EPISCOPAL DIVINE LITURGY AND BLESSING OF MADAGH
ON THE NAME DAY OF ST. GARABED CHURCH IN HOLLYWOOD
Saturday, January 14, 2012 is the Feast of St. John the Baptist, which is also the name day of St. Garabed Church of Hollywood.
On this occasion, on Sunday, January 15, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, will celebrate Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at St. Garabed Church.
Parish Pastor Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian will assist at the altar. The blessing of madagh will take place after the service, followed by a luncheon at “Karapetian” Hall organized by the Parish Pastor and Board of Trustees.
The luncheon will include a cultural program presented by Sunday School students and Rose and Alex Pilibos High School students. Each year during this annual luncheon, individuals are recognized and honored for their service to the church and community. This year’s honoree is Deacon Zohrab Yaralian.
***
HRANT DINK 5TH ANNIVERSARY REQUIEM
By the ordinance of the Prelate, on Sunday, January 15, requiem service will be offered in all Prelacy Churches in memory of journalist Hrant Dink on the 5th anniversary of his death.
A commemoration in remembrance of Hrant Dink will be held in the evening at the Organizations of Istanbul Armenians center in Winnetka. The event has been organized by the Organizations of Istanbul Armenians and the Armenian Genocide United Commemoration Committee.
Rev. Fr. Razmig Khatchardourian will attend on behalf of the Prelate.
***
OVER 600 COMMUNITY MEMBERS PLEDGE THEIR SUPPORT AT
THE PRELATE’S NEW YEAR AND CHRISTMAS DINNER
On Friday, January 6, 2012, over 600 Prelacy sponsors, supporters and friends gathered at “Bagramian” Hall of Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello for the Prelate’s traditional New Year and Christmas Dinner. The dinner is held annually under the auspices of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, by the initiative of the Religious and Executive Councils, and organized by the Prelacy Ladies Auxiliary.
Among the guests in attendance were Consul General of Armenia the Honorable Grigor Hovhannissian and his wife, Armenian National Assembly member and Heritage Party leader Raffi Hovannisian, Central Executive members Mr. Khajag Dikijian and Mr. Vahe Yacoubian with their wives, Executive Council, Members of the ARF Central Committee, ARS, Homenetmen, and Hamazkayin, Parishes’ delegates and Boards of Trustees, Board of Regents and Prelacy Schools’ principals and directors, media representatives, sponsors, and friends.
This year’s dinner was hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Harry and Cheryl Nadjarian. The evening’s Master of Ceremonies was Rev. Fr. Vazken Atmajian.
The evening began with the entrance of the Prelate and clergy into the hall in a procession, candles in hand and singing Christmas hymns. H.E. Archbishop Yeprem Tabakian read the passage from the Bible on the Birth of Christ, after which the Prelate blessed the tables.
Master of Ceremonies Rev. Fr. Vazken Atmajian welcomed the guests and reflected on the spirit of Christmas, the good tidings of the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and the message of peace, love, and harmony. Fr. Vazken also commended the service of the Ladies Auxiliary members, noting that they greatly contributed to the Pontifical Visit and also once again organized the evening’s dinner. He then invited Ladies Auxiliary Chair Mrs. Salpi Srourian and Executive Council Chair Mrs. Rima Boghossian to deliver their remarks. Mrs. Srourian welcomed the guests and wished them an enjoyable evening together. Mrs. Boghossian thanked the guests for the support and encouragement they demonstrated with their attendance. She spoke in high regard of the efforts and leadership of the Prelate, reflected on the role of our Churches and Schools in our community life and our work towards the Armenian Cause, and concluded by conveying her well wishes on the New Year and Christmas.
Guests then watched the taped message of our Pontiff H.H. Catholicos Aram I, which began with His Holiness conveying his New Year and Christmas well wishes to the Prelate, Councils, and guests. His Holiness reflected on the three main themes of his recent Pontifical Visit, which were spiritual renewal, continued progress of our Schools, and furthering of our Cause, stating that these are ongoing missions which must form the basis of all our endeavors and collective lives.
The evening also included a cultural program. Throughout the night, guests enjoyed traditional Armenian music presented by pianist Professor Levon Aprahamian and singers Anahit Nercisyan and Kevork Chakmanian.
Fr. Vazken then thanked all those who contributed to the success of the dinner, among them the Jabarian, Kurkjian, and Alexanian Families for donating the evening’s souvenirs, centerpieces, and drinks, as well as the participants of the cultural program, organizers, and sponsors.
The Prelate was then invited to deliver his message.
His Eminence commended Fr. Vazken for successfully carrying out his duties as Master of Ceremonies, the Ladies Auxiliary for organizing the evening, and all the sponsors and volunteers who made the evening as well as the Pontifical Visit of His Holiness a great success.
***
PRELATE CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS DIVINE LITURGY
AT ST. MARY‘S CHURCH
On Friday, January 6, 2012, the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord was ceremoniously celebrated at Prelacy Churches with Divine Liturgy, the blessing of water, and the Prelate’s Traditional New Year and Christmas Dinner.
The celebration began on the evening of Thursday, January 5th with Christmas Eve Divine Liturgy. H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, celebrated Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon at Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello.
On Friday, January 6, the Prelate celebrated Divine Liturgy at St. Mary’s Church in Glendale on the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany, where he also delivered the sermon and conducted the blessing of water. The Godfather of the Cross was Aren Melkonian, son of Prelacy and community sponsors Mr. and Mrs. Varant and Hoori Melkonian.
In his sermon, the Prelate spoke of the inspiring and timeless messages of the Nativity of harmony, humility, and love which remain alive in our hearts to this day and lead us to live God-pleasing lives.
On Saturday, January 7, Christmas Memorial Day, requiem services were offered at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Hall of Liberty and Forest Lawn Glendale Church of the Recessional, presided over by the Prelate and with the participation of clergy members.
***
CHRISTMAS PRAYER SERVICE AND BLESSING OF WATER
AT ARARAT HOME
In celebration of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ, on Tuesday, January 10, 2012, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, and clergy members visited Ararat Home in Mission Hills for a prayer service and the blessing of water.
The day began at 10:00 a.m. with a prayer and the blessing of water in the Residents Dining Room of the Nursing Facility. Following the service, the Prelate conveyed his well wishes to the administration and residents for a blessed New Year.
At 10:30 a.m., Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Sheen Chapel for Assisted Living residents. The celebrant was Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian, who also delivered the sermon.
At noon, the Prelate and clergy were hosted to a luncheon by the administration.
***
SAYAT NOVA DANCE COMPANY “JOURNEY THROUGH TIME”
On Sunday, January 15, the Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston will perfomr “Journey Through Time” at the Glendale High School Auditorium. The production is a journey through pagan times, the adoption of Christianity, the battle of Vartanantz, the Genocide, to the ultimate celebration of an independent Armenia.
Rev. Fr. Ghevont Kirazian will attend on behalf of the Prelate.
***
PRELATE REPRESENTED AT RECEPTION IN HONOR OF ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH ZEHLAOUI
On December 11, 2011, H.G. Bishop Joseph (Bishop of Los Angeles and the West in the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese) was elevated to the rank of Archbishop by His Beautitude Ignatius IV, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East.
On Sunday, January 8, Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated at Saint Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral followed by a special reception in honor of the elevation of Bishop Joseph.
On behalf of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, Archpriest Fr. Nareg Pehlivanian attended the Liturgy and the reception, during which he conveyed the Prelate’s congratulations and well wishes to Archbishop Joseph. His Eminence expressed his thanks for the participation of Fr. Nareg on behalf of the Prelate.
***