Author: Karagyozian Lena

June 9, 2017
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: www.westernprelacy.org
PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER DIVINE LITURGY AT FORTY MARTYRS CHURCH IN ORANGE
COUNTY
- 40TH DAY REQUIEM PRAYERS FOR SARKIS YEGENIAN
        On Sunday, June 11, 2017, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, will preside over Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at Forty
Martyrs Church in Orange County. 
        During requiem service, prayers will be offered for Sarkis Yegenian
on the 40th day of his passing. Sarkis Yegenian was a founding member of
Forty Martyrs Church and Ari Guiragos Minassian, long-time Board of Trustees
Chairman, and Western Prelacy delegate.
***
CELEBRATION OF PENTECOST AT HOLY CROSS CATHEDRAL IN MONTEBELLO 
        On Sunday, June 4, 2017, on the feast of Pentecost, H.E. Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, presided over Divine Liturgy and delivered
the sermon at Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello. Divine Liturgy was
celebrated by Rev. Fr. Ashod Kambourian, who was assisted at the altar by
deacons, including Armenian Mesrobian School Principal David Ghoogasian.
        On this day, the annual Senior Baccalaureate Service was held, a
tradition begun over three decades ago honoring the graduating class of
Mesrobian School. The students were in attendance to receive Holy Communion
and the Prelate's blessings as they prepare to embark on the next phase of
their lives. The Mesrobian Middle and High School Performing Arts Choir,
third grade students, and Sunday School students attended and performed in
the service. Executive Council Secretary Mr. Antranik Kasbarian, former
principals and teachers, students' families, and members of the Holy Cross
and Mesrobian School family were among the faithful in attendance. 
        Prior to delivering the sermon, the Prelate joyfully greeted the
Holy Cross Cathedral family and especially the graduating class of Mesrobian
School, to whom he conveyed his congratulations and message. As they prepare
for the next phase of their lives, His Eminence reminded the students that
anything is possible when they place their trust in God and also believe in
themselves. Thus, he urged them to always pray, to be strong and courageous,
and not be discouraged, and also reminded them that our church and community
is always available to them as a support system, to provide a listening ear,
a helping hand, encouraging words, strength, and support. The Prelate
greeted also the members of Prelacy Bible Study Groups, whose dedication to
teaching the Word of God he commended.
        His Eminence next delivered his sermon on the feast of Pentecost and
its message of renewal, beginning by giving an overview of the episode which
occurred ten days after the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ when one
hundred and twenty people had gathered to pray in the Upper Room in
Jerusalem when suddenly there came a powerful wind and a fire that separated
into individual tongues or flames and came to rest on each of their heads.
Those who were present received the source of were filled with God Himself,
they were transformed into new beings, reinforced in their faith, armed with
spiritual strengths and wisdom, emboldened and reinvigorated, and ready to
begin their commission of spreading the good news of salvation across
continents. It was the birth of the church.  
        The Prelate stressed that the gift of the Holy Spirit was not only
for those gathered on that day of Pentecost, rather for all those who put
their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. "With the Holy Spirit
dwelling within us, we have the power to live in the way God has called us
to live, to serve Him in the way He has called us to serve, to overcome
obstacles and defeat sin, for nothing and no power can withstand the power
of God. All things are possible when we live in the presence and power of
the Holy Spirit," he stated. Thus, he called on all the faithful, as
individuals and as part of the collective, to beseech the descent of the
Holy Spirit in our hearts and souls so that we too may undergo renewal and
empowerment as did those gathered in the Upper Room.
        The graduates received Holy Communion and were gifted copies of His
Holiness Catholicos Aram I's "The Armenian Church." 
        Following the service, a luncheon in celebration of the feast of
Pentecost was held at Tumanjan Hall. The Prelate presided over the luncheon,
which was sponsored by Holy Cross Cathedral Dean, Pastor, and Board of
Trustees, and organized by the Prelacy Bible Study groups, head by Mr.
Krikor Misserlian. Executive Council member Antranik Kasbarian was among the
guests in attendance. Dr. Dikran Dikranian, a long-time altar server at Holy
Cross Cathedral, served as the MC. The program featured Bile readings and
spiritual songs. Rev. Fr. Ashod Kambourian sang the day's hymn. In his
message, the Prelate reiterated the importance of renewal and of unity which
is at the heart of Pentecost. The luncheon closed with "Cilicia." 
***
PRELATE ATTENDS ARARAT HOME LUNCHEON SPONSORED BY THE ARMENIAN RELIEF
SOCIETY
        On Tuesday, June 6, 2017, members and friends of Ararat Home and of
the Armenian Relief Society Western Region gathered at Deukmejian Grand
Ballroom for the monthly luncheon organized by the Ararat Home Ladies
Auxiliary. Traditionally, the June luncheon is sponsored by the ARS as well
by friends of Ararat Home in memory of their loved ones.
        H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, delivered the
invocation and conveyed his well wishes. He was accompanied by Archpriest
Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian. Board Chairman Michael Surmeian was in
attendance, alongside staff members. The Prelate beseeched the blessings of
the Lord upon the Board, administration, staff, and volunteers of Ararat
Home for the loving care they provide to our beloved elders, upon the
members of the ARS for their dedicated service to the welfare of our
brethren in Armenia, Artsakh, and throughout the Diaspora, and upon the
guests for their support to the worthwhile mission of Ararat Home and the
ARS. He wished continued successes to all and good health to the residents. 
        On behalf of the ARS Regional Executive, remarks were delivered by
Mrs. Nanik Kupelian. The Ararat Home Ladies Auxiliary surprised the Chairman
with a birthday cake and all conveyed their well wishes to Mr. Surmeian on
this occasion.
***

