St. Leon Church "Sound of Children" Summer Camp Click Here to lean more
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Khatchverats) was celebrated in the Armenian Church on Sunday, September 12th. It is the fifth and last major feast in the Armenian Church calendar.
ԽԱՉՎԵՐԱՑԻ ՏՕՆԸ ՍԲ. ՂԵՒՈՆԴԵԱՆՑ ՄԱՅՐ ՏԱՃԱՐՈՒՄ
10-ԱՄԵԱԿԻ ԱՐԱՐՈՂՈՒԹԻՒՆ ՄԱՅՐ ՏԱՃԱՐԻ ՕԾՄԱՆ
ԿԱՐԴԱԼ ԱՒԵԼԻՆ
At St. Leon (Ghevontiants) Armenian Cathedral, hundreds flocked the spiritual center of the Western Diocese in celebration of the Feast Day. The day’s celebrant was His Grace Bishop Arshak Khachatryan, the Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were the Honorable California State Senator Anthony Portantino, LA City Councilmember Kevin De Leon, diocesan benefactors and Cathedral godfathers who joined the faithful in prayer.
Certificates of Recognition on the 10th anniversary of the Cathedral’s Consecration were presented to Archbishop Derderian by State Senator Portantino and Councilmember De Leon on behalf the California State Senate and the Los Angeles City Council, respectively.
Following the service, a banquet with hundreds in attendance, was held in the Nazareth and Sima Kalaydjian Hall in celebration of the Cathedral’s 10th Anniversary.
It was dedicated to the memory of the late Armen Hampar, a Pillar of the Western Diocese whose unparalleled legacy of service and wholehearted commitment to the Armenian Apostolic Church has been inspirational for generations. The event was attended by the esteemed members of the Hampar family.
A special anniversary program highlighted the accomplishments of the last decade and how The Ghevontiants Cathedral has established itself as the religious, spiritual and cultural hub of the Armenian .
Former Diocesan Council Chair and member of the Supreme Spiritual Council Dr. Varoujan Altebarmakian served as the Master of Ceremonies.
Remembering the vast contributions of Armen Hampar, Dr. Altebarmakian called him a “Man of Integrity and a Mentor, an Ardent supporter of our Diocese and our Motherland, Respected and loved by everyone, Humble, calm and quiet, a strong visionary leader and a giant of a person.”
On behalf of the Hampar Family, Gary Hampar (Armen’s younger brother) delivered heartfelt remarks reflecting on Armen’s love for his family, his Church and for the Motherland.
Remarks were also delivered by the Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles His Excellency Armen Baibourtian, as well as the Chairman of the Diocesan Council Derik Ghookasian.
The event concluded with the benediction of the Diocesan Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian who called upon the faithful become true apostles of Christ and the torchbearer of the Christian faith of our forefathers.
PRIMATE'S MESSAGE AT THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY BANQUET
His Eminence encouraged the children and grandchildren of Armen Hampar to honor his legacy with reverence and be ambassadors of the Christian faith and the Armenian spirit in the life of the Diocese.
The guests were entertained by the performances of the Shnorhali Choir led by Maestro Raffi Mikaelian.
