|
GROONG-( Los Angeles) Spiritual patriarch visits Pasadena
|
The Pasadena Star News
May 12, 2001
Spiritual patriarch visits Pasadena
Armenian leader entertained by schoolchildren
By Lisa Faught
Staff Writer
PASADENA - It was a bit nerve-wracking for Hovig Tashjian to take the stage under the watchful eyes of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
Karekin is the spiritual leader of some 7 million Armenians worldwide, after all.
But Tashjian, an 11-year-old student at Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian school in Altadena, mustered up his courage and performed in a school band with his classmates for Karekin on Friday morning.
"Before we got on stage, I couldn't stop shaking, and I had to go to the bathroom," Tashjian said. "But afterward, I just wanted to keep playing."
Tashjian was one of some 800 Armenian students to hear Karekin speak at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church on East Colorado Boulevard. Students from 12 local Armenian schools performed for Karekin with Armenian songs and dances.
Karekin, whose rank is equivalent in his church to that of the Roman
Catholic Pope John Paul II, spoke in Armenian about hardships in the old country and his hopes for the future, said Lora Kuyumkian, a teacher at Arshag Dickranian School in Los Angeles.
He is visiting the U.S. to celebrate 1,700 years of Christianity in Armenia. In 301 AD, Armenia became the first nation to embrace Christianity as its state religion.
"This is like a shot in the arm," said Father Vazken Movsesian of St.
Gregory's. "He came to renew the vows to the Armenian Church for the entire community. It's a time of renewal."
The Southland is home to the largest population of Armenians outside of Armenia, with the highest concentrations in Pasadena, Burbank and Glendale.
Being in Karekin's presence was a first for many at the church, which
strives to keep Armenian children in touch with their heritage.
"It was a very moving experience," said Alex Aghajanian, a former member of
the Pasadena school board. "It's wonderful that he came here and brought Armenian culture to the forefront of Pasadena for a day. The energy from the kids was wonderful."
Karekin's visit to the Southland includes a visit to a monument to victims of the Armenian Genocide, where the faithful may line up to receive a personal blessing from him.
That is today at 2 p.m. at the Armenian Monument, 901 N. Via San Clemente, Montebello.
Sunday, Karekin will hold a Mother's Day Mass at the Hollywood Bowl at 10
a.m.
|
|