Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

The Pontifical visit of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, to the Dioceses of the United States, commenced with a visit to the Headquarters of the Western Diocese of North America to meet with students of the Armenian schools of the greater Los Angeles area. Present for the event were representative delegations from graduating class levels of; AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School, AGBU High School Pasadena, Arshag Dickranian Armenian School, Alfred and Marguerite Hovsepian School, Rose & Alex Pilibos Armenian School, Ferrahian High School, Mesropian Armenian School, Vahan and Anoush Chamlian Armenian School, Charlotte & Elise Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School, and Sts. Sahag-Mesrob Armenian School.

A procession of clergy accompanied His Holiness into Kalaydjian Hall where the students were enthusiastically clapping. Vehapar was accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese; His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese; and members of His Pontifical entourage, His Grace Bishop Yezras Nersissian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Russia and New Nakhijevan; His Grace Bishop Arshak Khachatrian, Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Rev. Fr. Hovnan Hakobian Staff-bearer to His Holiness, and Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian of the Catholicosate of All Armenians.

Greeting His Holiness were clergy from the Western Diocese, His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, as well as the superintendents and teachers from the various schools.

 
The Vicar General of the Western Diocese, Very Reverend Father Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian, gave opening remarks and greeted Vehapar with a warm introduction of the students, describing the students’ vigor and ease in learning their precious mother-tongue of Armenian, and absorbing the Christian faith and values and precious heritage of their forefathers.

Archbishop Hovnan welcomed Vehapar with a deep sense of appreciation, emphasizing the critical importance of His Holiness’ visit, hoping that the members of the Western Diocese would measure up to the expectations of His Holiness in terms of their faith and dedication to the Diocese, the Church and the Community. His Eminence gladly announced that meeting with the students was the first event being attended by His Holiness during His Third Pontifical Visit.

In his remarks, Vehapar offered his blessings on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Western Diocese. His Holiness spoke of the great importance of our youth and their proper education, and that the parents and educators bore a great responsibility in this regard. He noted that the clergy in the Western Diocese under the effective and exemplary leadership of Archbishop Hovnan have played an impressively constructive role in the life of the community. Vehapar added that however, more was needed to be done to secure a bright and faithful future for the youth of the community, as exemplary U.S. citizens who would ultimately benefit the Diaspora, Motherland, Artsakh, and Holy Etchmiadzin.

Following his remarks, a question and answer session was held. His Holiness was very pleased to speak directly with the students, answering a wide-range of question with candidness and sincerity. Students had researched and chosen their questions in advance for Vehapar through a competitive process in order to have the most fruitful session with the Catholicos.

The event was concluded with a prayer offered by His Holiness. The students as well as all other participants received a prayer-book published on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Western Diocese.

In the afternoon, His Eminence Cardinal Roger Mahony, the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, met with His Holiness at the Diocesan Headquarters. The Cardinal expressed his happiness for His Holiness’s Third Pontifical Visit to Los Angeles, wishing success to His Holiness in his mission. The Cardinal was warmly received and an elegant reception followed the spirited and cordial conversation.

His Holiness and his entourage, along with the Diocesan clergy and clergy candidates, attended a spiritual gathering and luncheon, at the Armen and Gloria Hampar Reception Room of the Diocesan Headquarters.

His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, after welcoming His Holiness once more, opened a question and answer session with His Holiness. The questions were generally regarding theological and faith issues. His Holiness lauded the importance of collaborations between the Armenian Church and other sister churches, however stressing the vitality of our Orthodox Faith and its rites and traditions.

In his closing statement, His Holiness, spoke about the spiritual mission of the Mother See and informed the audience about new programs that were taking place under the auspices of Holy Etchmiadzin.

Meeting with Etchmiadzin Children’s Fund Committee

Following the lunch, His Holiness met with the members of the Etchmiadzin Childrens Fund Committee, chaired by Mrs. Gayane Tatoulian, which is currently providing financial support for the construction of an orphanage in Etchmiadzin.

Through the efforts of the committee members, the fund annually provides financial aid to 500 orphans.

The Primate introduced the committee members to His Holiness, describing their Christian love, selfless service and their dedication to the philanthropic mission.

His Holiness was pleased to meet with the committee members and lauded the service the Etchmiadzin Children’s Fund has rendered toward the betterment of the Motherland.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the committee pledged a check in the amount of $25,000 to His Holiness for the benefit of orphans which Etchmiadzin supports.

Next, His Holiness met with the Southern California AGBU Provincial Committee headed by Sinan Sinanian.

Following the Primate’s greetings, Mr. Sinan Sinanian, a member of the AGBU Central Committee, expressed his appreciation to His Holiness for granting the AGBU committee members an audience, despite his tight schedule. Mr. Sinanian thanked His Holiness for initiating the idea of building a chapel at the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Western Diocese.

In his remarks, His Holiness blessed AGBU, and praised their many years of commitment to aiding the Motherland, Armenian Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. He expressed confidence that AGBU would always serve besides the Holy See Vehapar also poignantly recounted that the remains of the AGBU Benefactors, the late Mr. and Mrs. Alex and Marie Manoogian, had been transferred to and reburied on the grounds Holy Etchmiadzin.

At the conclusion of the meeting, His Holiness consecrated a stone-cross (khatchkar) to be installed within the chapel being built at the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School.

The culmination of the first day concluded with the much anticipated consecration of the main altar in the newly constructed St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church of Pasadena.

Upon the arrival of His Holiness on the church grounds, he was greeted by four students from the St. Gregory Alfred and Marguerite Hovsepian School, who were dressed in traditional Armenian costumes. The students offered him bread, salt and water, which His Holiness blessed as a symbol of his safe arrival and thanksgiving for his warm welcome by the parish.

A festive pontifical procession was led by Catholicos Karekin II with the clergy, deacons and choir members of the Western Diocese, as the faithful cheerfully received His Holiness during the procession towards the main entrance of the church.

In the newly built sanctuary, which was consecrated on September 9, a welcoming Hrashapar service was held. His Holiness Karekin II then consecrated the main altar of the church, which was donated by brothers Vahe, Daniel, and Vasken Imasdounian.

Very Rev. Fr. Baret Yeretzian, Parish Priest of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church, enthusiastically welcomed His Holiness and expressed his thanks on behalf of the entire parish to Vehapar, for his historic visit to Pasadena. On behalf of the entire Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, Archbishop Hovnan also warmly welcomed His Holiness and thanked him for his participation in the 80th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Western Diocese, and the historic consecration of the main altar of the new church.

His Holiness Karekin II, then thanked the Primate and Pastor, and encouraged the clergy and faithful to remain strong in their Christian faith and love for the Armenian Church. His Holiness also noted the significance of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Western Diocese, as well as the importance of the completion of the new church sanctuary and consecration of the main altar.