On March 26, 2017, the Diocesan Primate His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. James Armenian Apostolic Church in California’s capital of Sacramento.

Prior to the start of the Divine Liturgy, the Primate held a question and answer session with the children and their parents.

During the service, eight young men including Erick Barakazyan, Arackel Isayan, Mkrtich Bekaryan, David Petrosyan, Arsen Sargsyan, Narek Divanyan, Aren Divanyan and Daniel Saakian were granted four minor orders of acolyte. Two altar servers including Ara Kabaklian and Vrej Davtian were also ordained as sub-deacons by the Primate.

In his remarks, His Eminence shared with the altar servers and the congregation the meaning of each element involved in the ordination rite and encouraged the ordained to be faithful servants of the Armenian Church. 

After the church services the parishioners enjoyed performances by the St. James Armenian Language School and the Shnorhali Children's Choir. His Eminence expressed his gratitude to the children, the instructors, and parents for the heart-warming recitals and delightful song performances by the children. He also commended the members of the Parish Council, the Ladies Society, and the Parish Priest, the Rev. Fr. Yeghishe Ksachikyan for their dedicated work.