Western Diocese

The 81^st Diocean Delegates Assembly began on the morning of Friday, May 2^nd. The Primate of the Western Diocese, Abp. Hovnan Derderian opened the meeting with a prayer. Those present sang the hymn "Soorp Asdvadz", followed by the Very Rev. Fr. Baret Yeretzian reading the Gospel reading for the day.

Under the presidency of the Primate, the meeting was lead by the following committee: Ms. Adrienne Krikorian, Chair; Mr. Gerald Chuljian, Vice-Chair; Zarouhi Der Mugrdechian, English Secretary; Rev. Fr. Sipan Mekhsian, Armenian Secretary.

The Chair, Adrienne Krikorian, in her welcoming remarks, called this year’s Assembly an historical occasion, as on May 3^rd the constriction of the Mother Cathedral will officially begin. She stated, "It is a proud opportunity for me to be serving as the first woman Chair of an Assembly of the Western Diocese on such an historic occasion, and to be working with true servants of the Armenian Church."

The agenda for the assembly was then reviewed and approved, as were the minutes from the 80^th General Assembly.

Two young Candidates to the Priesthood, Dn. Arsen Hairabedyan and Dn. Grigor Avagyan were invited to read the pontifical message of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. It was read first in Armenian, and then in English.

His Holiness’s message was as follows:

From the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, we extend to you our pontifical greetings and blessings to you the dedicated delegates of the 81^st Diocesan Assembly of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.

You have come together to accelerate the pace of positive developments throughout the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America – through your deliberations, discussions and exchange of ideas. You have been entrusted with the mission and you have demonstrated passionate love in serving the Church for which we thank you wholeheartedly. We praise you for your support and dedication to His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, and His Eminence’s church-building and other constructive initiatives.

It is with great pleasure that we reflect upon the reports from His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian indicating your exemplary service and contribution to the realization of the Mission of the Church. We are most pleased with all the auxiliary bodies that in the spirit of cooperation render their crucially important service to the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church in the Western regions of the United States. We raise our prayers to the Lord at the Altar of Holy Etchmiadzin for you and that the Good Lord may strengthen you even more in your service to the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church in general and the Western Diocese in particular, for the greatness of the Church is driven from the strength of the Patriarchates and the Dioceses throughout the world.

We wanted to convey our deepest appreciation to you all, namely, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, the Diocesan Clergy, Chairs and members of the Diocesan Council and the Parish Councils. We hope you would unwaveringly continue your outstanding service to the Church.

We raise our prayers to the Lord to bless you and protect you and keep you enthusiastic and zealous in the service of the Church. We thank you very much for serving the Church and the Western Diocese so passionately.

May the Lord grant you and your families long life, continuing success and happiness in the service of the Church.

The day's spiritual message was offered by the Rev. Fr. Shnork Demirdjian who emphasized that the faithful must continue the mission of the Apostles.

The delegates then heard reports from several of the auxiliary bodies of the Western Diocese, including The Diocesan Council, The Cathedral Construction Committee, The Cathedral Fundraising Committee, Christian Educational Department, Christian Education Council, Etchmiadzin's Children's Fund, The Ladies Society Central Council, The Diocesan Ladies Auxiliary, and the Clergy Executive Committee.

The Diocesan Ladies Auxiliary Chairperson, Mrs. Cindy Norian, presented the Primate with a contribution of $50,000 raised through their hard work and untiring efforts, particularly at the Annual Debutant Ball.

The Primate then introduced to the delegates, the Candidates to the Priesthood, Dn. Vahe Abovian, Dn. Mayis Shahbazian, Dn. Hovnan Vadanian, Dn. Grigor Avagyan, Dn. Arsen Hairabedian, Ryan Tellalian, Mkrtich Ksachikyan, Martin Zakarian, Matthew Ash and Haig Dikranian. Also introduced were two new priests who have been assigned parishes in the Western Diocese; Fr. Hovel Ohanyan, parish priest for the Armenian Church of Ventura and Santa Barabara, and Fr. Zaven Margosyan who will soon be the parish priest for Colorado. 

Second Session

The second session of the meeting convened after the luncheon at 1:40 PM. The majority of the delegates were present and the meeting was called to order by the Chair.

The meeting proceeded in accordance with the meeting agenda in the following order:

• Clergy Stipend and Pension Plan Standing Committee
• Clergy Recruitment and Education Committee
• Armenian Church Camp Board of Directors
• Armenian Church Youth Organization
  • ACYO-CC
  • Christian Youth Mission to Armenia
• St. Gregory Armenian School
• Government Relations and Protocol Committee
• Association of Armenian Choirs
• Diocesan Bookstore
• Arakel and Shake Aga Sarkissian Library
• Publications “Mother Church,” Calendar
• Western Diocese Endowment Fund
• Stewardship Committee
• Fund Raising Committee
• Summer Pilgrimage
• Armenian Professional Network
• Holy See Etchmiadzin – Kevorkian Seminary
• Auditing Committee
• Diocesan Council Financial Report

There were many constructive proposals presented to the Chair for overall improvements and amendments to the By-Laws of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America. They were subsequently approved by the Assembly, namely, the proposal for overall revision, the amendment to the Diocesan tax resolution, and revisions to the clergy stipend and pension plan.

