On Tuesday, January 8, 2019, the feast of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ was celebrated at Glendale Memorial Hospital with the blessing of water conducted by H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, assisted by Archpriest Fr. Nareg Pehlivanian, Archpriest Fr. Vazken Atmajian, Archpriest Fr. Gomidas Torossian, and Deacon Raffi Keshishian.
The Prelate and clergy were greeted by hospital President Ms. Jill Welton, Community Health Manager Mrs. Marie Filipian, Director of Mission Integration and Spiritual Care Rev. Cassie McCarty, and staff. Among the guests in attendance were Glendale City Council member Paula Devine, Police Chief Carl Povilaitis and members, Interim Fire Chiefs Silvio Lanzas and Bill Lynch, representatives of elected officials, and ARS members.
Ms. Welton welcomed and thanked the Prelate and clergy for the traditional service and visits to patients throughout the year.
His Eminence greeted the Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital family, wishing them all a healthy, happy, peaceful, and prosperous New Year. He expressed thanks to the Lord for the blessing of another year and the opportunity to once again conduct the blessing of water at Glendale Memorial symbolizing Christ’s revelation as the Son of God during His baptism in the Jordan River. The Prelate emphasized that the Birth of Christ is a powerful, beautiful, and enduring testament of God’s infinite love and faithfulness toward mankind, that God became man to liberate us from the bonds of sin and bring us the hope and promise of everlasting life. In short, He came to grant us a new and abundant life in Him, to bring light and hope to the world. Thus, we must strive to keep the spirit of Christmas and the message of the Nativity and Theophany, which is faithfulness, love, harmony, humility, and goodwill, alive in our hearts throughout the year. The Prelate concluded by commending the administration and faculty for their compassionate care, prayed for the Lord’s peace and protection upon the facility, and for the holy water to cleanse, heal, and renew all in body, mind, and spirit.
The blessing of water, encompassing Gospel readings and hymns, followed. Afterward, the Prelate and clergy blessed a newborn and his mother.