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FRESNO COMMUNITY WELCOMES ARAM I
asbarez
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011
Catholicos Aram I with a child at the altar of the Fresno Church
FRESNO~W~SThe Fresno Armenian Community is one of the oldest Armenian
communities established in the United States and has been extremely
instrumental in keeping age old Armenian traditions, connections to the
Christian faith, and deep rooted ties to the Great House of Cilicia,
and is therefore worthy of high praise; that will remain strong
today and tomorrow~T declared His Holiness Aram I, the Catholicos
of the Great House of Cilicia at a Banquet on Saturday evening as he
continued pontifical visit.
The Catholicos~R fourth Pontifical visit to the Western US kicked
off on Thursday and will last until October 23.
Arriving in Fresno on Saturday evening, the Catholicos and his
entourage were met in front of the church steps by parishioners
including Board of Trustees members, Deacons and Choir members of the
church, and parishioners. Accompanying the Catholicos were Western
Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Eastern Prelate Archbishop
Oshagan Choloyan, Staff Bearer Very Rev. Mesrob Sarkissian, and
Central Executive and Executive Council members.
At the entrance of the Holy Trininty Church greeting the crowd
The Catholicos and the procession entered into the church with
the Choir singing the ~SHrashapar~T, where a canonical prayer was
conducted.
His Holiness Aram I and entourage then went on to the Church Social
Hall for a special banquet held in his honor. All those in attendance
were delighted to receive as a gift the most recent book written by
His Holiness Aram I, ~STaking the Church to the People~T that was
published only last week by the Western Prelacy. During the banquet,
Deacon Mark Shirin introduced the book and gave a short synopsis of
the book.
Archbishop Mardirossian welcomed everyone and reminded the guests
that the theme of this Pontifical Visit is ~SWith Faith We Build~T
and that this year had been declared as the ~SYear of the Armenian
Child.~T His Eminence then invited His Holiness Aram I to deliver
his Pontifical Message.
The Catholicos prefaced by commenting on the immense historical
value of the Fresno Armenian Community and its impact on our age
old Armenian traditions, connections to our Christian faith and
deep rooted ties to the Great House of Cilicia and said that the
focal point of his message is based on three words, Community,
Values, and Identity. His Holiness explained that by belonging to
a larger community and by participating and giving in a community,
one receives a sense of value. We would not have communities if we and
our children do not participate in it. He also discussed Christianity
in the context of humanity and sense of national identity. Lastly,
His Holiness outlined that keeping our identity, specifically our
Armenian identity, is so crucial and extremely important that we are
obligated to pass on from generation to generation.
The Catholicos speaks at the Fresno banquet
During the Banquet, the cultural program included several traditional
dances and a recitation. The banquet ended with the singing of the
Cilician anthem.
Divine Liturgy and Pontifical Message at Holy Trinity Church October 9
will be remembered as a historic day for the Fresno Armenian Community
and specifically for the Holy Trinity Church family.
On that day, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, celebrated Divine
Liturgy in the historic church and delivered his Pontifical message
to parishioners.
His Holiness was greeted by the Deacons and the Choir of the church
at the footsteps of the church. Also, greeting the pontiff were the
Homenetmen Scouts of the Sassoon Chapter.
During the extraordinary and beautiful Liturgy, the students of the
Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church sang the ~SChristos Ee Mech.~T
In his pontifical message the Catholicos spoke about the importance
of having faith. He added that only by believing in our Lord Jesus
Christ can one be a true Christian. Having faith brings a sense of
peace and strength to humanity. The Catholicos explained that being a
true Christian does not necessarily mean to simply follow Bible studies
but to actually live the Christian life. One must apply the meanings
in the Bible and apply them in one~Rs own personal life. Doing this
also means that one must participate in the church and by doing so,
the Church brings meaning to our lives and our children~Rs lives. His
Holiness concluded by urging the faithful to demonstrate their faith
and commitment by actively participating in Church life.
Meeting with Sunday School Students After the Divine Liturgy, His
Holiness Aram I went to greet and speak to the Sunday school children,
who had been anxiously waiting for him.
The children and many of their parents as well warmly greeted His
Holiness. Board member Michael Sarabian delivered his welcoming
remarks and introduced Mrs. Sato Sanikian, who also gave her welcoming
remarks. Sunday School students Nareg Apkarian and Gohar Sanikian
welcomed His Holiness both in Armenian and English.
His Holiness Aram I spoke to the children and encouraged them to lead
a Christian life. He then gave the children an opportunity to ask
him a number of questions which he answered in a very endearing manner.
Catholicos and his entourage at the Soghomon Tehlirian Monument
On Monday morning, the Catholicos and his entourage visited Ararat
Cemetery.
The visit began with welcoming remarks delivered by the directors of
the cemetery. The tour started at the grave of the Unknown Armenian
Martyr, whose remains were brought from Der Zor and buried at the
cemetery. At this site, requiem hymns and the Lord~Rs Prayer were sung.
The visit continued to the gravesites of Levon and Sophia Hagopian,
William Saroyan, and other church clergy and individuals who made a
significant contribution to the Fresno Armenian Community.
The Catholicos was then escorted to the monument dedicated to the
Armenian hero Soghomon Tehlirian.
~SOur presence here, in front of the Soghomon Tehlirian Monument,
signifies that the Armenian people will continue to demand justice
for the Genocide committed against the Armenian people by the Turks
in the beginning of the 20th century,~T said the Catholicos adding
that Soghomon Tehlirian~Rs name is a symbol and we need to remember
it and teach it to our children not only for justice to be served
but also for injustice towards humanity to cease.
Catholicos meets students at the Charlie Keyan Armenian Community
School
The next stop was at Charlie Keyan Armenian Community School,
where the students, administrators, and teachers enthusiastically
greeted His Holiness. The school band beautifully played the Armenian
national anthem. Inside the school hall, students, school officials and
teachers, many parents and faithful had gathered for the opportunity
to see and hear the Catholicos. Board President Dr. Vache Vassilian
and Principal Zar Der Mugrdechian gave their welcoming remarks to
His Holiness. The students then sang several songs that delighted all
those present. His Holiness expressed to the children how delighted
he was that all the children were in this Armenian school and learning
our Armenian language.
A number of questions were directed to the Catholicos who answered
all the questions with sincerity and humor.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
asbarez
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011
Catholicos Aram I with a child at the altar of the Fresno Church
FRESNO~W~SThe Fresno Armenian Community is one of the oldest Armenian
communities established in the United States and has been extremely
instrumental in keeping age old Armenian traditions, connections to the
Christian faith, and deep rooted ties to the Great House of Cilicia,
and is therefore worthy of high praise; that will remain strong
today and tomorrow~T declared His Holiness Aram I, the Catholicos
of the Great House of Cilicia at a Banquet on Saturday evening as he
continued pontifical visit.
The Catholicos~R fourth Pontifical visit to the Western US kicked
off on Thursday and will last until October 23.
Arriving in Fresno on Saturday evening, the Catholicos and his
entourage were met in front of the church steps by parishioners
including Board of Trustees members, Deacons and Choir members of the
church, and parishioners. Accompanying the Catholicos were Western
Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Eastern Prelate Archbishop
Oshagan Choloyan, Staff Bearer Very Rev. Mesrob Sarkissian, and
Central Executive and Executive Council members.
At the entrance of the Holy Trininty Church greeting the crowd
The Catholicos and the procession entered into the church with
the Choir singing the ~SHrashapar~T, where a canonical prayer was
conducted.
His Holiness Aram I and entourage then went on to the Church Social
Hall for a special banquet held in his honor. All those in attendance
were delighted to receive as a gift the most recent book written by
His Holiness Aram I, ~STaking the Church to the People~T that was
published only last week by the Western Prelacy. During the banquet,
Deacon Mark Shirin introduced the book and gave a short synopsis of
the book.
Archbishop Mardirossian welcomed everyone and reminded the guests
that the theme of this Pontifical Visit is ~SWith Faith We Build~T
and that this year had been declared as the ~SYear of the Armenian
Child.~T His Eminence then invited His Holiness Aram I to deliver
his Pontifical Message.
