ARMENIAN PONTIFF WILL BLESS CATHEDRAL SITE DURING VISIT.Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer BURBANK - Thousands of Armenian-Americans are expected to turn out this week to see Armenia's pontiff on his second visit to the western United States Noun 1. western United States - the region of the United States lying to the west of the Mississippi River West Santa Fe Trail - a trail that extends from Missouri to New Mexico; an important route for settlers moving west in the 19th century , including a stop in Burbank to bless the site of a planned cathedral. Karekin II Catholicos Karekin II (Armenian: Գարեգին Բ also Garegin) is the current head of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church. - head of the world's 7 million Armenian Apostolic Christians - made his first visit to the area from Etchmiadzin, Armenia, nearly four years ago during the Armenian church's celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the nation's official adoption of Christianity. The pontiff's visit this year comes as the Armenian immigrant population in the West continues to grow and the church is establishing parishes throughout California and in neighboring states. ``He kind of comes at a time that's like a bridge for us into re-established communities,'' said Matthew Ash, youth director for the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church Armenian Church, autonomous Christian church, sometimes also called the Gregorian Church. Its head, a primate of honor only, is the catholicos of Yejmiadzin, Armenia; Karekin II became catholicos in 1999. of North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. . The diocese is working to organize religious communities in Monterey, Valencia and other parts of California. In smaller locations, a priest will visit as part of a circuit that includes other fledgling communities. As part of his nearly 3-week visit, the pontiff is scheduled to bless churches in Arizona, Nevada and California, hold several youth rallies, meet with government and church officials, and visit with parishioners. In Glendale, he is scheduled to visit Glendale Adventist Hospital and students at Glendale Unified School District The Glendale Unified School District is a school district based in Glendale, California, United States. The school district serves the city of Glendale, portions of the city of La Cañada and the unincorporated communities of Montrose and La Crescenta. . In Burbank - where the diocese is planning to build a $6 million cathedral next to its headquarters - the pontiff is scheduled to meet with schoolchildren schoolchildren school npl → écoliers mpl; (at secondary school) → collégiens mpl; lycéens mpl schoolchildren school as well as bless the cathedral site in a June 4 event expected to draw more than 1,500 spectators. ``I think it uplifts the community when they see the spiritual head of the church coming all the way from Armenia. ... It creates enthusiasm so it is important,'' said Armen Hampar, chairman of the building committee for the planned cathedral. Hampar currently is asking the county Department of Public Works to allow him to build a parking structure for the cathedral over a flood control channel Flood control channels are a series of large, concrete, and empty (except when a flood is actually present) open-air channels that extend a ways below the street levels of some larger cities, so that if and when a flood occurs, the flood will run into the channels, and proceed to be behind the diocese headquarters. He said the committee is approaching its fundraising goal and hopes to begin construction within a year. Alex Dobuzinskis, (818) 546-3304 alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com IF YOU GO Karekin II's pontifical pon·tif·i·cal adj. 1. Relating to, characteristic of, or suitable for a pope or bishop. 2. Having the dignity, pomp, or authority of a pontiff or bishop. 3. Pompously dogmatic or self-important; pretentious. visit is scheduled to include several area events: June 4: A blessing of the planned site of the church's Burbank cathedral. June 5: A divine liturgy at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels. June 6: A visit to Glendale Adventist Hospital and a meeting with Glendale Unified School District students. June 7: A visit with Burbank Unified School District A unified school district is a school district which includes both primary school (kindergarten through middle school or junior high) and high school (grades 9-12). In Illinois, these districts are called unit school districts. students. For more information, www.armenianchurchwd.com. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Karekin II, head of the world's 7 million Armenian Apostolic Christians, will bless a cathedral site in Burbank on Saturday. Box: IF YOU GO (see text) |
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