HIS HOLINESS ARAM I TO PARTICIPATE IN HISTORIC SUMMIT OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN WASHINGTON D.C.
– PRELATE TO TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON D.C. TO JOIN HIS HOLINESS
On Saturday, September 6, 2014, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, will arrive in Washington, DC, for a historic summit that will be held next week titled “Protecting and Preserving Christianity, Where It All Began”, sponsored by the In Defense of Christians (IDC) organization. The IDC Inaugural Summit will be the first occasion in history where six Christian Patriarchs from the Middle East will gather together in the United States.
Joining His Holiness will be H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian, Pastor of Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church of Bethesda, Maryland, and Dr. Dertad Manguikian, Holy See Central Executive Council member.
On Monday evening, His Holiness will attend a dinner in honor of the participating Patriarchs, hosted by Ambassador of Lebanon to the United States, H.E. Ambassador Antoine Chedid. The Summit will take place from Tuesday to Thursday. On Friday, His Holiness will visit the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to meet with recently appointed Ambassador H.E. Tigran Sargsyan, and will be the guest of honor at a reception hosted by the Armenian National Committee of America.
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PRELATE TO CELEBRATE DIVINE LITURGY AT THE CRESCENTA VALLEY PARISH
– REQUIEM FOR IRAQI-ARMENIAN CLERGY & CHURCH BENEFACTORS
On Sunday, September 7, the Prelate will celebrate Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at the Crescenta Valley parish. At the conclusion of the service, the Prelate will preside over a special requiem service in memory of Iraqi-Armenian clergy and church and benefactors.
Following the service, a presentation on the “History of Armenian Churches in Iraq” will take place, organized by the parish Education Committee.
The Prelate will preside over the event and will deliver the closing message.
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PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER GRAND OPENING OF NEW COURTYARD/PLAZA AT HOLY TRINITY CHURCH IN FRESNO
This afternoon the Prelate traveled to Fresno to preside over the grand opening of the newly constructed courtyard/plaza of Holy Trinity Church. The new site is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the sanctuary, which will be celebrated later this year. The Prelate was accompanied by Rev. Fr. Boghos Tinkjian. Executive Council member Deacon Mark Shirin will also be in attendance.
The event will feature a ribbon cutting ceremony and the unveiling and blessing of a khachkar by the Prelate, followed by a dedication organ concert inside the recently renovated sanctuary and a reception.
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PRELATE ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION IN ARMENIA FUND SPECIAL TELETHON THIS SUNDAY
On Sunday, September 7, in collaboration with ARTN/Shant TV, Armenia Fund will be hosting a special telethon in support of 20 families in Gyumri who have been living in the direst of conditions since the Spitak Earthquake in 1988. Many families in the area continue to live in metal containers called “domiks”, which were meant to be a temporary housing solution.
Proceeds from the Telethon will provide renovated and furnished apartments, financial assistance, and future college tuition for 20 families in most urgent need of assistance.
The Telethon will air on ARTN/Shant TV from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. The Prelate will appear live at 5:30 p.m. to make a live appeal for support to this critical cause. We encourage our faithful to offer their generous support and help end the cycle of poverty plaguing these families.
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