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March 22, 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
CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA DELEGATION CONGRATULATES POPE FRANCIS
On Monday, March 18, 2013, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, arrived in Rome to participate in the inauguration of His Holiness
Pope Francis. His Holiness Catholicos Aram I had appointed the Prelate to
be part of the delegation representing the Catholicosate of Cilicia. The
delegation included Seminary Dean and Catholicosate Ecumenical Officer H.E.
Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, and national benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Alecco and
Ani Bezikian. On Monday evening, ecumenical guests, including the Holy See
of Cilicia delegation, were hosted to an intimate dinner with Pope Francis,
during which the Prelate had the opportunity to personally greet His
Holiness and convey his well wishes.
On Tuesday, March 19, the Catholicosate of Cilicia delegation
participated in the Papal Inaugural Mass at Saint Peter's Basilica, during
which Pope Francis was officially installed as the new Pontiff of the Roman
Catholic Church. On the morning of Wednesday, March 20, the delegation had
an official visit with Pope Francis where they had the opportunity to once
again extend their congratulations to the new Pontiff.
PRELATE REPRESENTS CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA AT ENTHRONEMENT OF THE
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
On Monday, March 18, 2013, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, arrived in Rome where over the next two days he participated in the
inauguration of His Holiness of Pope Francis as part of the delegation
representing H.H. Catholicos Aram I and the Holy See of Cilicia.
On the afternoon of Wednesday, March 20, the Prelate arrived in
London from where he headed to Canterbury to participate in the enthronement
of The Most Reverend and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby as the Archbishop of
Canterbury. International guests were hosted to a reception and evening
meal together with the Anglican Primates and Inter-Religious guests. On the
afternoon of Thursday, March 21, Archbishop Justin Welby was formally
enthroned as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury. The official celebration
dinner took place in the evening chaired by Archbishop Justin Welby and in
honor of all official Anglican Communion, Ecumenical and Inter-Religious
guests. On Friday morning, guests had the opportunity to meet and exchange
greetings with the Archbishop at his official home in Canterbury. The
Prelate, among the Oriental Orthodox Church delegation, met the Archbishop
and conveyed the well wishes of H.H. Catholicos Aram I for a successful
ministry.
PRELATE TO CELEBRATE PALM SUNDAY
AT HOLY CROSS CATHEDRAL IN MONTEBELLO
Sunday, March 24, 2013 is Palm Sunday, the celebration of the
triumphant entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.
Palm Sunday will be celebrated in all our churches with Divine
Liturgy, the children's procession, and the opening of the portals service.
On this occasion, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
will celebrate Divine Liturgy, deliver the sermon, and preside over the
Opening of the Portals service at Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello.
PRELATE'S HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Monday, March 25 is the start of Holy Week. Throughout the week, the
Prelate will conduct services in various Prelacy Churches. Below is the
Prelate's Holy Week schedule.
Holy Tuesday - Remembrance of the Ten Virgins
Holy Martyrs Church, Encino, 7:00 p.m.
Maundy Thursday
Washing of the Feet - St. Sarkis Church, Pasadena, 5:30 p.m.
Vigil - St. Mary's Church, Glendale, 7:30 p.m.
Good Friday - Crucifixion and Burial
St. Garabed Church, Hollywood, 7:00 p.m.
Easter Eve - Lighting of Candles (Jrakalooyts)
St. Mary's Church, Glendale, 5:00 p.m.
Easter - the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ
Holy Martyrs Church, Encino, 11:00 a.m.
By the ordinance of the Prelate, Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian will
preside over the Washing of the Feet service at Holy Cross Cathedral in
Montebello, and will celebrate Easter Eve at Forty Martyrs Church in Orange
County.
ST. GREGORY CHURCH OF SAN FRANCISCO
CELEBRATES ITS NAME DAY
Saturday, March 16, 2013 was the Feast of St. Gregory the
Illuminator's Descent into the Pit, which is also the name day celebration
for churches named St. Gregory in honor of the founder, father, and
illuminator of our faith.
