Western Diocese

The first Clergy Conference of the year was held on February 13, 2012 at St. Leon Armenian Cathedral. The conference began at 10:00 a.m. with a Morning Prayer Service inside the spiritual center of the Western Diocese. Deacon Matthew Ash, appointed Pastor of St. John Armenian Church in San Francisco delivered the message of the day.

Reflecting on his years as a seminarian at Gevorkyan Seminary in Etchmiadzin, Deacon Ash expressed his gratitude to His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian for granting him the opportunity to study Theology in Armenia and to gain valuable knowledge in the field of pastoral service.

Following the prayer service, the clergy headed to the Armen Hampar Family Hall of the Diocesan Complex for the first session of the day-long conference. The Primate informed his brothers in Christ that on Carnival Sunday, February 19, the Feast Days of St. Ghevont the Priest and St. Vartan the Warrior will be observed in conjunction.

Diocesan Youth Director Rev. Fr. Avedis Abovian, who also chaired the conference, shared information pertaining to hospice visitations. Archpriest Fr. Sarkis Petoyan was invited to share the guideline for clergy stipend. The congratulatory message of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians was read aloud by Fr. Avedis on the occasion of the Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian’s 40^th anniversary of Ordination and Consecration into the Sacred Order of the Priesthood.

St. Peter Armenian Church Pastor Rev. Fr. Vazken Movsesian addressed the growing issue of domestic violence in the community and also informed about the formation of a Task Force by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian in order to effectively deal with the matter.

Fr. Avedis informed his fellow clergymen about the success of last year’s CYMA Pilgrimage trip as well as other youth programs. He noted that collaborating CYMA will be collaborating with Fuller Center for Housing in rebuilding dilapidated homes in impoverished regions in Armenia.

The Primate informed the clergy that St. Apkar Armenian Church in Scottsdale, Arizona will be host to this year’s Diocesan Assembly from May 3-5. The Annual Clergy Assembly will kick off the 2012 Diocesan Assembly weekend.

Archbishop Derderian also informed the clergy that Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan, Pastor of St. Vartan Armenian Church in Oakland, represented him in the celebration festivities in Holy Etchmiadzin on the occasion of the Name Day of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.

The year’s first Clergy Conference came to a close with the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer.