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PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy
of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian
Prelate, Western United States
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
Email: [email protected]
For more information:
Zanku Armenian (818) 243-3557
Mercata Group
Catholicos Aram I Arrives In Los Angeles Beginning Historic U.S. Visit
His Holiness Greeted by Large Crowds at St. Garabed Church in Hollywood
(Los Angeles, CA - October 7, 2005) - "We must live with moral values and
have a purpose-driven life," declared His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the
Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church, upon his arrival in
Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 5, 2005. Greeted by large crowds who had
gathered at St. Garabed Church in Hollywood for the official welcoming and
"Hrashapar" service, his arrival marked the beginning of a historic visit to
the United States, starting in California, where His Holiness will be
meeting with the community and various public officials throughout the
state. Prior to his arrival at St.Garabed Church, His Holiness met with
California State Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi where the two
discussed several issues including recent insurance settlements for victims
of the Armenian Genocide.
The Catholicos' motorcade with full dignitary police escorts arrived at St.
Garabed Church in the early evening where the city had closed off the entire
street to accommodate the overflowing crowds. The Prelates of both the
Western Prelacy, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, and the Eastern Prelacy,
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, accompanied the Catholicos. The arrival
ceremony began with the Homenetmen scouts marching band playing the U.S.,
Armenian and Cilicia anthems and additional scouts and students from various
Armenian schools and members of the community and residents of the area
lining the streets. Also covering the arrival were media including the Los
Angeles Times and several local TV stations.
Beginning the procession were Armenian clergy from throughout the Los
Angeles area and California as well as some from the eastern U.S., including
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian of the Western Diocese and a representative of
Cardinal Mahoney of the Catholic Church. At the entrance of the church a
welcoming ceremony was performed with the traditional blessing of bread and
salt, the release of white doves and His Holiness was presented with a
bouquet of flowers. Also on hand were various community organization
representatives and public officials. To accommodate the overflowing
crowds, a large screen was mounted outside the church showing the live video
feed of the procession into the church as well as the services inside.
After the initial services, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian introduced His
Holiness during which he said, "Your presence with us today, Your Holiness,
shows the strong bridge that binds us with the Great House of Cilicia and
the Holy Catholicosate. This is a bond that is based on faithfulness and
strong collaboration." The Archbishop went on to stress that this historic
visit of His Holiness will help recommit the community to the devoted
service to our faithful people and our homeland.
His Holiness Aram I then thanked God for the opportunity to again be with
his flock and stated that "a shepherd is strengthened by his flock and the
flock is strengthened by its shepherd." He then blessed all the clergy and
faithful who were present as well as all the community organizations and
people who had worked to make this trip possible. "Today I want to
emphasize key values and principles," said His Holiness. "My message is
that you must strengthen your belief, deepen and strengthen your
faithfulness and reinforce our unity. We must live with moral values and
have a purpose-driven life."
His Holiness has a very busy itinerary which includes many different
community events, gatherings and meetings with representatives of church
bodies and community organizations. As part of his broader mission, His
Holiness also will be meeting with dozens of local, state and federal level
public officials and will conduct interviews with the mass media including
TV, radio and newspapers throughout Los Angeles and California. His
Holiness will give a major speech before the World Affairs Council on
October 14 entitled "Christianity and the Middle East" and preside over a
symposium at the University of Southern California on October 15.
As part of his first full day's events on October 6, His Holiness had
several meetings with members of the clergy, Church committees and community
organizations including the Armenian Revolutionary Federation's western
region central committee, the regional executives of the Armenian Relief
Society and the Homenetmen. His Holiness also had a luncheon with the
organizing committee for the Los Angeles visit. His main message was "that
whatever we do for God, for the Church, for the nation and the homeland we
must do with belief and devotion so that we are successful." His Holiness
conducted interviews with the mass media including the Los Angeles Times and
a live appearance on KPCC-FM's "Talk of the City" show with Kitty Felde. In
the evening he presided over the Homenetmen Glendale "Ararat" chapter's
celebration of the Armenian alphabet.
In the coming few days he will be meeting with Armenian school students, pay
respects at the Armenian Genocide monument in Montebello and bless the new
Western Prelacy building in La Cresenta on Saturday, October 8. There also
will be a Pontifical Holy High Mass at St. Mary's Armenian Church in
Glendale as well as a Pontifical banquet in his honor on Sunday, October 9.
