Last Friday an unprecedented fundraising took place for the construction of the Pasadena Armenian community church. The crowd raised $650,000–of which $200,000 was donated by Sarkis Kitsinian–in the memory of his parents Arshavir and Araxi.
Guests included Bishop Moushegh Mardirossian–Prelacy Executive Council members–Board of Trustees and members of the Pasadena Church as well as the other local–prelacy churches–local gomideh representatives–and the representative of the ARF CC . Over 500 guests attended.
Garo Momjian served as the master of ceremonies for the evening.
The Pasadena board of trustees chairman Sarkis Tatigian– the Pasadena local gomideh representative Nerses Melkonian and Prelacy Executive Council chairman Avo Donoyan congratulated the Pasadena community and greeted those gathered.
Bishop Mardirossian announced the gracious donation of Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis Kitsinian–revealing that his parents–Arshavir and Araxi devoted their entire lives to the Soorp Sarkis church in Lebanon. Hence–the new Pasadena church would be named–Soorp Sarkis.
In addition to the generous donation by the Kitzinians–Mrs.Ani Patatian pledged $35,000 for the construction of the church’s alter.
The Board of Trustees–the Prelacy Council and the leaders of the Pasadena community express their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to those present for their support and kindness.