September 2007 Archive
The 2007 Armenian National Committee America-Western Region Annual Banquet was held on September 30, 2007 at the Universal Sheraton in Los Angeles. More then 700 individuals were present including many of the Armenian American leaders as well as public officials from California and some members of Congress.
With the blessing of God, on the Sunday afternoon, His Holiness and His entourage arrived safely at the Los Angeles International Airport, and were greeted by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, and others.
On the occasion of the 16th Anniversary of the Independence of Armenia, His Holiness Karekin II had sent a congratulatory message to His Eminence Abp.
On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 16 Primate celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Armenian Church of Burbank (Diocesan Headquarters).
On Sunday, September 16th, Rev. Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, pastor
of St. John Armenian Church, San Francisco, attended a
banquet in honor of Metropolitan Nikitas
On Wednesday, September 19th, the Primate visited the
Armenian Church of Arizona in Scottsdale and met with the
newly appointed pastor, Rev. Fr. Zakaria Saribekian.
On Thursday, September 20th, the Primate made a special
visit to San Francisco and in the company of Fr. Sarkis
Petoyan, pastor of St. John Armenian Church, paid a special
visit to Mr. Varnum Paul, a benefactor of the Mother Church
of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Western Diocese, and St. John
Armenian Church of San Francisco, on the occasion of his
99th Birthday.
On Saturday, September 22nd, at the Karagozian Hall of St.
Peter Armenia Church in Van Nuys, under the direction of Fr.
Shnork Demirdjian, Parish Priest, and the auspices of the
Primate the 50th Anniversary of the Sunday School of St.
Peter was celebrated.
On Sunday, September 23, the Primate celebrated the Divine Liturgy and offered the sermon at St. John of San Francisco. Fr. Sarkis and deacons served at the Holy Altar.
On the occasion of the 16th Anniversary of the Independence
of Armenia, on Sunday, September 23rd, the Nor Seroont
Association had a picnic in Verdugo Park in Glendale.
On Tuesday, September 25th, the council of Eastern Orthodox Churches met at the Diocesan Headquarters and His Grace Bishop Serapion, of the Coptic Orthodox Church, conducted the meeting.
September 27th Encino Council Chamber of Commerce presents the 8th Annual Justice Armand Arabian Leader in Public Service Awards; to be attended by the Primate.
It is with a sense of spiritual joy that following the 80th
Anniversary of the establishment of the Western Diocese of
North American, the Western Diocese will celebrate the 110th
Anniversary of the Armenian Church's establishment in
the United States.
On Sunday, September, 16, at 6:00pm, the 80th Anniversary of
the Western Diocese was celebrated with about 1400 people in
attendance. The Primate presided over this important event,
with the faithful people and special guests in attendance.
The combined choir gathered from the Los Angeles area
churches, under the direction of Gomidas Keshishian,
performed hymns from the Armenian Church. The Zvartnots and
the Vartan and Siranoush Dance Ensembles performed several
interpretive dances.
Last week, Turkish denialist circles tried to create a major scandal out of Georgetown University's cancellation of a planned speech by the Patriarch of Constantinople (Turkey), Mesrob II, titled “The Impasse between Turks and Armenians Must be Broken.”
On Friday, September 21, 2007, at 9:30 am, American and Armenian officials, as well as community leaders, gathered at the corner of First and Main streets, for a ceremony unveiling the Los Angeles - Yerevan Sister City sign.
This week Mesrob Mutafyan, the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey, is making his second visit to the United States in the past 6 months.
It is truly with a sense of great pride that the Western
Diocese informs the faithful that on Saturday, September
15th, His Grace Bishop Jon Bruno, Primate of the Episcopal
Diocese of Los Angeles, hosted a solemn evensong service in
commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the establishment
of the Western Diocese with many clergy and faithful in
attendance from both Churches. A reception followed the
service.
The dates of September 8 and 9, 2007, were days of spiritual
rejoicing and renewal of our dedication when the St. Gregory
Armenian Apostolic Church of Pasadena was consecrated by His
Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, with the
participation of Diocesan clergy, Deacons, and the church
Choir.
On the evening of Thursday, September 6, 2007, at the Western Diocese Headquarters, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, met with the Ladies Society of the three Parishes of the Cathedral (Burbank, Sun Valley-North Hollywood and Toluca Lake).
We are happy to inform the Armenian faithful that the Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles, the Honorable Armen Liloyan, is always in close relationship with the Western Diocese and His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate.
Under the auspices of the Primate of the Western Diocese, on
the evening of September 9, 2007, a Testimonial Banquet was
held honoring George Kevork Mandossian on the occasion of
his Fifty Years of community service.
On Sunday evening September 9, 2007, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, attended a special gathering at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Ara and Julia Agishian to set forth the preliminary plans for the celebration of the 35th Anniversary celebration of the Armenian Assembly in Los Angeles on November 2-4, 2007.
We are pleased to inform you that this year, as in years past, the Summer Camp completed its plans with great success.
On Saturday, September 8, 2007, the Christian Youth Mission to Armenia (CYMA) held a reunion in Carlsbad, California.
It is with immense spiritual joy we inform the faithful of
our Western Diocese that by the will of God on September 8,
2007 at 6:00 p.m., with His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, Primate, presiding over the service, and with the
participation of the Diocesan Clergy, the Deacons, and St.
Gregory Armenian Church Choir under the Direction of Very
Rev.. Fr. Baret Yaretsian, the "Opening of the Doors" church
service was performed.
September 8, 2007 could be a turning point in the pursuit of the Armenian Cause. On that date, University of Southern California's Institute of Armenian Studies organized an unprecedented symposium on "International Law and the Armenian Genocide: Recognition, Responsibility and Restitution."
The Consul General of Armenia in Brazil, the Honorable
Valery Mugrdoumian, who also served in Los Angeles as the
Consul General, visited the Western Diocese on September 5,
2007 and met with His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Primate.
On Thursday, September 6, 2007, one of the benefactors of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and an active member of the AGBU, Mr. Nazar Nazarian, visited the Western Diocese and had a warm discussion with His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate.
On Wednesday, August 29th, 2007, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan
Derderian attended the official opening of the Manoogian
Demirjian Day School for the 2007-2008 Academic year.
On Wednesday, August 29th, 2007, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan
Derderian attended the groundbreaking of the Armenian
Society of Los Angeles Headquarters.
We are happy to inform our faithful that the Very Rev. Fr. Norayr Kazazian, a member of the St. James brotherhood of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, is currently visiting the Western Diocese.
On Wednesday, September 5th, 2007, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan
Derderian attended the opening of the Dickranian Day School.
On Wednesday, September 5th, 2007, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan
Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, attended a
meeting hosted by World Vision International, Christian
relief, development and advocacy organization, to discuss
joint service-oriented missions.
On Thursday, September 6th, 2007, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan
Derderian attended the opening of the Hovsepian Day School
at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church in Pasadena.
On Thursday, September 6th, 2007, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan
Derderian attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new
Pre-Kindergarten at the Manoogian Demirjian School.
Diocese hosted a dinner for the Parish Priests and members of the Parish Councils and auxiliaries of the Greater Los Angeles Area.
It is with great joy that the Western Diocese announces to
the faithful that this weekend September 8th through
September 9th, the newly constructed church building at St.
Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church of Pasadena will be
consecrated.
On Sunday, September 9th, 2007, His Eminence Abp.
Armenians have always blamed themselves for their lack of unity. Of course, Jews and other communities, who have their own internal quarrels, frequently express the wish that they were as united as Armenians! The recent dispute among Jewish-Americans regarding the ADL’s position on the Armenian Genocide reflects the natural diversity of opinion in a pluralistic society.