Western Diocese

On April 29, 2009, the Annual Clergy Assembly of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America convened as part of the 82^nd Diocesan Assembly at St. James Armenian Church in Los Angeles, California. 45 Diocesan Clergy along with a number of Diocesan Priesthood-Candidates and Deacons brought their participation to this session. His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, presided over the assembly meeting.

The day long meeting began at 9:00 AM with a religious ceremony and a requiem service for the repose of the souls of all deceased Diocesan Clergy, especially Rev. Archpriest Fr. Mesrob Sarafian who passed away a few months ago.

Rev. Archpriest Fr. Arshag Katchadourian, Pastor of St. James Armenian Church in Los Angeles, introduced Mrs. Lucille Bogosian, a member of St. James Ladies Society and the Chair of Hosting Committee for the 82^nd Diocesan Assembly, to the Diocesan Clergy.

After the morning service, the clergy were invited for breakfast at the Gogian Hall of the church. Following the breakfast the meeting began at 10:00 AM at the Dulgarian Hall of St. James Armenian Church of Los Angeles. His Eminence Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian participated in the meeting. With the initiative of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the Very Rev. Fr. Bartev Barseghyan and Rev. Fr. Aram Mirzoyan from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, who had traveled earlier to Los Angeles for the 82^nd Diocesan Assembly, were also present during the meeting.

After the invocation, offered by the Primate, the Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian, Vicar General, read an excerpt from one of the Epistles of the Holy Bible, followed by a reading from one of the Gospels by Rev. Archpriest Fr. Dr. Zaven Arzoumanian.

The Very Rev. Fr. Bartev Barseghyan from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin read the Pontifical message addressed to the Diocesan Clergy Assembly wherein His Holiness commended the Diocesan Clergy for their God-pleasing service in the Church.

Archbishop Derderian welcomed the Diocesan Clergy and continued his opening remarks in reference to the following verses from the Holy Bible: "For 'all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word is the good news which was preached to you.' That word is the good news which was preached to you" (1 Peter 1:24-25). The Primate stressed the importance of intensifying love for God and humanity in the life of the servants of the Church. "The measure of our identities or our being is the amount of our love for God. The more we love earthly things, reputation, importance, care, success and pleasure for ourselves, the less we love God ("Encounters with Thomas Merton") - quoting one of the contemporary Church Fathers, Henry J. M. Nouwen - His Eminence called upon the Diocesan Clergy to follow the example of  our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Following the Primate's remarks, Rev. Archpriest Fr. Arshen Aivazian, Pastor of St. John Armenian Church in Fresno, presented a fascinating lecture on the Canon of the Holy Bible and various applications it has found in the liturgy. The Primate commended the Reverend Father highly for the informative lecture and suggested that a small book in English and Armenian be prepared, based on the presented lecture, and made available to clergy and the general public.

Rev. Fr. Avedis Abovian, WD Youth Director, then presented a report about the Diocesan youth programs and activities, followed by a presentation about the state of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church in Armenia offered by Rev. Fr. Aram Mirzoyan from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

This year concludes 6 years of the Primacy of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian in the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America. In accordance with the Bylaws of the Western Diocese, the 82^nd Diocesan Assembly will decide to extend the Primacy of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian for a second seven-year period in the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.

In this regard, Rev. Archpriest Fr. Arshag Khatchadourian, read a motion passed by the Annual Clergy Assembly wherein the Diocesan Clergy urge the delegates to the 82^nd Diocesan Assembly to cast their vote of confidentiality for His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian and His Eminence's Primacy in the next period. 

His Eminence Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian offered the closing remarks followed by the benediction offered by the Primate, which concluded the Annual Diocesan Clergy Assembly for this year.