The first week of January 2026 held special meaning for the Armenian people, as Armenians in Armenia and across the Diaspora celebrated the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ with faith and devotion. In accordance with the Armenian Church calendar, the feast is celebrated each year on January 6.
On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the United States, celebrated Divine Liturgy, performed the Blessing of Water, and delivered a sermon at St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church of Glendale, which was beautifully decorated for the occasion. The Holy Altar was served by clergy, deacons, scribes, and the church choir, under the direction of renowned tenor Mr. Berj Karazian.
The celebration was marked by an episcopal Divine Liturgy, during which the glory of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ was celebrate inside the House of God. Present were members of the Executive Council, representatives of community organizations and institutions, and a large gathering of faithful parishioners.
Archbishop Khacherian’s sermon was based on the Gospel passage from Luke 2:10–12, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” In his reflections, the Prelate spoke of Christ’s birth as the Son of God in the humblest of circumstances, a manger, through which the Kingdom of God was revealed to lead humanity toward eternal life. The Prelate emphasized that those who follow the will of God the Father and accept Jesus Christ as the guiding force in their lives are promised reunion with our Heavenly Father in eternity.
Addressing the requirements of inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven, the Prelate referred to the biblical teaching that the Kingdom belongs to children. Archbishop Khacherian then explored how adults may become like children in spirit, citing the words of the Apostle Paul, “Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults” (1 Corinthians 14:20). The Prelate explained that this is achieved by embracing virtues of humility, simplicity, and selflessness, by living according to God’s commandments, and by rejecting pride, vanity, and sinful conduct connected with the material world.
DR. ERIC ESRAILIAN 2026 SPONSOR AND GODFATHER OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OF THE WESTERN PRELACY OF THE UNITED STATES
According to the ancient tradition of the Armenian Church, the Feast of Theophany also celebrates the Holy Baptism of Christ. Following the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Khacherian performed the Blessing of Water and extended congratulations to those bearing the names Avedis, Garabed, and Megerdich.
Reflecting on the symbolic role of the godfather in Christ’s baptism, the Prelate emphasized the responsibilities of the godfather as a spiritual father in the Christian formation of the baptized. On this occasion, Archbishop Khacherian announced that Dr. Eric Esrailian, in response to his request, has undertaken the role of Godfather and Sponsor of Christian Education of the Western Prelacy of the United States for the year 2026.
The Prelate also congratulated the godfather of the Holy Baptism ceremony, young Sevag Kirkjian, together with his parents, and expressed appreciation to all parents and grandparents who guide their children and grandchildren to the Armenian Church and raise them with the values of Christian life.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Khacherian offered his fatherly blessings to the faithful parishioners gathered inside the church. Led by the choir, the congregation joined in singing the hymn “Cilicia,” after which they departed to their homes with hearts filled with the message of the Holy Nativity of Jesus Christ and the blessings of the feast.
