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Western Prelacy News - 02/27/2015

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  • Western Prelacy News - 02/27/2015

    February 27, 2015
    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


    PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER DIVINE LITURGY AT
    HOLY CROSS CATHEDRAL IN MONTEBELLO

    Sunday, March 1, 2015 is the third Sunday of Lent, known as Sunday
    of the Prodigal Son. H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, will
    preside over Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at Holy Cross Cathedral
    in Montebello.

    ***

    PRELATE LECTURES ON THE CANONIZATION
    OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MARTYRS

    On Sunday, February 22, 2015, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
    Prelate, presided over Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon at the
    Armenian Apostolic Church of Crescenta Valley. Following the service, by the
    invitation of the parish Educational Committee, the Prelate delivered a
    lecture on the canonization of Armenian Genocide martyrs.
    The day began with Divine Liturgy celebrated by parish pastor Rev.
    Fr. Ghevont Kirazian. By the ordinance of the Prelate and at the request of
    the Armenian Relief Society Regional Executive, on this day requiem prayers
    were offered in Prelacy Churches in memory of departed ARS members and
    sponsors.
    Near the conclusion of the service, on behalf of the parish family,
    Fr. Ghevont welcomed the Prelate and wished for God to bless him with many
    years of good health and leadership of the Western Prelacy. He then invited
    the Prelate to deliver the sermon.
    His Eminence began by explaining the meaning and message of each
    Sunday of Great Lent, then focused on the message of that day, Sunday of the
    Expulsion, which recounts the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise. Last
    Sunday, on the eve of Great Lent, we celebrated the good life that Adam and
    Eve enjoyed in Paradise in the presence of God. This Sunday, we recall the
    consequences when they disobeyed God's commandment, said the Prelate.
    However, it was not the will of our merciful Lord for man to live a life
    apart from Him, for man to be consumed with sin and death. And so, God
    opened the path for our return to Him, He gives us the opportunity for
    redemption, through sincere repentance and confession, concluded the
    Prelate.
    His Eminence then conveyed his message to the Armenian Relief
    Society commending the organization's invaluable contributions to our nation
    in the past 105 years and praying for the souls of the departed to rest in
    peace. The service came to a close with the requiem. Guests enjoyed a
    reception prepared by the parish Ladies Guild, after which they took their
    seats at the `Dikran and Zarouhie Der Ghazarian' Hall for the Prelate's
    lecture.
    Parish Board of Trustees Chair and Master of Ceremonies Mr. Dikran
    Der Sarkissian welcomed the guests and invited violinist Ophelia Nanakoulian
    and pianist Shoushan Hagopian to present two musical selections. He then
    invited the Prelate to deliver his presentation. His Eminence first
    commended the Parish Pastor, Board of Trustees, and Educational Committee
    for their hard work in organizing the monthly lecture series, and then began
    his lecture, giving unique insight to the guests as a member of the
    Canonization Committee.
    The Prelate began by noting that preliminary discussions to canonize
    the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide began twenty-five years ago, on the
    75th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, by His Holiness Vazken I and His
    Holiness Karekin II of blessed memory. At the time, Archbishop Zareh
    Aznavorian of blessed memory composed the hymn dedicated to the martyrs,
    which the Prelate read passages from. The hymn memorializes our martyrs who
    shed their blood for the preservation of our Christian faith, our Armenian
    identity, and our religious and cultural treasures.
    His Eminence spoke about the two Bishops' Synods that were held in
    Etchmiadzin in 2013 and 2014, stating that one of the issues discussed was
    whether the martyrs should be canonized as individuals or collectively.
    After lengthy deliberations, the Canonization Committee had decided that at
    this stage, the martyrs would be canonized collectively, as the 1036 martyrs
    of the Vartanants battle were. The Committee had also prepared the
    declaration, the martyrology, and the procedure for the ceremony, which were
    presented and approved by the Bishops' Synod. Archbishop Zareh's Hymn
    Dedicated to the Martyrs of April was also adopted for the ceremony, which
    will be conducted on April 23 in Etchmiadzin by H.H. Karekin II, Catholicos
    of all Armenians, and H.H. Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.

    The Prelate explained the various conditions required for
    canonization; a virtuous life, the embodiment of Christian virtues and the
    presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives, martyrdom as a profession of
    faith, the presence of miracles during their life, the incorruptibility of
    relics, thaumaturgical power of relics, reveal signs of God's authority in
    response to prayers for intercession by faithful, and witnessing for the
    spread of the Christian faith, for the defense of the church and the
    Orthodox tenet, and for God's Word. In the past, said His Eminence, people
    have been regarded as saints for miracles performed during their lifetime,
    while in the case of others, their relics have been found by future
    generations by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. There are also martyrs
    who were proclaimed saints by Catholicoi, or who were honored with special
    feast days.
    In the last part of this lecture, His Eminence explained that status
    of our martyrs post-canonization. He first clarified that we do not worship
    saints, we seek their intercession. Also, upon canonization, we will no
    longer offer requiem prayers for them, instead they will be remembered
    during Divine Liturgy.
    A question and answer session followed and the event came to a close
    with the benediction.

