On April 21, 2010, the Glendale Adventist Medical Center had organized a Service in Memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. At 9:45 AM, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church in North America delivered his message in the chapel of the hospital.
The Primate was joined by Rev. Archpriest Fr. Hovsep Hagopian and Rev. Fr. Khajag Shahbazyan. The members of the clergy also visited patients in the hospital offered prayers and spiritual support.
We kindly present to you the Primate's message in its entirety.
"Prayer is a man's spiritual breathing. Just as our physical body needs to breathe in order to live, so does our soul require prayer in order to remain healthy and live forever". (H.H. Karekin I)
Dear brothers and sisters, I have intentionally chosen these words from the writings of one of the distinguished church leaders, which clearly reflect the faith-life of Christian Armenians who have embraced Christianity as the God-given mission. Additionally, it is through the divine strength of prayer that allowed us not to instill in our hearts hatred towards those who have harmed us and perpetrated the Genocide of a nation. However, it is through the same prayer that we are led to honor the memory of our ancestors who have been massacred and experienced mass deportations from their ancestral lands and have been dispersed around the world.
"Prayer is our evaluation, by our life and deeds, of what God has given us". These words indicate that whatever God has given to us, namely life itself, we are obliged to guard and protect it.
As we lift up our hearts and prayers in this hospital, we acknowledge the dedication and good services of wonderful people, whose respect for the human life is most notable and remarkable. The outstanding services rendered to all members of the community is nothing else than the God pleasing act, which directly speaks against all levels of crime against humanity. The Adventist Church and the missionaries have witnessed the first Genocide of the twentieth century and raised their voice for justice. Historical truth cannot be distorted by people and time. Recognition of historical truth brings peace and comfort to the hearts of all nations.
To me personally, and to the priests and faithful of the Armenian Church, the prayer we offer in this hospital as we commemorate the 95th anniversary of the victims of the Genocide, is the most educational and inspiring initiative to send the members of the community a message of hope and love. Hospitals, as is the case of all important institutions, are called to serve the physical as well as the spiritual comfort of the people. As the patient who suffers the physical pain and is in dire need of soothing and care, so is the case with those who have been traumatized by the discomforting witnessing accounts of the survivors of the Genocide.
Year after year, the Glendale Adventist Hospital has commemorated the memory of the victims of the Genocide and has honored their memory with special prayers being offered together with the hospital administrative staff. This most respectful gesture sends out to all, a strong message that life needs to be protected and honored, cherished and nurtured as it has been commanded by God. God bless you all and grant you all the strength and wisdom to share your gift of love and dedication with the patients and their beloved ones, to establish peace and harmony in the life of the community.
Prayerfully,
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian
The Primate was joined by Rev. Archpriest Fr. Hovsep Hagopian and Rev. Fr. Khajag Shahbazyan. The members of the clergy also visited patients in the hospital offered prayers and spiritual support.
We kindly present to you the Primate's message in its entirety.
"Prayer is a man's spiritual breathing. Just as our physical body needs to breathe in order to live, so does our soul require prayer in order to remain healthy and live forever". (H.H. Karekin I)
Dear brothers and sisters, I have intentionally chosen these words from the writings of one of the distinguished church leaders, which clearly reflect the faith-life of Christian Armenians who have embraced Christianity as the God-given mission. Additionally, it is through the divine strength of prayer that allowed us not to instill in our hearts hatred towards those who have harmed us and perpetrated the Genocide of a nation. However, it is through the same prayer that we are led to honor the memory of our ancestors who have been massacred and experienced mass deportations from their ancestral lands and have been dispersed around the world.
"Prayer is our evaluation, by our life and deeds, of what God has given us". These words indicate that whatever God has given to us, namely life itself, we are obliged to guard and protect it.
As we lift up our hearts and prayers in this hospital, we acknowledge the dedication and good services of wonderful people, whose respect for the human life is most notable and remarkable. The outstanding services rendered to all members of the community is nothing else than the God pleasing act, which directly speaks against all levels of crime against humanity. The Adventist Church and the missionaries have witnessed the first Genocide of the twentieth century and raised their voice for justice. Historical truth cannot be distorted by people and time. Recognition of historical truth brings peace and comfort to the hearts of all nations.
To me personally, and to the priests and faithful of the Armenian Church, the prayer we offer in this hospital as we commemorate the 95th anniversary of the victims of the Genocide, is the most educational and inspiring initiative to send the members of the community a message of hope and love. Hospitals, as is the case of all important institutions, are called to serve the physical as well as the spiritual comfort of the people. As the patient who suffers the physical pain and is in dire need of soothing and care, so is the case with those who have been traumatized by the discomforting witnessing accounts of the survivors of the Genocide.
Year after year, the Glendale Adventist Hospital has commemorated the memory of the victims of the Genocide and has honored their memory with special prayers being offered together with the hospital administrative staff. This most respectful gesture sends out to all, a strong message that life needs to be protected and honored, cherished and nurtured as it has been commanded by God. God bless you all and grant you all the strength and wisdom to share your gift of love and dedication with the patients and their beloved ones, to establish peace and harmony in the life of the community.
Prayerfully,
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian
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