Western Diocese

London, England - On Thursday, July 24, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian completed his first full day as an ecumenical observer of the Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Church's Conference of Bishops which occurs once every 10 years. His Eminence, the Primate of the Western Diocese, is attending as the representative of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

This day was marked with several important events, as it saw the conference leaving the confines of the presentation halls and participating in several activities aimed at outreach and witnessing. The Primate participated in the Walk of Witness to Lambeth Palace, during which the 800 participating bishops walked in unity advocating for global poverty reduction.

At the completion of the March a rally was held during which the bishops were addressed by The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams and by Mr. Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister of England regarding the Millennium Development Goals. They called on World Leaders to keep their "Promises on aid and development as failure to do so will lead to further starvation, disease and death in the world's poorest countries." The Primate was honored to take walk with his brothers and sisters in Christ and support this important message.

Following this rally, a Garden Party Reception was held at Buckingham Palace, during which the Primate had the opportunity to briefly meet Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and converse with her regarding the Armenian Church's filial bond with the Church of England.

The Primate's participation in the conference has been spiritually fruitful, with the opportunity to meet his episcopal brothers in Christ, including the Rt. Rev. Jon Bruno the Bishop of the Anglican Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Rt. Rev. Colin Johnson the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Toronto, Abp. Kalistos Ware of the Greek Orthodox Church, and the Rt. Rev. Trevor Mwamba the Anglican Bishop of Botswana. The Primate will soon be attending in a private reception for the ecumenical guests of the conference, during which he will have the opportunity to meet with the Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Dr. Rowan Williams. The Primate offers his gratitude to the Very Rev. Geoffrey Rowell, Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe, who has been assigned as his liaison throughout his time observing the conference.

"During these dynamic times it is truly crucial that we stand fast with our brother and sisters in Christ, especially those of the Church of England, an institution with which the Armenian Church has enjoyed a long and productive relationship," said Abp. Derderian of his participation in the conference, "We share in the same blessed struggle to glorify God and witness Christ's teachings, and therefore we greatly benefit when we can address issues facing us in one accord."

Further information regarding the Western Diocese's participation in the Lambeth conference will be forthcoming.