On Sunday, April 8, 2018, New Sunday or Second Easter, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, celebrated Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon at the Armenian Apostolic Church of North Hollywood. During Divine Liturgy, the Prelate presented “St. Vartan” and “Kayl Vahan” medals to young Homenetmen scouts who successfully completed the religious curriculum. Parish Pastor Archpriest Fr. Nareg Pehlivanian assisted at the altar. Members of Homenetmen Western Regional Executive and Scouting Council were in attendance.
Prior to the sermon, the Prelate blessed the “St. Vartan” and “Kayl Vahan”medals and presented them to the scouts along with gift crosses and copies of “I confess with faith” prayer book. He commended the Homenetmen family and in particular the scouts who earned the medals in this historic year when we celebrate the centennial of the first Republic of Armenia and of Homenetmen, stating, “If we didn’t have individuals like Kayl Vahan, St. Vartan, and heroes like them, exemplars of allegiance, faithfulness, and love for God, our Church, and nation, we would not have independence today.” He prayed for God to keep the youth on the right path and for them to grow to become exemplary Christians and Armenians.
The Prelate spoke of Eastertide, the fifty-day period from Easter to the Pentecost, noting that it is an important time of renewal and strengthening of our faith, as well as on the message of New Sunday as a new beginning. “New Sunday is a day to once again joyfully proclaim our Lord Jesus Christ’s victory over death and granting of new life to mankind. Christ illuminated our lives, souls, and our entire beings with His Light, cast out the darkness of ignorance from within us, and shined the Light of His wisdom in our hearts and souls, granting new life and a new beginning for all of mankind,” he said. Citing the words of Jesus to the Apostle Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” the Prelate noted that Thomas witnessed Christ’s dominion with his spiritual eyes and it’s not so much that he doubted the Resurrection of Christ for wanting to touch His wound, rather that he sought to show proof of the Resurrection for mankind. Blessed also are those today, including us, who centuries on believe without having seen firsthand, he said, and concluded by urging the faithful to taking example from the Apostles who believed and were renewed and emboldened in faith and in hope and embarked on a new life and mission.
Requiem service was held at the conclusion of Divine Liturgy, and the service closed with “Cilicia.”
