THE PONTIFICAL VISITATION OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II

& CONSECRATION OF THE CATHEDRAL

OF THE WESTERN DIOCESE

September 10-12, 2010

CONTACT INFORMATION JILL SIMONIAN 310.283.8553 jillsimonian@armenianchurchwd.com

MATTHEW ASH 310.753.1787 matt.ash@armenianchurchwd.com

RAFFI KENDIRJIAN Chair, Media Committee

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SCHEDULE OF THE PONTIFICAL VISITATION AND

CONSECRATION OF THE CATHEDRAL OF THE WESTERN DIOCESE The Catholicos of All Armenian, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, will arrive in Los Angeles Thursday, September 9 at 10:20 p.m. The primary mission of his upcoming visit is to officiate the historic consecration of the Cathedral of the Western Diocese on the weekend of September 11 and 12, 2010. The occasion will mark the 4th official visit of the Pontiff. Saturday, September 11, 2010

• His Holiness will preside over the events of the weekend starting September 11, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. when he will bless the grand opening of the headquarters of the Armenian Society of Los Angeles, located at 117 S. Louise St, Glendale.

• Thereafter, His Holiness Karekin II will proceed to the Diocesan Headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church located at 3325 N. Glenoaks Blvd, Burbank, where a reception will be held with His Eminence Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, clergy and Diocesan Council members at 11:45 a.m. followed by a meeting with leaders of Sister Churches, Ecumenical guests and Government officials at 1:30 p.m. Confirmed guests are Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca, Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, Mayor of Glendale Ara Najarian, former Assembly members Kevin De Leon, John Perez and Anthony Portantino, and ranking local and international religious leaders.

• At 3 p.m. these public figures and leaders will join local American Armenians to witness the consecration of the new Cathedral located at the Diocesan Headquarter in Burbank. At this time, His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II and His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian will bless and dedicate a traditional Khatchkar or cross-stone in memory of the victims of 9/11. The cross-stone will remain on the Cathedral grounds as a constant reminder of innocent lives lost to horrific acts. Mayor Villaraigosa will participate in the dedication.

• The evening will come to an end with a reception to honor Benefactors and Godfathers of the Cathedral. The event, hosted by Cathedral Benefactors Armen and Nora Hampar, will take place at 5:30 p.m. in the Kalaydjian Hall of the Arshag and Eleanor Dickranian Diocesan Complex and Headquarters. Sunday, September 12, 2010

• The Pontifical celebration of the Divine Liturgy will take place at 10:30 a.m. inside the newly consecrated Cathedral in Burbank. An anticipated over-capacity crowd of faithful will participate in the liturgical rites of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church.

• Following the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness Karekin II will bless the "Bolsahay", Istanbul

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Armenians’ Center located at 19726 Sherman Way in Winnetka.

• At 5 p.m. that same evening, a formal gala banquet will be held to gather 1000 confirmed guests in celebration of the historic events of the weekend. This joyous occasion held at the Universal Hilton Hotel in Universal City will seal the official visit of His Holiness.

Monday, September 13, 2010

• His Holiness Karekin II, Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians returns to Etchmiadzin, headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the Republic of Armenia, departing from LAX at 4 p.m. having blessed the rebirth of the Armenian Apostolic Church through the dedication and consecration of the Cathedral of the Western Diocese. The classical Armenian ecclesiastical structure stands as the spiritual center for over half a million Armenian-Americans symbolizing a faith that spans over 1700 years.

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PROGRAM DETAILS OF THE CONSECRATION CEREMONY

3:00pm* The Pontifical Processional will begin from the entrance of the Diocesan Galleria. The Processional will consist of some of the highest ranking clergymen of the Armenian Church, including bishops of Dioceses from Armenia, Egypt, Iraq, and Canada. Also in the processional will be high-ranking Ecumenical guests from throughout Los Angeles and beyond. The Honorable Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is expected to join the Processional as well.

Over 1000 faithful of the Armenian Church are expected to gather in the plaza area in order to witness the procession of His Holiness Karekin II and receive his blessings.

The processional will proceed to the main entrance of the Church where it will enter the soon to be consecrated sanctuary with pomp and circumstance.

3:30pm The primary consecration rite will be officiated by His Holiness Karekin II. The primary feature of this ritual consists of the blessing and anointing of 16 crosses which are mounted at specific points throughout the church, and symbolize that the columns of the Church are founded on biblical and apostolic teachings. Each cross is blessed in the name of revered saints of the Church including the evangelists, apostles, and significant figures in Armenian Church History.

Each of these crosses will be blessed by a different bishop of the Armenian Church, representing that this Cathedral will become a significant spiritual center for Armenians throughout the world.

