Western Diocese

Under the leadership of the three North American Primates of the Armenian Church, a three-day meeting of clergy representatives of the Eastern, Western and Canadian dioceses was held in Montreal April 14-16, 2008.

The focus of the meeting was on presentations and discussions of topical interests in the pastoral ministry of the church.  Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church, served as moderator for the first session, the presentation of which was made by Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, pastor of St. John parish of San Francisco.   His topic was Effective Means of Promoting Participation of Parishioners in the Ministry of the Parish.   

The presentation of the second session was made by Fr. Untzag Nalbandian, pastor of Holy Ascension parish of Trumbull, Connecticut.  His topic was entitled Preparation for the Sacraments of Baptism and Marriage. The third session was moderated by Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church, which concerned the youth.  Fr. Zareh Zargarian, pastor of Holy Trinity parish of Toronto, presented his topic Developing Approaches to Armenian Ethnic Education of Children in Parishes.  The final session was jointly presented by Fr. Vahan Hovhanessian, pastor of Holy Martyrs parish of Bayside, NY and Fr. Shnork Demirjian, pastor of St. Peter parish of Van Nuys, California.  Their presentations were Teaching Methods of Religious and Spiritual Heritage and Developing Creative Methods to Attract Youth to Church, respectively.  

The conclusion of the meeting was moderated by Bishop Bagrat Galsdanian, Primate of the Armenian Church of Canada.  After considerable discussion and reflection, it was agreed that the topics presented by the panelists would be the subject of further development into forms of practical application for both pastor and parishioner.  Importantly, those in attendance also concluded that the presentations would be the basis of a North American Clergy Conference to be held next year, hosted by the Western Diocese.