In keeping with a two-decade long tradition, on Friday, March 29, 2019, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, and clergy members paid a visit to the Armenian Ecclesiastical Brotherhood center where they conducted vigil service and enjoyed a fellowship meal.His Eminence was accompanied by Archpriest Fr. Nareg Pehlivanian, Rev. Fr. Ardak Demirjian, and Rev. Fr. Movses Shannakian.
On behalf of the Brotherhood family, Chairman Avo Kabakjouzian welcomed and thanked the Prelate and clergy. Students presented a program of spiritual songs. The vigil service followed, after which the Prelate delivered the spiritual meditation.
After greeting, blessing, and commending the Brotherhood members, His Eminence told a story which emphasizes God’s boundless love, mercy, and forgiveness and invites us to follow in His example by being loving, merciful, and forgiving to one another. The story was of a priest in communist Romania who after having been persecuted, jailed, and beaten for his faith, forgives his tormentor and speaks to him of God’s forgiveness. The guard ultimately repents of his sins, and accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior as God’s love burns in his heart.
“Great Lent helps us to ignite God’s love in our hearts. May the poignant prayer of Nerses Shnorhali from “I confess with faith”, ‘Christ, Living Fire, inflame my soul with the fire of Your love which You sent forth upon the earth, that it may consume the impurities of my soul, cleanse my conscience, purge the sins of my body, and kindle in my heart the light of Your knowledge,’ invite and guide us to, in the words of Catholicos Krikor IV, “seek the Lord and to be found by the Lord” through love, mercy, and forgiveness, through prayer and a meaningful Great Lent, which involves not only abstaining from certain foods but from all things that distance us from God,” said the Prelate. His Eminence once again commended the faith, love, compassion, and service of Brotherhood members, urged them to continue their path and continue to inspire the younger generations, and concluded by wishing for all to carry out the remainder of Great Lent with renewed faith and hearts and souls cleansed of impurities by the fire of God’s love.
A Great Lent fellowship dinner followed, during which the Chairman once again expressed gratitude to the Prelate and Prelacy for their continuous support and encouragement. Attendees were gifted copies of Jacques Hagopian’s “Hisoosapooyr” book and illustrated Bible story cards.
