Western Diocese

In the evening of January 25, 2008, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, presided over the commemorative event in memory of Hrant Dink, on the first anniversary of the assassination of the slain journalist, in the Nazareth and Sima Kalaydjian Hall of the Diocesan complex in Burbank, California. The Organization of Istanbul Armenians organized the event. Simon Acilacoglu, President of OIA, and Nancy R. Kolligian, President of NAASR, offered the opening remarks. Speakers Stephan Kurkjian, a Pulitzer Prize recipient journalist from Boston Globe, Professor Taner Akcam, from the Department of History of the University of Minnesota, and the author of the book, “A Shameful Act: The Armenian Genocide and the Question of Turkish Responsibility,” as well as Professor Richard Hovannisian, AEF Professor of the Modern Armenian History from UCLA, reflected on various aspects and implications of the assassination of Hrant Dink, and the personality of the brave journalist. Edvin E. Mianssian, Esq., Vice President of OIA, and Treasurer of Armenian Bar Association, was the Master of Ceremonies of the event. The program also included a musical interlude and a video presentation about Hrant Dink, titled “Swallow’s Nest,” which was produced by Bulent Arinli. The closing remarks were offered by the Primate. His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian thanked the OIA for organizing the event, stressed the importance of commemorating the memory of the true hero, Hrant Dink, as a martyr for the cause of liberty, justice, freedom of speech and individual rights. In the conclusion of the evening, the Primate presided over a special requiem for the soul of Hrant Dink. His Eminence Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian, Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardermian, Vicar General of the Western Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Gegham Dz. V. Zakarian, Archpriest Fr. Sipan Mekhsian, Chancellor of the Western Diocese, and Fr. Mikael Kyureghian participated in this event.