Reclaim Rally And Conference Is Two Weeks Away

Reclaiming the Armenian Church is the theme of a unique conference. “March 10, 11 and 12^th will be the weekend when we reclaim our Christian identity. We will go through a journey of transformation and rediscover our Christian character,” says Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese. 

The Western Diocese Center and Cathedral complex will the site of this unprecedented opportunity for young and old to engage in conversations, open themselves up to the wonders of the Armenian Church and the ancient Christian faith it professes. “It’s about Embracing our Faith in a changing world,” emphasizes the Archbishop.

 “This is not the usual fare when it comes to the Armenian Church,” says event organizer Fr. Vazken Movsesian. “Attendees will be challenged by clergy and laity, exotic, contemporary and visionary ideas. This will definitely be something that will engage the participant to consider the dynamics of his or her faith in the world today.”

 Speakers and presentations will be fill up the three days. Registration is brisk and there is still time to become a part of this conference. Learn more and register at www.Embracing-Faith.com

Just a sample of the many speakers, we present to you these four today and highlight more regularly on our Diocesan FB page daily.

Shakeh Major Tchilingirian – workshop on spiritual dance. Tchilingirian is an award winning solo dance artist and choreographer. Her unique presentation and interpretation highlight the power and spirituality of Armenian dances as expressed in her productions, most recently in her “1001 Journeys” at the Modern Art Gallery of the Calosute Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon. She has performed and taught internationally. Born in England of English-Armenian heritage and an Orthoptist by profession, she has been dancing from the age of six, with a foundation in classical ballet. Filmmaker Atom Egoyan has described Shakeh's dance as "mesmerising, going back to the roots." Her dance is the subject of the art film "Verve" by Nigol Bezjian. In recognition of her distinctive artistic approach, Shakeh conducts dance workshops regularly in many cities in Europe and has been invited to give workshops in the US, Turkey and UAE. She has performed in major stage productions, including in the London premieres of “Anoosh” Opera (2012), “Garineh” Operetta (2014) and “Davit Bek” Opera (2015). She had the leading role in “Nerdurs” (2012), a contemporary dance production about Motherland and dispersion staged in Yerevan. Since 2010, Shakeh works with "the masses" in the tradition of circle dance at public ceremonies, feasts and celebrations and has been introducing children and young people to ethnic folk dance through innovative methods and programs. More recently, she is using folk dance to stimulate and exercise with the elderly (www.shakeh.info).

Fr. Tateos Abdalian – on hearing the Call of God in our life. Fr. Tateos is the former pastor of the St. George Church in Hartford, CT where he served as an on-call chaplain at Hartford Hospital and was a member of their Pastoral Services Advisory Committee.  In 1998, in honor of his son David becoming a Los Angeles Police Officer, Fr. Tateos began serving as a Police Chaplain with the Hartford Police Department and was a member of their Crisis Intervention Team.  He continues his Police Chaplaincy duties by serving with the Cheltenham, PA Police Dept. and with the Pennsylvania State Troopers.    Fr. Tateos has served in various other parishes of the Eastern Diocese as well as in full-time Youth Ministry.  He has also served on various Diocesan committees and Ecumenical dialogues. In September 2007, Fr. Tateos returned to serving the mission parish communities of the Diocese, being appointed as Director of the department by Eastern Diocesan Primate Abp. Khajag Barsamian, and is responsible for overseeing 18 communities. 

Lory Tatoulian – presenting on creativity and improvisational theater - Tatoulian is an actress and playwright whose work explores issues of cultural identity, gender and ethnic community dynamics. Her comedic character-studies define the core of her style. Tatoulian's explorations take root in theatrical monologues that meld the comedic and absurd experiences of several ethnic groups, including Armenians, who make-up the American tableau. Her intelligible character portraits range from an Avon Lady who wants to help democratize the world, to a housewife jazz singer from Beirut, to a car addict who contemplates her free-will on the freeway in the award-winning piece "Autosapiens," a comedic realization of Californians' intricate relationship with their automobiles. Lory has created, written and produced three Big Bad Armo shows: The Big Armo Show, Big Bad Armo X-Mas and Big Bad Armo: World Domination. She has also written and performed in solo shows which include Sitting Twisted, Talking Straight (Off-Broadway), Autosapiens,and Pomegranate Whisky. She works as a journalist and teaches theater to children. In the Spring of 2009 she was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for her work in the theater.

Melina “Mel” Sardar, M.A., CPLC – Life Coach of Sardar Coaching and Consulting. Melina Sardar has proven track record for motivating and inspiring business professionals, youth, adults, and groups within a diverse population. She has the ability to motivate her clients towards higher success, individual achievement and self-recognition.  Her best ability is empowering others to act with purpose, heal their past and set goals with the pursuit of achieving them. In 2003 she earned a Master of Arts Degree in Psychology, Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy and in the past decade she has completed several master level certifications in the field of Accelerated Human Change, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Professional coaching, and Hypnotherapy.  In 2014 she authored of a 21- Day workbook – where she has designed “Self-Care strategies” for individuals, and professionals who work in “high burn-out” careers.  She also has authored a research on the “Effects of Immigration on the Identity Development of Armenian Adolescents” and has mentored and empowered over 1300 youth in the past decade.  In 2012 Business Life Magazine, recognized her with the Women’s Achievers Award for her involvement as the Educational Director with Ark Family Center, Inc. the non-profit organization in Glendale, CA where she has been affiliated with since 1999, and provides trainings, transformational programs, mentoring, and one-on-one coaching services for youth, families and professionals, and groups.