The Diocese
Posted: 06/12/2026
On Sunday, June 7, 2026, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Leon Armenian Cathedral (Ghevontiants) in Burbank on the Feast of Holy Etchmiadzin.
In his sermon, Archbishop Derderian reflected on the significance of the day, noting that Holy Etchmiadzin was established through the vision granted to St. Gregory the Illuminator, in which Christ Himself descended from heaven and sanctified the ground upon which the Mother See was built. “Etchmiadzin,” he explained, “literally means ‘the Only Begotten Descended,’ and remains the enduring symbol of God’s presence among the Armenian people.”
The Primate emphasized that through the sacred legacy of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Armenian nation embraced Christianity, translated the Holy Scriptures into its native tongue, and received a priceless spiritual inheritance. He encouraged the faithful not only to honor Holy Etchmiadzin, but also to live according to its message by strengthening their faith, nurturing Christ-centered families, and passing the Gospel on to future generations. Addressing parents in particular, Archbishop Derderian urged them to teach their children about Holy Etchmiadzin and their Christian calling received through baptism, so that they may become faithful witnesses of Christ and builders of both the Church and their communities.
The celebration held special personal significance for Archbishop Derderian, as the following day, June 8, marked the 46th anniversary of his ordination to the celibate priesthood by His Holiness Vazken I of blessed memory. His ordination took place on the Feast of the Catholicon of Holy Etchmiadzin in 1980, further deepening his lifelong spiritual bond with the Mother See and its sacred mission.
