On Saturday, January 14, 2012, once again AGBU Vatche & Tamar Manoukian Center in Pasadena was filled with teenagers with high Armenian spirits, ready to start a new year of Azknaviroum! New faces, mentors, and mentees were happily socializing with each other. Former mentors and new guests were reviewing their speeches; making sure their thoughts and ideas captured the surrounding’s attention.

In an effort to bring awareness and end the problem of domestic violence, the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church is organizing a candlelight march and vigil on Monday, February 13, 2012. Under the auspices of Diocesan Primate, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, a task force has been organized and has been actively addressing domestic violence issues within the community, for several months.

1 – Pastoral Visit to Armenian Church in Las Vegas 2 – Evening: Tekeyan Cultural Association Event – Diocesan Headquarters

On January 24, 2012, legendary Armenian composer Maestro Tigran Mansuryan accompanied by Lark Chorus and Grand Orchestra Conductor Maestro Vatsche Barsoumian and Reciter Takouhi Arzoumanian visited the Western Diocese and met with the Primate.

On Sunday, January 29, St. Mary Apostolic Church in Costa Mesa will honor its longtime pastor, Archpriest Fr. Moushegh Tashjian on the 40th anniversary of his ordination and consecration to the Sacred Order of the Priesthood and his 20th anniversary as founding pastor of St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church.

On Friday, January 27, 2012, Diocesan Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian issued a directive asking all Diocesan priests to pray for the health and recovery of His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manookian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem and His Beatitude Archbishop Mesrob II Moutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople.

On Tuesday, January 24, His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, sent a letter of gratitude to French President Nicolas Sarkozy on the occasion of the French Parliament’s adoption earlier this week of a law criminalizing the denial of genocide.

On January 17, 2012, the American Red Cross (ARC) Los Angeles Region Planned Giving Committee of the Board of Directors held its regularly scheduled meeting at the Western Diocese under the chairmanship of Joseph Kanimian, Esq.

Hundreds attended the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, January 22 at St. Leon Armenian Cathedral. The day was dedicated to Stewardship by Diocesan Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.

On Thursday, January 19, 2012, Ladies Society Central Council members including Chairlady Ani Lanuza; Vice Chair Lena Simonian; Treasurer, Aida Sethian; Advisor, Meline Agagianian, Alice Skenderian, Advisor; and Araxie Boyamian, Ex-Officio, visited St John Garabed Armenian Church in San Diego for a day of fellowship and spiritual fulfillment.

Every year Catholics gather to celebrate the Annual Respect Life Mass. With Archbishop Jose Gomez, Auxiliary Bishops, priests, deacons, religious and faithful, the Catholic community proclaim in prayer the respect for life.

On January 23, 2012, Archpriest Fr. Moushegh Tashjian, Pastor of St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church in Costa Mesa represented the Primate at an Evening of Prayer for Christian Unity. Organized by Catholic Bishop Tod Brown of the Catholic Diocese of Orange and Lutheran Bishop Murray Finck of the Pacifica Synod, the service attracted a large crowd of faithful.

The assassination of Hrant Dink on January 19, 2007, chief editor of "Agos" Armenian weekly newspaper spurred a shockwave and sparked outrage in Armenian communities in the Diaspora.

At 10:30 a.m., on the following day of the consecration, the Primate celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the newly consecrated Holy Resurrection Armenian Church in Seattle.

January 14, 2012 will forever remain as a memorable chapter in the rich history of the Western Diocese. After 30 years of relentless dedication, Armenian-Americans of the Great State of Washington witnessed a new beginning in the consecration of Holy Resurrection Armenian Apostolic Church by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.

On January 17, 2012, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, President of the Los Angeles Council of Religious Leaders, chaired the monthly meeting which was held at the Islamic Center in Southern California. The main topic on the agenda was the issue of immigration. A special day of prayer addressing immigration will be held in the month of May.

It’s that time of year again!! If you’re or have a child or a grandchild who is 18 or older CYMA 2012 applications are waiting for you! Last year we had 22 participants, and this year we want more.

On January 11, 2012, Coptic youth from Brooklyn, New York, led by their pastor, visited the Diocesan Headquarters and toured St. Leon Armenian Cathedral. Following a group photo with the Primate, the youth shared their excitement of the wondrous nature of God’s presence within the blessed walls of the Cathedral. The members of the youth expressed their gratitude to Archbishop Derderian and parted with uplifted spirits.

According to reports, the Republic of Armenia’s Ministry of Culture has announced that it will proceed with plans to begin restoration work at the historic Sanahin Monastery in the country’s northern Lori region later this year.

The Christian Education Council, better known as the CEC, held their first meeting of the year on Saturday, January 15, 2012 at the Diocese. Under the energetic and creative leadership of Debbie Derderian and spiritual guidance of liaison Fr. Haroutioun Tachejian, the committee worked through a very busy agenda.

On Sunday, January 15, the Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston performed "Journey Through Time" at the Glendale High School Auditorium. The production was a journey through pagan times, the adoption of Christianity, the battle of Vartanantz, the Genocide, to the ultimate celebration of an independent Armenia.

In celebration of (the Old Calendar – January 19) Christmas, the Jerusalem-Armenian Community of Los Angeles held a special service on January 14, 2011 at 11:00 p.m. at St. John Garabed Armenian Church in Hollywood, California. The event was organized by the Alumni Association of the Holy Translators Armenian School in Jerusalem.

Christmas Eve (Jrakaluytz) On the eve of the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord, the Armenian Church celebrated the Jrakalouyts (lamp-lighting) service. At St. Leon Armenian Cathedral in Burbank, services began at 6:30 p.m. with Scripture readings by the members of the Cathedral ACYO. The Divine Liturgy, celebrated by Rev. Fr. Khajag Shahbazyan, followed.

The registration deadline for this year’s Easter Pilgrimage in the Holy Land has been extended through February 15, 2012. We invite you to join us in celebrating the Orthodox Easter 2012 in the City of Jerusalem with His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.

On Saturday January 7, 2012, a great number of faithful witnessed the historic consecration of St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church in Rancho Mirage by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Diocesan Primate.

On the following day of the consecration, the Primate celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Garabed Armenian Church in Rancho Mirage. The Primate dedicated his homily to the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

On Thursday, January 6, His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord, and performed the Blessing of Water service at Holy Etchmiadzin.

In continuing the tradition, the Primate, accompanied by a group of Diocesan clergy of the Los Angeles Area visited Glendale Adventist Medical Center on January 5, 2010. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian toured the hospital Thursday evening, visiting patients and blessing gata bread (a traditional Christmas dish for Armenians).

At 6:00 pm, on January 6, the Primate, accompanied by fifteen Diocesan clergy men performed the Blessing of the Home (Dnorhnek) ceremony following an evening prayer service. The Primate thanked the members of the Hye Notes Band of St. James Armenian Church in Los Angeles for their wonderful musical performance and acknowledged the presence of His Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian and Consul General Grigor Hovhannissian.

January 14 – Consecration of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Seattle 15 – Divine Liturgy – Armenian Apostolic Church in Seattle (Celebrant and Homilist)

On the occasion of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on January 4, 2012, Diocesan clergy, led by the Primate, paid a visit to the Ararat Home in Mission Hills where the Rev. Fr. Haroutioun Tachejian celebrated the Divine Liturgy.