Banquet

The Nazareth and Sima Kalaydjian Hall of the Western Diocese was the gathering ground for the Official Banquet of the 81^st Diocesan Assembly, on the evening of May 2, 2008. His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian presided over the evening.

His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian in his heartfelt remarks thanked Mr. Joseph Kanimian, Esq., Vice Chair of the Diocesan Council, and Chair of the Host Committee, as well as Mrs. Belet Shahbazian, Chair of Banquet Organizing Committee. His Eminence presented the Archbishop’s Award to three dedicated and distinguished staff members of the Western Diocese.   The honorees and recipients of the award this year were Archpriest Fr. Sipan Mekhsian, Chancellor and Editor of the Mother Church; Mari Gizlechyan, Executive Secretary, and Diramayr Anna Movsesian, former Executive Secretary. 

His Eminence made the following remarks during the evening:

“Not in the way of eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Eph. 6:6).

During the past few days, we gathered here, prayed together and participated in several meetings. We evaluated our fellowship as a church, pondering how truly we executed the Will of God. The annual Diocesan Assemblies offer extraordinary opportunities to all of us to evaluate our policies and seek solutions that correspond with the objectives of the Mission of the Church. We strive to achieve the highest levels of excellence in our services to the community, with ever-deepening faith and devotion to the Mission of the Church.

We thank God that our 80 years old Diocese – beginning as early as 1898 when the Western Diocese began to form – continues to grow and thrive due to the extraordinary dedication of our clergy and laity. We pray for all those who bring their participation to the affairs of the Church. We are grateful to all Diocesan Clergy who praise the Lord’s name through their words, deeds, and example. We thank the dedicated members of the Diocesan Council, who in collaboration with all other auxiliary bodies, strive for the accomplishment of the Mission of the Church in the Western Diocese.

We would also like to express our heartfelt appreciation to our faithful throughout the Western Diocese, the Parish Councils, and all auxiliary bodies; for they have truly and wholeheartedly dedicated themselves to the task of preserving the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church which has remained true to the words of the Apostles. 

“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: […], if service, in our serving;[…], be aglow with the spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Rom. 12:7, 11-12).

Obviously, it would be impossible for us to mention the names of all those who have made a difference with their participation and contribution to the life of the Diocese. However, there are few names that we wish to be mentioned here. We commend the Chair of the Diocesan Council, Dn. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, along with Mr. Joseph Kanimian, Esq., Vice Chair of the Diocesan Council, as well as all other members of the Diocesan Council who have served most outstandingly. We could not find words that would sufficiently express our deep appreciation to Mrs. Lily Ring Balian, Secretary of the Diocesan Council, the Chair of the Ladies’ Society, Mrs. Sylva Katchiguian, and Mrs. Cindy Norian, Chair of the Diocesan Ladies’ Auxiliary Committee as well as Mr. Armen Hampar, Chair of the Cathedral Building Committee, for their invaluable service to the Diocese.  

“[n]ot in the way of eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Eph. 6:6).

We express our sincere appreciation to the 81^st Diocesan Assembly Organizing Committee, chaired by Mr. Joseph Kanimian, Esq,. We especially thank the Banquet Organizing Committee for this evening, chaired by Mrs. Belet Shahbazian.

In conclusion, we would like to express our appreciation to the Diocesan Staff, who have willingly assisted us beyond their obligations and normal working hours. As a token of appreciation, tonight, we are pleased to present the Archbishop’s Award to three dedicated and distinguished staff members of the Western Diocese.   The honorees and recipients of the award this year are Archpriest Fr. Sipan Mekhsian, Chancellor and Editor of the Mother Church; Mari Gizlechyan, Executive Secretary and Diramayr Anna Movsesian, former Executive Secretary.

Archbishop Hovnan Derderian 

The recipients of the Archbishop’s Award expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Primate for honoring them with the award. Archpriest Fr. Sipan Mekhsian made the following appreciation remarks upon receiving the Archbishop’s Award:

Dear Surpazan Hayr,

On this solemn occasion I express my deepest gratitude and thanks to you for honoring me today and bestowing upon me the Archbishop's Award. Our Lord teaches us, saying, "When you have done all that is commanded you, say, We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty" (Luke 17:10).

As a servant of God, I have performed my responsibilities to the best of my ability.  My motto in life is: "Do not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 13:21).  Pray for my health, so that I may continue my services for the glory of Almighty God.                                                                                                             

Personally and on behalf of my family I would like also to express our filial love and sincere gratitude to our former Primate, His Eminence Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian who in 1972 invited me to serve in the Western Diocese and about 24 years ago through his continuous efforts I received a special permission from the Venerable Vazken I, Catholicos of All Armenian to marry and have a family.

Thank you very much for honoring me tonight. 

Guests enjoyed performances by the “Memories Band” and the fun and fellowship during the evening.