Annual Blessing Of The Water Service At Glendale Adventist Medical Center

In reaffirming the strong bond of collaboration between the Western Diocese and Glendale Adventist Medical Center, on Friday, January 3, 2020, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America performed the Blessing of the Water Service at the hospital. Archbishop Derderian was accompanied by the Rev. Fr. Vazken Movsesian and the Rev. Fr. Khajag Shahbazyan.  

Dozens including hospital staff, local officials, members of law enforcement and patients, gathered in the west lobby of Glendale Adventist Medical Center to take part in the service.

Members of the Glendale City Council including Vartan Gharpetian and Paula Devine as well as Adventist Health Glendale’s President Alice Issai were present at the service.

Welcoming remarks were made by  the hospital’s business development executive Ramella Markarian, who introduced the clergy and highlighted the years of collaboration between the two institutions.   

In the Armenian tradition, the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany commemorates not only the birth of Christ, but also His baptism by John the Baptist. The latter is remembered through the “Blessing of the Water” service.