Led by the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Rev. Fr. Avedis Abovian, Pastor of Holy Apostles Armenian Church of La Crescenta and the Youth Director of the Western Diocese and the Rev. Fr. Mesrop Ash, Pastor of St. John Armenian Church of San Francisco, 107 members of the Sr. ACYO attended the 2019 retreat at the HyeCamp in Dunlap, California, making it the gathering the largest Senior ACYO retreat ever.

In his address to the youth, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Diocesan Primate wrote “This is the journey which protects our lives and helps us all to develop within us the deeper spirituality that in God alone we find our peace.

This year’s theme for the retreat motivates us all with a firm vision that God is the ultimate destiny of our lives. “Navigating the Storms: trusting the Lord to help calm our lives’ waves.”

During the course of our lives, each of us is challenged with storms, which can at times shatter our inner peace. What I would like to share with you is my personal experience. In my live, I often experience storms, however prayerful life has given me the wisdom and strength to walk towards God and ultimately win the inner battle.”

Primate's Address to the Youth

Archbishop Derderian expressed his gratitude to his fellow brothers in Christ Fr. Mardiros, Fr. Avedis and Fr. Mesrop for their unwavering support of the youth.

Led by the priests, the youth engaged in enlightening bible studies, discussions, spiritual exercises, and prayer.

Throughout the weekend, the youth participated in several discussions, attended morning and evening services, and took part in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning. They were offered pastoral guidance on how to better serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and how to effectively adopt the sacred teachings and traditions of the Armenian Apostolic Church in their lives.

The ACYO Central Council thanks the leaders of this spiritual weekend who joined us including our Youth Director Der Avedis Abovian, Dean of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary Fr. Mardiros Chevian, and Fr. Mesrop Ash.

We would also like to thank Dn. Armen Terjimanian, Dn. Levon Parsegov, Dn. Garen Hamamjian and Dn. Allen Vartanian for liturgical service and lively discussions.

The ACYO Central Council thanks Thank you Andrew Hagopian for the photos and video of the weekend as well as Dn. Aret Aramian for driving our Southern California participants, leading our hike and assisting the council throughout the weekend.

Please see below for the link for additional photos:

https://drive.google.com/…/1YvCBOLMi0cyHz5H7M-Z2V5iY800ORMNz

Please see below for the link to the video of the weekend:

https://drive.google.com/…/1P3N2srZdXae3b6XPHyR7hlNc6…/view…