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Los Angeles Daily News, CA
May 29 2005
Armenian pontiff will bless cathedral site during visit
By Alex Dobuzinskis, Staff Writer
BURBANK -- Thousands of Armenian-Americans are expected to turn out
this week to see Armenia's pontiff on his second visit to the western
United States, including a stop in Burbank to bless the site of a
planned cathedral.
Karekin II -- head of the world's 7 million Armenian Apostolic
Christians -- made his first visit to the area from Etchmiadzin,
Armenia, nearly four years ago during the Armenian church's
celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the nation's official
adoption of Christianity.
The pontiff's visit this year comes as the Armenian immigrant
population in the West continues to grow and the church is
establishing parishes throughout California and in neighboring
states.
"He kind of comes at a time that's like a bridge for us into
re-established communities," said Matthew Ash, youth director for the
Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.
The diocese is working to organize religious communities in Monterey,
Valencia and other parts of California. In smaller locations, a
priest will visit as part of a circuit that includes other fledgling
communities.
As part of his nearly 3-week visit, the pontiff is scheduled to bless
churches in Arizona, Nevada and California, hold several youth
rallies, meet with government and church officials, and visit with
parishioners.
In Glendale, he is scheduled to visit Glendale Adventist Hospital and
students at Glendale Unified School District.
In Burbank -- where the diocese is planning to build a $6 million
cathedral next to its headquarters -- the pontiff is scheduled to
meet with schoolchildren as well as bless the cathedral site in a
June 4 event expected to draw more than 1,500 spectators.
"I think it uplifts the community when they see the spiritual head of
the church coming all the way from Armenia. ... It creates enthusiasm
so it is important," said Armen Hampar, chairman of the building
committee for the planned cathedral.
Hampar currently is asking the county Department of Public Works to
allow him to build a parking structure for the cathedral over a flood
control channel behind the diocese headquarters.
He said the committee is approaching its fundraising goal and hopes
to begin construction within a year.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
May 29 2005
Armenian pontiff will bless cathedral site during visit
By Alex Dobuzinskis, Staff Writer
BURBANK -- Thousands of Armenian-Americans are expected to turn out
this week to see Armenia's pontiff on his second visit to the western
United States, including a stop in Burbank to bless the site of a
planned cathedral.
Karekin II -- head of the world's 7 million Armenian Apostolic
Christians -- made his first visit to the area from Etchmiadzin,
Armenia, nearly four years ago during the Armenian church's
celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the nation's official
adoption of Christianity.
The pontiff's visit this year comes as the Armenian immigrant
population in the West continues to grow and the church is
establishing parishes throughout California and in neighboring
states.
"He kind of comes at a time that's like a bridge for us into
re-established communities," said Matthew Ash, youth director for the
Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.
The diocese is working to organize religious communities in Monterey,
Valencia and other parts of California. In smaller locations, a
priest will visit as part of a circuit that includes other fledgling
communities.
As part of his nearly 3-week visit, the pontiff is scheduled to bless
churches in Arizona, Nevada and California, hold several youth
rallies, meet with government and church officials, and visit with
parishioners.
In Glendale, he is scheduled to visit Glendale Adventist Hospital and
students at Glendale Unified School District.
In Burbank -- where the diocese is planning to build a $6 million
cathedral next to its headquarters -- the pontiff is scheduled to
meet with schoolchildren as well as bless the cathedral site in a
June 4 event expected to draw more than 1,500 spectators.
"I think it uplifts the community when they see the spiritual head of
the church coming all the way from Armenia. ... It creates enthusiasm
so it is important," said Armen Hampar, chairman of the building
committee for the planned cathedral.
Hampar currently is asking the county Department of Public Works to
allow him to build a parking structure for the cathedral over a flood
control channel behind the diocese headquarters.
He said the committee is approaching its fundraising goal and hopes
to begin construction within a year.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress