Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
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Burbank, Ca 91504
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His Holiness Karekin ii
catholicos of all armenians
In the western DIOCESE
PONTIFICAL DIVINE LITURGY
IN ST. ANDREW ARMENIAN CHURCH,
CUPERTINO
June 19, 2005
Sunday morning, June 19, 2005 His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of
All Armenians, celebrated Pontifical Divine Liturgy at St. Andrew
Armenian Church in Cupertino. Partaking in the Divine Liturgy were
faithful from St. John Armenian Church, San Francisco; St. Andrew
Armenian Church, Cupertino; St. Vartan Armenian Church, Oakland, and
St. James Armenian Church, Sacramento, as well as members of the
Parish Councils and the Reception Committee.
His Holiness was assisted by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, Primate; and His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Bozabalyan of
the Mother See. His Eminence Archbishop Datev Sarkisian from the
Mother See was also present. The following clergy served on the Altar
during Divine Liturgy: Rev. Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, Pastor of St. John
Armenian Church in San Francisco; Rev. Fr. Datev Harutyunian, Pastor
of St. Andrew Armenian Church in Cupertino; Archpriest Fr. Mesrob
Sarafian, Pastor of St. Vartan Armenian Church in Oakland; and Rev.
Fr. Yeghia Hairabedian, Pastor of St. James Armenian Church in
Sacramento, as well as deacons.
Preceding the Lord’s Prayer the Primate introduced the Catholicos,
expressing his joy in witnessing the Pontifical visit of the
Catholicos which provided the faithful of the Diocese with spiritual
joy and strengthened their ties with the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin.
In his Sermon His Holiness Karekin II praised God for the successful
completion of his Pontifical visit. He commended the projects
developed under the leadership of the Primate, also extending his
appreciation for the efforts put forth by the Reception Committee and
the clergy. The Catholicos also urged the faithful to continue their
unrelenting dedication to the Armenian Church and the Diocese. A
large crowd of faithful then approached the Pontiff to receive Holy
Communion.
On the occasion of Father’s Day, the Catholicos also congratulated
the fathers in attendance, and expressed his wishes for Armenian
families to remain strong and maintain their faith, instilling in
their children the fear of God and the teachings of the Armenian
Church.
Following the Divine Liturgy as faithful approached the Catholicos
he handed to them copies of the newly printed `I Confess with Faith.’
A warm reception followed in the church hall.
The second Pontifical visit of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos
of All Armenians, having successfully been completed, the Catholicos,
accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Derderian, Primate and members
of his entourage, departed for Detroit for a series of meetings. From
Detroit His Holiness and the entourage will return to the Mother See
of Holy Etchmiadzin.
We wish His Holiness a safe return to the Mother See. The Pontifical
visit of His Holiness was truly a Renaissance of Faith for the entire
faithful of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
OFFICE OF THE WESTERN DIOCESE
June 20, 2005
Burbank, California