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His Holiness Catholicos Aram I blesses the foundation of St. Garabed
Church of Las Vegas
(Noyan Tapan - 22.10.2011)
LOS ANGELES, ANTELIAS - On Wednesday, October 19, 2011, His Holiness
Catholicos Aram I, accompanied by H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, Clergy and Councils members, arrived in Las
Vegas where over the next two days the Pontiff met with community
members and blessed the foundation of St. Garabed Church.
Upon their arrival, His Holiness an entourage were welcomed by Parish
Pastor Archpriest Fr. Avedis Torossian, Parish Council members, and
Las Vegas Pontifical Visit main sponsors Mr. and Mr. Alex and Arda
Yemenidjian, who also hosted His Holiness to a dinner that evening.
During the dinner, His Holiness spoke with high regards of the
Yemenidjian family, and of the dedicated service of Mrs. Yemenidjian's
mother Verjine Koujakian who was one of the founders of the Las Vegas
Church Sunday School.
On the afternoon of Thursday, October 20, His Holiness was hosted to
lunch by the Parish Council, with the participation of representatives
from the ARF "Ishkhan" Gomideh and sister organizations.
Late afternoon, His Holiness and entourage arrived at the St. Garabed
Church and Community Center complex, where over 300 community members
were gathered, enthusiastically awaiting the arrival of the Pontiff
for the groundbreaking and blessing of the Church foundation. Church
benefactor Mr. Larry Barnes participated in the service, as did Clark
County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani. Representatives from the
offices of Governor Brian Sandoval, Senator Harry Reid, Senator Dean
Heller, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, and Congressman Dr. Joe Heck
were also present.
With the "Hrashapar" hymn, His Holiness entered the complex and
conducted the traditional blessing of salt and bread, after which ARS
Saturday School students presented a cultural program.
Thus began the blessing of the foundation ceremony.
His Holiness consecrated the Church dome and altar crosses, and the
Prelate consecrated the 16 pillars, which represent the 12 apostles,
the four Gospel writers, and St. Gregory the Illuminator, the
foundations of our Church.
Following the groundbreaking and blessing, His Holiness congratulated
the Parish community on their great achievement, conveyed the
importance of working together with faith, hope, and love, and
expressed his wish that the project reach its successful completion in
the near future. Speaking on what it means to build a church, His
Holiness stated that our church belongs to our people, the people are
our church, and St. Garabed Church of Las Vegas will also be the
people's church and will serve all indiscriminately.
The Prelate expressed gratitude to His Holiness for his Pontifical
visit to the Las Vegas community and pledged that all will work
towards of their mission with unwavering faith, hope, and love.
"Achahampouyr" followed, during which faithful received the blessings
of the Pontiff, after which His Holiness toured the complex,
expressing his contentment at the project and commending the service
of the Parish Priest, Parish Council, Ladies Auxiliary, and all
volunteers.
The Parish community set in motion their dream of having their own
church nearly two years ago, when by the generosity of benefactor
Larry Barnes, the current site was purchased. The benefaction of Mr.
Barnes was in memory of his wife Seda Der Garabedian-Barnes, and her
ancestors who had perished in the Genocide. The remodeling phase began
soon after, with first the completion of the hall, where services are
currently held. The second phase is the construction of the Church,
which will now proceed with the blessings of His Holiness. Once the
project is completed, the complex will serve as the spiritual and
cultural hub of the Las Vegas Armenian community.
In the evening, a banquet was held in honor of His Holiness at the
Tropicana Hotel, hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Alex and Arda Yemenidjian.
Over 350 guests from different states had gathered to honor His
Holienss.
Mr. Yemenidjian welcomed His Holiness, expressing his thanks for what
he called a historic day.
Parish Council Chair Mr. Adroushan Armenian expressed thanks and
gratitude to His Holiness for blessing the Las Vegas community with
his Pontifical visit. He then spoke of the history of St. Garabed
Church and the stages that have led them to where they are today.
Addressing benefactor Mr. Larry Barnes, Mr. Armenian said, "The Las
Vegas Armenian community and all Armenians around the world are
grateful for your generous donations that motivated us to undertake
this important project."
On behalf of the Executive Council, Mr. Vahan Bezdikian welcomed His
Holiness and expressed gratitude for the day. He noted how the Las
Vegas Armenian community has a decades-long history but it was just in
the last few years that they experienced a revival, which is evidenced
by the Church project currently underway. He commended the Parish
Council and affiliated bodies for their dedication, and thanked the
Yemenidjian family for hosting the visit.
The banquet included a cultural program of dances and recitations.
The Prelate expressed his appreciation and commended Mr. and Mr.
Yemenidjian for their commitment and service to our Church, and on
behalf of His Holiness presented them with a memento. The Prelate also
commended the Parish Priest and Council, and presented a hand cross to
the Church.
The Prelate joyfully welcomed the presence of faithful from Los
Angeles, Arizona, New Jersey, and Chicago. He reminded the guests that
the theme of the Pontifical Visit is "With faith we build", and
stressed that with faith we will have spiritual renewal, with faith we
will serve for the continued progress of our schools, and with faith
we will continue to fight for the Armenian Cause. He then invited His
Holiness to deliver his message.
His Holiness once again greeted the Parish community and all those who
had journeyed to be a part of the historic day. He affirmed that the
establishment and livelihood of a community depends on collective
efforts, which is what leads to successful realization of endeavors.
The Pontiff urged all to serve for the collective good with unwavering
faith and strong determination, and concluded by once again commending
the hosts, Executive Council, sponsors and supporters.
