IN THE SPIRIT

-- Michelle Marr

ADDRESS: 148 E. 22nd St. Costa Mesa

TELEPHONE: (949) 650-8367

DENOMINATION: Armenian Apostolic

YEAR CHURCH ESTABLISHED: The parish was established 15 years ago and has been at the present location for a little more than nine years.

SUNDAY SERVICE TIMES: Matin begins at 10 a.m.; the Divine Liturgy

begins at 10:30 a.m.; Sunday school meets at 11 a.m.

SENIOR PASTOR: Father Moushegh Tashjian

SIZE OF CONGREGATION: 140-150 active, dues-paying members and

stewards. From throughout Orange County, there are about 2,000 more

regular attendees who support the parish and another 5,000 to 10,000 more

who send support to the parish and attend occasionally.

MAKEUP OF CONGREGATION: Most are Armenian-speaking immigrants. A

growing number are English-speaking. Some are young American-born

Armenians finding a renewed interest in their faith and heritage.

CHILD CARE: Infants and toddlers attend service and are cared for by

their parents. Children older than 3 attend Sunday school.

TYPE OF WORSHIP: Services are in Armenian. The worship is Gregorian,

with the traditional role of the priest as intercessor, the deacon

offering the litany and the choir and congregation chanting responsively.

The service book is in Armenian and English, with transliterations of the

Armenian. The Armenian Church recently published a fine-quality Armenian

and English language service book and St. Mary received a gift, from a

parish member, of several hundred of the books. The books contain both

the order of service and italicized explanations of the prayers and form

of service throughout the book.

TYPE OF SERMON: Father Tashjian gives the sermon in both Armenian and

English. Typically, the topic is based on the Scripture reading for the

day and reflects biblical teaching and Armenian church tradition. The

Scripture selection is based on the church calendar.

UPCOMING SERMON: Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday in the Armenian

Church. The message will focus on the biblical event of the

Transfiguration of Jesus Christ and tie in to the topic of Armenia,

transfigured by its Christian faith and heritage. When Armenia became a

Christian state, pagan belief, customs and feast days were replaced with

Christian ones. The theme is especially important and poignant for

Armenians this year, the 1,700th anniversary of Armenia becoming a

Christian state.

WELCOME WAGON: Visitors are offered the church’s quarterly newsletter,

and if they wish, information on becoming a church member or steward.

They can be added to the parish mailing list.

OUTREACH PROGRAMS: The church sends a great deal of support to

Armenia, which was ravaged by a major earthquake in 1988 earthquake and

extensive civil war. It is still recovering and has extremely meager

economic means and civil and economic infrastructure. Locally, the parish

supports an Armenian home for the aged in Mission Hills and programs such

as the Western Diocese’s summer camp for children. Help is also given for

individual needs as they arise. The parish is in the process of establish

a supportive relationship with a sister church in Armenia.

DRESS: There are no strict rules, but dress should be neat, clean and

modest.

CHURCH DESIGN: The parish continually makes architectural changes to

the building to increase its traditional Armenian church character.

Inside, the sanctuary is already very traditional. It has a high marble

altar, baptismal font and icons of the faith. A traditional

Armenian-style bell tower was completed in 1997 and dedicated on Oct. 26

of that year. A member of the congregation financed the construction of

the tower as a gift to the parish. Parishioners and local neighbors alike

praise the beauty of the tower. The tower is presently still bell-less,

however, until the parish can raise the additional $10,000 to $15,000

needed to buy a bell system. Stained-glass windows have been installed to

replace some of the clear windows in the building. The window scenes

reflect biblical and traditional Armenian Church history. More windows

will be added soon. The parish has recently established a Visibility

Committee to help plan and organize an expansion of the present social

hall, which the congregation has outgrown.

MISSION STATEMENT: “Towards Light and life.” The current mission of

the parish, as well as the diocese and the whole Armenian Church, is to

commemorate and celebrate the 1,700-year anniversary of the Armenian

church and the 2,000-year anniversary of the Christian Church during

2001. It hopes to bring to Armenians, and the world, the life and light

of the Christian faith. Christianity was present in Armenia from the 1st

century, but it was a persecuted faith until the 4th century. St. Gregory

the Illuminator returned to Armenia from Cappadocia and is said to have

converted the king to the Christian faith. The king then declared the

Christian faith to be the official religion of the country in 301. Many

Armenians are making pilgrimages to Armenia, Lebanon, Turkey and other

centers of the Armenian Church to celebrate these anniversaries. A large

group of the church’s youth recently returned from such pilgrimages, many

of them visiting their homelands for the first time. The Armenian church

shoulders a great responsibility to meet the religious, spiritual,

national and social needs of Armenians here and abroad.

INTERESTING NOTE: On Sunday, Archbishop of the Diocese Vatche

Hovsepian, primate of the Armenian Church Western Diocese, will visit the

parish to celebrate its Name Day. The parish will celebrate the Feast of

the Assumption of St. Mary, the Holy Mother of God, together with

Khaghogh Orhnek (the Blessing of the Grapes), the Blessing of Madagh

(Lamb) and the parish’s Name Day (St. Mary). The Feast of the Assumption

commemorates the assumption of Mary, body and soul, into heaven. The

Blessing of the Grapes, the First Fruits of the Harvest, offers

thanksgiving to God for the harvest by offering to him the first fruits.

The Blessing of the Lamb remembers the biblical offerings of lambs to God

as an expression of thanksgiving to God for the abundance of his

blessings. At St. Mary, lambs are not brought to the church, but in

commemoration the people give monetary gifts, which support the church.

Because the parish is the only Armenian church in Orange County named for

St. Mary, hundreds of people will attend for these celebrations, some

even coming from Los Angeles. A celebration will be held in the parish

hall after the Divine Liturgy and Blessings.

Hovsepian will also bless a new holy mural recently painted behind and

above the church’s altar.