FORUM WITH HIS HOLINESS CATHOLICOS ARAM I ON “THE ARMENIAN CHURCH, YOUTH, AND GENERAL CONCERNS OF THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE”

10/12/2011

LOS ANGELES, ANTELIAS – On the evening of Wednesday, October 12, 2011, a Pontifical Forum with His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, was held at Brand Library in Glendale. The theme of the forum was “The Armenian Church, Youth, and General Concerns of the Armenian People”. The presentation of the Pontiff’s latest book, Taking the Church of the People, took place during the event.

Upon their arrival at the hall, His Holiness, accompanied by H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, Clergy and Councils members, were greeted by an over-capacity crowd, the majority of which were young adults.

The forum was organized at the behest of His Holiness himself, who has always placed a strong emphasis on the youth, empowering them to take an active role in the life of the Armenian church and urging them to become co-architects of the renewal of the church. The evening drew a large crowd of individuals from various parts of California, Fresno, and the surrounding areas.

One major part of the program was to introduce the Pontiff’s latest book, “Taking the Church to the People”, which was re-published by the Western Prelacy on the occasion of the Pontifical Visit of His Holiness. The book provides an in-depth analysis about the current status of the Armenian Church and nation, while at the same time provides a forward-looking outlook on the challenges our church and nation are facing and how we can overcome them. It has been a long-standing goal of His Holiness to take the church beyond its walls and move it from the margins of society to the center. His Holiness has stressed both in his publications as well as in his formal addresses to the people that the mission of the church can no longer take place only inside the church, but must be moved to where the people are, the marketplace of ideas and of everyday life.

The program consisted of a panel of four diverse speakers, both men and women, from varying age groups and walks of life who presented different perspectives on issues significant to the church today. The speakers included Deacon Mark Shirin of Fresno, Pattyl Aposhian-Kasparian of Los Angeles, Varoujan Der Simonian of Fresno, and Melvin Arzoumanian of Glendale, California. Vanna Der Ohanessian, Esq. served as Mistress of Ceremonies.

Mark Shirin presented issues surrounding the Armenian Church today. Himself a graduate of the Catholicosate of the Cilicia’s Theological Seminary, Mr. Shirin shared his insight on the some of the challenges facing the church, as well as made recommendations on how to modernize it. Thereafter, Mrs. Kasparian reflected on the challenges of being both a woman and a youth and the imperative of the youth’s involvement within the life of the church. The third speaker was Varoujan Der Simonian who presented on general concerns and various challenges facing the Armenian people in the diaspora and in Armenia. Lastly, Mr. Arzoumanian, a Sub-Committee member of the Prelacy’s Armenian Church Youth Association, shared the expectations of the youth following his travel to Antelias, Lebanon to participate in an Inter-Diocesan Armenian Youth Conference organized by the Holy See of Cilicia. In her address, Mrs. Der Ohanessian touched upon some of the core issues facing women and the expectations of women within the Armenian Church, as presented by His Holiness in “Taking the Church to the People.” She also thanked His Holiness for recognizing and empowering women as persons capable of holding key responsibilities on an equal footing with men in public and community life and in the renewal of the church.

Following the presentations by the panelists, His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, addressed the people and stated that it was His Holiness’ wish that the Forum be organized in large part for the faithful to speak, ask questions, and receive answers from the Pontiff himself. After thanking the many faithful who had come to take part in the evening’s program, Archbishop Mardirossian invited His Holiness Aram I to speak to the people.

In taking the stage, His Holiness, with an iron-like inner strength, emphasized that the church is a community of faith and urged his followers to sharpen the community character of the Armenian Church. He stated that women, youth, and all people within the community must work hand-in-hand with the clergy to renew the church and give its mission new life and meaning. His Holiness then addressed some of the major themes in his book such as the importance of Christian education, the Armenian school, globalization, and methods to achieve renewal. The highlight of the evening was the final segment, which was comprised of a question and answer session. This portion of the program allowed audience members to ask His Holiness questions pertaining to his book, challenges facing the youth, as well as social, cultural and religious issues. A diverse group of people engaged in direct dialogue with His Holiness, ranging from children to adult women in the community. At the conclusion of the program, each attendant received a copy of “Taking the Church to the People” as gift from His Holiness.

The evening was a huge success, as evidenced by the many in attendance who thanked the Public Relations Committee for organizing such a memorable evening with their fatherly shepherd.

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