4:30pm A special Khatchkar or cross-stone will be consecrated by His Holiness in memory of the victims of the tragic 9/11 attacks. This cross-stone will read “Let Peace Reign,” a sentiment which reflects that for the Armenian-American community, the new Cathedral is a statement of Peace. During this time the faithful, led by His Holiness, will pray for the souls of those who lost their lives in the event which occurred 9 years ago.

The Mayor of Los Angeles, the Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa, will participate in this ceremony, by representing the citizens of the Greater Los Angeles during the cross’ consecration.

5:00pm Remarks will be offered by His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian, the Primate of the Western Diocese, who has spearheaded the Cathedral Construction Project since his election in 2003.

On behalf of the Ecumenical guests in attendance, His Eminence Metropolitan

* All times are approximate and may vary

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Gerasimos, of the Greek Metropolis of San Francisco, will welcome His Holiness Karekin II, and congratulate the Armenian Church on its worthy accomplishment.

Final remarks will be offered by His Holiness Karekin II to the enthusiastic faithful who have gathered to receive his blessings.

Following this, the ceremony will be completed.

OFFICIALS EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE CONSECRATION CEREMONY

Hon. Leroy Baca Sheriff, County of Los Angeles

His Excellence Jacob Dayan Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles

Hon. Kevin de Leon Member of the Assembly

Hon. Laura Friedman Member, Glendale City Council

Hon. Mike Gatto Assemblyman 43rd District

Hon. Wendy Greuel Controller, City of Los Angeles

Mr. Ron Hartwig VP of The Getty Museum

His Excellence Grigor Hovhannissian Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles

Hon. Paul Krikorian Member, Los Angeles City Council

Senator Carol Liu State Senator

His Excellence Tatoul Markarian Ambassador of Armenia in America

Hon. Mayor Ara Najarian Mayor, City of Glendale

Hon. Anthony Portantino Member of the Assembly

Hon. Frank Quintero Member, Glendale City Council

Councilman Jess Talamantes Vice-Mayor, City of Burbank

Hon. Carmen A. Trutanich City Attorney, City of Los Angeles

Hon. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Mayor, City of Los Angeles

Hon. David Weaver Member, Glendale City Council

Hon. Dennis Zine Member, Los Angeles City Council

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ECUMENICAL AND INTERFAITH GUESTS EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE CONSECRATION CEREMONY

Very Rev. Fr. John Bakas Dean of St. Sophia Cathedral, Greek Orthodox Church

Rev. Kathy Black Claremont School of Theology, UMC

The Right Reverend J. Jon Bruno Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles

Rev. Albert Cohen Southern California Ecumenical Council

His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos Greek Metropolis of San Francisco

Rev. Gwynne Guibord Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles

His Grace Bishop Maxim Westen Diocese, Serbian Orthodox Church

Rev. Leonard Jackson Senior Advisor to the Mayor

Bishop Dean Nelson Southwest California Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church

Rev. Jan Olav Flaaten Arizona Ecumenical Council

His Grace Bishop Serapion Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii

Very Rev. Fr. A. Shara St. Ephrim Syriac Church

The Right Reverend Alexei Smith Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Br. Shakeel Syed Islamic Shura Council of Southern California

BISHOPS AND ARCHBISHOPS PARTICIPATING IN CONSECRATION CEREMONY Archbishop Hovnan Derderian Primate, Western Diocese

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian Primate, Eastern Diocese

Bishop Bakrat Galsdanyan Primate, Canadian Diocese

Archbishop Avak Asadourian Primate, Diocese of Iraq

Bishop Ashot Mnatsaganian Primate, Diocese of Egypt

Bishop Armash Nalbandian Primate, Diocese of Damascus

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian Legate, Eastern Diocese

Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian Member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin And Former Primate of the Western Diocese

Archbishop Yeprem Tabakian Member of the Brotherhood of the Great House of Cilicia

Archbishop Moushegh Mardirosian Member of the Brotherhood of the Great House of Cilicia

Bishop Margos Hovhannisyan Primate, Diocese of Kegharkunyats

Bishop Arakel Karamyan Primate, Diocese of Kotayk

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BIOGRAPHY OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II, SUPREME PATRIARCH AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS

His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, was born in the village Voskehat, near Etchmiadzin, in 1951, and was given the baptismal name Ktrij.

He received his elementary education in his native village, subsequent to which, in 1965, he was admitted to the Kevorkian Theological Academy in Holy Etchmiadzin, where he graduated with distinction. Upon graduation he taught New Testament Studies and was an Assistant at the Seminary. Having been ordained a deacon before his graduation, he was ordained a celibate priest in 1972 and was given the name Karekin.

