His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian Visits Ararat Home Board of Trustees
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian with the Ararat Home Board of Trustees. Seated, from left to right: Ron Nazeley, Nadya Verabian, Nora Hampar, Joseph Kanimian, Esq., His Eminence, Nazar Ashjian Jr., CPA, Debbie Avedian, Michael Surmeian, CPA, Armen Hampar. Standing, from left to right: Rafi Mardirosian, Shahe Boyadjian, Gary Kaloostian, Raffi Balian, M.D., Harout Mesrobian, M.D., Peter Darakjian, Vahe Vartanian, Sinan Sinanian, Roy Martinian, D.D.S., Berj Shahbazian, Richard Jebejian, Arthur Zabounian
His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, visited the Ararat Home Board of Trustees in Mission Hills on October 23, 2014. The Board had invited His Eminence to its customary dinner and monthly Board meeting, where he had the opportunity to meet each trustee and be more closely introduced to the scope of work done at Ararat Home.
In his opening remarks, Board Chairman Joseph Kanimian, Esq. welcomed His Eminence and thanked him and the Prelacy for being long-time supporters of Ararat Home. He expressed gratitude for the Prelate’s initiation of activities at Ararat Home this year related to the designation of 2014 as the “Year of the Elder” by H.H. Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. As a token of appreciation, the Chairman presented His Eminence gifts of special Ararat Home memorabilia as well as a Michael Aram olive branch motif picture frame. He explained that as a symbol of peace and victory, the olive branch is very appropriate for His Eminence, who is a man of peace and always seeks victory for the Armenian nation.
After offering the opening prayer of the meeting, His Eminence addressed the entire Board. He thanked God for the opportunity for this visit and the Board for its warm welcome and hospitality. He explained that Ararat Home is very close to his heart, as his first pastoral visit, after arriving in Los Angeles, was to Ararat Home. And thus, for over two decades, the Prelacy has fostered a collaborative relationship with the Home, where clergy regularly visit to provide spiritual enrichment and guidance for the residents in all three facilities in Mission Hills and Eagle Rock. His Eminence expressed his personal joy with each of his visits, when he leads special services or celebrates Holy Mass with the residents. He gave each trustee a special gift in recognition of their efforts to further the work of the Home, and he blessed the God-pleasing mission of Ararat Home, where compassionate care is provided to our elders. He declared that Ararat Home is a treasure that belongs to the entire Armenian nation and that the nation’s heart is at the Home.