Western Diocese Hosts Annual Children'S Christmas Pageant

The annual Children's Christmas pageant has been a revered Diocesan tradition since 2003. Every December, the students from local Armenian Schools gather at the Nazareth and Sima Kalaydjian Hall of the Western Diocese to celebrate the joy of the Christmas season by putting on a wonderful play for their parents, fellow students and the Diocesan faithful. This year's pageant was held on Friday, December 11, 2015 and featured an exceptional Christmas performance by the Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School, the main presenters. 

The Primate, who was accompanied by His Grace Bishop Armash Nalbandian, the Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian, Archpriest Fr. Dr. Zaven Arzoumanian, Archpriest Fr. Hovsep Hagopian, the Rev. Fr. Khajag Shahbazyan and Deacon Artak Khachikyan, welcomed the children, their parents and school teachers to the Western Diocese for yet another exciting pageant. 

Close to three hundred fifty students from Armenian Schools including the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School, AGBU Vatche and Tamar Manoukian School, the Alfred and Marguerite Hovsepian School, the Little Angels Academy and Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School participated in the memorable pageant. Each of the schools also participated in the pageant either through song, recitation or play.

In his message, the Primate encouraged the children to continue their education with determined spirits and to continue to love and serve the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Primate reminded the children of true meaning of Christmas, encouraging the youth to keep the Miraculous Birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ dear to their hearts. His Eminence presented uniquely designed posters by the Media Department of the Western Diocese to the principal of each school encouraging them to display the posters in every classroom.

At the conclusion of the pageant, in a synchronized voice, the children called "Gaghant Baba" to join them. At the loud applause of the children, Santa Claus danced to the stage. He encouraged the students to listen to their teachers and parents, and wished them a Merry Christmas.

At the conclusion of the pageant, students were treated to a pizza lunch in the Paul Brothers Galleria. The children also received parting gifts donated by attorney Mark Geragos consisting of a set of children's books published by the Western Diocese.