On Sunday, September 2, 2024, H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the United States, presided over the Divine Liturgy at St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Glendale. The Prelate delivered a sermon to the faithful parishioners in attendance on the feast of “The Discovery of the belt of Holy Mother of God”. H.E. Archbishop Khacherian highlighted that the Armenian Church has dedicated the entire month of August to the Holy Mother of God, acknowledging her honorable presence in history, her essence, morals, character, life and destiny, and shared that with her exceptional maternal example, the Holy Mother of God was ordained as the queen of heaven.
In his sermon, H.E. Archbishop Khacherian also mentioned that throughout centuries the Armenian people have demonstrated profound love and respect towards the Virgin Mary. The Prelate explained that this devotion stems from our people’s belief in her spiritual and moral strengths, which continue to be upheld by our pious mothers and grandmothers until today, making her the ultimate model and inspiration for their lives.
After delivering the sermon, the Prelate presided over the requiem service commemorating the 5th anniversary of the passing of Adiss Harmandian, a renowned Lebanese-Armenian singer who deservedly received the title of “the prince of Armenian Estradayin music.” The Prelate shared that while requiem services are typically associated with immediate families, there are also requiem services that belong to the people, which are determined by the life of the deceased individual’s contributions to his surroundings, people, nation, and homeland. He also shared that, “Adiss Harmandian is one of those individuals whose requiem service is not only for his immediate family but also belongs to our people.” The Prelate emphasized, that Harmandian spent over half a century promoting and spreading the Armenian “Estradayin” genre of Armenian music in various communities in the Diaspora and Armenia, always remaining committed to his art until his passing. Archbishop Khacherian expressed that Adiss Harmandian’s songs were learned, sung, and passed down through generations, with people appreciating the art, albums, cassettes, and performances of the prince of Armenian “Estradayin” music, that was unprecedented and the likes of which did not exist before Adiss Harmandian.
After the Divine Liturgy, H.E. Archbishop Khacherian visited the “Armenian Cultural Center” in Glendale, where the family had organized a special exhibition featuring the singer’s personal items, newspaper articles published about the signer, photographs, music albums, songbooks, and cassettes. The beautifully arranged collection offered insight into Adiss Harmandian’s life story, displaying his decades-long performances on stage, and appearances at events around the globe. Additionally, colorful posters created by the talented singer during his leisure time were also included in the exhibition.
H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian praised the valuable exhibition dedicated to Adiss Harmandian’s memory, sharing that years ago, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, honored the Pan-Armenian singer, and founder and promoter of “Estradayin” Armenian songs, Adiss Harmandian with the Mesrob Mashdots medal. The Prelate shared that Adiss Harmandian’s influence not only ensured that Armenian songs became a presence and essential part of many generations but also because of the fatherly and brotherly respect the singer showed towards his successors, always offering encouragement for the continued dissemination of Armenian “Estradayin” songs.
