Blessing of the Water with Victory Myuron

St. Leon Armenian Cathedral of the Western Diocese was filled to capacity for the episcopal celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, October 4. Assisted at the Holy Altar by the Rev. Fr. Dr. Stepanos Dingilian, the Rev. Fr. Khajag Shahbazyan and the Cathedral’s Deacons, the day’s celebrant and homilist was H.E. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the Diocesan Primate. Days prior, the Holy Chrism, blessed by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, had been distributed to Dioceses across the world.

As one of the twelve bishops taking part in the Blessing of the Holy Myuron, Archbishop Derderian shared his fond memories of the historic ceremony with the congregants. His Eminence explained the significant role of the Holy Chrism in the Armenian Apostolic Church. “Holy Chrism symbolizes the descent of the Holy Spirit from Heaven to Earth. Using the Holy Chrism, we consecrate the foreheads of young children during the Sacrament of Baptism. the foreheads and hands of newly ordained priests during the Sacrament of Priesthood Ordination. The Holy Chrism is also used during the consecration of churches and cross-stones (khachkars) as well as church ornaments. Today, with the newly blessed Holy Christ, we will bless the Water before us to give it “life.”

“Holy Chrism symbolizes the renewal of our Christian Faith. For centuries, the veneration of the Holy Chrism has been deeply enrooted in the hearts of the Armenian people. The preparation of the Holy Chrism and its blessing symbolize the journey of our ancestral Christian faith and the period of spiritual transformation. The blessed water is a source of God’s divine love and the provider of Christ’s wisdom.

Indeed, in the Armenian Apostolic Church and to the Armenian people, the Blessing of the Holy Chrism symbolizes Pentecost, the day when we are filled with the divine graces of the Holy Spirit, in order that we may embark on a journey leading toward God.”

Amongst the faithful present at the service were members of the Armenian Church of Riverside led by their pastor the Rev. Fr. Dr. Stepanos Dingilian.

A reception was held at the Hampar Family Room following the service. At the request of Fr. Dingilian, parishioners Arsen Guleserian, Anahid Baghdasarian, Alice Palandjian, Anna Sarkissian-Shinn, and Armine Dinglian were honored by the Primate with the Diocesan Hye Spirit medals in recognition of their committed service to the Armenian Church of Riverside.

The community also celebrated the Primate’s 35th anniversary of ordination into the sacred order of the priesthood and his 25th anniversary of elevation to the rank of bishop.