Western Diocese

On Saturday, November 14, 2009, under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, a special festive event, titled "Harvest Festival," organized by the Burbank Parish was held in the Paul Brothers Galleria and the Nazareth and Sima Kalaydjian Hall of the Arshag and Eleanor Dickranian Diocesan Complex in Burbank, California.

Beginning at 10:00 AM, cheerful participants strolled through the Paul Brothers Galleria where various local businesses and vendors had set up their booths alongside the walls, in addition to the main program which began at noon at the Kalaydjian Hall, sponsored by Zankou Chicken. 

Mrs. Alenoush Yeghnazar, Chair of the Ladies Society Executive Board, offered the welcoming remarks. Mrs. Araxie Boyamian, Vice Chair of the Ladies Society Executive Board greeted the participants and invited Rev. Fr. Khajag Shahbazyan, Burbank Parish Priest, to offer the invocation and bless the tables. In his remarks, Fr. Khajag extended a special acknowledgment to Mrs. Araxie Boyamian, Mrs. Arpi Hovsepian and Mr. Sevada Nazarian for their hard work and contribution in organizing the Burbank Parish Harvest Festival this year.

His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian presided over the event and in his remarks thanked the Parish Priest and the organizers and sponsors of the event. The Primate noted that the completion of the Cathedral in the near future and the consequent dedication ceremonies, presided by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, will not only enhance the outreach programs of the Diocese in the local communities but expand the Burbank Parish in a tremendous way, making it possible for a far greater number of the faithful in the area to reconnect with the Church and the faith of their forefathers.

In a statement published in the booklet of the event, Rev. Fr. Khajag Shahbazyan, Burbank Parish Priest, expressed his wishes for the future in the following words: "With the Grace of God, our dedicated members will become the link between today's and tomorrow's Cathedral Parishes - with its many new members from Burbank and other surrounding Parishes, and will strengthen the spiritual bridge between the Western Diocese and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin."