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Armenian Christians' leader to bless church

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  • Armenian Christians' leader to bless church

    Press-Enterprise (subscription), CA
    June 16 2005

    Armenian Christians' leader to bless church

    RELIGION: "This is like our pope," says the pastor. Hundreds are
    expected to attend.

    By DAVID OLSON / The Press-Enterprise


    RANCHO MIRAGE - The pontiff for the world's 7 million Armenian
    Apostolic Christians will visit Rancho Mirage on Friday to bless the
    foundation stone of what will become the first Armenian church
    sanctuary in Riverside County.

    Hundreds of Armenians from Inland Southern California are expected to
    travel to Rancho Mirage to see His Holiness Karekin II, said the Rev.
    Dr. Stepanos Dingilian, pastor of the desert church.

    "This is like our pope," Dingilian said. "For him to take the time to
    come to a small (church) ... like this is really significant."

    Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, will
    also anoint the foundation stone with holy oil, he said. After the
    ceremony, the church will host a reception and banquet for the
    pontiff in the church social hall, where the congregation has been
    worshipping since November, Dingilian said.

    The Rancho Mirage appearance is part of a three-week visit to the
    United States by the pontiff, who lives in Armenia, a former Soviet
    republic in southwestern Asia.

    "His Holiness felt it was important he see this and preside over this
    event as a sign of support and encouragement," said the Rev. Ktrij
    Devejian, the pontiff's foreign press secretary.

    About 100 people attend each of the bimonthly services at the church,
    Dingilian said. There are between 2,000 and 5,000 Armenians in the
    Coachella Valley, he estimated.

    Arthur Swajian's two grandsons, ages 5 and 8, will present flowers to
    Karekin II. Swajian, 85, of Palm Desert, said he has never seen the
    pontiff in person.

    "It's a once-in-a-lifetime event that he is visiting here," he said.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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