Hundreds attended the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at St. Mary Armenian Church in Costa Mesa on Sunday, March 8, 2015. The celebrant and homilist was His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, assisted at the Holy Altar by Archpriest Fr. Moushegh Tashjian and Rev. Fr. Vazken Movsesian, Pastor of St. Peter Armenian Church in Glendale.
In his sermon, the Primate reflected on Christ's Parable of the Shrewd Steward: "Life is a stewardship and is God's gift to humanity. We, created in His image, shall account for the gift bestowed upon us. It is our duty to live our lives according to the Word of God."
Monument Dedication
Following the service, the Primate led a procession to the church courtyard, where hundreds had gathered for the blessing and dedication of the Armenian Genocide Memorial Monument. Grand benefactor Mr. Garbis Arslanyan donated $100,000 in memory of his beloved wife Maryam Arslanyan, a longtime member of St. Mary Church and the Ladies Society.
The sculpture features a pair of white marble pillars connected by a cross, set on a black granite base. "The fountain and the flame and the black granite represent the memory of our tragic past and symbolize the life and immortality of the 1.5 million Armenians," said sculptor Harout Joulahian. "The two white pillars symbolize our new generation and bright future, attached with the cross, which symbolizes our ancestral Christian faith."
Following the consecration, 100 white doves were released into the sky, symbolizing the centennial of the Armenian Genocide and the resurrection of the Armenian nation. The Primate quoted the beloved Armenian poet Paruyr Sevak: "We are, we shall be, and become many."
The Church service was followed by a luncheon served by the Ladies Guild of St. Mary, at which benefactor Mr. Garbis Arslanian made an additional generous donation of $100,000 in memory of his departed wife.
Community-Wide Commemorative Event
At 4:00 PM, a commemorative ceremony was held at The Robert B. Moore Theater of Orange Coast College. The cultural program included performances by the Armenian Society of Los Angeles Choir and Orchestra, Children's Choir, Armenian Folk Ensemble, and Sebu Simonian of Capital Cities.
Dignitaries in attendance included Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, Orange County Supervisor Michelle Steele, OC Superior Court Judges André Manssourian and Gassia Apkarian, State Assemblyman Matthew Harper, and representatives from the Knights of Vartan and ANCA, among others.
Master of Ceremonies Mark V. Asdourian delivered a heartfelt welcoming message. The program featured keynote remarks by Rev. Fr. Vazken Movsesian, who drew parallels between the Armenian Genocide and the Rwandan genocide, challenging Armenians to look beyond tragedy: "We as Armenians have a purpose and a message to share with the world. Love is always more powerful than hate; light will always conquer the darkness."
The event closed with His Eminence Archbishop Derderian's benediction and words of commendation for the collective efforts of the Centennial Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee, chaired by Dr. Levon Keleshian.