On this occasion, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
visited the St. Gregory Church parish community of San Francisco where on
Sunday, March 17, His Eminence celebrated Divine Liturgy and conducted the
blessing of madagh.
Parish Pastor Archpriest Fr. Khoren Habeshian thanked the Prelate
for celebrating the name day of the Church with the community, and wished
him a safe journey in his travel to Rome to participate in the inauguration
of His Holiness Pope Francis. He then invited the Prelate to deliver his
sermon.
His Eminence greeted the Pastor and faithful who had gathered for
the special occasion, including Parish Delegates, Board of Trustees and
Ladies Guild members, Krouzian-Zekarian-Vasbouragan Principal, teachers, and
students, and Sunday School students, and noting that this feast is also the
pilgrimage day for St. Gregory the Illuminator Mother Cathedral in Antelias,
read the prayer of H.H. Catholicos Aram I to St. Gregory.
In the first part of his sermon, the Prelate spoke of the exemplary
life and faith of St. Gregory, stating, "St. Gregory is the most beloved of
our saints, revered for his extraordinary faith and will. Centuries later,
the example of St. Gregory remains the ideal guide for our spiritual lives.
St. Gregory is the model of unfading hope, unyielding faith, and
unfathomable will. Today is a pilgrimage day for this parish community. As
pilgrims, let us vow that we will carry on the legacy of St. Gregory the
Illuminator by pledging to remain unshaken in our faith no matter what
obstacles and challenges may come our way. May the remarkable life and
faith of our first Pontiff serve as an inspiration for us to become
fortified in our faith and to submit ourselves to His Holy Will with
absolute trust.
The second part of the Prelate's sermon focused on the sixth Sunday
of Great Lent and the day's passage from Matthew 22:34-23:39 recording the
last few days of the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this
passage, Jesus addresses the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees who
taught and judged according to the Law of Moses, yet did not obey the very
laws they were teaching. Through their flawed teaching of the law, they
created intolerable burdens for the people which they themselves did not
carry. They were also putting on a show of piety for the attention of
others, but there was no substance beneath their outwardly appearance.
Through this reading, we are given an idea of the state of the religious
leadership in Jesus' day. They were hypocrites in that they pretended to
serve God but in reality served only themselves, their pride, and their
desire to be respected ad honored by their people. They appeared religious
to others but inside they were lawless and broke every commandment of God.
"The Gospels give a multitude of examples of hypocrisy that we can learn
from. In fact our Lord Jesus Christ had strong words about the scribes and
Pharisees and what awaits them, 'For I say to you, that unless your
righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you
will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven' (Matthew 5:20). On this day of
pilgrimage, let us examine ourselves to make certain our faith is genuine
and our lives are in keeping with God's commandments, let us follow the laws
of the Bible and not our own version and interpretation of the laws, let us
practice our spiritual disciplines of Bible study, prayer, and confession,
loving and serving God and our fellow man with pure hearts and intentions,
and leading others to the path of righteousness with our actions. May we
all follow in the prime example of St. Gregory the Illuminator who loved the
Lord with all his might, faithfully adhered to His commandments and His will
with a clean and pure heart and unwavering resolve, and inspired not by
words, but by actions", concluded the Prelate.
The Prelate then conducted the blessing of madagh in the Church
courtyard, congratulated all those bearing the name Krikor, and concluded
the celebration with the benediction.
PILIBOS SCHOOL 8TH & 9TH GRADE STUDENTS
VISIT THE PRELACY
On Friday, March 15, 2013, Rose and Alex Pilibos 8th and 9th grade
students visited the Prelacy where they met with H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, participated in a prayer service and were
familiarized with the endeavors of the Prelacy. Two weeks ago 5th and 7th
grade students paid a visit to the Prelacy, and next month the Prelacy will
host students from the 10th and 11th grades. His Eminence was joined by St.
Garabed Church Pastor Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian, and Crescenta Valley
Church Pastor Rev. Fr. Ghevont Kirazian.
Nearly one hundred students arrived on Friday morning accompanied by
their teachers and parents. Following group photos with the Prelate in the
"St. Dertad and St. Ashkhen" Chapel, students headed to the "Dikran and
Zarouhie Der Ghazarian" Hall for a prayer service and to present a cultural
program of songs and recitations they had prepared for this occasion.
The program began with the Lord's Prayer and a hymn. The Prelate
and clergy also said a special prayer for the 8th grade class, wishing them
a safe trip as they will be visiting Washington D.C. next week. The program
was capably officiated by 9th grade student Armine Kalpakian, who spoke on
the role of the Armenian School and its influence on Armenian youth, then
invited her classmates to present their performances.
The first group of students recited the poem "The Armenian Church"
by Vahan Tekeyan. The second group recited a poem by Vahakn Tavitian
dedicated to the Armenian language. A duet of nationalistic songs followed.
Five students presented a number of Hovhannes Tumanyan poems, and a poem
dedicated to mothers was also presented given that H.H. Catholicos Aram I
has dedicated the year to Armenian Mothers. Musical performances on the
piano, violin, and guitar followed, with selections ranging from Aram
Khachadourian to Pink Floyd. The beautifully prepared and presented
cultural program concluded with the "Oath of Youth".
Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian commended the students for their
performances and urged them to remain faithful to the oath they recited.
Fr. Vicken also gave a brief explanation of the endeavors and mission of the
Holy See of Cilicia and the Prelacy, including of the Churches and Schools
under its jurisdiction, then invited the Prelate to deliver his message.
The Prelate first commended the students on their program, which he
stated filled our souls with spiritual joy and was a testament to their
God-given talents. Noting that we are in the Great Lent period, His
Eminence spoke to the students about the meaning and messages of Great Lent,
among them the victory of good over evil and overcoming trials in life with
strong will, and also spoke of the message of Easter as the triumph of life
over death. The Prelate also commended the students for dedicating a part of
their program to mothers, and invited them to write special prayers for
their mothers on the occasion of the "Year of the Armenian Mother". In
conclusion, the Prelate wished the students success and great achievements
in the coming years, at the same time urging them to never forget their
roots and to serve for the progress of their community and nation throughout
their lives, and commended the principal and teachers for their role in the
intellectual and spiritual development of our youth.
The official program concluded with the Cilician and Armenian
national anthems. The students were then given a tour of the headquarters,
and were acquainted with the staff and the endeavors of the various
departments.
ORIENTAL ORTHODOX BISHOPS MEETING
On Thursday, March 14, 2013 the Council of Oriental Orthodox Bishops
held their regular meeting at St. Leon Cathedral in Burbank. H.E.
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, was represented by Very Rev. Fr.
Muron Aznikian, who was accompanied by Holy Martyrs Church Pastor Rev. Fr.
Razmig Khatchadourian and Crescenta Valley Church Pastor Rev. Fr. Ghevont
Kirazian.
The meeting was hosted by H.E. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, with the
participation of H.E. Archbishop Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan (Syriac Church),
H.G. Bishop Serapion (Coptic Church), and clergy from the Armenian, Coptic,
and Syriac Churches.
The Prelates and clergy members discussed past and future
collaborative efforts and joint events. The outcome was as follows:
(1) The Council commended the endeavors of the Sunday Schools
committee, particularly the 8th annual Bible competition they had
successfully organized on March 2nd at St. Garabed Church in Hollywood in
which about 150 students participated.
(2) The Council urged the revitalization of the youth committee. The
four Prelates will appoint one representative each to serve on the Youth
Committee to organize events in the coming months.
(3) With regards to the annual Joint Liturgy and clergy conference,
the Council decided to discuss the issue further after Easter and plan on a
date to hold the event.
The next meeting of the Council of Oriental Orthodox Bishops will be
held on Tuesday, July 9, at St. Ephraim Syriac Orthodox Cathedral in
Burbank.
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
CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA DELEGATION CONGRATULATES POPE FRANCIS
On Monday, March 18, 2013, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, arrived in Rome to participate in the inauguration of His Holiness
Pope Francis. His Holiness Catholicos Aram I had appointed the Prelate to
be part of the delegation representing the Catholicosate of Cilicia. The
delegation included Seminary Dean and Catholicosate Ecumenical Officer H.E.
Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, and national benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Alecco and
Ani Bezikian. On Monday evening, ecumenical guests, including the Holy See
of Cilicia delegation, were hosted to an intimate dinner with Pope Francis,
during which the Prelate had the opportunity to personally greet His
Holiness and convey his well wishes.
On Tuesday, March 19, the Catholicosate of Cilicia delegation
participated in the Papal Inaugural Mass at Saint Peter's Basilica, during
which Pope Francis was officially installed as the new Pontiff of the Roman
Catholic Church. On the morning of Wednesday, March 20, the delegation had
an official visit with Pope Francis where they had the opportunity to once
again extend their congratulations to the new Pontiff.
PRELATE REPRESENTS CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA AT ENTHRONEMENT OF THE
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
On Monday, March 18, 2013, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, arrived in Rome where over the next two days he participated in the
inauguration of His Holiness of Pope Francis as part of the delegation
representing H.H. Catholicos Aram I and the Holy See of Cilicia.
On the afternoon of Wednesday, March 20, the Prelate arrived in
London from where he headed to Canterbury to participate in the enthronement
of The Most Reverend and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby as the Archbishop of
Canterbury. International guests were hosted to a reception and evening
meal together with the Anglican Primates and Inter-Religious guests. On the
afternoon of Thursday, March 21, Archbishop Justin Welby was formally
enthroned as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury. The official celebration
dinner took place in the evening chaired by Archbishop Justin Welby and in
honor of all official Anglican Communion, Ecumenical and Inter-Religious
guests. On Friday morning, guests had the opportunity to meet and exchange
greetings with the Archbishop at his official home in Canterbury. The
Prelate, among the Oriental Orthodox Church delegation, met the Archbishop
and conveyed the well wishes of H.H. Catholicos Aram I for a successful
ministry.
PRELATE TO CELEBRATE PALM SUNDAY
AT HOLY CROSS CATHEDRAL IN MONTEBELLO
Sunday, March 24, 2013 is Palm Sunday, the celebration of the
triumphant entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.
Palm Sunday will be celebrated in all our churches with Divine
Liturgy, the children's procession, and the opening of the portals service.
On this occasion, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
will celebrate Divine Liturgy, deliver the sermon, and preside over the
Opening of the Portals service at Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello.
PRELATE'S HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Monday, March 25 is the start of Holy Week. Throughout the week, the
Prelate will conduct services in various Prelacy Churches. Below is the
Prelate's Holy Week schedule.
Holy Tuesday - Remembrance of the Ten Virgins
Holy Martyrs Church, Encino, 7:00 p.m.
Maundy Thursday
Washing of the Feet - St. Sarkis Church, Pasadena, 5:30 p.m.
Vigil - St. Mary's Church, Glendale, 7:30 p.m.
Good Friday - Crucifixion and Burial
St. Garabed Church, Hollywood, 7:00 p.m.
Easter Eve - Lighting of Candles (Jrakalooyts)
St. Mary's Church, Glendale, 5:00 p.m.
Easter - the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ
Holy Martyrs Church, Encino, 11:00 a.m.
By the ordinance of the Prelate, Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian will
preside over the Washing of the Feet service at Holy Cross Cathedral in
Montebello, and will celebrate Easter Eve at Forty Martyrs Church in Orange
County.
ST. GREGORY CHURCH OF SAN FRANCISCO
CELEBRATES ITS NAME DAY
Saturday, March 16, 2013 was the Feast of St. Gregory the
Illuminator's Descent into the Pit, which is also the name day celebration
for churches named St. Gregory in honor of the founder, father, and
illuminator of our faith.
On this occasion, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
visited the St. Gregory Church parish community of San Francisco where on
Sunday, March 17, His Eminence celebrated Divine Liturgy and conducted the
blessing of madagh.
Parish Pastor Archpriest Fr. Khoren Habeshian thanked the Prelate
for celebrating the name day of the Church with the community, and wished
him a safe journey in his travel to Rome to participate in the inauguration
of His Holiness Pope Francis. He then invited the Prelate to deliver his
sermon.
His Eminence greeted the Pastor and faithful who had gathered for
the special occasion, including Parish Delegates, Board of Trustees and
Ladies Guild members, Krouzian-Zekarian-Vasbouragan Principal, teachers, and
students, and Sunday School students, and noting that this feast is also the
pilgrimage day for St. Gregory the Illuminator Mother Cathedral in Antelias,
read the prayer of H.H. Catholicos Aram I to St. Gregory.
In the first part of his sermon, the Prelate spoke of the exemplary
life and faith of St. Gregory, stating, "St. Gregory is the most beloved of
our saints, revered for his extraordinary faith and will. Centuries later,
the example of St. Gregory remains the ideal guide for our spiritual lives.
St. Gregory is the model of unfading hope, unyielding faith, and
unfathomable will. Today is a pilgrimage day for this parish community. As
pilgrims, let us vow that we will carry on the legacy of St. Gregory the
Illuminator by pledging to remain unshaken in our faith no matter what
obstacles and challenges may come our way. May the remarkable life and
faith of our first Pontiff serve as an inspiration for us to become
fortified in our faith and to submit ourselves to His Holy Will with
absolute trust.
The second part of the Prelate's sermon focused on the sixth Sunday
of Great Lent and the day's passage from Matthew 22:34-23:39 recording the
last few days of the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this
passage, Jesus addresses the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees who
taught and judged according to the Law of Moses, yet did not obey the very
laws they were teaching. Through their flawed teaching of the law, they
created intolerable burdens for the people which they themselves did not
carry. They were also putting on a show of piety for the attention of
others, but there was no substance beneath their outwardly appearance.
Through this reading, we are given an idea of the state of the religious
leadership in Jesus' day. They were hypocrites in that they pretended to
serve God but in reality served only themselves, their pride, and their
desire to be respected ad honored by their people. They appeared religious
to others but inside they were lawless and broke every commandment of God.
"The Gospels give a multitude of examples of hypocrisy that we can learn
from. In fact our Lord Jesus Christ had strong words about the scribes and
Pharisees and what awaits them, 'For I say to you, that unless your
righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you
will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven' (Matthew 5:20). On this day of
pilgrimage, let us examine ourselves to make certain our faith is genuine
and our lives are in keeping with God's commandments, let us follow the laws
of the Bible and not our own version and interpretation of the laws, let us
practice our spiritual disciplines of Bible study, prayer, and confession,
loving and serving God and our fellow man with pure hearts and intentions,
and leading others to the path of righteousness with our actions. May we
all follow in the prime example of St. Gregory the Illuminator who loved the
Lord with all his might, faithfully adhered to His commandments and His will
with a clean and pure heart and unwavering resolve, and inspired not by
words, but by actions", concluded the Prelate.
The Prelate then conducted the blessing of madagh in the Church
courtyard, congratulated all those bearing the name Krikor, and concluded
the celebration with the benediction.
PILIBOS SCHOOL 8TH & 9TH GRADE STUDENTS
VISIT THE PRELACY
On Friday, March 15, 2013, Rose and Alex Pilibos 8th and 9th grade
students visited the Prelacy where they met with H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, participated in a prayer service and were
familiarized with the endeavors of the Prelacy. Two weeks ago 5th and 7th
grade students paid a visit to the Prelacy, and next month the Prelacy will
host students from the 10th and 11th grades. His Eminence was joined by St.
Garabed Church Pastor Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian, and Crescenta Valley
Church Pastor Rev. Fr. Ghevont Kirazian.
Nearly one hundred students arrived on Friday morning accompanied by
their teachers and parents. Following group photos with the Prelate in the
"St. Dertad and St. Ashkhen" Chapel, students headed to the "Dikran and
Zarouhie Der Ghazarian" Hall for a prayer service and to present a cultural
program of songs and recitations they had prepared for this occasion.
The program began with the Lord's Prayer and a hymn. The Prelate
and clergy also said a special prayer for the 8th grade class, wishing them
a safe trip as they will be visiting Washington D.C. next week. The program
was capably officiated by 9th grade student Armine Kalpakian, who spoke on
the role of the Armenian School and its influence on Armenian youth, then
invited her classmates to present their performances.
The first group of students recited the poem "The Armenian Church"
by Vahan Tekeyan. The second group recited a poem by Vahakn Tavitian
dedicated to the Armenian language. A duet of nationalistic songs followed.
Five students presented a number of Hovhannes Tumanyan poems, and a poem
dedicated to mothers was also presented given that H.H. Catholicos Aram I
has dedicated the year to Armenian Mothers. Musical performances on the
piano, violin, and guitar followed, with selections ranging from Aram
Khachadourian to Pink Floyd. The beautifully prepared and presented
cultural program concluded with the "Oath of Youth".
Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian commended the students for their
performances and urged them to remain faithful to the oath they recited.
Fr. Vicken also gave a brief explanation of the endeavors and mission of the
Holy See of Cilicia and the Prelacy, including of the Churches and Schools
under its jurisdiction, then invited the Prelate to deliver his message.
The Prelate first commended the students on their program, which he
stated filled our souls with spiritual joy and was a testament to their
God-given talents. Noting that we are in the Great Lent period, His
Eminence spoke to the students about the meaning and messages of Great Lent,
among them the victory of good over evil and overcoming trials in life with
strong will, and also spoke of the message of Easter as the triumph of life
over death. The Prelate also commended the students for dedicating a part of
their program to mothers, and invited them to write special prayers for
their mothers on the occasion of the "Year of the Armenian Mother". In
conclusion, the Prelate wished the students success and great achievements
in the coming years, at the same time urging them to never forget their
roots and to serve for the progress of their community and nation throughout
their lives, and commended the principal and teachers for their role in the
intellectual and spiritual development of our youth.
The official program concluded with the Cilician and Armenian
national anthems. The students were then given a tour of the headquarters,
and were acquainted with the staff and the endeavors of the various
departments.
ORIENTAL ORTHODOX BISHOPS MEETING
On Thursday, March 14, 2013 the Council of Oriental Orthodox Bishops
held their regular meeting at St. Leon Cathedral in Burbank. H.E.
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, was represented by Very Rev. Fr.
Muron Aznikian, who was accompanied by Holy Martyrs Church Pastor Rev. Fr.
Razmig Khatchadourian and Crescenta Valley Church Pastor Rev. Fr. Ghevont
Kirazian.
The meeting was hosted by H.E. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, with the
participation of H.E. Archbishop Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan (Syriac Church),
H.G. Bishop Serapion (Coptic Church), and clergy from the Armenian, Coptic,
and Syriac Churches.
The Prelates and clergy members discussed past and future
collaborative efforts and joint events. The outcome was as follows:
(1) The Council commended the endeavors of the Sunday Schools
committee, particularly the 8th annual Bible competition they had
successfully organized on March 2nd at St. Garabed Church in Hollywood in
which about 150 students participated.
(2) The Council urged the revitalization of the youth committee. The
four Prelates will appoint one representative each to serve on the Youth
Committee to organize events in the coming months.
(3) With regards to the annual Joint Liturgy and clergy conference,
the Council decided to discuss the issue further after Easter and plan on a
date to hold the event.
The next meeting of the Council of Oriental Orthodox Bishops will be
held on Tuesday, July 9, at St. Ephraim Syriac Orthodox Cathedral in
Burbank.