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The 90th Annual Diocesan Assembly was held on Friday, May 5, 2017 at the Headquarters of the Western Diocese. The meeting commenced after registration at 9:00 a.m. with a call to order an opening prayer. Prior to the official start of the Assembly, the Diocesan Primate H.E. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian called for a moment of silence in remembrance of all deceased Diocesan Primates and clergy. "Their vision of a stronger and more vibrant Diocese is our moral obligation," said the Primate.
Following the certification of delegates, the constitution of quorum and the adoption of the agenda, welcoming remarks were delivered by the Diocesan Assembly Chair the Honorable Judge Adrienne Krikorian.
After the appointment of committees, the minutes of the 2016 Diocesan Assembly were approved.
Portions of the Pontifical Encyclicals of His Holiness Mkrtich Khrimian (Khrimian Hayrig) which established the Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America in 1898 and the Encyclical of His Holiness Kevork V, which established the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America in 1927 were read in Armenian by the Very Rev. Fr. Yeremia Abgaryan, Pastor of Holy Resurrection Armenian Church of Seattle. The English translations of the said encyclicals were read by the Rev. Fr. Mesrop Ash, Pastor of St. John Armenian Church of San Francisco.
The English translation of Pontifical Message of Blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, addressed to the delegates were distributed to all delegates present.
The Armenian Encyclical (link below) was read at the Assembly by the Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian.
The Diocesan Primate presented his report wherein His Eminence called for a stronger and more vibrant faithful community and a Diocese, engaged in the God-pleasing mission of stewardship.
Archbishop Derderian expressed his gratitude to the Catholicos of All Armenians, the Diocesan Council Chairman Joseph Kanimian, Esq., the Diocesan staff under the leadership of Executive Director Dn. Harout Markarian, for their unrelenting dedication and commitment to the mission of the Western Diocese.
In his closing remarks, Archbishop Derderian also spoke about fulfilling the mission of the Diocese by becoming the living Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and by bringing peace in the life of the Church.
Reports also presented by the Diocesan Council Chair Joseph Kanimian, Esq., the Diocesan Council Treasurer Dr. Kris Mirzayan, the Rev. Fr. Vazken Movsesian (Reclaim Rally and Conference), Camp Board Chair Mr. Kevork Zoryan, Summer Camp Committee Chair Miss Lauren Diramerian, Stewardship Committee Chair Dr. Vahram Biricik, Mer Hooys Founder and President the Hon. Judge Adrienne Krikorian, Christian Education Council Chair Mrs. Gail Chelebian, AACCWD Chair Mr. Sevag Derderian, ACYO Chair Nataline Jindoyan, St. Nersess Seminary Board member Archpriest Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian Scholarship Fund Chair Mrs. Alice Chakrian, Etchmiadzin Children’s Fund Committee member Mr. Diran Avagyan, Saturday School Executive Committee member Dn. Hovhannes Gumruyan, and Endowment Fund Chair Mr. Ben Krikorian. A report on the Turpanjian Seminary of Harichavank was presented by the Diocesan Primate.
Elections were held for the positions of diocesan assembly officers, Diocesan Council members, Auditing Committee members and Endowment Fund Board.
The results of the elections are as follows:
2018 Diocesan Assembly:
Dn. Barlow Der Mugrdechian – Chair - St. Paul Armenian Church, Fresno
Dr. Sarkis Mesrobian – Vice Chair - St. James Armenian Church, Los Angeles
Mrs. Aida Askejian – Secretary – St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Santa Clarita
2017 – 2018 Diocesan Council:
Very Rev. Fr. Pakrad Dz. V. Berjekian - Pastor of St. John Garabed Armenian Church in San Diego
Archpriest Fr. Manoug Markarian - Pastor of St. John Garabed Armenian Church in Hollywood
Rev. Fr. Serovbe Alanjian - Pastor of the Armenian Church of Ventura County
Rev. Fr. Khajag Shahbazyan - Pastor of St. Leon Armenian Cathedral in Burbank
Mr. Yuriy Akopyan – Holy Resurrection Armenian Church, Seattle WA
Mr. Barkev Hamalian - St. Peter Armenian Church, Van Nuys
Joseph Kanimian, Esq. - Chairman - St. Leon Armenian Cathedral, Burbank
Mrs. Sandra Kazanjian Gostanian – St. Paul Armenian Church, Fresno
Hon. Judge Adrienne Krikorian – St. Peter Armenian Church, Van Nuys
First Meeting of the 2016-2017 Diocesan Council
Under the presidency of the Primate, the newly elected members of the Diocesan Council convened immediately following the Assembly. Internal elections were held for the positions of Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary yielding the following results:
Joseph Kanimian, Esq. - Chair - St. Leon Armenian Cathedral, Burbank
Hon. Judge Adrienne Krikorian – Vice Chair - St. Peter Armenian Church, Van Nuys
Mr. Yuriy Akopyan – Treasurer – Holy Resurrection Armenian Church in Seattle, WA
Mrs. Sandra Kazanjian Gostanian – Secretary - St. Paul Armenian Church in Fresno
The 2018 Diocesan Assembly will be hosted by St. Geragos Armenian Church of Las Vegas.
The 2018 Diocesan Assembly will be hosted by St. Geragos Armenian Church of Las Vegas.
Gala Banquet
Bringing a climactic end to the Diocesan Assembly, the gala banquet, in which sixty-three parishioners from various Diocesan parishes were honored by the Primate, was held at the Nazareth and Sima Kalaydjian Hall following the Assembly. Hundreds were in attendance applauding the honorees for their selfless service and unrelenting dedication to their respective parishes and due recognition.
