Western Diocese

On Sunday, March 23, 2008, starting at 10:00 a.m., the faithful began gathering at the Western Diocese to celebrate the Holy Easter. His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, presided over the church service. The Vicar General of the Western Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian, Archpriest Fr. Sipan Mekhsian, Chancellor, Archpriest Fr. Hovannes Maroukian, Fr. Tavit Zelveyan and the Khachadourian Choir participated in the church service.

The Primate led a procession of clergy and choir members to the Kalaydjian Hall of the Dickranian Complex of the Western Diocese. Honorable Armen Liloyan, Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles, as well as several of the Benefactors and Godfathers, participated in the Easter day celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

After celebrating the Divine Liturgy, the Primate delivered the sermon which focused on the importance of the presence of Christ our Lord and its miraculous significance in our daily endeavors. His Eminence also spoke about the construction of the Mother Cathedral, the recruitment and training of the new priesthood candidates, the construction of St. Apkar Armenian Church in Arizona and construction of the Armenian Church in Rancho Mirage, California, as well as several other issues pertaining to the life of the Western Diocese.

The Primate consecrated several stone-crosses of the recent Godfathers of the Mother Cathedral, including, Mrs. Zabelle Kafesjian, Mr. and Mrs. Vartavar and Rita Mazmanian, Ms. Rachel Stepanian, Mr. Suren Feshjian, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Khatchigian, Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis and Alice Setian, Mr. and Mrs. Edward and Tamara Nizamian, and Dr. Aramayis Paronian and several others who were absent during the service.

After the completion of the church service, the Primate accompanied by a procession of clergy and chanting choir members proceeded slowly towards the Armen Hampar Reception Room, during which he blessed the enthusiastic faithful who were waiting along the way to receive blessings from the Primate.

His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian thanked the Benefactors and Godfathers as well as the Honorable Armen Liloyan, Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles, for participating in the life of the Church.