Saturday, March 9, 2013 was the Feast of the Forty Martyrs, a feast revered by the Armenian Church commemorating the steadfast faith and courage of the forty young soldiers who refused to renounce their Christian faith and instead chose willingly to give their lives, thus becoming worth of God’s grace and eternal life. This feast is also the name day celebration of Armenian Churches throughout the world bearing the name of the Forty Martyrs, among them our Church in Orange County.
On this occasion, on Sunday, March 10, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, celebrated Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon at Forty Martyrs Church in Orange County. Parish Pastor Archpriest Fr. Nareg Pehlivanian assisted at the altar. Former Pastor Archpriest Fr. Hrant Yeretzian also participated in the service.
The Prelate began his sermon with a passage from the hymn dedicated to the Forty Martyrs, asking for the prayer and intercession of the forty brave young souls on our behalf. “Great Lent and this feast and name day are an invitation for incessant prayer.
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There will always be trials and difficulties in our lives, but we must remain constant in our prayers and never falter in our faith no matter the circumstances, in the courageous example of the Forty Martyrs. As children of the Armenian Apostolic Church, we are one entity; prayer must be a constant in our daily individual and collective lives, and our faith and prayers must guide us in our service to our people. On this name day celebration, let us vow that we will always remain steadfast in our faith and prayers, and submit ourselves fully to God’s will”, concluded the Prelate.
The Prelate then presided over the requiem service, during which prayers were offered for the souls of departed Church servants and sponsors.
At the conclusion of the service, the Prelate was led in a procession to “Gugasian” Hall where be conducted the blessing of madagh which was prepared by the Parish Ladies Guild. The Prelate commended the members of the Ladies Guild for their dedicated service, and the celebration came to a close with the benediction and Cilician anthem. Guests then enjoyed a luncheon of the day’s madagh.
