Western Diocese Hosts Biggest Children’s Christmas Pageant To Date: 650 Students From Eight Different Schools Participate

The annual tradition of hosting students from Armenian Schools at the Western Diocese continued this year. Six Armenian Schools including the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School, the AGBU Vatche and Tamar Manoukian School, St. Sahag-St. Mesrob Armenian School, Alfred and Marguerite Hovsepian School, Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School, and Little Angels Academy participated in this year’s Annual Children’s Christmas Pageant. We are delighted to inform that two of Glendale’s FLAG (Foreign Language Academies of Glendale) schools, including  RD White Elementary and Thomas Jefferson Elementary Schools also took part in the Pageant that was held on Friday, December 7, 2018. The Children’s Christmas Pageant hosted by the Diocesan Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian was the biggest ever with over 650 students participating in the festive annual event.

The program commenced with welcoming remarks by the Diocesan Primate who encouraged the students to pursue their education and to keep our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in their hearts. Led by the Primate, the students recited the Lord’s Prayer in unison. Led by the Primate, in a moment of silence, the clergy, students and teachers honored the memory of the tens and thousands of Armenians who lost their lives as a result of the cataclysmic earthquake on December 7, 1988.

This year’s exciting performance was presented by the students of Little Angels Academy who wonderfully performed popular Armenian folk songs and dances as well as traditional Christmas songs. The students also displayed their artistic and theatrical talents by performing an inspirational Christmas play as well as dance numbers which were received by loud cheers and applause.

In his message to the students, the Primate called upon them to preserve their Armenian Christian identity and to live a life of prayer. “Dear students, remember that you have a best friend in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Pray to Him always,” said the Primate. His Eminence also announced that next year’s performers would be the students of St. Sahag-St. Mesrob Armenian School.  

The students were excited to greet Santa Claus who performed songs and dances. Following the event, all students received a pizza lunch.