Giving the trip special meaning this time is the fact that it will mark the
10th anniversary of His Holiness' election to Catholicos and also coincide
with the 75th anniversary of the Antelias Seminary, the 1600th anniversary
of the Armenian alphabet and the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Western Prelacy
of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian
Prelate, Western United States
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
Email: [email protected]
For more information:
Zanku Armenian (818) 243-3557
Mercata Group
Catholicos Aram I Arrives In Los Angeles Beginning Historic U.S. Visit
His Holiness Greeted by Large Crowds at St. Garabed Church in Hollywood
(Los Angeles, CA - October 7, 2005) - "We must live with moral values and
have a purpose-driven life," declared His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the
Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church, upon his arrival in
Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 5, 2005. Greeted by large crowds who had
gathered at St. Garabed Church in Hollywood for the official welcoming and
"Hrashapar" service, his arrival marked the beginning of a historic visit to
the United States, starting in California, where His Holiness will be
meeting with the community and various public officials throughout the
state. Prior to his arrival at St.Garabed Church, His Holiness met with
California State Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi where the two
discussed several issues including recent insurance settlements for victims
of the Armenian Genocide.
The Catholicos' motorcade with full dignitary police escorts arrived at St.
Garabed Church in the early evening where the city had closed off the entire
street to accommodate the overflowing crowds. The Prelates of both the
Western Prelacy, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, and the Eastern Prelacy,
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, accompanied the Catholicos. The arrival
ceremony began with the Homenetmen scouts marching band playing the U.S.,
Armenian and Cilicia anthems and additional scouts and students from various
Armenian schools and members of the community and residents of the area
lining the streets. Also covering the arrival were media including the Los
Angeles Times and several local TV stations.
Beginning the procession were Armenian clergy from throughout the Los
Angeles area and California as well as some from the eastern U.S., including
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian of the Western Diocese and a representative of
Cardinal Mahoney of the Catholic Church. At the entrance of the church a
welcoming ceremony was performed with the traditional blessing of bread and
salt, the release of white doves and His Holiness was presented with a
bouquet of flowers. Also on hand were various community organization
representatives and public officials. To accommodate the overflowing
crowds, a large screen was mounted outside the church showing the live video
feed of the procession into the church as well as the services inside.
After the initial services, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian introduced His
Holiness during which he said, "Your presence with us today, Your Holiness,
shows the strong bridge that binds us with the Great House of Cilicia and
the Holy Catholicosate. This is a bond that is based on faithfulness and
strong collaboration." The Archbishop went on to stress that this historic
visit of His Holiness will help recommit the community to the devoted
service to our faithful people and our homeland.
His Holiness Aram I then thanked God for the opportunity to again be with
his flock and stated that "a shepherd is strengthened by his flock and the
flock is strengthened by its shepherd." He then blessed all the clergy and
faithful who were present as well as all the community organizations and
people who had worked to make this trip possible. "Today I want to
emphasize key values and principles," said His Holiness. "My message is
that you must strengthen your belief, deepen and strengthen your
faithfulness and reinforce our unity. We must live with moral values and
have a purpose-driven life."
His Holiness has a very busy itinerary which includes many different
community events, gatherings and meetings with representatives of church
bodies and community organizations. As part of his broader mission, His
Holiness also will be meeting with dozens of local, state and federal level
public officials and will conduct interviews with the mass media including
TV, radio and newspapers throughout Los Angeles and California. His
Holiness will give a major speech before the World Affairs Council on
October 14 entitled "Christianity and the Middle East" and preside over a
symposium at the University of Southern California on October 15.
As part of his first full day's events on October 6, His Holiness had
several meetings with members of the clergy, Church committees and community
organizations including the Armenian Revolutionary Federation's western
region central committee, the regional executives of the Armenian Relief
Society and the Homenetmen. His Holiness also had a luncheon with the
organizing committee for the Los Angeles visit. His main message was "that
whatever we do for God, for the Church, for the nation and the homeland we
must do with belief and devotion so that we are successful." His Holiness
conducted interviews with the mass media including the Los Angeles Times and
a live appearance on KPCC-FM's "Talk of the City" show with Kitty Felde. In
the evening he presided over the Homenetmen Glendale "Ararat" chapter's
celebration of the Armenian alphabet.
In the coming few days he will be meeting with Armenian school students, pay
respects at the Armenian Genocide monument in Montebello and bless the new
Western Prelacy building in La Cresenta on Saturday, October 8. There also
will be a Pontifical Holy High Mass at St. Mary's Armenian Church in
Glendale as well as a Pontifical banquet in his honor on Sunday, October 9.
Giving the trip special meaning this time is the fact that it will mark the
10th anniversary of His Holiness' election to Catholicos and also coincide
with the 75th anniversary of the Antelias Seminary, the 1600th anniversary
of the Armenian alphabet and the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress