Western Diocese

Children’s Memorial Day was commemorated in Los Angeles County on Sunday, December 9, 2007 at the St. Peter Armenian Church & Youth Ministries Center, 632 W. Stocker St., Glendale. The service began at 7:00PM with remembrances, prayers and meditations. A candle lighting ceremony followed in front of the church building, all to honor infants, teenagers and young adults who have left us before their time.

Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church, was present to offer words of comfort to the bereaved families and friends. He passed out candles from Etchmiadzin to begin the candle-light vigil. Recording star Gor Mkhitarian favored those in attendance with two musical selections (pictured), in his usual moving manner.

The remembrance is part of a worldwide event organized by the Compassionate Friends, a bereavement support group. In each time zone throughout the world, candlelight services will take place that day, creating a wave of light that circles the globe. The Glendale portion is organized by the In His Shoes Mission, a faith based organization which focuses on outreach through the St. Peter Armenian Church Youth Ministries’ Center.

"This is one part of our ministry that we hoped would not grow," said event organizers, "but sadly it has.” Accidents, illness and war are all claiming the lives of the innocent.

The church began participating in the commemoration following the death of Cathia Hamparian, a young girl tragically killed in an auto accident. Following a memorial service Cathia's mother, Maria Hamparian admitted, “For a fleeting second, every memory we have came flooding back to us as we saw the flame through tears, distorting it into something magical. This is as close as we can get to our child now.” Others have confessed that the presence of friends at a time like this gives strength and reassurance to family members and emphasizes the power of love.

All families who have suffered through the loss of a child – whether through illness, accident, violence or war were invited.