August 1, 2008
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: [email protected]
Website:
PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER DIVINE LITURGY AT
HOLY CROSS CATHEDRAL IN MONTEBELLO
On Sunday, August 3rd, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, will preside over Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at Holy
Cross Cathedral in Montebello.
During Divine Liturgy, the Prelate will bestow Rev. Fr. Ashod
Kambourian with the honor of bearing a pectoral cross for his service.
PRELATE REPRESENTED AT ABMDR ANNUAL BANQUET
The Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry’s "Match for Life 2008"
banquet will take place on the evening of Sunday, August 3rd, at the
Glendale Hilton.
Rev. Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian will attend and convey the Prelate’s
blessings.
PRELATE TO PARTICIPATE IN UAF BOARD MEETING
On the morning of Saturday, August 2nd, the Prelate will participate
in the United Armenia Fund board meeting, which will be held at the UAF
office in Glendale.
During the meeting, the most recent endeavors of the UAF will be
assessed and future activities will be discussed and drafted.
PRELATE WELCOMES UNITED NATIONS RESIDENT COORDINATOR CONSUELO VIDAL TO THE
PRELACY
On the morning of Wednesday, July 30th, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, welcomed to the Prelacy United Nations Resident
Coordinator and UN Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative Mrs.
Consuelo Vidal. Mrs. Vidal was accompanied by former Consul General of
Armenia in Los Angeles Mr. Armen Bayburtian, who is currently a senior
advisor on Armenian issues in the United Nations, and UNDP director Mrs.
Narine Sahakyan. Prelacy Christian Education Department Co-Director Very
Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian was also in attendance.
Mrs. Vidal reported to the Prelate on the UN development programs in
Armenia aimed at improving finance, education, environment, health, and
various other sectors. She also reported that the United Nations began
operating in Armenia in 1993 and that she herself has visited many
communities in the Diaspora, including Lebanon and specifically the
Catholicosate of Cilicia, given that Armenians living in these communities
have close ties to the homeland and have the means to offers assistance to
Armenia. She noted that the specific department of the United Nations of
which she is a part of visits with non-Armenian Diaspora communities as well
to learn of their experiences.
The Prelate highly commended the efforts of the guests and
reaffirmed that our community is always ready to contribute to the progress
of Armenia.
Mr. Bayburtian congratulated the Prelate on the achievements of the
Prelacy such as the successful realization of the headquarters, and conveyed
his well wishes for success in future endeavors.
The meeting concluded with an exchange of mementos, following which
the guests were given a tour of the headquarters to become familiarized with
the various departments.
PRELATE WELCOMES NEW ACTING CONSUL GENERAL OF LEBANON THE HONORABLE HOUSSAM
DIAB
On the afternoon of Wednesday, July 30th, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, welcomed to the Prelacy the new Acting Consul General
of Lebanon the Honorable Houssam Diab. Participating in the meeting were
Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian and Executive Council members Mr. Garo
Eshgian and Mr. Khatchig Yeretzian.
Given that it was the Acting Consul’s first visit to the Prelacy,
the Prelate familiarized him with the endeavors and mission of the Prelacy.
He emphasized the decades-long friendship between the Prelacy and the
Lebanese Consulate, highlighting the fact that Lebanon has one of the
largest Armenian communities in the Diaspora and that the Catholicosate of
Cilicia was welcomed in Lebanon in the aftermath of the Genocide.
The Acting Consul spoke highly of the Armenian people as a whole and
specifically of the community in Lebanon who have contributed positively to
the economy, culture, and society in general, and asserted that the
collaboration between the Consulate General and the Prelacy will continue
for years to come.
PRELATE WELCOMES A DELEGATION FROM
HOMENETMEN REGIONAL EXECUTIVE
On the evening of Tuesday, July 29th, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, welcomed to the Prelacy Regional Executive members of
Homenetmen Western Region. The delegation was headed by Chairman Mr. Steve
Artinian. Religious Council Chair Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian and
Executive Council Vice-Chair Mr. Garo Avakian and member Mr. Nerses
Melkonian also participated in the meeting.
At the start of the meeting, the members of the delegation
congratulated the Prelate on his re-election, for which the Prelate
expressed thanks and appreciation. The Prelate and guests went on to
discuss the endeavors of Homenetmen, such as the new campsite which is
anticipated to become an important center for the youth and the larger
Homenetmen family, and those that involve collaboration with the Prelacy.
The Prelate commended all the members of Homenetmen for their dedication to
the community and congratulated them on what was yet another successful
Navasartian games.
PRELATE PRESIDES OVER DIVINE LITURGY AND LISBON 5 REQUIEM SERVICE AT ST.
MARY’S CHURCH IN GLENDALE
On Sunday, July 27th, the Prelate presided over Divine Liturgy,
delivered the sermon, and presided over requiem service for the memory of
the Lisbon 5 at St. Mary’s Church in Glendale.
In the afternoon, the Prelate participated in a community gathering
and commemoration of the Lisbon 5 at "Armenag Der Bedrossian" Hall. Among
the guests in attendance were the parish pastors, Central Executive Council
member Mr. Khajag Dikijiam, Executive Council member Mr. Garo Eshgian, ARF
Bureau member Dr. Viken Hovsepian, ARF Central Committee representative Mr.
Avedik Izmirlian and members, delegates, Board of Trustees, and
representatives from sister organizations.
The commemoration was comprised of a speech by keynote speaker Mr.
Hovan Tashjian as well as an artistic program, and came to a close with the
Prelate’s message and benediction.