On Saturday, March 21, the Armenian Apostolic Church commemorated the Feast of St. Gregory the Illuminator’s Commitment to the Pit. On the following day, the Diocesan Primate paid a pastoral visit to St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church of Pasadena. His Eminence celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon on the Sunday of Advent as the parish celebrated its name day and “family day”.

Hundreds took part in the episcopal celebration of Divine Liturgy including Saturday and Sunday School students who joined the choir in the performing the liturgical hymns of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Also in attendance were the students of Hovsepian School and the AGBU scouts. Archpriest Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, Pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church of Pasadena, as well as deacons and acolytes, assisted the Primate at the holy altar.

The Gospel message of the day message was the Lord’s commandment:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39).

In his sermon, the Primate reflected on this divine commandment, noting that “this message, proclaimed by Christ, the Son of God, contains an eternal truth, which we all have the sacred duty to embrace and to live.” He emphasized that this teaching is “the summary of two essential truths: our love for God and the love expected of us toward our neighbor,” explaining that to love God means to entrust ourselves fully to Him “with soul, heart, and mind,” for otherwise “we render our love meaningless.” He further stressed that love for one’s neighbor must not remain confined to words, but must find expression in action: “to love our neighbor as ourselves means to seek and recognize the presence of God within the other.”

Reflecting on the Gospel message of the day, the Primate also recalled the testimony of the Gospel of John—“For God so loved the world that He gave His Only-Begotten Son…”—underscoring the boundlessness of divine love. He explained that the meaning of Gaḷstyan Sunday invites us to walk with Christ and to experience the presence of God within our souls.

At the same time, the Primate illuminated the significance of the Feast of the “Entrance into the Pit” of St. Gregory the Illuminator as a powerful example of steadfast faith, perseverance in trials, and fidelity to God, through which Armenia became the first Christian nation. Addressing the community’s annual Family Day, he stressed the importance of preserving the Armenian family, renewing Christian love within our lives, and strengthening the inseparable unity of Church and school. Concluding his message, the Primate offered a fatherly exhortation to prepare for Holy Week and Easter with renewed faith and the strength of prayer, especially calling upon the younger generation “to preserve their faith with pride and to have Christ, the Son of God, as their guide in life.”

The Primate highly commended the devoted service of the Fr. Sarkis, the Parish Council, and all auxiliary bodies of the parish, expressing words of appreciation to the administration and students of Hovsepian School, as well as the Saturday and Sunday Schools of the church. His Eminence also warmly welcomed the presence of the AGBU scouts, who, accompanied by their leaders, participated in the spiritually uplifting service.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Primate consecrated a khachkar (cross-stone) in loving memory of Sera Aintablian, whose untimely departure four years ago brought deep sorrow to the community. The Primate extended heartfelt words of consolation to Mr. and Mrs. Jano and Jenny Aintablian, offering prayers for comfort and strength. He also invoked God’s mercy, beseeching that the soul of the departed Sera Aintablian may find eternal rest in the radiant abodes of heavenly light.

In his concluding remarks, the Primate also recognized the choirmaster, Barthev Gulumian, presenting him with a gift symbolizing the Holy Resurrection of Christ in appreciation of his dedicated service. He likewise acknowledged Yeretsgin Talin for her devoted service.

The Primate’s pastoral visit became a special occasion to solemnly celebrate the Feast of the Commitment into the Pit through the Divine Liturgy, as well as the community’s traditional “Family Day,” once again reaffirming the indispensable role of the Church, the school, and the Armenian family in our communal, spiritual, and educational life.

Diocesan Office

March 23, 2026