On Sunday, April 9, 2017, Prelacy Churches, beautifully adorned with palm fronds and olive branches, were filled with faithful for the celebration of Palm Sunday, the commemoration of our Lord Jesus Christ’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, celebrated Palm Sunday Divine Liturgy at St. Sarkis Church in Pasadena, delivered the sermon, and conducted the Opening of the Doors ceremony symbolizing the Second Coming of Christ and the opening of the doors of salvation. Parish Pastor Rev. Fr. Boghos Baltayan and deacons assisted at the altar. Among the faithful in attendance were representatives of the Executive Council, Delegates, Parish Board of Trustees, sister organizations, and church benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis and Suzan Kitsinian.
The Prelate began his sermon by thanking God for the blessed day and reminding the faithful of the deeply meaningful Holy Week services to follow, leading up to the glorious Resurrection of Christ. His Eminence spoke of Palm Sunday not only as the commemoration of the entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem, but also as the entrance of our Lord into our own individual Jerusalem, our hearts.
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The Prelate centered his sermon on John 12:13, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” noting the absolute joy of the people of the people who had gathered to greet Jesus, especially following His miracles leading up to His entrance, including the resurrection of Lazarus. The Prelate also noted the atmosphere in Jerusalem during this time, where alongside the joy of the people celebrating Passover was the corruption taking place at the temple, which caused Jesus to weep over Jerusalem and subsequently cleanse the temple of those who had turned it into a marketplace.
Thus, the Prelate urged the faithful to open their hearts and allow our Lord and Savior to make a triumphant entry into their hearts and souls, to cleanse them as He cleansed the temple, and urged the older generations to plant seeds of love, peace, goodness, and harmony into the hearts of the younger generations so that they too can experience God’s love and blessings. The Prelate blessed the faithful, and in particular the children, and invited all to joyfully exclaim “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” in the example of the crowds in Jerusalem.
At the conclusion of his sermon, the Prelate exited the church to bless the children and faithful gathered in the courtyard for the Children’s Procession, symbolizing the procession that greeted Jesus during His entrance into Jerusalem.
Afterward, the Prelate returned to the church to continue Divine Liturgy, at the conclusion of which he conducted the Opening of the Doors ceremony.
