Western Diocese

On Wednesday, November 14, 2007, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian received His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco during his visit to the Headquarters of the Western Diocese. In their meeting, which was held in a warm and brotherly atmosphere, Abp. Derderian informed the Metropolitan of the Diocese’s various programs, especially the 80^th Anniversary of the Western Diocese and the training of the candidates to the priesthood. The Metropolitan also informed the Primate of the state of his Diocese, including that currently they have over 60 clergymen, with several young candidates to the priesthood. Joining the Bishops were Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian, Fr. Zaven Arzoumanian, and Fr. Sipan Mekhsian, as well as Fr. John Bakas, Dean of the St. Sophia Seminary and Fr. Gary Kyriacou. Following their meeting Abp. Derderian presented the Metropolitan with gifts of Diocesan publications and gave him a tour of the Western Diocese’s facilities and informed him of the plans for the construction of the Mother Cathedral.