Western Diocese

On January 24, 2010, Rev. Archpriest Fr. Shnork Demirjian, Parish Priest of St. Peter Armenian Church in Van Nuys, celebrated the Divine Liturgy. Furthermore, Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian, Vicar General, delivered a heartfelt sermon.

With the request of the His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, and the Organization of Istanbul-Armenians, a formal Requiem Service was held for the soul of the late chief editor of "Akos" newspaper, Hrant Dink. The assassination of Hrant Dink spurred a shockwave throughout the Armenian communities in the Diaspora.

The Primate had also decided that on January 24, 2010, during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, all Parish Priests throughout the Western Diocese would offer a special Requiem Service for the soul of the late Hrant Dink.

On November 5, 2006, the late Hrant Dink was the guest of honor at the Western Diocese. He spoke about the normalization of the relations between the governments of Armenia and Turkey.

Following the Requiem Service at St. Peter Armenian Church in Van Nuys, the Organization of Istanbul-Armenians organized a special evening in the Karagozian Hall in honor of the late Hrant Dink.  

The Vicar General concluded the evening with a closing remarks and a prayer.