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Glendale News Press, CA
Jan 6 2015
Armenian Christmas celebrations are a 'community connection' at local hospitals
Archbishops lead Armenian Christmas observations at two area hospitals.
By Arin Mikailian, [email protected] and Kelly Corrigan,
[email protected]
January 6, 2015 | 5:07 p.m.
Local religious leaders recited prayers and blessed water on the eve
of Armenian Christmas at Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital and
Glendale Adventist Medical Center to celebrate the baptism of Jesus.
Nearly 100 people, including hospital staff, local officials and
patients, amassed near the 20-foot-tall tree in the west lobby of
Glendale Adventist Medical Center on Monday as Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, who leads the Western Diocese Armenian Church, blessed
water and gata, an Armenian pastry.
PHOTOS: Glendale Adventist celebrates Armenian Christmas
The service has grown into an annual tradition, and the hospital's
chief executive, Kevin Roberts, said the blessing of the water
observes Christmas without focusing on shopping for presents.
"It's a great way to connect with a kind of 'second Christmas,' one
without all the commercialism," he said.
A number of patients who weren't able to spend the evening with their
families were wheeled into the lobby for the service and then later
the water and gata were delivered to patients' rooms.
Dr. Emil Avanes said part of the reason he was in attendance was to
get in touch with his cultural roots and because of something he
believes helps people recover.
"A large part of what we do in medicine is healing that requires a
great deal of faith," he said.
About 100 people gathered in the lobby of Glendale Memorial Hospital
Monday for a ceremony led by Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
of the Western United States of America, along with other clergy.
Mardirossian told dozens of staff members, local residents and others
that he and other members of the clergy would bless the hospital and
its patients and employees, as well as the water, symbolizing the
baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River.
"The birth of our Lord is the greatest gift bestowed to mankind -- the
manifestation of God's infinite love," he said. "It is a gift which
continues to give centuries later, which continues to transform hearts
and souls with both love and goodwill."
He also asked everyone in attendance to thank God daily for "our
health and wellness" and for "the love of family and friends," as well
as successes.
Jack Ivey, the hospital's president, said Glendale Memorial's annual
celebration of Jesus' baptism is, at its heart, about bonding with the
community.
"It's community connection at a deeper level," he said. "It's our way
of outreaching, as a community hospital... we sort of touch our entire
workforce because a lot of our workforce is Armenian, but I think it
brings people closer together that aren't of Armenian descent because
they understand the holiday traditions as well."
http://www.glendalenewspress.com/news/tn-gnp-armenian-christmas-celebrations-are-a-community-connection-at-local-hospitals-20150106,0,7640374.story
Jan 6 2015
Armenian Christmas celebrations are a 'community connection' at local hospitals
Archbishops lead Armenian Christmas observations at two area hospitals.
By Arin Mikailian, [email protected] and Kelly Corrigan,
[email protected]
January 6, 2015 | 5:07 p.m.
Local religious leaders recited prayers and blessed water on the eve
of Armenian Christmas at Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital and
Glendale Adventist Medical Center to celebrate the baptism of Jesus.
Nearly 100 people, including hospital staff, local officials and
patients, amassed near the 20-foot-tall tree in the west lobby of
Glendale Adventist Medical Center on Monday as Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, who leads the Western Diocese Armenian Church, blessed
water and gata, an Armenian pastry.
PHOTOS: Glendale Adventist celebrates Armenian Christmas
The service has grown into an annual tradition, and the hospital's
chief executive, Kevin Roberts, said the blessing of the water
observes Christmas without focusing on shopping for presents.
"It's a great way to connect with a kind of 'second Christmas,' one
without all the commercialism," he said.
A number of patients who weren't able to spend the evening with their
families were wheeled into the lobby for the service and then later
the water and gata were delivered to patients' rooms.
Dr. Emil Avanes said part of the reason he was in attendance was to
get in touch with his cultural roots and because of something he
believes helps people recover.
"A large part of what we do in medicine is healing that requires a
great deal of faith," he said.
About 100 people gathered in the lobby of Glendale Memorial Hospital
Monday for a ceremony led by Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
of the Western United States of America, along with other clergy.
Mardirossian told dozens of staff members, local residents and others
that he and other members of the clergy would bless the hospital and
its patients and employees, as well as the water, symbolizing the
baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River.
"The birth of our Lord is the greatest gift bestowed to mankind -- the
manifestation of God's infinite love," he said. "It is a gift which
continues to give centuries later, which continues to transform hearts
and souls with both love and goodwill."
He also asked everyone in attendance to thank God daily for "our
health and wellness" and for "the love of family and friends," as well
as successes.
Jack Ivey, the hospital's president, said Glendale Memorial's annual
celebration of Jesus' baptism is, at its heart, about bonding with the
community.
"It's community connection at a deeper level," he said. "It's our way
of outreaching, as a community hospital... we sort of touch our entire
workforce because a lot of our workforce is Armenian, but I think it
brings people closer together that aren't of Armenian descent because
they understand the holiday traditions as well."
http://www.glendalenewspress.com/news/tn-gnp-armenian-christmas-celebrations-are-a-community-connection-at-local-hospitals-20150106,0,7640374.story