The Catholicos prefaced by commenting on the immense historical
value of the Fresno Armenian Community and its impact on our age
old Armenian traditions, connections to our Christian faith and
deep rooted ties to the Great House of Cilicia and said that the
focal point of his message is based on three words, Community,
Values, and Identity. His Holiness explained that by belonging to
a larger community and by participating and giving in a community,
one receives a sense of value. We would not have communities if we and
our children do not participate in it. He also discussed Christianity
in the context of humanity and sense of national identity. Lastly,
His Holiness outlined that keeping our identity, specifically our
Armenian identity, is so crucial and extremely important that we are
obligated to pass on from generation to generation.
The Catholicos speaks at the Fresno banquet
During the Banquet, the cultural program included several traditional
dances and a recitation. The banquet ended with the singing of the
Cilician anthem.
Divine Liturgy and Pontifical Message at Holy Trinity Church October 9
will be remembered as a historic day for the Fresno Armenian Community
and specifically for the Holy Trinity Church family.
On that day, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, celebrated Divine
Liturgy in the historic church and delivered his Pontifical message
to parishioners.
His Holiness was greeted by the Deacons and the Choir of the church
at the footsteps of the church. Also, greeting the pontiff were the
Homenetmen Scouts of the Sassoon Chapter.
During the extraordinary and beautiful Liturgy, the students of the
Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church sang the ~SChristos Ee Mech.~T
In his pontifical message the Catholicos spoke about the importance
of having faith. He added that only by believing in our Lord Jesus
Christ can one be a true Christian. Having faith brings a sense of
peace and strength to humanity. The Catholicos explained that being a
true Christian does not necessarily mean to simply follow Bible studies
but to actually live the Christian life. One must apply the meanings
in the Bible and apply them in one~Rs own personal life. Doing this
also means that one must participate in the church and by doing so,
the Church brings meaning to our lives and our children~Rs lives. His
Holiness concluded by urging the faithful to demonstrate their faith
and commitment by actively participating in Church life.
Meeting with Sunday School Students After the Divine Liturgy, His
Holiness Aram I went to greet and speak to the Sunday school children,
who had been anxiously waiting for him.
The children and many of their parents as well warmly greeted His
Holiness. Board member Michael Sarabian delivered his welcoming
remarks and introduced Mrs. Sato Sanikian, who also gave her welcoming
remarks. Sunday School students Nareg Apkarian and Gohar Sanikian
welcomed His Holiness both in Armenian and English.
His Holiness Aram I spoke to the children and encouraged them to lead
a Christian life. He then gave the children an opportunity to ask
him a number of questions which he answered in a very endearing manner.
Catholicos and his entourage at the Soghomon Tehlirian Monument
On Monday morning, the Catholicos and his entourage visited Ararat
Cemetery.
The visit began with welcoming remarks delivered by the directors of
the cemetery. The tour started at the grave of the Unknown Armenian
Martyr, whose remains were brought from Der Zor and buried at the
cemetery. At this site, requiem hymns and the Lord~Rs Prayer were sung.
The visit continued to the gravesites of Levon and Sophia Hagopian,
William Saroyan, and other church clergy and individuals who made a
significant contribution to the Fresno Armenian Community.
The Catholicos was then escorted to the monument dedicated to the
Armenian hero Soghomon Tehlirian.
~SOur presence here, in front of the Soghomon Tehlirian Monument,
signifies that the Armenian people will continue to demand justice
for the Genocide committed against the Armenian people by the Turks
in the beginning of the 20th century,~T said the Catholicos adding
that Soghomon Tehlirian~Rs name is a symbol and we need to remember
it and teach it to our children not only for justice to be served
but also for injustice towards humanity to cease.
Catholicos meets students at the Charlie Keyan Armenian Community
School
The next stop was at Charlie Keyan Armenian Community School,
where the students, administrators, and teachers enthusiastically
greeted His Holiness. The school band beautifully played the Armenian
national anthem. Inside the school hall, students, school officials and
teachers, many parents and faithful had gathered for the opportunity
to see and hear the Catholicos. Board President Dr. Vache Vassilian
and Principal Zar Der Mugrdechian gave their welcoming remarks to
His Holiness. The students then sang several songs that delighted all
those present. His Holiness expressed to the children how delighted
he was that all the children were in this Armenian school and learning
our Armenian language.
A number of questions were directed to the Catholicos who answered
all the questions with sincerity and humor.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress