Flocks Turn Out to See Armenian Church Leader on Visit to Los Angeles

Members of the Armenian American community in Southern California are turning out in large numbers to welcome His Holiness Aram I, the spiritual head of one of the Armenian Apostolic Church’s two branches, as the pontiff starts a two-week trip to the area.

The visit of the Catholicos formally began Wednesday night in Little Armenia in Hollywood, where members of St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church rolled out a red carpet sprinkled with rose petals for his entrance. An estimated 1,000 people from various parts of the Los Angeles area and beyond packed the sanctuary and spilled out to the street.

Resplendent in a red cape with gold clasp over a traditional black robe and hood, the imposing Catholicos gave a ringing message in Armenian during the 90-minute service. Aram also spoke briefly in English for the benefit of the non-Armenian-speaking visitors, including representatives of Roman Catholic, Coptic and other churches who came to pay their respects.

“Your presence in this church of God with us is indeed an eloquent manifestation of our togetherness in our common Lord Jesus Christ,” he said in a booming voice. “We may have differences of dogmatic positions. We may have different theologies. But, we all belong to the one church of God, and we are all committed to having Jesus Christ as our common Lord. We need to come together and have the cross of Christ as a living message of love, of togetherness, of service, of sacrifice, and through that, manifest our unity.”

Aram has served for the last 15 years as moderator of the World Council of Churches, a group of more than 300 Christian denominations that promotes understanding among them.

Long after the service in Hollywood, Aram remained inside the ornate sanctuary to bless a long line of congregants, who kissed his right hand.

“We were overwhelmed,” said Janet Aidaharian, a ninth-grader at Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School, after the blessing.

“We felt very much honored to see a pope -- especially [one of] our nationality,” said Mary Setepanyan, another ninth-grader at the school, located across from the church.

George Terzian, a retired truck driver from Miami, said he drove all the way from Florida to pay “my respect.”

“I am so proud to be here,” he said. “I am only sorry that my wife could not be here because she is ill.”

Aram has a busy schedule in the area, including meetings with congregants, students, government leaders and clergy.

This morning, Aram is scheduled to meet with students at Glendale High School. Tonight, he will speak at Holy Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church in Encino. On Saturday, Aram will visit the Armenian Genocide Monument in Montebello. Next Friday, he is scheduled to attend a Los Angeles City Hall reception in his honor and speak to the World Affairs Council of Los Angeles. On Oct. 15, the pontiff will participate in a USC symposium, “Christian Response to Violence.”

After his Southern California visit, the pontiff will go to Fresno and San Francisco before heading to the East Coast and then back to Lebanon.

Aram was elected in 1995 as head of the Great House of Cilicia, the diaspora branch of the church, which is based in Lebanon. The other branch, the Catholicosate of Echmiadzin (the Catholicosate of All Armenians) is headquartered in Armenia. Its pontiff, His Holiness Karekin II, visited California in June.

The church became divided administratively more than 50 years ago as the former Soviet Union, of which Armenia was part, curbed religious freedom. Some Armenian Apostolic churches abroad broke with the mother church and switched allegiance to the Lebanon-based side. Others remained loyal to church headquarters in Armenia. Though the two branches offer the same liturgy and creed, more U.S. Armenians are believed to be affiliated with Karekin’s Armenia-based church.

In an interview Thursday at his hotel suite in Universal City, Aram said he believes the existence of two Catholicosates has turned out to be a blessing. He said he hopes for more collaboration between the two on important issues.

“Two-headed eagle is stronger,” he said, pointing to a gold seal with a double-headed eagle on a gold chain around his neck.

“The church, being the church of the people, kept pace with the changing times and circumstances,” he said.

He said it is important that Armenians living abroad integrate and become part of the communities where they live, but that they should not forget their heritage. While being part of U.S. life, Armenian Americans must “preserve our particulars, being faithful to our roots,” he said.

He said he believes the United States has a significant role to play in promoting its values and working for peace with justice. “This has been a society of values, of basic human principles and aspirations,” he said. “This country has been a source of freedom, liberty and justice.”