At the initiative of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, and the Very Rev. Fr. John Bakas, Dean of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, the leaders of the Armenian, Greek and Serbian Orthodox Churches gathered at the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. 

The high-ranking clergymen were greeting by the Primate, the Vicar General and the Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian. The main topics of discussion were the organization of a joint conference centered on religious freedom, youth involvement in the Church and community and serving the needy. The planning and organizational efforts of the aforementioned topics will be discussed in greater detail during the next meeting scheduled on Tuesday, December 6, 2016 also at the Diocesan Headquarters.    

The clergymen in attendance were His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos, of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco, His Grace Bishop Maxim of the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Grace Bishop Apostolos, Assistant to Metropolitan Gerasimos, the Very Rev. Fr. John Bakas, Dean of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, the Very Rev. Fr. Pakrad Dz. V. Berjekian, Vicar General of the Western Diocese, the Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian, the Rev. Fr. Nicholas Ceko, the Dean of St. Stephen Cathedral of the Western Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Chancellor of the Western Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Archpriest Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, the Rev. Fr. Vazken Movsesian, Mr. Hayk Madoyan and Mr. Vahe Sargsyan.

The meeting was followed by a luncheon graciously hosted by Mrs. Lena Simonian and Mrs. Meline Agagianian.