From: Baghdasarian
Church of Las Vegas
(Noyan Tapan - 22.10.2011)
LOS ANGELES, ANTELIAS - On Wednesday, October 19, 2011, His Holiness
Catholicos Aram I, accompanied by H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, Clergy and Councils members, arrived in Las
Vegas where over the next two days the Pontiff met with community
members and blessed the foundation of St. Garabed Church.
Upon their arrival, His Holiness an entourage were welcomed by Parish
Pastor Archpriest Fr. Avedis Torossian, Parish Council members, and
Las Vegas Pontifical Visit main sponsors Mr. and Mr. Alex and Arda
Yemenidjian, who also hosted His Holiness to a dinner that evening.
During the dinner, His Holiness spoke with high regards of the
Yemenidjian family, and of the dedicated service of Mrs. Yemenidjian's
mother Verjine Koujakian who was one of the founders of the Las Vegas
Church Sunday School.
On the afternoon of Thursday, October 20, His Holiness was hosted to
lunch by the Parish Council, with the participation of representatives
from the ARF "Ishkhan" Gomideh and sister organizations.
Late afternoon, His Holiness and entourage arrived at the St. Garabed
Church and Community Center complex, where over 300 community members
were gathered, enthusiastically awaiting the arrival of the Pontiff
for the groundbreaking and blessing of the Church foundation. Church
benefactor Mr. Larry Barnes participated in the service, as did Clark
County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani. Representatives from the
offices of Governor Brian Sandoval, Senator Harry Reid, Senator Dean
Heller, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, and Congressman Dr. Joe Heck
were also present.
With the "Hrashapar" hymn, His Holiness entered the complex and
conducted the traditional blessing of salt and bread, after which ARS
Saturday School students presented a cultural program.
Thus began the blessing of the foundation ceremony.
His Holiness consecrated the Church dome and altar crosses, and the
Prelate consecrated the 16 pillars, which represent the 12 apostles,
the four Gospel writers, and St. Gregory the Illuminator, the
foundations of our Church.
Following the groundbreaking and blessing, His Holiness congratulated
the Parish community on their great achievement, conveyed the
importance of working together with faith, hope, and love, and
expressed his wish that the project reach its successful completion in
the near future. Speaking on what it means to build a church, His
Holiness stated that our church belongs to our people, the people are
our church, and St. Garabed Church of Las Vegas will also be the
people's church and will serve all indiscriminately.
The Prelate expressed gratitude to His Holiness for his Pontifical
visit to the Las Vegas community and pledged that all will work
towards of their mission with unwavering faith, hope, and love.
"Achahampouyr" followed, during which faithful received the blessings
of the Pontiff, after which His Holiness toured the complex,
expressing his contentment at the project and commending the service
of the Parish Priest, Parish Council, Ladies Auxiliary, and all
volunteers.
The Parish community set in motion their dream of having their own
church nearly two years ago, when by the generosity of benefactor
Larry Barnes, the current site was purchased. The benefaction of Mr.
Barnes was in memory of his wife Seda Der Garabedian-Barnes, and her
ancestors who had perished in the Genocide. The remodeling phase began
soon after, with first the completion of the hall, where services are
currently held. The second phase is the construction of the Church,
which will now proceed with the blessings of His Holiness. Once the
project is completed, the complex will serve as the spiritual and
cultural hub of the Las Vegas Armenian community.
In the evening, a banquet was held in honor of His Holiness at the
Tropicana Hotel, hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Alex and Arda Yemenidjian.
Over 350 guests from different states had gathered to honor His
Holienss.
Mr. Yemenidjian welcomed His Holiness, expressing his thanks for what
he called a historic day.
Parish Council Chair Mr. Adroushan Armenian expressed thanks and
gratitude to His Holiness for blessing the Las Vegas community with
his Pontifical visit. He then spoke of the history of St. Garabed
Church and the stages that have led them to where they are today.
Addressing benefactor Mr. Larry Barnes, Mr. Armenian said, "The Las
Vegas Armenian community and all Armenians around the world are
grateful for your generous donations that motivated us to undertake
this important project."
On behalf of the Executive Council, Mr. Vahan Bezdikian welcomed His
Holiness and expressed gratitude for the day. He noted how the Las
Vegas Armenian community has a decades-long history but it was just in
the last few years that they experienced a revival, which is evidenced
by the Church project currently underway. He commended the Parish
Council and affiliated bodies for their dedication, and thanked the
Yemenidjian family for hosting the visit.
The banquet included a cultural program of dances and recitations.
The Prelate expressed his appreciation and commended Mr. and Mr.
Yemenidjian for their commitment and service to our Church, and on
behalf of His Holiness presented them with a memento. The Prelate also
commended the Parish Priest and Council, and presented a hand cross to
the Church.
The Prelate joyfully welcomed the presence of faithful from Los
Angeles, Arizona, New Jersey, and Chicago. He reminded the guests that
the theme of the Pontifical Visit is "With faith we build", and
stressed that with faith we will have spiritual renewal, with faith we
will serve for the continued progress of our schools, and with faith
we will continue to fight for the Armenian Cause. He then invited His
Holiness to deliver his message.
His Holiness once again greeted the Parish community and all those who
had journeyed to be a part of the historic day. He affirmed that the
establishment and livelihood of a community depends on collective
efforts, which is what leads to successful realization of endeavors.
The Pontiff urged all to serve for the collective good with unwavering
faith and strong determination, and concluded by once again commending
the hosts, Executive Council, sponsors and supporters.
From: Baghdasarian