    ***

    PRELATE PRESIDES OVER SUNRISE SERVICE AT ST. MARY'S CHURCH AND PRELACY
    LADIES AUXILIARY LENT LUNCHEON

    On Wednesday, February 25, 2015, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
    Mardirossian, Prelate, presided over Lent Sunrise Service at St. Mary's
    Church in Glendale, and later over the Western Prelacy Ladies Auxiliary
    annual Lenten lunch.
    The Sunrise Service commenced with the Lord's Prayer and continued
    with psalms and hymns. Rev. Fr. Boghos Tinkjian, Archpriest Fr. Nareg
    Pehlivanian, and St. Mary's Church pastors Rev. Fr. Vazken Atmajian, Rev.
    Fr. Gomidas Torossian, and Rev. Fr. Ardak Demirjian participated in the
    service.
    Rev. Fr. Boghos Tinkjian delivered the meditation, in which he spoke
    to the faithful about the true meaning of Lent, stating that Lent is not
    about restricting the body of certain foods, rather feeding and nourishing
    the soul. Lent prepares us to stand before God with strengthened spirits,
    just as Moses fasted before he ascended Mt. Sinai to receive the Ten
    Commandments, and Lent strengthens our spirit so that we can resist
    temptation, as Jesus resisted when He was tested in the desert following His
    fast, said Fr. Boghos.
    The clergy then recited the renunciation against evil, followed by
    the profession of faith to the tenets of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the
    confession and dismissal, and `Lord have mercy', in which the faithful
    joined. The spiritually stirring service concluded with the Lord's Prayer.
    The Lenten lunch followed at Impressions Banquet Hall in Glendale
    with the participation of 250 Prelacy sponsors and friends. The program
    began with welcoming remarks delivered by Ladies Auxiliary member Mrs.
    Alvard Barseghian. The Prelate commended the members of the Ladies Auxiliary
    for their hard work and also thanked the guests for their support, and after
    the blessing of tables invited Fr. Boghos Tinkjian to speak to the guests
    about Great Lent.
    Fr. Boghos spoke about the meaning and message behind each Sunday of
    Great Lent which inspire us toward a spiritually fulfilling Lenten journey.
    Guests also enjoyed a cultural program of songs, dances, and
    recitations presented by Chamlian School students.
    Encouraged by the festive atmosphere, donations were made throughout
    the joyous and memorable afternoon.

    ***

    CHAMLIAN SCHOOL 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

    On Saturday, February 21, 2015, Vahan and Anoush Chamlian School
    celebrated the 40th anniversary of its establishment with a gala banquet
    held at Taglyan Hall in Hollywood. H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
    presided over the banquet, during which sixteen teachers and administrators
    who have served at the school for over twenty years were honored. Executive
    Council member Mr. Meher Der Ohanessian was among the guests in attendance.
    The program officially commenced with the invocation by Rev. Fr.
    Vazken Atmajian invocation. Principal Dr. Talin Kargodorian congratulated
    and expressed gratitude to the evening's honorees and to all those who have
    played a part in the progress of the school in the last forty years, in
    particular former Principal Mr. Vazken Madenlian for his 23 years of
    dedicated service.
    In his message, the Prelate noted that the celebration of Chamlian's
    40th anniversary on the eve of the Armenian Genocide Centennial is a symbol
    of our nation's rebirth and a resounding message to Turkey that the Armenian
    people live on. It is a day of great joy and pride not just for the school
    but for the extended Prelacy family and for the community, because united
    efforts and collective support has led to the success of the school since
    its founding. Thus, he commended and congratulated the dedicated service of
    the honorees and that of all the teachers, the parents for entrusting the
    instruction of their children to the school, the sponsors for their valuable
    contributions, and also the alumni, many of whom have reached prominent
    positions and bring pride to their school as former students. His Eminence
    paid special tribute to the late Stepan Kabadayan for his invaluable service
    to the advancement of the Armenian Church and to the founding of Chamlian
    School, and expressed gratitude to benefactors Vahan and Anoush Chamlian,
    for their generosity, for which the school was dedicated in their honor.
    Finally, he commended the past and current pastors and board members of St.
    Mary's Church for their patronage of the school. The Prelate then announced
    that in response to a request he had made to His Holiness Aram I, our
    Pontiff was honoring Chamlian School with a Pontifical Letter of Blessing,
    which His Eminence read and presented to the Principal.

    ***

    AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA REPRESENTATIVES
    VISIT THE PRELACY

    On Friday, February 27, 2015, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
    Prelate, welcomed representatives from the American University of Armenia
    (AUA), Arina Zohrabian, Director of Admissions, and Mato Senekeremian,
    Assistant Director of Development at AUA Corporation who had come to the
    Prelacy to present the various study opportunities available at the AUA for
    local Armenian-American students, including summer programs, study abroad,
    and more.
    The representatives reported that they have been visiting local
    Armenian Schools this past week to spread the word aboutsummer and study
    abroad programs, a full four-year undergraduate program, and Master's
    programs.
    The Prelate commended the guests for their hard work and wished them
    success in this and future endeavors.

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