Western Diocese

Meeting and Luncheon at the Diocese

By the invitation of the Primate, His Holiness and his entourage, along with the Diocesan clergy and clergy candidates, attended a spiritual gathering and luncheon, around 12:10 pm, at the Armen and Gloria Hampar Reception Room of the Diocesan Headquarters.

His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, after welcoming His Holiness once more time, granted permission to the audience to ask questions from Vehapar. The questions were generally around the 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.

The Primate expressed his appreciation to Vehapar and his kindness that His Holiness had gracefully accepted the Primate’s invitation to visit the Western Diocese despite His Holiness’ prescheduled lengthy East-cost visit, giving a rare opportunity to all to enjoy his presence.

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

His Holiness handed out memorabilia to the clergy, praising them for their devoted service.

Meeting with Etchmiadzin Children Fund Committee

After the lunch, at the Headquarters of the Western Diocese, His Holiness met with Etchmiadzin Children Fund Committee, chaired by Mrs. Gayane Tatoulian, which provided financial support for the construction of an orphanage in Etchmiadzin.

Thanks to the efforts of the committee members, the fund provides financial aid to 500 orphans for the amount of $250 per child, annually.

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 Fund has rendered toward the betterment of the Fatherland, and he presented them with gifts.

In the end, the committee pledged a check for the amount of $25,000 to His Holiness for the benefit of the orphans which Etchmiadzin supports. With His Holiness’s blessing, the meeting was concluded.

Meeting with AGBU Regional Committees

In the afternoon, around 2:30 pm, at the Diocese, the Southern California AGBU Provincial Committee headed by Sinan Sinanian had a courteous meeting with His Holiness as well as the members of his entourage. In the end of this meeting, held in the Armen and Gloria Hampar Hall, His Holiness consecrated a stone-cross to be installed within a chapel that was being built in the Manoogian-Demirdjian school on the joyous occasion of the 80^th anniversary of the establishment of the Western Diocese.

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 beautiful idea of building a chapel in the Manoogian-Demirdjian school, on the occasion of the 80^th anniversary of the establishment of the Western Diocese. Mr. Vahe Imasdunian, Chairman of the AGBU Regional Committee, also, thanked Vehapar, reassuring him of the AGBU’s commitment to serve the Fatherland and the Armenian Church—concentrated on the Mother See.

His Holiness, in his comments, blessed AGBU, and praised their many years of commitment to aiding the Fatherland, Armenian Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Vehapar poignantly announced that the remains of AGBU Benefactors, late Mr. and Mrs. Alex and Mary Manougians, would be transferred to and buried at Holy Etchmiadzin. He expressed confidence that AGBU would always serve besides the Holy See. His Holiness offered the Benediction in closing.