Western Diocese

On Sunday, June 17, 2007, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian visited the Armenian Community of Scottsdale, Arizona, where he celebrated Divine Liturgy, ordained acolytes, presided over a reception and the parish council meeting. In his message addressed to the newly ordained acolytes Hagop Bekelian and Mardig Najarian, he quoted Metropoliton Anthony Bloom: " But if we realize that the whole of life is a situation in which God has placed us to bring our faith where there is no faith, to bring hope where there is no hope, to bring light – even if it is a very dim light, a spark – where there is only darkness or twilight, to be salt to prevent corruption, to bring a flicker of love where there is lovelessness, then there is no evil or distracting situation into which we cannot enter in a prayerful way. We can say, "Lord, you have sent me into twilight and this darkness. Be with me and let me be your presence." (Metropolitan Anthony)