Western Diocese

On June 26-27, 2010, Archpriest Fr. Nareg Matarian paid a two-day visit to St. Apkar Armenian Church in Scottsdale, Arizona.

On Saturday, June 26, Archpriest Fr. Nareg Matarian, Musical Director of the Western Diocese, met with the Deacons and the Acolytes of the church. Dn. Berj Manoukian, Chair of the Parish Council, welcomed him. In turn, Archpriest Fr. Nareg Matarian expressed his appreciation to Fr. Zacharia Saribekyan and the members of the Parish Council for the warm welcome. The purpose of the visit was to explain the reason for the formation of the Association of Choirs. Archpriest Fr. Nareg also held rehearsals of the hymns of the Divine Liturgy. The aim was to brief the Choirs of the Western Diocese on the proper singing of the liturgical chants.

On Sunday, June 27, Archpriest Fr. Nareg Matarian celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon. Mr. Varouzh Agnerian directed the Choir. Mrs. Meri Safarian was the organist. Following the service, a Requiem Service was offered for the departed souls of the members of the church.

Archpriest Fr. Nareg Matarian gave a book of the chants of the Divine Liturgy to each Deacon and Choir member so that they would properly learn the hymns of the Divine Liturgy. He expressed to them the Primate's blessings and wished them well in their endeavors.