Western Diocese

August 2007 Archive

• Abp. Vatche Hovsepian Heart Surgery a Success — Aug 24

  We would to inform the clergy of the Western Diocese, the Parish Council members, the faithful, and the community at large that our former primate Abp. Vatche Hovsepian on August 24, 2007 underwent a successful heart surgery.

• Righteous Jews, Armenians, and Others Demand ADL Director’s Resignation — Aug 20

  By Harut Sassounian Publisher, The California Courier For many years, Armenian-Americans have been frustrated and angered by the fact that a small number of influential Jewish-American organizations have been undermining congressional efforts to recognize the Armenian Genocide by providing political support to the Turkish denialist campaign.

• Joint Catholic Service to Commemorate 80th Anniversary — Aug 20

  On Sunday, August 26^th, 2007, at 3:30pm a special service will be hosted by the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, under the auspices of Cardinal Roger Mahoney, in commemoration of the 80^th Anniversary of the Western Diocese Armenian Church at St. James the Less Roman Catholic Church, which is located at 4625 Dunsmore Ave., La Crescenta, CA 91214.

• Primate to Attend Reception in Honor of Congressman Xavier Bacerra — Aug 20

  On Saturday, August 24, 2007 His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian will attend a special reception in honor of Representative Xavier Bacerra at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Petros and Karine Taglyan.

• Abp. Aris Shirvanian Visits Western Diocese Headquarters — Aug 20

  On Tuesday, August 21, 2007, His Eminence Abp. Aris Shirvanian, Communications Director for the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, officially visited the Headquarters of the Western Diocese and was received by His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian with whom he met.

• Primate Celebrates Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary at St. Mary Armenian Church of Costa Mesa — Aug 20

  On Sunday August 12^th, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese celebrated Divine Liturgy at St. Mary Armenian Church of Costa Mesa on the occasion of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The service was fully attended by the faithful.

• Los Angeles Area Clergy Meet with Primate — Aug 20

  On Thursday, August 16^th, 2007 the clergy of the Western Diocese who serve in the Greater Los Angeles Area met with the Primate.

• Primate Visits Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center — Aug 20

  On Friday, August 17, 2007, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, and Very Rev. Fr. Baret Yeretzian, Parish Priest of St. Gregory Pasadena met with Rabbi Mark Diamond, Vice President of the Los Angeles Board of Rabbis, and Rabbi Joshua Levin-Grater at the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center.

• Primate Attends Banquet in Honor of Dr. Zaven Messerlian — Aug 20

  On Friday August 17^th, 2007 His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian, attended a reception hosted by the Armenian General Benevolent Union in honor of Dr. Zaven Messerlian, principal of the Armenian Evangelical College in Beirut, Lebanon. The primate was accompanied by Fr. Baret Yeretzian, parish priest of St. Gregory Armenian Church, Pasadena.

• Dollar vs. Dram, Fact vs. Fiction — Aug 14

  In the last couple of years, the U.S. dollar has lost more than 40% of its value against the Armenian currency, the dram.

• Grape Blessing at Glendale Memorial Hospital — Aug 13

  On the occasion of the Feast of the Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, at the request of His Eminence Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Yardemian and Dn. Vahe Abovian visited Glendale Memorial Hospital with Dn. Dickran Gharibjanian

• Reception and gathering on the occasion of the establishment of the Diocese — Aug 13

  In addition to the events organized for the 80^th Anniversary of the establishment of the Western Diocese a special reception was hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Bedros and Anna Orunjakcial, and Mr. and Mrs. Krikor Sureen on August 11^th, 2007.

• Divine Liturgies on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Aug 13

  Sunday August 12^th, 2007 on the occasion of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian celebrated Divine Liturgy at St. Mary, Costa Mesa. He offered his sermon, and presided over the Blessing of the Grapes ceremony. Parish Priest, Fr. Moushegh Tashjian and deacons served at the Holy Altar.

• The First Divine Liturgy of newly appointed pastor the Armenian Church of Arizona — Aug 13

  At the end of July, Fr. Zakria Saribekian, from the St. Thaddeus Armenian Church of Amman, Jordon, arrived in Phoenix, Arizona, with his family to assume his pastoral duties for the Armenian Church of Arizona.

• 10th Annual Banquet of the Development Services of Armenia — Aug 13

  On the evening of Sunday, August 12th at 6:00pm the 10^th Annual Development Services of Armenia Banquet was held at the newly built Taghlyan Cultural Center. On this occasion, founding members Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mushegain were honored.

• Upcoming Events In August — Aug 13

  August 13th The Primate will meet with the Bible Study group of St.

• Primate Visits Summer Camp — Aug 09

  On July 30^th, 2007 His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, visited the second week session of the Diocesan Summer Camp.

• The Primate and Mr. Armen Hampar Attend Los Angeles County Supervisors Meeting — Aug 09

  On the morning of July 31^st, the Diocesan Mother Cathedral Building Committee Chairperson, Mr. Armen Hampar and His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese attended the meeting of the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors.

• Abp. Suren Kataroyan Visits the Diocese — Aug 09

  Abp. Suren Kataroyan visited the Headquarters of the Western Diocese on July 31^st, and met with his Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian.

• St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church Parish Council Meets with the Primate — Aug 09

  St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church’s newly appointed Parish Council along with Archpriest Fr. Nareg Matarian, pastor, met with Diocesan Primate Abp. Hovnan Derderian on Tuesday, July 31^st at the Diocesan Headquarters.

• Meetings at the Diocese — Aug 09

  On July 30^th – August 4^th, 2007 the Primate presided over several meetings at the Diocesan Headquarters.

• Pilgrimage to the Diocese — Aug 09

  On August 2^nd, a group of pilgrims from St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church of Fowler visited the Diocesan Headquarters led by Parish Priest Fr. Yeghia Hairabedian.

• The Primate Meets with Pasadena Hovsepian School Board — Aug 09

  We are happy to announce that the Primate has remained focused on St. Gregory Armenian Church of Pasadena’s Alfred and Margret Hovsepian School.

• Joint Choir Meeting — Aug 09

  On Saturday morning, August 4^th, at the Diocesa Headquarters, the Primate held a meeting with the Central Council of the Choir Association of the Western Diocese.

• Primate presides over Divine Liturgy at St. Peter Armenian Church Youth Center — Aug 09

  On Sunday, August 5^th, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian presided over the Divine Liturgy at St. Peter Armenian Church of Glendale and offered the Sermon.

• Masis Weekly 27th Anniversary Celebration — Aug 09

  On the afternoon of Sunday August 5^th, Masis Weekly’s 27^th Anniversary was celebrated during a private reception.

• Bone Marrow Fundraising — Aug 09

  On Sunday, August 5^th, a special event was organized to raise funds for the Bone Marrow Foundation where Fr. Zaven Markosyan and Dn. Dickran Gharibjanian attended on behalf of the Primate.

• Millions Spent Against Genocide Recognition Backfire on Turkey — Aug 02

  In recent years, the Turkish government has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on lobbying against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.