On Sunday, February 28, 2022, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the Carnival Feast (Poon Paregentan,) which precedes the beginning of Lent on the following day.
On Wednesday, March 2, 2022, H.G. Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Prelate, presided over the first Lenten sunrise service at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino, and delivered his message. The service was attended by parishioners, ladies guild, members of ARS “Anahid” Chapter, Holy Martyrs Ferrahian 11th and 12th grade students, accompanied by their administrators.
Anchoring his message with a quote from Galatians, the Prelate stated; “the results of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, honesty, kindness, faithfulness, meekness, and temperance. (Gal. 5: 22-23.) Let us be renewed completely as an individual, so that we may be transformed at the Feast of the Holy Resurrection, emphasizing that the prayer period of Great Lent must be valued within our lives, so that we may receive divine gifts during Easter.
LENTEN LUNCHEON PREPARED BY ARS “ANAHID” CHAPTER
Following the service, Bishop Donoyan presided over the Lenten luncheon which was prepared by members of the ARS “Anahid” Chapter. The Prelate and Archpriest Fr. Razmig Khachadourian blessed the tables together, after which the Prelate conveyed his well wishes to those present, highlighting the ARS’s dedicated service and its important place and role in the life of the nation and the homeland.
Mrs. Shake Tokatlian, Chairwoman of the “Anahid” Chapter delivered a welcome speech, after which Mrs. Vartoug Tashjian spoke about the Christian value of forty days of fasting and instructed us to pray with fasting and abstinence and prepare ourselves for Easter.
Afterwards, students of the Ferrahian school, and Mrs. Ani Bebejian recited Vahan Tekeyan’s well-known “Yegeghetsin Haygagan.”
