Hundreds of Diocesan faithful flocked the spiritual center of the Western Diocese on September 25, 2011, the Feast day of the Holy Cross of Varak. At the invitation of the Diocesan Primate, His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Archbishop Yeprem Tabakian, the Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian and the Very Rev. Fr. Bartev Gulumian, members of the Brotherhood of the Great House of Cilicia, Fr. Krikor Chahinian, Pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Catholic Church in Glendale, and Very Rev. Joseph Matossian, Minister to the Armenian Evangelican Union of North America participated in the service. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Armenia, His Excellency Serzh Sargsyan, President of the Republic of Armenia attended the service and was greeted by the faithful with cheers and applause. Accompanying President Sargsyan were high-ranking officials of the RA government including Edward Nalbandyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Hranush Hakobyan, Minister of the Diaspora; Tatoul Markarian, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States; and Grigor Hovhannissian, Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles. With the participation of the Khachadourian Choir, the Order of Thanksgiving Prayer to the Republic of Armenia (Hanrabedagan Maghtank) was conducted at the conclusion of the service. On Sunday, September 25, this exact prayer echoed throughout all parishes across the Western Diocese. "The historic visit of His Excellency President Serzh Sargsyan to the Western Diocese fills our hearts with overwhelming joy. For two decades, our Motherland Armenia has been free and sovereign. The Armenian community of the Diaspora shares the joy of a free Armenia with our fellow compatriots in the Homeland. May our risen Lord bestow His grace on our homeland, keep it under His loving protection, and guide all its citizens-our brothers and sisters-in their heroic work to build a decent, prosperous, and just society," said the Primate in his address to the President. The service concluded with the singing of the national anthem of the Republic of Armenia and was followed by a procession to the Turpanjian Plaza of the Western Diocese. A crowd of more than two hundred people had gathered to greet President Serzh Sargsyan and witness the beautiful performances of traditional Armenian dances by the students of Vartan and Siranush Gevorkian Dance Academy. Published on Sep 28 2011 by Divan of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church

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