On the evening of Friday, August 12, 2016, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, accompanied by Archpriest Fr. Nareg Pehlivanian, Rev. Fr. Gomidas Torossian, Rev. Fr. Boghos Baltayan, and Rev. Fr. Ghevont Kirazian, visited the Armenian Ecclesiastical Brotherhood center in Glendale where a special fellowship service was held in celebration of the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God.
The evening began with the Lord’s Prayer, followed by welcoming remarks by Chairman Avo Kabakjouzian, who gave thanks to God for the collective service and thanked the Prelate for his care and support of the Brotherhood in the past twenty years.
Next, young members of the Brotherhood presented an inspiring program of psalms, hymns, and religious songs.
The Prelate blessed and commended the youth for their beautiful presentations and presented them with mementos. Thereafter, the Prelate and clergy presented a medley of hymns dedicated to the Holy mother of God, after which the Prelate delivered his message, which he began by commending the Brotherhood members for their dedicated service to God and our church. His Eminence reflected on the virtuous life and ideal example of the Holy Mother of God as a model of humility, devotion, and obedience to God’s will, stating that “the Mother of God is the mother of mercy for us all.” Referencing the thoughts of Catholicos Hovhan Mantagouni, that prayer and repentance heals spiritual ailments just as medicine heals physical ailments, the Prelate advised the attendees to pray incessantly and to seek the intercession of the Holy Mother of God.
The service came to a close with “Lord have mercy” prayers and the benediction by the Prelate, after which Brotherhood members hosted a reception for visiting clergy.