On Friday, March 3rd, 2017 the 47th annual Women’s World Day of Prayer was held at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Catholic Church in Glendale with the participation of clergy and faithful from Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, Evangelical, Nazarene, and Brotherhood Churches in the greater Los Angeles area. H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, participated in the ceremony accompanied by Archpriest Fr. Nareg Pehlivanian, Archpriest Fr. Gomidas Torossian, Rev. Fr. Ardak Demirjian, and Rev. Fr. Ghevont Kirazian.
This year’s theme was “Am I Being Unfair To You” from The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard in Matthew 20:1-16. The program began with the clergy processional and continued with prayers, hymns, Psalm readings, Scripture readings, reflections, messages, and remarks.
The Prelate delivered closing remarks and the benediction, which he began by thanking God for the wonderful opportunity for women across the globe to gather for prayer and fellowship. Referencing the following verse from the Divine Liturgy, “You are the fulfillment of the Law and the prophets, O Christ God, our Savior, Who fulfilled all dispensations willed by the Father. Fill us also with Your Holy Spirit,” the Prelate asked “Can we all avow that we are filled with the Holy Spirit at this moment? As worthy laborers in the Lord’s vineyard, are we faithful in our calling? Do we confess that our God is a just God Who showers His grace upon us, and do we live and serve according to the blessings He bestows upon us?” Even though we witness injustices in this world, let us be certain that God is a righteous judge Who fulfills all of His promises, stated the Prelate. His Eminence commended the organizers and participants and wished that they continue their God-pleasing path strengthened and inspired by the Holy Spirit, and concluded with the following prayer from I Confess With Faith by St. Nerses the Graceful, “Righteous Judge, when You come in the glory of the Father to judge the living and the dead, enter not into judgment with Your servant, but deliver me from the eternal fire and make me hear the blissful calling of the just to Your heavenly kingdom.”
The program concluded with the Lord’s Prayer.
