Western Diocese

His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, was the honored guest at a reception and luncheon hosted by His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos, the Head of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco, on Wednesday, January 30. The two Spiritual leaders discussed the challenges and issues of mutual of concern faced by Orthodox Christians, both in America and throughout the world. The Greek Orthodox Metropolis, under the charge of Metropolitan Gerasimos, includes all the Western United States and Alaska.  The Metropolitan is the Spiritual Father to some 110 priests and monastic.

His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian the Primate of the Western Diocese hosted his Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos at the Western Diocesan Headquarter on November 14, 2007.  

On the same afternoon Surpazan visited the Patriarchal Athenagoras Orthodox Institute in Berkeley, California. The institute is associated with the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley and offers courses and seminars in Orthodox Theology, which are an integral part of the academic program. The newly appointed director, Metropolitan Nikitas, warmly received Archbishop Derderian. The Metropolitan expressed a desire to cultivate a working relationship with the Western Diocese in the field of academic studies. He also was pleased to say that the student body of the Institute this semester includes a communicant of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The Primate was accompanied throughout the day by Archpriest Fr. Mesrob Sarafian, pastor of St. Vartan Armenian Church of Oakland and Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, pastor of St. John Armenian Church of San Francisco.