May 29, 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: www.westernprelacy.org

DIVINE LITURGY AT THE PRELACY CHAPEL ON
THE FEAST OF ST. DERTAD AND ST. ASHKHEN

On Saturday, June 14th, the Armenian Church will celebrate the Feast
of St. Dertad and St. Ashkhen, the first Christian king and queen of the
Armenian nation. This feast is also the name day of the Prelacy "St. Dertad
and St. Ashkhen" Chapel.
On this occasion, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate,
will preside over Divine Liturgy and madaghorhnek at the Chapel at 7:00 p.m.
Rev. Fr. Ardag Demirjian, Pastor of St. Mary's Church in Glendale,
will celebrate Divine Liturgy.


ON THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

THANKSGIVING PRAYERS FOR THE REPUBLIC AND
BLESSING OF THE FLAG IN ALL PRELACY CHURCHES

On Sunday, May 25th, the Feast of Holy Etchmiadzin as well as the
90th anniversary of the first Republic of Armenia was celebrated in all
Prelacy churches with thanksgiving prayers for the Republic and the blessing
of the Armenian flag.
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, presided over Divine
Liturgy and thanksgiving prayers for the Republic at Forty Martyrs Church in
Orange County, and conducted the blessing of the flag ceremony. H.E.
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern United States, also
participated in the Liturgy.
The ceremony began with Homenetmen scouts carrying the Armenian,
American, Artsakh, and Homenetmen flags into the church, accompanied by the
singing of hymns. Following the offering of prayers and thanksgiving, the
Prelate blessed the Armenian flag and offered his well wishes to the
Republic of Armenia including the Parliament, military, and the citizens.
In his message, which was read in all Prelacy churches, the Prelate
spoke of the spirit of our struggle, stressing that the history of the
Armenian people has been a struggle for the truth, for our faith, for
freedom, and for our survival. This same struggle resumed with new heroes
and new triumphs during the liberation of Artsakh, the 20th anniversary of
which was celebrated this year, said the Prelate. The Prelate concluded that
if we lose the spirit of May 28, we risk losing our homeland, our nation,
and our existence.
At the conclusion of Divine Liturgy, the Prelate presided over the
requiem service during which prayers were offered for those who lost their
lives fighting at Sardarabad, Pash Abaran, Gharakilise, and in all the
battles for independence in 1918, as well as in Artsakh.



ARMENIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY FESTIVAL
IN LITTLE ARMENIA

The third annual Armenian Independence Day Festival will take place
on Sunday, June 1st, in the Little Armenia district of Hollywood, from 11:00
a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Pastor of St. Garabed Church Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian will
attend on behalf of the Prelate.
The festival is being sponsored by Los Angeles City Council
President Eric Garcetti, whose district encompasses Little Armenia.