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Western Prelacy News - 02/08/2013

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  • Western Prelacy News - 02/08/2013

    February 8, 2013
    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


    SAVE HORIZON

    Earlier this month, the management of Horizon Armenian Television was
    notified by Charter Communications that the channel that has been serving
    the Armenian community for more than two decades would be pulled from the
    Charter lineup effective February 19, despite the fact that Horizon signed
    and delivered a contract for 2013.

    There is an online petition demanding that Charter overturn its decision and
    allow Horizon Armenian Television to continue its broadcasts and service to
    the community. We urge our community to sign the petition in support of
    saving Horizon. (Click here to sign the petition)


    PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER DIVINE LITURGY AT HOLY CROSS CATHEDRAL ON THE EVE OF
    GREAT LENT

    Sunday, February 10, 2013 is the Eve of Great Lent, or "Poon
    Paregentan". Paregentan translates into "Good Living". In the liturgical
    calendar there are ten occasions for observing Paregentan. Poon Paregentan
    (Main or Prime Paregentan), signals the start of the seven-week period of
    Great Lent. Indicating the start of long and frequently occurring periods
    of abstinence, the days of any Paregentan, and especially Poon Paregentan,
    serve for joyous celebration and merriment as a counterbalance to the
    following weeks of abstinence.
    On this day, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, will
    preside over Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at Holy Cross Cathedral
    in Montebello.


    GREAT LENT SUNRISE AND VIGIL SERVICES

    Great Lent begins on Monday, February 11 and continues until
    Saturday, March 30, Easter Eve.
    The forty-day period of Lent offers an opportunity for faithful to
    experience spiritual renewal; to cleanse themselves spiritually and come
    closer to God through prayer, abstinence or self-denial, and performing good
    deeds for the less fortunate. It is a time to prepare oneself spiritually
    to accept the good news of Christ's Resurrection.
    During the Lenten period, the Armenian Church has soulful services
    of prayer which typically take place on Wednesdays and Fridays.
    Beginning on Wednesday, February 13, Sunrise and Vigil services will
    take place in Prelacy churches on Wednesday mornings and Friday evenings
    respectively.
    Per tradition, on Wednesday, February 13 the Prelate will preside
    over the first Sunrise service of Lent at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino and
    will deliver his message to the faithful and to Ferrahian School students
    who will be in attendance. The service begins at 10:00 a.m.
    Following the service, the Prelate will attend the annual Great Lent
    luncheon organized by the local ARS "Anahid" Chapter at "Dikranian" Hall,
    during which His Eminence will convey his message focusing on the virtues
    and roles of Armenian mothers given that His Holiness Catholicos Aram I has
    proclaimed 2013 the "Year of the Armenian Mother".


    EVENING SERVICES AND TRADITIONAL BONFIRE ON THE EVE OF THE PRESENTATION OF
    OUR LORD TO THE TEMPLE

    - ANNUAL MEETING WITH HOMENETMEN SCOUTS

    Thursday, February 14, is the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord
    to the Temple, "Dyarnentarach".
    This feast is regarded as scriptural confirmation of Jesus'
    Revelation as God. According to Jewish canons, it was custom for a woman
    who had borne a child to go to the temple and present the child on the 40th
    day. It was in conformance with this practice that Mary took the infant
    Jesus to the temple, during which Simeon miraculously sensed God's presence.
    In the Armenian Church, on this day mothers take their children to Church
    where they present them to the altar for dedication. Another tradition is
    to light a bonfire in the Church courtyard after the service. Traditionally
    all present at the bonfire took a light from it with a candle and took it
    home so that the Light and Wisdom would prevail and misfortune would be
    banished from their homes.
    On Wednesday, February 13, Eve of the Feast services will be held in
    Prelacy Churches, followed by the lighting of the traditional bonfire.
    The Prelate will preside over services and deliver his message at
    St. Mary's Church in Glendale. The service begins at 6:30 p.m.
    In keeping with tradition, Homenetmen scouts and representatives
    will be in attendance and will be hosted to dinner with the Prelate at
    "Armenak Der Bedrossian" Hall at the conclusion of the services.


    CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF STS. VARTANANTS

    On Thursday, February 7, 2013, the Armenian Church and nation
    observed the Feast of St. Vartanants, the first recorded battle in defense
    of our Christian faith. The battle which was fought on the plains of
    Avarayr in 451 AD was a spiritual victory for the Armenian nation, granting
    them freedom to worship our Christian faith. Through their martyrdom, St.
    Vartan and his 1036 soldiers became symbols of courage, sacrifice,
    patriotism, and undying faith.
    The legacy of the Vartanants saints was commemorated within the
    Prelacy on Thursday with a special evening service of prayers, hymns, and
    nationalistic and patriotic songs held at the North Hollywood Parish. H.E.
    Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, presided over the service, in
    which clergy members participated.
    In his inspiring message to the faithful, the Prelate exalted the
    virtues of the Vartanants saints and advised as to how we, today, must
    follow in their ideal example and path. "Through their struggle and
    martyrdom, St. Vartan and his combatants proclaimed that no matter what
    difficulties or crises the Armenian people are faced with, we will always
    recognize the Bible as our father and the Armenian Apostolic Church as our
    mother; and as long as we, as a people, defend against any and all obstacles
    that come to destroy our faith, national identity, and moral values, then we
    are worthy of being called their heirs. On the eve of the battle, St.
    Vartan and his companions, and the cleric Ghevont and his fellow clergymen
    celebrated Liturgy and received Holy Communion as a pledge that they were
    ready to shed their blood and become martyrs for their faith in Jesus
    Christ, for the glory of God, and for the preservation of our national
    identity, so that we would remain always Armenian Christians. Today, we
    renew our spirits by the legacy of their faith and courage, and we rejoice
    in the legacy of Vartan Mamigonian as the glory of the Armenian nation and
    the crown of the Armenian Church. Vartan Mamigonian has been described as
    exceptional in his courage, virtues, and faith, wise in his thoughts and
    messages, compelling in his words, and adept in his works. As the heirs of
    St. Vartan and St. Ghevont, and as clergy and community leaders dedicated to
    serving our church and nation, more than ever we need courage, wisdom, and
    strong-will in our service for the glory of God and for the progress of our
    church and nation. We too must proclaim that we accept the Bible as our
    father and the Armenian Apostolic Church as our mother, and that we will
    always remain faithful to the Bible and its teachings, to our religious
    heritage, and to the canons of our church; this is our responsibility as
    religious and national leaders. In his address to his soldiers, St. Vartan
    had one request of them, and that was to keep away from iniquity. Today the
    same is required of us. In their ideal example, we are to cleanse any
    treachery and deceit from our hearts, souls, and thoughts so that we do not
    mislead our flock from the righteous path. Let us then, with renewed
    spirits, bow in reverence to the memory of our Sts. Vartanants, and as their
    worthy heirs pledge to continue to lead our flock on the path of
    righteousness with faith, integrity, courage, and wisdom, for the glory of
    God and the splendor of our nation", concluded the Prelate.
    The faithful then joined clergy in the spiritually uplifting and
    moving singing of beloved traditional songs dedicated specifically to this
    feast. The service came to a close with the Cilician, Pontifical, and
    Armenian national anthems and the Prelate's blessing.
    Clergy and faithful were then hosted to a reception organized by
    the parish Ladies Guild.


    CELEBRATING THE FEAST OF GHEVONTIANTS
    AT CHAMLIAN SCHOOL

    On Tuesday, February 5, 2013, the Armenian Church celebrated the
    Feast of Ghevontiants. The Feast honors the indestructible faith and
    sacrifices of a multitude of heroes who gave their lives in the name of
    their faith and nation in the first half of the fifth century.
    Each year on the occasion of this Feast day, Armenian clergy join
    together to reflect on the life and virtues of the Ghevontiants Saints and
    renew their vows and commitment as clergy. The feast is commemorated within
    the Prelacy with an annual clergy conference and Divine Liturgy.
    On this occasion, on Tuesday morning Divine Liturgy was celebrated
    at Vahan and Anoush Chamlian School, presided over by H.E. Archbishop
    Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate and with the participation of clergy members.
    The celebrant was Pastor of Holy Martyrs Church of Encino Rev. Fr. Razmig
    Khatchadourian.
    In attendance were Executive Council Vice-Chair Mr. George
    Chorbajian, Principal Mr. Vazken Madenlian, Vice-Principal Mrs. Rita
    Kaprielian, administrators, teachers, students, and school support committee
    members.
    At the conclusion of the service, seventh grade student Alina Lahian
    presented a brief history of the Battle of Vartanants.
    Addressing the students, the Prelate stated that this year's
    Ghevontiants service was especially inspiring and moving because the Liturgy
    was being celebrated at Chamlian School for the first time with their
    participation. Speaking on the history of the Battle of Vartanants, His
    Eminence noted that our heroes and martyrs celebrated Divine Liturgy and
    received Holy Communion prior to their venture onto the battlefield to
    defend our Christian faith and our religious and national identity. The
    Prelate concluded his message by stressing that Vartan Mamigonian and the
    Ghevontiants priests were victorious in their mission and became the
    champions of our faith, and we, as the heirs of that faith, nation,
    language, and culture, must stay true to the ideal for which they gave their
    lives. In conclusion, the Prelate blessed and commended all those present,
    including the school principal and staff, Executive Council Vice-Chair Mr.
    George Chorbajian, and clergy members.
    The service concluded with national songs dedicated to the feast,
    and the Cilician and Armenian national anthems, sung by clergy members and
    students.
    The Prelate and clergy were then hosted to a luncheon by the
    administration, in which students joined.


    "FRIENDS OF NEW JULFA" TRADITIONAL COSTUME FESTIVAL

    The "Friends of New Julfa" Committee annual "Paregentan"
    festivities, the traditional costume festival, will be held under the
    auspices of the Prelate on Saturday, February 9, at Ambrosia hall in
    Glendale.
    Rev. Fr. Ghevont Kirazian will represent the Prelate.

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