At the invitation of Primate of the US Western Diocese, His Eminence, Father Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, on 5 April, at the Saint Ghevondyants Mother Cathedral, clergymen and the choir of Los Angeles held a Requiem Service in memory of the soldiers and civilians who died in the bordering villages of Artsakh, reports the press divan of the US Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The participants of the event also prayed for the speedy recovery of the wounded. The ceremony was held by His Holiness, who expressed his greetings to acting Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles Valery Mkrtumyan, Advisor Razmik Stepanyan, President of the Union of Armenians of Russia Ara Abrahamyan and chairman of the diocesan council and lawyer Hovsep Kanimyan.

The Armen Tigranyan Children’s Choir of Armenia also participated in the ceremony. The Homeland Defense Fund was established under the patronage of the Armenian Prelacy in order to help defend the homeland.

The Prelacy calls on everyone to be strong and spiritually united and provide assistance to the families of the deceased Armenian soldiers and wounded civilians.