Following his ordination to the Holy Priesthood, the late Catholicos Vazken I, of blessed memory, arranged for the young priest to pursue higher religious education at the local faculty of Divinity in Vienna, Austria. In 1975, the future Catholicos served at the Church in Germany as a pastor, while continuing his theological studies at the University of Bonn. After four years in Germany, he returned to the Holy See, and was sent by Catholicos Vazken to Zagorsk, Russia, to pursue his studies at the doctoral Faculty of St. Serguey Monastery’s Academy of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Following his studies in Russia, His Holiness was appointed to be the assistant to the Vicar general of the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese in 1980. In April 1983, he became the Vicar General of the same Diocese. In October of the same year, he was ordained a Bishop and in 1992, he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop. In 1990, he was a candidate to the Armenian legislature.

In 1989, Bishop Karekin Nersissian created the Vazkenian Seminary in Sevan to educate young men in religious studies, completing a five-year course prior to the entrance to the Theological Academy at Holy Etchmiadzin, where they would study for one additional year. Additionally, through his efforts, the former Communist Pioneer Palaces were converted into church-sponsored youth centers for religious and artistic education of young men and women.

In 1990, His Holiness created the Christian Education Center, which organized Christian Education courses in 56 public and Sunday schools throughout the Diocese.

In 1995, Archbishop Karekin Nersissian was a prime candidate in the Catholicossal Elections, but he withdrew his candidacy in favor of Catholicos Karekin I, of blessed memory. In 1998, the late Catholicos appointed him as Catholicossal Vicar General.

Since 1990 he was a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Catholicosate of All Armenians.

On October 27, 1999, as a result of the closed secret ballot election held in the Cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Archbishop Karekin Nersissian was

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elected the 132nd Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians and was consecrated on November 4, 1999.

Since his election, His Holiness has begun the difficult work of the restructuring and reorganization of internal church life, the revitalization of the theological seminaries of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, strengthening Christian education, and the reconstruction of churches and monasteries. Special emphasis has been placed on the preparation of a new generation of clergy to serve Armenian faithful throughout the world.

During the first year of his pontificate, His Holiness founded the Theological-Armenological Center, named after His Holiness Karekin I, of blessed memory. It is currently housed in the Alex and Marie Manoogian Treasury-Museum of the Mother See. Clergy, intellectuals and artists have the opportunity to make use of the rich literary resources of the Center.

Shortly following his enthronement, His Holiness made his first pilgrimage to Jerusalem to visit the Holy Shrines, Churches and places. During his stay, he presided over the Christmas Celebrations in the Holy City.

His Holiness has paid pontifical visits to the Dioceses of the Armenian Church of Shirak and Artsakh (July and September 2000), Western and Eastern Dioceses of the USA, Diocese of Canada (May 2001). During the pontifical visit to North America His Holiness presided over the diocesan festivities, dedicated to the 1700th Anniversary of Proclamation of Christianity as the National Religion of Armenia. During that period His Holiness has had meetings with His Excellency George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, and Mr. Kofi Anan, Secretary-General of the United Nations. His Holiness was officially received in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate during his visit. To honor the 1700th Anniversary of Armenia's conversion to Christianity, and to welcome His Holiness Karekin II to the United States, the House of Representatives passed a resolution (with the Senate concurring) on May 23, 2001. His Holiness has paid pontifical visits also to Austria (November 2001) and France (December 2001). During the pontifical visit to France His Holiness had a meeting with His Excellency Jacques Chirac, President of France.

Placing importance on the fostering of ecumenical ties, His Holiness has paid visits to the sister churches and their heads, among them – the Russian Orthodox Church and her leader, His Holiness Alexy II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; the Georgian Orthodox Church and her leader, His Holiness Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia; the Romanian Orthodox Church and her leader, His Holiness Patriarch Teoctist; the Coptic Orthodox Church and her leader, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III; His Holiness Abuna Paulos, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church; the Roman Catholic Church and her leader, His Holiness Pope John Paul II, and His Holiness Patriarch Maxim, Head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

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On the occasion of the Armenian Pontiff’s visit to the Vatican (November 2000) during the solemn ecumenical celebration, Pope John Paul II returned to His Holiness Karekin II the relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator, the first Catholicos of the Armenian Church. The Armenian Pontiff and the Pope have signed a joint communiqué, in which the massacres of Armenians by the Turkish state and authorities in the early part of the 20th Century are characterized as Genocide.

Among the representatives and heads of other religions, His Holiness has had meetings with Sheikh Tantawi of Al Azhar, Mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt; and Sheikh Ul-Islam Allah-Shukur Pashazade, the Spiritual Leader of Moslems of the Caucasus. During the meeting of His Holiness Karekin II and Allah-Shukur Pashazade, (November 2000) held by the mediation of His Holiness Alexy II, a joint communiqué has been signed in favor of the peaceful resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

In August 2000, His Holiness participated in the "Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders," held at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. He delivered an address to the assembly entitled “Towards Forgiveness and Reconciliation”.