Ouest-France, France
jeudi 25 mai 2017
La famille Grigoryan a trouvé un nouveau toit
Expulsés de leur appartement du 7e étage d'un HLM au coeur du quartier
Hilard (voir le Ouest-Francedu mardi 23mai), Aroutyun Grigoryan, sa
femme et leurs enfants, ont trouvé refuge, hier matin, au domicile de
Jean-Luc Bansard, à Laval.
Le directeur du théâtre du tiroir a accepté d'ouvrir les portes de sa
maison pour accueillir la famille arménienne pendant quelques
semaines, « le temps de trouver une maison. Nous recherchons à Laval
et dans sa couronne car, comme le papa est malade, il faut rester
proche de l'hôpital. Mais déjà, je remercie tous les gens qui ont
proposé leur aide. J'ai eu de nombreux appels en ce début de semaine
», se réjouit Sylvie Rouanne, la directrice du comité d'animation
Laval Nord-Ouest, tout émue. Ce nouveau logement n'est donc qu'une
première étape. Mais c'est déjà beaucoup.

Voice of America News
Victim of Turkish DC Embassy Brawl Set to Sue Over Injuries
by Arman Tarjimanyan
Victim of Turkish Embassy Brawl: White House Inaction Sign of ‘Weakness’
WASHINGTON –
A demonstrator involved in the last week’s violent clash with guards
of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tells VOA a lawsuit will be
filed over injuries sustained during the May 16 melee outside the
Turkish ambassador’s residence in Washington.
Armenia-born Lucy Usoyan, an ethnic-Yazidi who became a U.S. citizen
after moving here with family at age 3, sustained a traumatic brain
injury during last week’s brawl. In footage recorded by VOA Turkish
(
),
Usoyan, who is wearing red pants, can be seen lying unconscious on the
ground near at the 25-second mark.
“Many law offices have reached to us. Big law offices that have sued
different governments,” she told VOA’s Armenia Service on Tuesday. “We
will also have a lobbying office to represent this case, because we
believe no government – not only Turkey – no government has the right
to come to this country and beat up U.S. citizens and get away with
it.”
A day after the brawl, VOA posted additional footage
(
) of moments
leading up to the fight, during which President Erdogan – arriving at
the residence after White House meetings – is seen talking with
members of his armed security detail just before they break through a
police line and violently charge the protesters. Moments later,
Erdogan is seen looking on as the attack unfolds.
Strained relations
Turkish supporters claim they were provoked by protesters whom, they
allege, support the Peoples’ Protection Units (YPG), which Erdogan’s
government considers a terrorist group for its links to the Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK). The PKK, with affiliates based in Turkey and
Iraq, has been labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. and
European Union.
Ties between Washington and Ankara have been strained in recent years
by American airpower support for YPG fighters battling Islamic State
militants in northern Syria.
American lawmakers swiftly issued bipartisan outcry
(
) over the melee, which was
followed by repeated expressions of concern
(
) by top State Department
officials, who summoned Turkey’s ambassador over the incident.
‘Ongoing investigation’
“There is an ongoing investigation,” Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
told Fox News Sunday, adding that he will wait on the outcome of that
probe before deciding on a more formal response.
Globally, however, Usoyan says the absence of a formal White House
response makes the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump look
weak.
“In this case, the video went viral around the world,” Usoyan said. “I
was talking to my family and relatives last night, and everyone takes
this as a (sign of the) weakness of our current government. I do
believe President Trump should shed a spotlight to this case and
address this issue so it doesn’t spotlight him as weak towards
Turkey.”
FILE – President Donald Trump meets with Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington,
May 16, 2017.
Police behavior questioned
On Monday, Turkey summoned the U.S. ambassador to Ankara to protest
what it called the “aggressive” treatment of Turkish security, calling
behavior of Washington Metropolitan police officers who attempted to
break up the fight – sometimes with batons – “aggressive and
unprofessional.”
The Trump administration has vowed to arm YPG fighters as part of a
campaign to take Islamic State’s Syrian stronghold in Raqqa.
Erdogan and Trump are expected to meet again at this week’s NATO
summit in Brussels.
This report originated in VOA’s Armenian Service
(
).