On Thursday, February 28, 2019, faithful from Prelacy Churches gathered at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino to collectively commemorate the feast of Sts. Vartanants with Divine Liturgy presided over by H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, and celebrated by Rev. Fr. Arsen Kassabian, Parish Pastor of the Armenian Apostolic Church of North Hollywood. Clergy members participated in the service.
The service dedicated to the feast was conducted prior to the sermon with the singing of the hymn “Norahrash” followed by intercessory prayers.
Fr. Arsen began his sermon by stating that each year we gather on this day to honor the memory of the 1,036 Vartanants saints and to refresh our memory and sentiments toward those who willingly gave their lives for our faith and nation with the conviction that cognizant death is immortality. He noted that though we lost the battle at Avarayar, in the end we were victorious with the treaty of Nvarsag and 1,568 years on we continue to persevere with our faith, language, and culture owing to the faith and sacrifice of the Vartanants saints. Fr. Arsen concluded by stating that today, more than ever, we need heroes like St. Vartan and St. Ghevont to lead us, and stressed the importance of forging a strong sense of national identity in our younger generations and devoting ourselves to the preservation of our faith and heritage in the example of our forefathers.
At the conclusion of Divine Liturgy, faithful joined the clergy in the singing of beloved nationalistic songs. The celebration concluded with “Cilicia” and the Armenian national anthem.