The 2007 Armenian National Committee America-Western Region Annual Banquet was held on September 30, 2007 at the Universal Sheraton in Los Angeles. More then 700 individuals were present including many of the Armenian American leaders as well as public officials from California and some members of Congress.

With the blessing of God, on the Sunday afternoon, His Holiness and His entourage arrived safely at the Los Angeles International Airport, and were greeted by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, and others.

On the occasion of the 16th Anniversary of the Independence of Armenia, His Holiness Karekin II had sent a congratulatory message to His Eminence Abp.

On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 16 Primate celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Armenian Church of Burbank (Diocesan Headquarters).

On Sunday, September 16th, Rev. Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, pastor of St. John Armenian Church, San Francisco, attended a banquet in honor of Metropolitan Nikitas

On Wednesday, September 19th, the Primate visited the Armenian Church of Arizona in Scottsdale and met with the newly appointed pastor, Rev. Fr. Zakaria Saribekian.

On Thursday, September 20th, the Primate made a special visit to San Francisco and in the company of Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, pastor of St. John Armenian Church, paid a special visit to Mr. Varnum Paul, a benefactor of the Mother Church of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Western Diocese, and St. John Armenian Church of San Francisco, on the occasion of his 99th Birthday.

On Saturday, September 22nd, at the Karagozian Hall of St. Peter Armenia Church in Van Nuys, under the direction of Fr. Shnork Demirdjian, Parish Priest, and the auspices of the Primate the 50th Anniversary of the Sunday School of St. Peter was celebrated.

On Sunday, September 23, the Primate celebrated the Divine Liturgy and offered the sermon at St. John of San Francisco. Fr. Sarkis and deacons served at the Holy Altar.

On the occasion of the 16th Anniversary of the Independence of Armenia, on Sunday, September 23rd, the Nor Seroont Association had a picnic in Verdugo Park in Glendale.

On Tuesday, September 25th, the council of Eastern Orthodox Churches met at the Diocesan Headquarters and His Grace Bishop Serapion, of the Coptic Orthodox Church, conducted the meeting.

September 27th Encino Council Chamber of Commerce presents the 8th Annual Justice Armand Arabian Leader in Public Service Awards; to be attended by the Primate.

It is with a sense of spiritual joy that following the 80th Anniversary of the establishment of the Western Diocese of North American, the Western Diocese will celebrate the 110th Anniversary of the Armenian Church's establishment in the United States.

On Sunday, September, 16, at 6:00pm, the 80th Anniversary of the Western Diocese was celebrated with about 1400 people in attendance. The Primate presided over this important event, with the faithful people and special guests in attendance. The combined choir gathered from the Los Angeles area churches, under the direction of Gomidas Keshishian, performed hymns from the Armenian Church. The Zvartnots and the Vartan and Siranoush Dance Ensembles performed several interpretive dances.

Last week, Turkish denialist circles tried to create a major scandal out of Georgetown University's cancellation of a planned speech by the Patriarch of Constantinople (Turkey), Mesrob II, titled “The Impasse between Turks and Armenians Must be Broken.”

On Friday, September 21, 2007, at 9:30 am, American and Armenian officials, as well as community leaders, gathered at the corner of First and Main streets, for a ceremony unveiling the Los Angeles - Yerevan Sister City sign.

This week Mesrob Mutafyan, the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey, is making his second visit to the United States in the past 6 months.

It is truly with a sense of great pride that the Western Diocese informs the faithful that on Saturday, September 15th, His Grace Bishop Jon Bruno, Primate of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, hosted a solemn evensong service in commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the establishment of the Western Diocese with many clergy and faithful in attendance from both Churches. A reception followed the service.

The dates of September 8 and 9, 2007, were days of spiritual rejoicing and renewal of our dedication when the St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church of Pasadena was consecrated by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, with the participation of Diocesan clergy, Deacons, and the church Choir.

On the evening of Thursday, September 6, 2007, at the Western Diocese Headquarters, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, met with the Ladies Society of the three Parishes of the Cathedral (Burbank, Sun Valley-North Hollywood and Toluca Lake).

We are happy to inform the Armenian faithful that the Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles, the Honorable Armen Liloyan, is always in close relationship with the Western Diocese and His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate.

Under the auspices of the Primate of the Western Diocese, on the evening of September 9, 2007, a Testimonial Banquet was held honoring George Kevork Mandossian on the occasion of his Fifty Years of community service.

On Sunday evening September 9, 2007, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, attended a special gathering at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Ara and Julia Agishian to set forth the preliminary plans for the celebration of the 35th Anniversary celebration of the Armenian Assembly in Los Angeles on November 2-4, 2007.

We are pleased to inform you that this year, as in years past, the Summer Camp completed its plans with great success.

On Saturday, September 8, 2007, the Christian Youth Mission to Armenia (CYMA) held a reunion in Carlsbad, California.

It is with immense spiritual joy we inform the faithful of our Western Diocese that by the will of God on September 8, 2007 at 6:00 p.m., with His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, presiding over the service, and with the participation of the Diocesan Clergy, the Deacons, and St. Gregory Armenian Church Choir under the Direction of Very Rev.. Fr. Baret Yaretsian, the "Opening of the Doors" church service was performed.

September 8, 2007 could be a turning point in the pursuit of the Armenian Cause. On that date, University of Southern California's Institute of Armenian Studies organized an unprecedented symposium on "International Law and the Armenian Genocide: Recognition, Responsibility and Restitution."

The Consul General of Armenia in Brazil, the Honorable Valery Mugrdoumian, who also served in Los Angeles as the Consul General, visited the Western Diocese on September 5, 2007 and met with His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate.

On Thursday, September 6, 2007, one of the benefactors of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and an active member of the AGBU, Mr. Nazar Nazarian, visited the Western Diocese and had a warm discussion with His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate.

  On Wednesday, August 29th, 2007, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian attended the official opening of the Manoogian Demirjian Day School for the 2007-2008 Academic year.

On Wednesday, August 29th, 2007, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian attended the groundbreaking of the Armenian Society of Los Angeles Headquarters.

We are happy to inform our faithful that the Very Rev. Fr. Norayr Kazazian, a member of the St. James brotherhood of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, is currently visiting the Western Diocese. 

On Wednesday, September 5th, 2007, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian attended the opening of the Dickranian Day School.

On Wednesday, September 5th, 2007, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, attended a meeting hosted by World Vision International, Christian relief, development and advocacy organization, to discuss joint service-oriented missions.

On Thursday, September 6th, 2007, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian attended the opening of the Hovsepian Day School at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church in Pasadena.

On Thursday, September 6th, 2007, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Pre-Kindergarten at the Manoogian Demirjian School.  

Diocese hosted a dinner for the Parish Priests and members of the Parish Councils and auxiliaries of the Greater Los Angeles Area.

It is with great joy that the Western Diocese announces to the faithful that this weekend September 8th through September 9th, the newly constructed church building at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church of Pasadena will be consecrated.

On Sunday, September 9th, 2007, His Eminence Abp.

Armenians have always blamed themselves for their lack of unity. Of course, Jews and other communities, who have their own internal quarrels, frequently express the wish that they were as united as Armenians! The recent dispute among Jewish-Americans regarding the ADL’s position on the Armenian Genocide reflects the natural diversity of opinion in a pluralistic society.