The Diocese
Posted: 10/09/2026
Nearly 200 guests gathered on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at the Nazareth and Sima Kalaydjian Banquet Hall of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America for Yerevan State University’s (YSU) Annual Gala, themed “AI in Armenia: The Frontier and Future.” The evening brought together academic leaders, technology innovators, and supporters of the university to explore Armenia’s growing role in artificial intelligence and its potential impact on society.
Following registration and a meet-and-greet reception, opening remarks were delivered by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese and a leading supporter of the Friends of Yerevan State University Foundation.
In his address, Archbishop Derderian emphasized the urgency of engaging thoughtfully with artificial intelligence, declaring, “The future is today.” He called upon society and the Church to approach technological advancement with openness, responsibility, and ethical discernment.
Reflecting on AI’s growing presence in spiritual life, the Primate noted that people are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence for Scripture study, prayer, and spiritual guidance. These developments, he observed, present the Church with both challenges and opportunities, underscoring the need to understand emerging technologies while safeguarding the human relationships at the heart of pastoral ministry.
“Pastoral ministry is not simply the transmission of religious information. It is a relationship,” Archbishop Derderian stated, emphasizing that empathy, compassion, spiritual discernment, and genuine human presence cannot be replaced by technology.
Drawing upon John Wesley’s enduring moral principles, the Primate offered three guiding imperatives for the responsible use of AI: “Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God.” He encouraged the responsible adoption of technology to strengthen education, communication, and service while protecting human dignity, privacy, truth, and the well-being of communities. His Eminence expressed his sincere gratitude to YSU Rector Dr. Hovhannes Hovhannisyan and Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, Development, and Innovation Dr. Mikayel Hovhannisyan for their dedicated leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing the university’s mission of educating and shaping the leaders of tomorrow.
Dr. Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, Rector of Yerevan State University, followed with remarks highlighting the significant support provided to the university by the Friends of Yerevan State University Foundation under Archbishop Derderian’s guidance.
In recogntion of her influential role in the formation of the Friends of Yerevan State University (YSU), Rachel Lebaredian was honored with the Zapel Yesayan medal. For her unwavering support of the mission of Yerevan State University, a commemorative YSU centennial anniversary pin was presented to the siblings of Dr. Silva Karayan, of blessed memory.
A video address was also delivered by Mr. David Tadevosyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia.
The evening’s keynote address, “Stepping Onto the AI Frontier at Yerevan State University,” was presented by Dr. Hrant Khachatryan, Team Lead at the YSU Center for Mathematical and Applied Research Machine Learning Laboratory. A video presentation highlighting the university’s campus, technological advancements, and future plans further showcased YSU’s commitment to innovation and academic excellence.
The program continued with a panel discussion moderated by Ms. Armine Galstyan, Head of North American Operations and Principal at SmartGateVC. Panelists included Mr. Rev Lebaredian, Vice President of Physical AI Simulation at NVIDIA; Mr. Areg Alimian, Managing Partner at SmartGateVC; Dr. Hovhannes Hovhannisyan; and Dr. Hrant Khachatryan. The discussion examined developments in artificial intelligence, Armenia’s emerging opportunities in the field, and the role of academic institutions in shaping the next generation of technological innovation.
The gala concluded with a networking reception, providing guests and participants an opportunity to exchange ideas and strengthen professional connections in support of Yerevan State University’s continued advancement.
The event underscored the importance of collaboration among academia, industry, and the Armenian-American community in advancing Armenia’s technological future while ensuring that innovation remains guided by ethical responsibility and a commitment to the common good.
