His Beatitude Mar Louis Raphael I Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church of Babylon, is currently on a pastoral visit to the United States. On Thursday, August 31, 2017, the Patriarch was welcomed by his flock at St. Paul Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church in North Hollywood, where the Armenian Apostolic Church of North Hollywood holds its services. Patriarch Sako presided over a prayer service, conveyed his blessings, and introduced to the community the new Bishop of the Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle of San Diego, H.E. Mar Emanuel Shaleta.
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, participated in the service, accompanied by Very Rev. Fr. Torkom Donoyan, Vicar General, and Archpriest Fr. Nareg Pehlivanian, Pastor of the North Hollywood Parish. H.E. Archbishop Eugene Kaplan, leaders and clergy of various churches, faithful, as well as North Hollywood parish Board of Trustees Chair Mr. Harut Tarpinian were in attendance.
Prior to the service, on behalf of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and the Western Prelacy family, the Prelate greeted Patriarch Sako and expressed the solidarity of the Holy See of Cilicia to the Chaldean Catholic Patriarchate in Iraq. The Prelate also greeted and congratulated H.E. Mar Emanuel Shaleta on his recent appointment as Bishop of the Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle of San Diego. On this occasion, the Prelate presented mementos to the Patriarch, Bishop, and accompanying clergy.
Thanksgiving prayer service followed inside the church, after which an agape dinner was held at the church hall.