Press-Enterprise (subscription), CA
June 16 2005
Armenian Christians’ leader to bless church
RELIGION: “This is like our pope,” says the pastor. Hundreds are
expected to attend.
By DAVID OLSON / The Press-Enterprise
RANCHO MIRAGE – The pontiff for the world’s 7 million Armenian
Apostolic Christians will visit Rancho Mirage on Friday to bless the
foundation stone of what will become the first Armenian church
sanctuary in Riverside County.
Hundreds of Armenians from Inland Southern California are expected to
travel to Rancho Mirage to see His Holiness Karekin II, said the Rev.
Dr. Stepanos Dingilian, pastor of the desert church.
“This is like our pope,” Dingilian said. “For him to take the time to
come to a small (church) … like this is really significant.”
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, will
also anoint the foundation stone with holy oil, he said. After the
ceremony, the church will host a reception and banquet for the
pontiff in the church social hall, where the congregation has been
worshipping since November, Dingilian said.
The Rancho Mirage appearance is part of a three-week visit to the
United States by the pontiff, who lives in Armenia, a former Soviet
republic in southwestern Asia.
“His Holiness felt it was important he see this and preside over this
event as a sign of support and encouragement,” said the Rev. Ktrij
Devejian, the pontiff’s foreign press secretary.
About 100 people attend each of the bimonthly services at the church,
Dingilian said. There are between 2,000 and 5,000 Armenians in the
Coachella Valley, he estimated.
Arthur Swajian’s two grandsons, ages 5 and 8, will present flowers to
Karekin II. Swajian, 85, of Palm Desert, said he has never seen the
pontiff in person.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event that he is visiting here,” he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress