LA's Armenian Catholics offer support, sacrifice amid wildfires, says pastor
January 17, 2025 at 10:41 a.m.
OSV News – Speaking on the phone Jan. 10, Father Armenag Bedrossian, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Armenian Catholic Church in downtown Los Angeles, apologized for his husky voice.
"It's because of the smoke" from the wildfires, he explained to OSV News. "And it's also 'snowing' white ashes."
The Los Angeles area is home to more than 200,000 Armenians, the largest community in the Armenian diaspora. Since 2013, the city of Glendale in Los Angeles County has been home to the Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg in the United States of America and Canada, which oversees Armenian Catholic Churches in those countries. It is led by Bishop Mikael Mouradian, a native of Beirut.
The remains of homes are seen Jan. 10, 2025, following the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. As of late Jan. 14, the death toll numbered at least 25 people, but with several wildfires raging, officials warn the actual toll will remain unclear until it's safe for investigators to access neighborhoods. Tens of thousands of people have been impacted by evacuation orders since the blazes began Jan. 7. Our Lady Queen of Martyrs is "the oldest Armenian Church" in the area, said Father Bedrossian, who estimated the number of Armenian Catholics in greater Los Angeles as "almost 3,000 families."
And now, as wildfires continue to ravage the region – fueled by strong winds and dry vegetation – that community is drawing together more tightly than ever, he said.
"I have a lot of families who live in Altadena and (on) the border between Altadena and Pasadena," said Father Bedrossian.
Both regions have been hard hit by the Eaton Fire, one of several that have raged throughout Los Angeles since Jan. 7, and one that has so far seared close to 14,120 acres while damaging an estimated 7,000 structures.
As of Jan. 14, at least 24 have been killed and 100,000 displaced by the fires, with the Eaton and Palisades blazes, the two largest, still mostly uncontained.
In Altadena, a private Armenian Christian school, Sahag Mesrob, was gutted by the flames, said Father Bedrossian.
Among the Armenian Catholic community, "they've lost a lot of things, but thank God, I think … more properties and houses" than people, said Father Bedrossian, who is also a police chaplain and has been "always on the road" over the past several days.
Adding to the heartache are fears of looting, he said.
"Yesterday my deacon came, and I looked at his eyes and said, 'Why are they so red?'" the priest recalled. "He's like, 'We did not sleep, me and my neighbor ... looting is killing us. We did not sleep for two days just to protect whatever is left. After I lose the house, I don't want to lose whatever was inside.' It was very sad."
Father Bedrossian said he and parishioners are checking on one another – but his Church "can't offer them shelter, because we are in the red flag zone," meaning the Church itself is in a risk area.
"Everything is a red flag zone," he said. "Most of my people went to find hotels, but in the area (those) are full. They had to go to Orange County, to Murrieta, wherever they can find an Airbnb."
Father Bedrossian said his Church and a convent at which he celebrates Mass have lost electricity at points. Air quality has been "so poor … very bad," he added.
But amid the devastation, faith and goodness have shone through, he said.
On its Facebook page, the parish has posted heartfelt prayers, imploring God's mercy amid the flames and pleading for the heavens to open and "send the rain we so desperately need. ... As You once calmed the stormy seas, we ask You to calm the fury of these fires."
"When I talk about it, I'm going to cry," said Father Bedrossian, his voice filled with emotion. "I saw how people support each other. They leave their house just to go and save their neighbor's house. Do you know how beautiful that is? That's what I call sacrifice."
Gina Christian is multimedia reporter for OSV News. Follow her X @GinaJesseReina.
The Church needs quality Catholic journalism now more than ever. Please consider supporting this work by signing up for a SUBSCRIPTION (click HERE) or making a DONATION to The Monitor (click HERE). Thank you for your support.
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OSV News – Speaking on the phone Jan. 10, Father Armenag Bedrossian, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Armenian Catholic Church in downtown Los Angeles, apologized for his husky voice.
"It's because of the smoke" from the wildfires, he explained to OSV News. "And it's also 'snowing' white ashes."
The Los Angeles area is home to more than 200,000 Armenians, the largest community in the Armenian diaspora. Since 2013, the city of Glendale in Los Angeles County has been home to the Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg in the United States of America and Canada, which oversees Armenian Catholic Churches in those countries. It is led by Bishop Mikael Mouradian, a native of Beirut.
The remains of homes are seen Jan. 10, 2025, following the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. As of late Jan. 14, the death toll numbered at least 25 people, but with several wildfires raging, officials warn the actual toll will remain unclear until it's safe for investigators to access neighborhoods. Tens of thousands of people have been impacted by evacuation orders since the blazes began Jan. 7. Our Lady Queen of Martyrs is "the oldest Armenian Church" in the area, said Father Bedrossian, who estimated the number of Armenian Catholics in greater Los Angeles as "almost 3,000 families."
And now, as wildfires continue to ravage the region – fueled by strong winds and dry vegetation – that community is drawing together more tightly than ever, he said.
"I have a lot of families who live in Altadena and (on) the border between Altadena and Pasadena," said Father Bedrossian.
Both regions have been hard hit by the Eaton Fire, one of several that have raged throughout Los Angeles since Jan. 7, and one that has so far seared close to 14,120 acres while damaging an estimated 7,000 structures.
As of Jan. 14, at least 24 have been killed and 100,000 displaced by the fires, with the Eaton and Palisades blazes, the two largest, still mostly uncontained.
In Altadena, a private Armenian Christian school, Sahag Mesrob, was gutted by the flames, said Father Bedrossian.
Among the Armenian Catholic community, "they've lost a lot of things, but thank God, I think … more properties and houses" than people, said Father Bedrossian, who is also a police chaplain and has been "always on the road" over the past several days.
Adding to the heartache are fears of looting, he said.
"Yesterday my deacon came, and I looked at his eyes and said, 'Why are they so red?'" the priest recalled. "He's like, 'We did not sleep, me and my neighbor ... looting is killing us. We did not sleep for two days just to protect whatever is left. After I lose the house, I don't want to lose whatever was inside.' It was very sad."
Father Bedrossian said he and parishioners are checking on one another – but his Church "can't offer them shelter, because we are in the red flag zone," meaning the Church itself is in a risk area.
"Everything is a red flag zone," he said. "Most of my people went to find hotels, but in the area (those) are full. They had to go to Orange County, to Murrieta, wherever they can find an Airbnb."
Father Bedrossian said his Church and a convent at which he celebrates Mass have lost electricity at points. Air quality has been "so poor … very bad," he added.
But amid the devastation, faith and goodness have shone through, he said.
On its Facebook page, the parish has posted heartfelt prayers, imploring God's mercy amid the flames and pleading for the heavens to open and "send the rain we so desperately need. ... As You once calmed the stormy seas, we ask You to calm the fury of these fires."
"When I talk about it, I'm going to cry," said Father Bedrossian, his voice filled with emotion. "I saw how people support each other. They leave their house just to go and save their neighbor's house. Do you know how beautiful that is? That's what I call sacrifice."
Gina Christian is multimedia reporter for OSV News. Follow her X @GinaJesseReina.
The Church needs quality Catholic journalism now more than ever. Please consider supporting this work by signing up for a SUBSCRIPTION (click HERE) or making a DONATION to The Monitor (click HERE). Thank you for your support.