“THE WESTERN PRELACY IS WORTHY TO BE HONORED AS A BENEFACTOR PRELACY”
H.E. ARCHBISHOP KEGHAM KHATCHERIAN
“WE ARE ALL SUMMONED TO OFFER OUR
UNWAVERING SUPPORT TO OUR NEW PRELATE”
H.E. ARCHBISHOP TORKOM DONOYAN
On the morning of Sunday, May 5, 2024, there was a joyous atmosphere at St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church of Glendale as the newly elected Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the United States, H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian, celebrated Divine Liturgy and gave his first sermon in front of a full house of worshippers, in the presence of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian and H.E. Archbishop Torkom Donoyan. The worshippers listened attentively to H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian’s inaugural address and witnessed the ceremonial passing of the sceptre (Assa) at the altar from H.E. Archbishop Torkom Donoyan to H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian. The transfer of the sceptre (Assa) was a captivating moment filled with love and warmth, as H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian expressed, “My dear younger brother, Archbishop Donoyan, by wholeheartedly passing on the sceptre (Assa) to us, you are also entrusting us with the Western Prelacy and its dedicated parishioners who have flourished under your leadership as Prelate of the Western Prelacy.”
During the ceremony, Rev. Fr. Movses Shannakian, Pastor of St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church of Glendale, and guest Rev. Fr. Ghevont Loshkhajian served at the altar. The ceremony was coordinated by Very Rev. Fr. Zareh Sarkissian, the Dean of St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church of Glendale, along with deacons, scribes, and the church choir. Participants included representatives of the Western Prelacy Religious and Executive Councils, Central Council members, delegates, Board of Trustees members, representatives and members of local organizations, representatives from Western Prelacy Armenian Schools, and a large crowd of faithful parishioners who listened to the inaugural address of the newly elected Prelate of the Western Prelacy, H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian. In his address, H.E. Archbishop Khatcherian emphasized the significance of preserving the memory and legacy of the 1.5 million Armenians who perished during the Armenian Genocide, in the lives of the young Armenian-Christian generations. He also shared his duties and responsibilities as the new Prelate of the Western Prelacy, marking his third designation as Prelate, having served 18 years in Lebanon and 7 years in Greece.
Given the unique characteristics of the Western Prelacy, the newly elected Prelate stated, “Having gained experience while serving in two separate Prelacies, as the Co-Chairman of the Central Religious Council, and being familiar with the operations of all Prelacies, today, as your Prelate, I announce from the altar of St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church of Glendale that the Western Prelacy, which has recorded significant contributions for the implementation of nation-building projects in its annals, deserves the honor to be entitled as the benefactor Prelacy. Our beloved Western Prelacy has not only made valuable contributions within its region but has reached far beyond its borders, by contributing and continuing to contribute, to the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia, Armenia, Artsakh, and various Armenian communities worldwide. In recent years, when two of our communities in the Middle East, Lebanon and Syria, faced severe economic and political hardship, suffered great losses, and faced the threat of collapse, the Western Prelacy provided generous assistance giving life to the children of our people and our national institutions in those regions.
In his address, H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian recognized and expressed gratitude to the preceding Prelate of the Western Prelacy, H.E. Archbishop Torkom Donoyan stating “During this ceremonial passing of the sceptre (Assa) I would like to acknowledge and thank, both personally and also from the entire congregation of the Western Prelacy, my spiritual brother Archbishop Torkom Donoyan for his dedicated service. During your tenure as Prelate of the Western Prelacy, you served with fervent faith in spreading the word of God, you ignited the fire of Christ’s love in the hearts and souls of the parishioners of the Western Prelacy. With the beauty of your words, you spread your blessings everywhere on every occasion, and in the course of a relatively short, but impactful tenure as Prelate of the Western Prelacy, you recorded exceptional new successes in the annals of the Western Prelacy, where the ink is yet to dry.”
The message from the former Prelate, H.E. Archbishop Torkom Donoyan, was equally touching and engaging as he passed the sceptre (Assa) to H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian. With a warm smile, H.E. Archbishop Torkom Donoyan expressed his gratitude sharing, “During the last four years, as the Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the United States of America, I have given my heart, my soul, my life, my thoughts with our nation and in particular with the people of the Western United States. Along the way, I have always cherished the support, respect, and love I received from all of you, which I will forever hold dear.” H.E. Archbishop Donoyan attributed his successes, achievements, and blessings over the past four years to the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia and the Armenian Apostolic Church, emphasizing that the divine devotion now rests on H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian, the newly elected Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the United States. He urged everyone present to show compassion towards all servants of the Armenian Church and to be supportive, respectful, and loving towards the newly elected Prelate. He mentioned, “The respect shown to H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian, I see as a mark of respect towards myself.”
During his inaugural address, H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian expressed his gratitude and appreciation towards the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia, as well as His Holiness Aram I, the Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia. He also thanked the former successive Prelates of the Western Prelacy, who have served over the past 50 years, H.E. Archbishop Sempad Lapajian, H.E. Archbishop Yeprem Tabakian, H.E. Archbishop Datev Sarkissian, and H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, wishing the latter two Prelates long life and good health. H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian highlighted the dedication and service of the previous Prelates, stating “The Western Prelacy Prelates, collectively along with their spiritual and secular colleagues and supporters, wholeheartedly dedicated themselves, and with their work and devotion added to the rich annals of the Western Prelacy, whose lion’s share of twenty-five-years of service is attributed to H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.”
The spiritual ceremony concluded, H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian leading the singing of “Cilicia” with the participation of all present joining in, as the procession proceeded to the church hall, bringing a sense of renewed joy of heavenly blessings.
