Tweet
Pasadena Star-News, CA
San Gabriel Valley Tribune, CA
Whittier Daily News, CA
June 11 2005
Renewing bonds to Armenia
Church leader consecrates items for church during visit
By Marshall Allen , Staff Writer
PASADENA -- When His Holiness Karekin II, pontiff of all Armenians,
entered the church hall Friday night, he was crowded by parishioners.
Karekin II held a scepter in his left hand and a gold cross in his
right. The cross he extended to members of the crowd, touching it
lightly on their heads or shoulders, blessing them.
The processional into St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church was
led by a cross bearer, holding the Christian symbol high. The
sweetness of incense symbolizing prayers rising to heaven wafted
through the room.
One of the deacons, wearing a robe of maroon velvet and gold satin,
carried the "Khachkar,' an ornate cross carved into a white stone
tablet. Later in the ceremony, the stone cross was washed in water
and wine and consecrated with holy oil by Karekin II.
About 500 people, most of them church members or their guests,
crowded the banquet room. It was the pontiff's final event of his
10-day visit to Los Angeles, a momentous honor for the 153,000
Armenians who live in Los Angeles County. There are about 775,000
members of the Armenian Church in the United States.
"We're a handful of people the Armenians worldwide we're scattered
like leaves to the wind,' said Nicholas Lambajian, 36, of Pasadena.
"Every time he visits our bonds to our church are renewed; our bonds
to our homeland are renewed. It makes us feel just a little bit more
Armenian, even though we're proud to be Americans.'
Lambajian is chairman of the church's building committee, a $2.3
million project scheduled to be completed Nov. 29. Friday's
processional began a service where Karekin II consecrated five items
for the new church. They included the stone cross and four paintings.
The ceremony also included the delivery of an encyclical to church
member Richard Mushegain, a leader in the local Armenian community.
Mushegain said that Karekin II's visit is a way to establish ties
between Armenia and the United States.
The pontifical visit was also an opportunity to reach out to other
groups, he said. Karekin II visited Childrens Hospital of Los
Angeles, where he thanked officials for establishing a relationship
with two pediatric hospitals in Armenia, Mushegain said.
The visit by Karekin II was his second to St. Gregory since he was
elected Supreme Patriarch in 1999.
San Gabriel Valley Tribune, CA
Whittier Daily News, CA
June 11 2005
Renewing bonds to Armenia
Church leader consecrates items for church during visit
By Marshall Allen , Staff Writer
PASADENA -- When His Holiness Karekin II, pontiff of all Armenians,
entered the church hall Friday night, he was crowded by parishioners.
Karekin II held a scepter in his left hand and a gold cross in his
right. The cross he extended to members of the crowd, touching it
lightly on their heads or shoulders, blessing them.
The processional into St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church was
led by a cross bearer, holding the Christian symbol high. The
sweetness of incense symbolizing prayers rising to heaven wafted
through the room.
One of the deacons, wearing a robe of maroon velvet and gold satin,
carried the "Khachkar,' an ornate cross carved into a white stone
tablet. Later in the ceremony, the stone cross was washed in water
and wine and consecrated with holy oil by Karekin II.
About 500 people, most of them church members or their guests,
crowded the banquet room. It was the pontiff's final event of his
10-day visit to Los Angeles, a momentous honor for the 153,000
Armenians who live in Los Angeles County. There are about 775,000
members of the Armenian Church in the United States.
"We're a handful of people the Armenians worldwide we're scattered
like leaves to the wind,' said Nicholas Lambajian, 36, of Pasadena.
"Every time he visits our bonds to our church are renewed; our bonds
to our homeland are renewed. It makes us feel just a little bit more
Armenian, even though we're proud to be Americans.'
Lambajian is chairman of the church's building committee, a $2.3
million project scheduled to be completed Nov. 29. Friday's
processional began a service where Karekin II consecrated five items
for the new church. They included the stone cross and four paintings.
The ceremony also included the delivery of an encyclical to church
member Richard Mushegain, a leader in the local Armenian community.
Mushegain said that Karekin II's visit is a way to establish ties
between Armenia and the United States.
The pontifical visit was also an opportunity to reach out to other
groups, he said. Karekin II visited Childrens Hospital of Los
Angeles, where he thanked officials for establishing a relationship
with two pediatric hospitals in Armenia, Mushegain said.
The visit by Karekin II was his second to St. Gregory since he was
elected Supreme Patriarch in 1999.