Armenian School Students Receive Holy Communion

On December 18, AGBU Vatche and Tamar Manoukian School students received a pastoral visit from His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian. The students, who had gathered at the schools gymnasium, performed festive songs dedicated to the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Christ, our Lord. Accompanying the Primate were Archpriest Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, Pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church of Pasadena and the Very Rev. Fr. Sipan Gevorgyan, Pastor of the Armenian community of Chile. Addressing the students, Fr. Sarkis spoke about the significance of Holy Communion and a prayerful life. In his message, the Primate called upon the students to reflect on the true meaning of the joyous holiday and encouraged them to lead a life with Christ. On December 19, the Primate paid a pastoral visit to St. Peter Armenian Church in Van Nuys where he was greeted by the students of AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School. His Eminence was accompanied the Very Rev. Fr. Gevorg Hayrapetyan and the Very Rev. Fr. Sipan Gevorgyan, from Jerusalem and Santiago, Chile respectively. Also accompanying the Primate were Rev. Fr. Nerses Hayrapetyan, Pastor of St. Sarkis Armenian Church of Santa Clarita and Dn. Mkrtich Ksachikyan, the Youth Director of the Western Diocese. In his message to the students, His Eminence conveyed genuine pastoral wishes and noted the importance of spiritual renewal in celebrating the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which has brought divine love to this world and paved the way to live a life of humility. Archbishop Derderian distributed Holy Communion to the students and the school’s administration and wished them a prosperous New Year. At the conclusion of the homily, Holy Communion was distributed to the students of the school. On December 19, 2013, Archpriest Fr. Sarkis Petoyan and Rev. Fr. Serovbe Alanjian paid a visit to paid a visit to the students of Alfred and Marguerite Hovsepian School in Pasadena. After delivering the day’s homily, the clergy distributed Holy Communion to the students. The students of Arshag and Eleanor Dickranian School received Holy Communion on December 19 from visiting clergyman the Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian.