May 22, 2006
PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: prelacy@aol.com
Website: <; Western Prelacy Clergy Conference WE EACH HAVE OUR INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERS, BUT COLLECTIVELY WE MUST HAVE ONE AND THE SAME CHARACTER, THAT OF A CLERGY Declared the Prelate On the eve of the Western Prelacy 34th Representatives Assembly, on Wednesday, May 17, 2006, a one-day clergy conference took place at Encino 's Holy Martyrs Church. The conference was held under the auspices of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, and with the participation of the clergy order, including H.E. Archbishop Yeprem Tabakian who is visiting our Prelacy. At 10:30 a.m. the day began with prayer services inside the church, followed by opening remarks by the Prelate. The Prelate began by expressing thanks and gratitude to the Lord for granting the opportunity to hold this conference. In his remarks the Prelate spoke of the ideas that emerged from the Clergy Conference at the Catholicosate in September of 2002, focusing on three main points. He stressed spiritual renewal, keeping a close bond with parishioners, and to triumph over hardships with faith in the Cross and the Holy Spirit. The Prelate stressed that we often find ourselves in hardship yet we seek answers outside of ourselves. We must not look for easy solutions but rather work towards being able to confront any and all types of hardship. We have a need for renewal; we must make more of an effort to reach out to our parishioners and to offer them spiritual nourishment. Reading from the Letter of Paul the Prelate continued: `I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect' (Romans 12:1-2). The Prelate then read an excerpt from the book `The Armenian Church', by H.H. Catholicos Papken of blessed memory, about having an honest character adding, `We each have our individual characters, but collectively we must have one and the same character; that of a clergy'. CONFERENCE Following the church services and spiritual reflections, the first session of the conference convened at 11:30 a.m. at `Dickranian' Hall. The session opened with the Lord's Prayer, followed by the Prelate welcoming Archbishop Tabakian and clergy members, highly commended the work they have done particularly in the past few months. He then invited Arch. Tabakian to deliver his remarks. During the conference, Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian lectured on the three Ecumenical Councils and Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian on the doctrine of the Holy Cross. Following lunch, the second session began at 2:15 p.m. and continued until 6:15 p.m. The second session was a meeting of the Religious Council that reviewed the Council's activities during the past year, as well as issues relating to the then upcoming Representatives Assembly. The conference concluded with the Prelate's blessings and `Bahbanich' prayer. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress