On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, His Holiness Aram I consecrated the holy altar of the renovated Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Fresno.
At the entrance of the church, His Holiness and his delegation were greeted by His Eminence Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy, along with the church’s pastor, V. Rev. Fr. Ashod Khatchadourian, members of the Board of Trustees, and the faithful of the Fresno community.
The re-consecration ceremony began in the church hall, after which His Holiness performed the consecration of the top and front of the holy altar, while the assisting archbishops consecrated the right and left sides.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Archbishop Khatcherian conveyed the joy and gratitude of the Fresno community, emphasizing the deep significance of having the re-consecration performed by His Holiness within the framework of the celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of his enthronement.
In his pontifical message, His Holiness stated: “St. Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, says: ‘Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its Creator.’ Let us therefore put aside the old self with its ways and works, and become a new person in Christ.
Jesus Christ, as an event, namely His incarnation, mission, crucifixion, and resurrection, marks a radical shift from the old world to the new, from the old human being to the new human being. This reality lies at the heart of the New Testament. In the Book of Revelation, we read: ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ Indeed, Jesus Christ made all things new.
1. In Jesus Christ, the new human being was created. Salvation is the liberation of humanity from the dominion of sin; it is the re-creation of the human being.
2. Being in Christ means becoming a new human being.
As Christians, we must understand that the Son of God became incarnate for the salvation of humanity. Salvation is a process; it is a cross-centered way of life. Christ said: ‘Whoever believes in Me, let him follow Me.’ Therefore, being Christian means following Christ and translating the values of the Bible into life.”
Following His Holiness’s message, a special blessing ceremony took place, during which the community approached His Holiness to receive his pontifical blessing.
