In celebration of the feast of St. George the Commander, on the evening of Friday, September 24, 2021, H.G. Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Prelate, celebrated Divine Liturgy and conducted the blessing of madagh at the Armenian Apostolic Church of North Hollywood. Western Prelacy clergy participated in the service.
The Prelate began his sermon with the following prayer from Psalms, “Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise,” stating that the Lord brought the congregation together on this blessed day at this sacred site and granted us the privilege and joy to collectively participate in this Divine Liturgy. Referencing the aforementioned verse, he added that when we open our mouths blessings must come out and God must be glorified and venerated through our words.
“Let our mouths not utter curses and malice, lies and deception, insults and hurtful words, for either we will bless or we will curse, and as the Bible says, blessing and cursing ought not proceed from the same mouth,” stated the Prelate. Speaking on the message of the feast and the martyrdom of St. George by beheading, the Prelate noted that when St. George was faced with the decision to become a martyr for Christianity or renounce his faith and live, he chose physical death and bravely and fearlessly walked the path of Christ until the end following the words of Christ to not fear those who kill the body.
At the conclusion of his sermon, the Prelate greeted the parish pastor, Rev. Fr. Arsen Kassabian, Executive Council Chair Vahe Hovaguimian, Vice-Chair Meher Der Ohanessian, and members, parish delegates and Board of Trustees, representatives of local community organizations, and faithful, and conveyed heartfelt wishes for success in the lives and mission of all. The Prelate also wished for the peace of God to be upon our homeland and our people so that we, as a nation, may find the spiritual tranquility that we are in such need of as individuals and as a collective. The moving service concluded with the singing of “Cilicia.”
