Claudia Peschiutta
GLENDALE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - A loaf of bread meant the world to Lidia
Kokoryan Thursday.
Though confined to a hospital bed on Armenian Christmas Day,which is
celebrated on Jan. 6, Kokoryan got to take part in one holiday tradition,
the eating of "cheorag," a braided bread made with raisins.
The bread was distributed by hospital staff to about 100 Armenian
patients, said Steven Fellows, senior vice president and chief operating
officer of Glendale Memorial. Armenian Christmas Eve was celebrated with
traditional holiday foods, such as white fish, he said.
"What worse place to have to be than a hospital on Christmas," Fellows
asked. "We tried to bring a little bit of family tradition, as much as we
could."
Kokoryan appreciated the holiday touches.
"It was a blessing to me," she said through a translator. "I gave a
piece of bread to my daughter. I said, 'This is a blessing. Take it
home.' "
This is the first time the hospital has celebrated Armenian Christmas,
Fellows said.
"While most of us celebrated Christmas on Dec. 25, there is a very
significant portion of our community that celebrates on Jan. 6," he said.
As mother of the only Armenian babies born in Glendale on Christmas
Eve, Nune Ghukasyan was given a Santa Claus hat and got to see one of her
twins, Hovsep, brought to her in a Christmas stocking. Brother Hovhanes
was out of luck, however, because hospital staff had not expected more
than one Armenian baby to be born.
During his regular rounds to the rooms of Armenian patients, the Rev.
Ezra Separian of Good Shepherd Church in Burbank said he was happy to
spend Christmas Day visiting with them.
"They feel kind of lonely Christmas Day," he said.
Having a reverend come to them helps patients feel better, he said.
