On Sunday, February 23rd, 2014, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, presided over Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon at Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello.
By the ordinance of the Prelate and in coordination with the Armenian Relief Society Regional Executive, requiem was held in all Prelacy Churches for departed ARS members and benefactors. Requiem was also offered for the soul of Lt. Gurgen Margaryan on the 10th anniversary of his murder, and for the victims of the Sumgait, Baku, and Maragha massacres.
The Prelate first greeted the faithful, among them Sunday School students. At the start of his sermon His Eminence reflected on the day’s somber occasions. The Prelate spoke of the ARS as one of the most vital and beloved organizations in the life of the Armenian people and praised the organization’s social, educational, health, welfare, and cultural mission across over two dozen countries around the world. “Today we remember departed ARS servants and benefactors who through their service and support contributed to the fulfillment of this organization’s mission. We remember also Lt. Gurgen Margaryan, who was brutally murdered just for being Armenian, and the innocent victims of the Sumgait, Baku, Maragha, and other massacres, who were also targeted simply because of their ethnicity. May God grant peace to their souls and may their memory remain ever-blessed”.
The Prelate then turned to the day’s reading from John 7:37-52 in which Jesus says, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”. Reflecting on the message of the passage, His Eminence stated that centuries later Jesus is and will always remain the source of true water, nourishing our souls and quenching a spiritual thirst that cannot be satisfied by anyone or anything else.
His Eminence then spoke of the Ghevontiants and Vartanants feasts the Armenian Church would be observing in the week ahead honoring the indestructible faith, courage, dedication, patriotism, and sacrifice of our heroes in the name of God and our nation, to preserve our Armenian identity and religious freedom.
At the conclusion of Divine Liturgy, the Prelate presided over the requiem service during which he noted the recent passing of benefactor Eleanor Dickranian and offered a prayer for the repose of her soul. The Prelate also contacted the benefactor’s daughter, Laurel Karabian, to personally express condolences to her and family members on behalf of the Prelacy.