Numerous newly built churches have been consecrated, foundations of new churches have been blessed, and reconstruction of historic monasteries and monastic complexes has been completed during the leadership of His Holiness. Among them are the Church of Holy Resurrection in Spitak; the Church of St. Sarkis in Nork District, Yerevan; the Church of St. Trdat in Vayk; the Church of St. Sarkis in Tashir; the Church of St. Anna in Malishka; the Chapel of St. Mary in Aghavnadzor; the Church of Holy Savior in Charentsavan; the Church of St. Gregory of Narek in Alaverdi; the Church of St. Mesrob Mashtots in Kapan; the Church of St. Mary in Arinj; the Church of St. James (Hakop) in Gyumri; the bell tower of the diocesan headquarters Church of St. Sarkis in Yerevan; the Church of Holy Resurrection in Dvin; the Church of St. Katharine in St. Petersburg; the Church of St. George in Mughni; the Monastic Complex of Saghmosavank (Monastery of Psalms”); the Monastic Complex of Kecharis in Tsaghkadzor; the Church of St. Yeghishe in London; the Church of the Holy Cross in Aparan and the Monastic Complex of the village Marmashen. A new open-air Altar bearing the name of the Armenian King Tiridat III and near it the new entrance to the Mother See bearing the name St. Gregory the Illuminator, were built on the grounds of the Mother See in celebration of 1700th Anniversary of Proclamation of Christianity as the Official Religion of Armenia.

In September 23, 2002, His Holiness presided during the consecration ceremonies for the St. Gregory the Illuminator Mother Cathedral built in Yerevan on the occasion of the 1700th Anniversary of the Great Conversion of the Armenians. The Cathedral, which bears the stamp of three Armenian Pontiffs, is the largest Armenian Church in the world, dedicated to the memory of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, and a gift to the over 1 million people of the capital city of Yerevan. Also, in September 2001, the activities surrounding the

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1,700th Anniversary reached their peak when His Holiness blessed the Holy Chrism for the entire Armenian Church, which is used to consecrate churches, baptize infants, and ordain priests.

During the 1,700th Jubilee Year, one of the most important events was His Holiness’ pilgrimage to Der Zor, Syria, in April 2001. It was in this desert where countless numbers of Armenians perished as they were exiled out of the historic homeland during the Armenian Genocide. On April 24, Commemoration Day for the victims of the Armenian Genocide, His Holiness celebrated a solemn Divine Liturgy in the Church of Holy Martyrs.

In July 2001, His Holiness called upon Armenian youth from throughout the world to unite together in Holy Etchmiadzin for a Youth Pilgrimage. Over 2,000 young men and women from within Armenia and the Diaspora participated in this historic event.

Also in September, His Holiness was host to countless leaders of Christian Churches, who came to participate in the 1700th Anniversary activities. Among those who visited were His Holiness Baselios Mar Thomas Mathews II, Catholics of the East, Catholicos of the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas and Malankara Metropolitan; His Beatitude Petros VII, Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa; His Holiness Teoctist I, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church; His Holiness Alexy II, Head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; His Holiness Pope John Paul II, Patriarch of the West and Bishop of Rome, Head of the Roman Catholic Church; His All Holiness Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, and Dr. George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury and Head of the Anglican Church.

Among the most important and vital steps taken during the pontificate of His Holiness is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Holy Armenian Church, in March 2000, which has become the basis of an agreement which clarifies and regulates the Church-State relationship. Within the framework of a memorandum, a Cooperative Agreement on the spiritual service of the Armenian Church in the National Army of the Republic of Armenia was signed in September 2000, which established the field of spiritual service in the armed forces. And finally, a historic agreement between the Armenian Church and the Government of the Republic of Armenia was signed in August 2002, stating that Armenian Church History will be taught in all public schools of the Republic.

His Holiness Karekin II is a member of the Board of Trustees of the “Hayastan” All Armenian Fund, and an Honorary Member of the Board of Directors of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU).

His Holiness has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of the State University of Artsakh. In September 2000, the International Academy of Informatization in General Consultative Status with Economic and Social Council of the United Nations bestowed on His

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Holiness the title of “Active Member” of the above named Academy, and in May 2001, awarded His Holiness the Title of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).

His Holiness has also been awarded the highest Insignia of Jordan “Bethlehem-2000” (January 2000); as well as the highest National Insignia of Romania - “Star of Romania” (September 2000); the Insignia of the Ukraine “Duke Yaroslav the Wise” of 5thdegree (2001), and the Order of Commander of the Legion of Honor of France (2001).

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His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians

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His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese

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St. Leon Cathedral Southern facing side

The Turpanjian Plaza

A traditional Khatchkar is featured left of center

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His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

The Mayor will participate in the blessing of a 9/11 memorial

Performing the Consecration Rite

The Cathedral will be consecrated with Holy Oil as pictured here

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