His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church, in addressing the ever-increase spiritual needs in the growing expanse of the Diocese, is activating the deacons of the diocese to be a viable force in dealing with these demands. There are approximately 330 deacons within the Western Diocese. The is ministry of the deacon is characterized by service.

TYPES OF DEACONS

1. ORDAINED AND SERVING

There are approximately 250 deacons who actively serve the holy altar withing the parishes of the Western Diocese. These deacons, having received the six degrees of the Armenian Church through holy ordination, are empowered to assist at the Holy Altar by reading of the Holy Scriptures, presenting the Gifts of the Holy Eucharist, to chant the Divine Liturgy and to lead the people to the worship of God. The deacon inspires leadership among the people of the Church, so that each member may realize his or her own purpose in the world.

The commitment of a Deacon is, first and foremost, to serve at the Holy Altar during the sacred Divine Liturgy, and to engage in transformational social ministries in their assigned communities. The diaconate is a life-long commitment to the Holy Church therefore, each deacon is to be engaged in a program of continuing formation as prescribed by the Diocesan Primate. Currently, educational programs take the form of conferences and programs in particular areas of focus. These may be course work offered by a local school or seminary, or an extension program.

2. DEACONS’ COUNCIL

The Primate selected and appointed a group of young deacons to serve as the Deacons’ Council to organize activities and continued education programs for the deacons serving throughout the Western Diocese. He has appointed Fr. Vazken Movsesian to guide and direct the Council. The Deacons’ Executive Council was formed on June 30, 2020 under the vision and blessings of His Eminence.

The formation of the Deacons’ Council emphasizes that church-life is much more than Sunday services. The Deacons should engage at different levels of the church's ministry. For instance, visiting the sick, speaking at events, leading youth gatherings and educational programs, consoling the bereaved and prisoners, etc.  The Western Diocese and its ministries are expanding. The role and function of the Deacons will become more critical in the developing landscape.

The goals of the Deacons’ Council:

• Organize the Deacons in all the parishes throughout the Western Diocese, so that together we can better serve our Church and therefore, the greater glory of God.
• Provide continuing education for Deacons throughout the Western Diocese.
• Cultivate new altar servers and Deacons through training programs and establish connections with brothers-in-faith around our common ministry.
• Offer different programs for Deacons serving throughout the Diocese, so that they may explore their calling and exercise their talents in the service to Christ and His Holy Church.
• Organize opportunities for spiritual growth for our Deacons, so that they can better serve in the developing and expanding ministries of our diocese.
• Set in motion numerous projects and events in the Western Diocese bridging cultural, theological, social and educational foci in an effort to mobilize the deacons of the diocese and better engage our faithful in the life of the Armenian Church.
• Help those who wish to explore more closely the gifts of ordination, focusing on service to the holy altar as well as to work closely with parish priests in the ministry of our Church.
• Be responsible for administering to the parts of our community that lack outreach.
• Organize the pilgrimages/trips to build comradery among the deacons as well as to present opportunities to renew the deacons’ vows.
• Create partnerships on local school campuses, speak at events, visit the sick and hospitalized, console and pray with the bereaved and prisoners to bring the hope of our Lord’s words to those who yearn for the sweetness that is Christ’s Kingdom.
• Help those who wish to explore more closely the gifts of ordination, focusing on service to the holy altar as well as to work closely with parish priests in the ministry of our Church.

The Deacons’ Council has no precedent in the United States; it is a unique body of servants all sharing the same mission who have been summoned to assemble, organize and implement work for the greater benefit of our Church and the Armenian people. As Holy Scripture spells out (Acts 6), the first deacons of the Church were ordained to assist the Apostles in the Christian ministry which was quickly expanding after the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. For centuries, and now for two millennia, the Christian Church has found a strong front-line ambassador and soldier in the deacon. Today, our Armenian Church is expanding quickly in her ministry, especially here in the Western Diocese.

Deacons’ Council members:

Dn. Gevork Gevorkian, Rancho Mirage

Dn. Dikran Haroutunian

Dn. Mike Dermendjian, Burbank

Dn. Andrew Garibian, Burbank

Dn. Nareg Kasian, Burbank

Dn. Kevin Kestekyan, San Francisco

Dn. Ohan Kilislian, LA Valley

Dn. Christaphor Movsesian, Pasadena

Dn. Sevan Movsesian, Pasadena

Dn. Levon Parsegian, San Deigo

Dn. Albert Tatevosyan, Seattle

Dn. Asbed Hamamjian, Burbank

Dn. Narek Ghookasian, Van Nuys

Dn. David Madey, Cupertino

Dn. Avak Zakarian, Tujunga

1. Continuing Education Program

Under the immediate direction of Srpazan we have put together programs for continuing education for the deacon in these areas:

1) Liturgical – Knowledge of the Holy Badarak, the Seven Hours of the Church, the Seven Sacraments, Holy Week and the Armenian language. This is a practical course with instruction in chanting and in serving.

2) Theology of the Armenian Church - 20 sessions

3) Bible Study - knowledge and methods of teaching - 20 sessions

4) Social Outreach - continuing education - will take place using virtual formats and will include a system of accreditation and certification. Instructors are priests and scholars in the subject area.

2. Pilgrimages

These are set up to build comradery among the deacons as well as to present opportunities to renew the deacons’ vows. Two of them were organized during the first year of the Council’s formation. They are identified here as the prototype for following years:

October 18 – at the St. Mary Armenian Church in Yettem. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated outdoors under a newly constructed alter adjacent to the St. Mary sanctuary. The deacons all participated in the service. Abp. Hovnan Derderian during his sermon emphasized the importance of the deacon in the spiritual life of the church. In speaking about the Deacons’ Council and the role of the Deacon to serve the Church, he took it a step further by telling congregants that, “You are all deacons” by the fact, you have all been called to serve. Fr. Vazken Movsesian, the director of the Deacons’ Council, was asked to speak about this unique mission within the Western Diocese and he presented a short history of the Council. The prayer of dedication written by Dn. Gevork was read by all the deacons who were present and received the blessing of the Archbishop. This was the third pilgrimage of the year organized by the Primate and led by Fr. Vazken.

December 26 – St. Stephen’s Feast Day was celebrated at the St. Leon Ghevondyants Armenian Cathedral with deacons attending, receiving the blessing of the Church in the name of the Protodeacon St. Stephen and renewing their vows.

3. Conferences

These will be organized annually as an opportunity to learn from classes as well as from one another. The first Deacon Conference is scheduled for Lent 2021.

4. Outreach Ministry

Considering the various ministries in our Diocese and the growing spiritual needs within the communities served by our churches, the Deacons will play a crucial role in assisting local parish priests in ministering to the congregation on multiple levels. True to his calling, the Deacon will be engaging in Christian ministry through outreach programs. Through this “Deacons’ Chant” newsletter we share information about our service within the Diocese.

3. DEACONS WITH ASSIGNMENTS

The Deacons are serving directly under His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Diocese, who makes an assignment to a parish or other ministry. When assigned to a parish, the Deacon will discuss and agree upon goals, areas of responsibility, and extent of participation most appropriate to the Deacon’s skills and availability, as well as the needs of the community where they are assigned. As leaders of outreach ministries, the Deacons should build relationships within the life of their ministry assignment.

Deacons with assignments activities may include:

• Serve at the Holy Altar during the sacred Divine Liturgy
• Assist in liturgical ministry as specified in the rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer
• Preach the diaconal message of Christ
• Inspire others to fulfill their Baptismal Covenant
• Empower others to do God’s work
• Enable others to access resources necessary for God’s work
• Support Outreach Committees
• Exemplify outreach in personal ministry
• Assist in gathering data on outreach alternatives
• Mentor follow-up groups to hands-on outreach
• Lead/facilitate participation in community programs (ACYO, Deaf Community, WDEF, Recruitment Committee, Ararat Home, etc.)
• Teach and enable Christian Education
• Pray for sick
• Teach and enable Christian Education
• Train Acolytes
• Write a column for the church’s newsletter/website
• Conduct the service of burial of the dead
• Perform duties appointed by the Proper Liturgies for Special Days (Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil

Deacons-in-charge

His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Diocese, has appointed a group of Deacons to serve as Deacon-in-charge. Srpazan granted a special dispensation to the Deacon-in-charge leading the Sunday worship services, administering previously consecrated Holy Communion, delivering reflections dedicated to the Sunday, making home/hospital visitations, offering prayers for the sick, conducting requiem and funeral services (verbal instructions will be given in due time). This dispensation is restricted solely for the community of the assigned parish.

• Dn. Gevork Gevorkian (Rancho Mirage, CA)
• Dn. Daniel Aydenian, (Turlock, CA)
• Dn. Kevork Demirjian, (Vancouver, WA)
• Dn. Stephan Hovagimian, (Ararat Home)

4. “RETIRED” DEACONS

Upon reaching a certain age, some of Deacons are resigned all positions of active service in the church. Deacon shall write the Bishop offering resignation from all positions of active. At the Srpazan’s discretion, the resignation may be accepted.

Upcoming Event - The Reclaim Conference

Date: March 6, 2021 (Saturday)

Purpose: The Reclaim Conference, is an annual event of the Western Diocese, organized to provide a forum for discussion about current and relevant issues affecting Armenian Christians. It is a means of embracing faith in a changing world.

2021 Topic: Reclaiming Faith in a Post-Pandemic World

We are living in a world troubled by the COVID19 pandemic. We can define our lives in terms of pre-pandemic and post-pandemic times, thus, it is easy to look at those changes as events rather than processes, such as the wearing of masks, social-distancing, vaccinations, etc. On the other hand, it is difficult to assess the changes, whether they impact our lives positively or negatively, that are the by-products of the pandemic. For instance, because of physical restrictions caused by the pandemic, communities are being redefined, and therefore cases of depression are on the rise, and family ties are strained as death is experienced in isolation.

Furthermore, in the midst of pandemic, the world and Armenians in particular, experience immense hardships: The War in Artsakh, race relations stressed and dysfunctional politics.

With speakers, panel discussions and presentations, the Reclaim Conference will focus on how to reclaim and embrace faith in the post-pandemic era.

Audience: Open to all ages. Deacons, Bridging Generations, Young Adults, ACYOA member will particularly benefit from this program. Timed to accommodate people in multiple time-zones.

Special Activity: Recognition for Deacons

Place: Virtual environment (Zoom or webinar)

Schedule – Saturday, March 6, 2021 (times are PST)

9:00AM – Welcome and Orientation

9:15 AM – Session I – Speaker 1

10:00 AM – Break

10:15 AM – Session II – Speaker 2

11:00 AM – Break

11:15 AM – Session III – Speaker 3

12:00 Noon – Break

1:00 PM – Panel Discussion 1 – Deacons’ Council

1:45 PM – Break

2:00 PM – Video Presentation – Armenian Refugee Program of Diocese

2:45 PM – Discussion

3:15 PM – Panel Discussion 2 – Deacons’ Council

4:00 PM – Wrap up and Final words

Cost: Nominal “connection” fee – waived for deacons