WD Newsletter
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On April 21, 2010, the Glendale Adventist Medical Center had organized
a Service in Memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. At 9:45
AM, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western
Diocese of the Armenian Church in North America delivered his message
in the chapel of the hospital.
The Primate was joined by Rev. Archpriest Fr. Hovsep Hagopian and
Rev. Fr. Khajag Shahbazyan. The members of the clergy also visited
patients in the hospital offered prayers and spiritual support.
We kindly present to you the Primate’s message in its entirety.
"Prayer is a man’s spiritual breathing. Just as our physical body
needs to breathe in order to live, so does our soul require prayer in
order to remain healthy and live forever". (H.H. Karekin I)
Dear brothers and sisters, I have intentionally chosen these words
from the writings of one of the distinguished church leaders, which
clearly reflect the faith-life of Christian Armenians who have
embraced Christianity as the God-given mission. Additionally, it is
through the divine strength of prayer that allowed us not to instill
in our hearts hatred towards those who have harmed us and perpetrated
the Genocide of a nation. However, it is through the same prayer that
we are led to honor the memory of our ancestors who have been
massacred and experienced mass deportations from their ancestral lands
and have been dispersed around the world.
"Prayer is our evaluation, by our life and deeds, of what God has
given us". These words indicate that whatever God has given to us,
namely life itself, we are obliged to guard and protect it.
As we lift up our hearts and prayers in this hospital, we acknowledge
the dedication and good services of wonderful people, whose respect
for the human life is most notable and remarkable. The outstanding
services rendered to all members of the community is nothing else than
the God pleasing act, which directly speaks against all levels of
crime against humanity. The Adventist Church and the missionaries have
witnessed the first Genocide of the twentieth century and raised their
voice for justice. Historical truth cannot be distorted by people and
time. Recognition of historical truth brings peace and comfort to the
hearts of all nations.
To me personally, and to the priests and faithful of the Armenian
Church, the prayer we offer in this hospital as we commemorate the
95th anniversary of the victims of the Genocide, is the most
educational and inspiring initiative to send the members of the
community a message of hope and love. Hospitals, as is the case of all
important institutions, are called to serve the physical as well as
the spiritual comfort of the people. As the patient who suffers the
physical pain and is in dire need of soothing and care, so is the case
with those who have been traumatized by the discomforting witnessing
accounts of the survivors of the Genocide.
Year after year, the Glendale Adventist Hospital has commemorated the
memory of the victims of the Genocide and has honored their memory
with special prayers being offered together with the hospital
administrative staff. This most respectful gesture sends out to all, a
strong message that life needs to be protected and honored, cherished
and nurtured as it has been commanded by God. God bless you all and
grant you all the strength and wisdom to share your gift of love and
dedication with the patients and their beloved ones, to establish
peace and harmony in the life of the community.
Prayerfully,
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian
The Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, providing
spiritual guidance and leadership to the Armenian Apostolic community,
is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization comprised of more
than 50 churches in 16 western states. It was established in 1898 as
the Diocese of the Armenian Church encompassing the entire United
States and Canada. In 1927 the Western Diocese was formed to
exclusivly serve the western United States.