On Friday, September 18, 2026, with the blessing of H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the United States, Rev. Fr. Boghos Baltayan, Pastor of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church of Pasadena, and Deacon Raffi Garabedian visited Armenian inmates held in Los Angeles County jail as part of the Western Prelacy’s spiritual ministry to the incarcerated.
On the occasion of the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God, they conducted the traditional Blessing of the Grapes ceremony and thereafter administered Holy Communion to the Armenian youth in need of spiritual and emotional support, praying for God’s mercy, guidance, and salvation.
Following the visit, bilingual prayer books and spiritual literature were distributed to all Armenian inmates on behalf of the Prelate. Spiritually uplifted by the visit, the incarcerated Armenian youth gave thanks and glory to God and expressed their heartfelt appreciation to Rev. Fr. Boghos Baltayan and Deacon Raffi Garabedian for their continued care and ministry.
It should be noted that Rev. Fr. Boghos Baltayan and Deacon Raffi Garabedian have made the words of Jesus Christ, “I was in prison and you came to visit me,” the guiding principle of their ministry. On a weekly basis, they visit Armenian inmates in their cells, providing spiritual education and guidance and encouraging them to accept Jesus Christ as the guide of their lives, to grow stronger in the Christian faith, to keep alive the hope of eternal salvation, and to seek God’s help for comfort, inner peace, and spiritual strength.
