(Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

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By Sarah Reingewirtz, September 20, 2019

L.A. City Councilmen Bob Blumenfield and Paul Koretz welcome His Holiness Mar Gewargis III of the Assyrian Church of the East to City Hall on Friday for a special presentation.

Based in Iraq, His Holiness Mar Gewargis III was appointed as the 121st Catholicos-Patriarch in September 2015. Since then he’s been advocating for peace.

Los Angeles is said to have one of the largest Assyrian populations outside of the Middle East. Many Assyrian Angelenos attend St. Mary’s Assyrian Church in Tarzana, one of the largest cultural centers in the West Valley, according to Blumenfeld’s office.

City Hall’s chambers were packed Friday as Blumenfeld and Koretz presented certificates on behalf of the city to His Holiness, Cor Bishop George Bet Rasho, and to the Assyrian Church of the East.

Photographer Sarah Reingewirtz contributed to this story.