of the Prelacy.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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