Weekly News – November 23, 2012

 PRELACY LADIES AUXILIARY
CHRISTMAS BOUTIQUE LUNCHEON

On the joyous occasions of New Year and Christmas, the Prelacy Ladies Auxiliary has organized its inaugural Christmas Boutique Luncheon, which will be held under the auspices of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, on Thursday, November 29, 2012, beginning at 11:00 a.m., at Pandora Restaurant (33West Green St., Pasadena).

Please contact the Prelacy for more information and to reserve tickets.

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ARMENIA FUND 15TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL TELETHON

Armenia Fund’s 15th Annual International Telethon will air on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012 from 8:00am – 8:00pm PST.  The Telethon will be televised coast to coast in the United States, as well as throughout the globe on satellite and cable networks. Proceeds from the Telethon will benefit the development of Armenian villages.  Given the grave situation in Syria, a portion of this year’s donations will benefit the Syrian-Armenian community.

The Prelate will be participating in meetings in Antelias, Lebanon during this time, thus his pre-recorded video message will be aired during the Telethon.

In his message, the Prelate urges the community to donate to the Telethon and contribute to the advancement of the Armenian nation and people.  “This year, the focus is on the Armenian village.  In our history until the present time, villages and villagers have had a fundamental role in our national life.  By reinforcing and fortifying our villages, we reinforce and strengthen the building blocks of our nation and contribute to their development economically and culturally. This year, Armenians around the world have an added responsibility, and that is to lend a helping hand to our brothers and sisters in Syria who are caught in the crossfire of a conflict which has had a devastating impact on our community.  Just as each year we enthusiastically donate for the progress of Armenia and Artaskh, this year we must donate in that same spirit for Armenia, Artsakh, and also for Syria, because the Armenian people must help each other, whether in our homeland or in one of many Diaspora communities.  Through this Telethon, you can make a difference in alleviating the suffering faced by the Syrian Armenian community by requesting that your donation be allocated to that specific cause”, stated the Prelate.

On Sunday, November 18, the Prelate delivered the invocation at the Armenia Fund 20th Anniversary Gala.  In his invocation, the Prelate prayed for God to bless our homelands of Armenia and Artsakh and the distinguished guests from Artsakh in attendance, the board members and volunteers who for twenty years have diligently served for the progress of the Armenian nation through Armenia Fund, and the Armenian people across the globe who stand united behind Armenia Fund and year after year contribute to the prosperity of our nation by lending their valuable support to the Armenia Fund Telethon.  “Yesterday, today, and always, the Armenian people collectively stand by our nation, one heart and hands joined, united for the splendor of Armenia, Artsakh, and our many Diaspora communities.  Lord, may You grace us with Your unbound love, protection, divine wisdom and guidance as we continue our service to secure a brighter future for the Armenian nation and people”, concluded the Prelate.

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PRELATE WELCOMES ARTSAKH PRIMATE AND
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER

Each year on the eve of the Armenia Fund Telethon, a delegation from the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic arrives in Los Angeles to participate in the Telethon which is held annually on Thanksgiving Day.  On this occasion, the delegation also visits the Prelacy to meet with H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate and Councils’ members.

On Friday, November 16, 2012, Primate of Artsakh H.E. Archbishop Barkev Martirosyan, and National Assembly Speaker the Honorable Ashot Ghulyan visited the Prelacy, accompanied by Permanent Representative of NKR in the U.S. Mr. Robert Avetisyan, Head of the Department of Multilateral Relations of the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Armine Aleksanyan, and Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region Chair Mr. Ara Aghishian.  They were greeted by the Prelate, who was accompanied by Religious Council Chair Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian and clergy, Executive Council Chair Mrs. Rima Boghossian, Vice-Chair Mr. George Chorbajian, member Mr. Vahan Bezdikian, and members of the Ladies Auxiliary.

Upon their arrival, the honored guests were led to the “St. Dertad and St. Ashkhen” Chapel for a prayer service.  The visit continued at the “Sulahian” Reception Hall.

After welcoming the guests, the Prelate reflected on the importance of the Armenia Fund Telethon, which this year will benefit the development of Armenian villages and also the Syrian-Armenian community.  He expressed his appreciation and commendation to Armenia Fund on their 20th anniversary and on the 15th annual Telethon, and highlighted the applauded the will and spirit of the Armenian people to help one another through such endeavors.  The Prelate also stated that by interesting coincidence, that weekend a memorial was planned for national hero Misak Torlakian, whose spirit could be felt during the Artsakh liberation struggle.

Mr. Ghulyan conveyed his appreciation for the warm welcome and for the Prelacy’s continuous support through the annual Telethon.  He conveyed the greetings of Artsakh’s leadership and citizens, and stated that the contributions play a large part in the overall progress of the country and that Armenian and non-Armenian visitors alike are amazed by the advancements, especially given that the country was ravaged by war.  Speaking of the government’s immediate plans, Mr. Ghulyan reported that the revitalization of Shushi will gain impetus with the relocation of some government institutions and ministry departments to the region.  A trade school will also open in the region, which will greatly contribute to the training and development of experts in specific trades.  Mr. Ghulyan also stated that the revitalization of villages will encourage villagers to remain in their homes and not relocate to bigger cities, thus greatly benefitting and advancing the agriculture industry.  He expressed contentment that the invisible wall surrounding Artsakh is beginning to crumble and that the country is step by step heading towards recognition and expanding its field of collaborative endeavors.  In this regard, Mr. Ghulyan highly commended the support of the Diaspora, and especially the efforts of the Armenian National Committee.  He spoke of the situation of Syrian Armenians who have relocated to Artsakh and the support they are receiving, noting that some have already began working in agriculture and can ultimately settle in Artsakh.  In conclusion, Mr. Ghulyan once again thanked the Diaspora for its unwavering support, and presented the Prelate with a memento symbolizing the 20th anniversary of the Artsakh army’s establishment.

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RECEPTION IN HONOR OF ARTSAKH PRIMATE
AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER

On Wednesday, November 21, a reception was held in honor of Artsakh Primate H.E. Archbishop Barkev Martirosyan and Naional Assembly Speaker Ashot Ghulyan, both of whom are in Los Angeles to participate in the Armenia Fund Telethon. The reception was hosted by the ARF-WR.

Religious Council Chair Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian represent the Prelate.  Executive Council Chair Mrs. Rima Boghossian and Vice-Chair Mr. George Chorbajian also attended.

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PRELATE PRESIDES OVER MEMORIAL FOR
NATIONAL HERO MISAK TORLAKIAN

On Sunday, November 18, 2012, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, presided over Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon at Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello.

The ARF Dro Gomideh had organized a memorial for Armenian national hero Misak Torlakian. The ceremonies took place under the auspices of the ARF Central Committee of the Western U.S.

The memorial began at 10:00 a.m. with a graveside memorial prayer at Evergreen Memorial Park led by the Prelate. Holy Cross Cathedral Pastor Rev. Fr. Ashod Kambourian assisted in the service.

The Prelate then delivered the sermon at Holy Cross Cathedral, in which he spoke of greatness and humility, the message of the day’s Scripture reading.  The Prelate highlighted three important lessons from the Gospel reading: “The first is that the mission of the Incarnation was the humility of the Cross.  The exalted, the ever living God, became a lowly creature in order to die for our sins.  Out of His great love, the Almighty was determined to humble Himself and submit to death on the Cross.  Second, is that the mission of Christians is the humility of service.  If our vision of a successful life is to have power by receiving wealth and prestige and praise, we are very much like the disciples of our reading, and very much unlike our God.  But if our vision is to reach out to the little people of the earth, those who are poor and needy and helpless and rejected by the high and mighty of the world, to spend and be spent for their sakes, to treasure and esteem them, then we have learned the ways of our God.  Finally, the mission of the Church is the humility of love.  Arrogance is not tolerated by our Lord.  All believers in Jesus Christ are commanded to love each other in the same way that He has loves us, humbly and sacrificially.  As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving and give praise and gratitude to Almighty God for His abundant blessings in our lives, may we also remember that the Greatest of the great took the form of a servant to be born that first Christmas Day and in His example, may we learn to do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than ourselves”.

Speaking on the 44th anniversary of the passing of national hero Misak Torlakian, the Prelate said, “Our history has been shaped by the valor of our heroes; heroes who experienced the sufferings of our people, and which impelled them to embark on a path of struggle to alleviate the plight of the Armenian people. We had heroes who fought covertly, but their efforts did not remain in obscurity and hidden from the pages of history.  Rather, their efforts became a symbol and were transformed into timeless messages. We are overcome with these sentiments as we bow our heads in tribute to our national hero Misak Torlakian, who departed from the physical world over four decades ago but whose spirit remains alive as an eternal flame.  Misak Torlakian was among the generation who witnessed and experienced the horrors of the Genocide and its aftermath, however through their deeds and actions, they bellowed like David of Sassoun that the Armenian nation is not dead, the Armenian people live and furthermore will demand justice for injustices suffered, will broadcast to the world the Armenian Cause, and send a message to advocates of truth and justice to honor their obligations and responsibilities.

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HARUT BARSAMIAN COLLOQUIA ROOM NAMING CEREMONY
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IN IRVINE

On Tuesday, November 20, a special event was held at the University of California, Irvine, in honor of Prof. Harut Barsamian who is a national benefactor and an Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at UCI.

The Harut Barsamian Colloquia Room Naming Ceremony took place on Tuesday afternoon hosted by the Office of the Dean of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering.

Forty Martyrs Church Pastor Archpriest Fr. Nareg Pehlivanian represented the Prelate at the event. The Prelate had sent a letter beforehand congratulating Prof. Barsamian on this honor.

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69TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF LEBANON

On Saturday, November 24, a reception will be held celebrating the 69th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Lebanon.

The reception is hosted by Consul General of Lebanon Mr. Johnny Ibrahim and his wife.

Given that the Prelate will be out of the country at the time, Rev. Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian will represent him at the event and convey his congratulations to the Consul General and the Lebanese-American community.

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