InternationalPasadena church is complete, with crosses on new domes
Published: Saturday October 11, 2008
The ceremonial blessing of the crosses was the final step in completing the renovation of the Saint Sarkis Armenian Church in Pasadena, Calif. Pasadena, Calif. -
On a brisk fall Sunday afternoon, an elaborate procession was led from the altar of St. Sarkis Armenian Church in Pasadena to the outer lawn. Singing mellifluous hymns, the clergy sanctified three large stone crosses with prayers and religious ointments. Parishioners stood on the periphery of the lawn to witness the blessing and consecration of the holy crosses that were to sit atop the main cupola and bell towers of the newly refurbished sanctuary. The ceremonial blessing of the crosses signifies the final step in completing the renovation of the church.
The service, held on October 5, was led by Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy, Very Rev. Muron Aznikian, Very Rev. Bartev Gulumian, and Very Rev. Khoren Babouchian, parish priest of St. Sarkis. In keeping with the customs of church consecration, the clergy, along with a phalanx of deacons, anointed the crosses with holy oil, water, and wine. After the ritual blessing, the three crosses were hoisted up by two cranes and mounted on top of the domes of the church.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said St. Sarkis Board member Therese Komanjian. "We are so proud to be here today to be finally watching the completion of all we have worked for. I have chills." Ms. Komanjian added that she hoped the physical alteration of the church will also mean spiritual renewal for the parish, especially among the youth. "We are working to get the youth mobilized," she said. "From our scouts to the youth living in Pasadena, we hope they will come and be a part of our church."
Rita Deukmedjian, 19, feels that it is incumbent upon her to help reintroduce the Armenian church into the lives of her friends and those in her community. She currently serves as chairwoman of the St. Sarkis branch of the Armenian Church Youth Association and for the past three years she has been organizing Bible studies as well as discussions about the church and its beliefs. The youth association meets every Wednesday and welcomes members between the ages of 13 and 35. An undergraduate at UCLA, Ms. Deukmedjian became involved in church activities seven years ago, when she began singing in the choir. She said she feels that is important for her and her peers to understand the church at a deeper level.
"We try to have discussions that relate to our lives," she explained. "We teach the Bible stories and at the same time we explain the Badarak (Divine Liturgy) and the meaning of all the sections of the service." Once a month the Prelacy holds a Divine Liturgy service for the youth and holds discussions to impart the meaning of the service.
St. Sarkis Church is one of the 11 houses of worship under the auspices and guidance of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Church of America. In the mid-1980s, the Prelacy resolved to establish a church in Pasadena. While a suitable permanent location was being sought, the first Divine Liturgy was held at a rented location - the Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Pasadena - on November 3, 1985. Archbishop Datev Sarkissian, the former Prelate of the Western Prelacy, celebrated the Mass with Rev. Fr. Sarkis Andreassian. On the same day, the first members of the Board of Trustees and the National Delegates were elected, and the Ladies' Auxiliary Guild, the church choir, and Sunday School were formed.
His Holiness Karekin II, the late Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia (and later Catholicos of All Armenians), visited the church on July 8, 1988, and blessed the sanctuary. The community was honored once again during the visit of His Holiness Aram I in 1996.
In May 2002, the Board of Trustees selected the future site of the community's church, at 58 South Sierra Madre Boulevard. The building was formerly a Boys Scouts Club. Shortly after the purchase, the Board of Trustees began the renovation of the property so that it would reflect the traditional architectural stylings of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The purchase and renovation of the church, at $1.7 million, were underwritten by a slew of parishioners.
On October 16, 2005, the church was consecrated by Aram I. The second phase of renovations began in 2007, when construction of the main dome and two bell towers was completed.
"Today we celebrate the culmination of all the work we put into building our church in Pasadena," Archbishop Mardirossian said. "It was three years ago that our catholicos, Aram I, came to consecrate the holy sanctuary. And now we have taken the final steps, by blessing the crosses that will sit atop our domes and shield us from evil and be symbols of faith for our community."
Rev. Babouchian stated that the Pasadena Armenian community has waited 23 years to see the completion of its church. "With our archbishop, we celebrated the Divine Liturgy today and also held a special hokehankisd [memorial service] for our departed church members who helped bring this day to fruition," he said. "Today is a testament to the hard work all of our members put into make this a reality. Our spirits are uplifted to finally see the crosses on top of our church."
