February 8, 2013
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:
SAVE HORIZON
Earlier this month, the management of Horizon Armenian Television was
notified by Charter Communications that the channel that has been serving
the Armenian community for more than two decades would be pulled from the
Charter lineup effective February 19, despite the fact that Horizon signed
and delivered a contract for 2013.
There is an online petition demanding that Charter overturn its decision and
allow Horizon Armenian Television to continue its broadcasts and service to
the community. We urge our community to sign the petition in support of
saving Horizon. (Click here to sign the petition)
PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER DIVINE LITURGY AT HOLY CROSS CATHEDRAL ON THE EVE OF
GREAT LENT
Sunday, February 10, 2013 is the Eve of Great Lent, or “Poon
Paregentan”. Paregentan translates into “Good Living”. In the liturgical
calendar there are ten occasions for observing Paregentan. Poon Paregentan
(Main or Prime Paregentan), signals the start of the seven-week period of
Great Lent. Indicating the start of long and frequently occurring periods
of abstinence, the days of any Paregentan, and especially Poon Paregentan,
serve for joyous celebration and merriment as a counterbalance to the
following weeks of abstinence.
On this day, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, will
preside over Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at Holy Cross Cathedral
in Montebello.
GREAT LENT SUNRISE AND VIGIL SERVICES
Great Lent begins on Monday, February 11 and continues until
Saturday, March 30, Easter Eve.
The forty-day period of Lent offers an opportunity for faithful to
experience spiritual renewal; to cleanse themselves spiritually and come
closer to God through prayer, abstinence or self-denial, and performing good
deeds for the less fortunate. It is a time to prepare oneself spiritually
to accept the good news of Christ’s Resurrection.
During the Lenten period, the Armenian Church has soulful services
of prayer which typically take place on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Beginning on Wednesday, February 13, Sunrise and Vigil services will
take place in Prelacy churches on Wednesday mornings and Friday evenings
respectively.
Per tradition, on Wednesday, February 13 the Prelate will preside
over the first Sunrise service of Lent at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino and
will deliver his message to the faithful and to Ferrahian School students
who will be in attendance. The service begins at 10:00 a.m.
Following the service, the Prelate will attend the annual Great Lent
luncheon organized by the local ARS “Anahid” Chapter at “Dikranian” Hall,
during which His Eminence will convey his message focusing on the virtues
and roles of Armenian mothers given that His Holiness Catholicos Aram I has
proclaimed 2013 the “Year of the Armenian Mother”.
EVENING SERVICES AND TRADITIONAL BONFIRE ON THE EVE OF THE PRESENTATION OF
OUR LORD TO THE TEMPLE
– ANNUAL MEETING WITH HOMENETMEN SCOUTS
Thursday, February 14, is the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord
to the Temple, “Dyarnentarach”.
This feast is regarded as scriptural confirmation of Jesus’
Revelation as God. According to Jewish canons, it was custom for a woman
who had borne a child to go to the temple and present the child on the 40th
day. It was in conformance with this practice that Mary took the infant
Jesus to the temple, during which Simeon miraculously sensed God’s presence.
In the Armenian Church, on this day mothers take their children to Church
where they present them to the altar for dedication. Another tradition is
to light a bonfire in the Church courtyard after the service. Traditionally
all present at the bonfire took a light from it with a candle and took it
home so that the Light and Wisdom would prevail and misfortune would be
banished from their homes.
On Wednesday, February 13, Eve of the Feast services will be held in
Prelacy Churches, followed by the lighting of the traditional bonfire.
The Prelate will preside over services and deliver his message at
St. Mary’s Church in Glendale. The service begins at 6:30 p.m.
In keeping with tradition, Homenetmen scouts and representatives
will be in attendance and will be hosted to dinner with the Prelate at
“Armenak Der Bedrossian” Hall at the conclusion of the services.
CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF STS. VARTANANTS
On Thursday, February 7, 2013, the Armenian Church and nation
observed the Feast of St. Vartanants, the first recorded battle in defense
of our Christian faith. The battle which was fought on the plains of
Avarayr in 451 AD was a spiritual victory for the Armenian nation, granting
them freedom to worship our Christian faith. Through their martyrdom, St.
Vartan and his 1036 soldiers became symbols of courage, sacrifice,
patriotism, and undying faith.
The legacy of the Vartanants saints was commemorated within the
Prelacy on Thursday with a special evening service of prayers, hymns, and
nationalistic and patriotic songs held at the North Hollywood Parish. H.E.
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, presided over the service, in
which clergy members participated.
In his inspiring message to the faithful, the Prelate exalted the
virtues of the Vartanants saints and advised as to how we, today, must
follow in their ideal example and path. “Through their struggle and
martyrdom, St. Vartan and his combatants proclaimed that no matter what
difficulties or crises the Armenian people are faced with, we will always
recognize the Bible as our father and the Armenian Apostolic Church as our
mother; and as long as we, as a people, defend against any and all obstacles
that come to destroy our faith, national identity, and moral values, then we
are worthy of being called their heirs. On the eve of the battle, St.
Vartan and his companions, and the cleric Ghevont and his fellow clergymen
celebrated Liturgy and received Holy Communion as a pledge that they were
ready to shed their blood and become martyrs for their faith in Jesus
Christ, for the glory of God, and for the preservation of our national
identity, so that we would remain always Armenian Christians. Today, we
renew our spirits by the legacy of their faith and courage, and we rejoice
in the legacy of Vartan Mamigonian as the glory of the Armenian nation and
the crown of the Armenian Church. Vartan Mamigonian has been described as
exceptional in his courage, virtues, and faith, wise in his thoughts and
messages, compelling in his words, and adept in his works. As the heirs of
St. Vartan and St. Ghevont, and as clergy and community leaders dedicated to
serving our church and nation, more than ever we need courage, wisdom, and
strong-will in our service for the glory of God and for the progress of our
church and nation. We too must proclaim that we accept the Bible as our
father and the Armenian Apostolic Church as our mother, and that we will
always remain faithful to the Bible and its teachings, to our religious
heritage, and to the canons of our church; this is our responsibility as
religious and national leaders. In his address to his soldiers, St. Vartan
had one request of them, and that was to keep away from iniquity. Today the
same is required of us. In their ideal example, we are to cleanse any
treachery and deceit from our hearts, souls, and thoughts so that we do not
mislead our flock from the righteous path. Let us then, with renewed
spirits, bow in reverence to the memory of our Sts. Vartanants, and as their
worthy heirs pledge to continue to lead our flock on the path of
righteousness with faith, integrity, courage, and wisdom, for the glory of
God and the splendor of our nation”, concluded the Prelate.
The faithful then joined clergy in the spiritually uplifting and
moving singing of beloved traditional songs dedicated specifically to this
feast. The service came to a close with the Cilician, Pontifical, and
Armenian national anthems and the Prelate’s blessing.
Clergy and faithful were then hosted to a reception organized by
the parish Ladies Guild.
CELEBRATING THE FEAST OF GHEVONTIANTS
AT CHAMLIAN SCHOOL
On Tuesday, February 5, 2013, the Armenian Church celebrated the
Feast of Ghevontiants. The Feast honors the indestructible faith and
sacrifices of a multitude of heroes who gave their lives in the name of
their faith and nation in the first half of the fifth century.
Each year on the occasion of this Feast day, Armenian clergy join
together to reflect on the life and virtues of the Ghevontiants Saints and
renew their vows and commitment as clergy. The feast is commemorated within
the Prelacy with an annual clergy conference and Divine Liturgy.
On this occasion, on Tuesday morning Divine Liturgy was celebrated
at Vahan and Anoush Chamlian School, presided over by H.E. Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate and with the participation of clergy members.
The celebrant was Pastor of Holy Martyrs Church of Encino Rev. Fr. Razmig
Khatchadourian.
In attendance were Executive Council Vice-Chair Mr. George
Chorbajian, Principal Mr. Vazken Madenlian, Vice-Principal Mrs. Rita
Kaprielian, administrators, teachers, students, and school support committee
members.
At the conclusion of the service, seventh grade student Alina Lahian
presented a brief history of the Battle of Vartanants.
Addressing the students, the Prelate stated that this year’s
Ghevontiants service was especially inspiring and moving because the Liturgy
was being celebrated at Chamlian School for the first time with their
participation. Speaking on the history of the Battle of Vartanants, His
Eminence noted that our heroes and martyrs celebrated Divine Liturgy and
received Holy Communion prior to their venture onto the battlefield to
defend our Christian faith and our religious and national identity. The
Prelate concluded his message by stressing that Vartan Mamigonian and the
Ghevontiants priests were victorious in their mission and became the
champions of our faith, and we, as the heirs of that faith, nation,
language, and culture, must stay true to the ideal for which they gave their
lives. In conclusion, the Prelate blessed and commended all those present,
including the school principal and staff, Executive Council Vice-Chair Mr.
George Chorbajian, and clergy members.
The service concluded with national songs dedicated to the feast,
and the Cilician and Armenian national anthems, sung by clergy members and
students.
The Prelate and clergy were then hosted to a luncheon by the
administration, in which students joined.
“FRIENDS OF NEW JULFA” TRADITIONAL COSTUME FESTIVAL
The “Friends of New Julfa” Committee annual “Paregentan”
festivities, the traditional costume festival, will be held under the
auspices of the Prelate on Saturday, February 9, at Ambrosia hall in
Glendale.
Rev. Fr. Ghevont Kirazian will represent the Prelate.
www.westernprelacy.org