New Appointments in the Western Diocese

Dear Reader, Rev. Fr. Avedis Abovian Appointed as Pastor of the Armenian Church of Crescenta Valley (La Canada, La Crescenta and Tujunga)

 

The Western Diocese is happy to announce that His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, has appointed Rev. Fr. Avedis Abovian as pastor of the Armenian Apostolic Church of La Crescenta. The Parish will cater to the spiritual needs of the La Canada, La Crescenta and Tujunga communities. The newly acquired property will consist of a church building, a kindergarten as well as Saturday and Sunday Schools. Fr. Avedis Abovian will assume his pastoral duties effective August 5, 2012.

Since his ordination to the Priesthood in 2008, Rev. Fr. Avedis Abovian has been the Youth Director of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America. As the spiritual leader of the CYMA Program, Fr. Avedis has led the Diocesan youth on summer pilgrimages to Armenia where under his guidance the pilgrims not only visit sacred and historical sites throughout Armenia and Artsakh, but also participate in house-building projects for needy families. On July 5, 2012, Fr. Avedis accompanied to Diocesan youth on their annual CYMA pilgrimage. Ten days later, the pilgrimage group met with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

For a period of one year, Rev. Fr. Avedis Abovian served the faithful community of San Francisco as a visiting priest to St. John Armenian Apostolic Church. In May 2012, Fr. Avedis Abovian travelled to Armenia to oversee the numerous missions being realized by the Western Diocese and to offer his guidance in areas which needed improvement.

Archbishop Derderian’s genuine and congratulatory wishes go to Rev. Fr. Avedis Abovian in his new pastoral role.

Archpriest Fr. Hovsep Hagopian Takes on New Role

His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian conveys his sincere gratitude to Archpriest Fr. Hovsep Hagopian for his years of selfless service rendered to the Armenian Apostolic Church of La Canada and Crescenta Valley.

Archpriest Fr. Hovsep Hagopian has been appointed by the Primate as Visiting Priest to the Armenian communities in Denver, Albuquerque, and Salt Lake City. In addition to being appointed as Visiting Priest to Ararat Home in Mission Hills and Eagle Rock, Fr. Hovsep will visit and provide spiritual care in hospitals of the Greater Los Angeles Area, will be visit retired clergymen, will lead the Diaconate and will serve as the Primate’s official representative in matters related to the Davidian-Mariamian Educational Foundation. At the Diocesan Headquarters, Archpriest Fr. Hovsep Hagopian is the Director of Archives.

Archpriest Fr. Nareg Matarian Appointed as Pastor of the Armenian Church in Las Vegas

Archpriest Fr. Nareg Matarian, who has served as Pastor of the Armenian Apostolic Church in La Verne since 2009, has been appointed by Diocesan Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian as Pastor of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Las Vegas. Fr. Nareg will assume his pastoral duties in October 2012.

St. Mary, Yettem Pastor Archpriest Fr. Vartan Kasparian to Retire in October 2012

After 39 years of service to the Armenian Apostolic Church as an exemplary priest, Archpriest Fr. Vartan Kasparian, Pastor of St. Mary Armenian Church in Yettem, will retire from the pastorate effective October 1, 2012.

“Words will not be enough to describe your love and affection for serving the flock of Christ, our Lord. you have been an exemplary priest and have guided the faithful of the Armenian Apostolic Church on the path toward righteousness. For over a quarter century you have enriched the spirituality of the faithful of St. Mary through the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ while earning the love and respect of the faithful community of Yettem,” wrote Diocesan Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian in a letter addressed to Archpriest Fr. Vartan Kasparian.

Archpriest Fr. Vartan will continue to serve at the Western Diocese in other capacities.

Rev. Fr. Zaven Markosyan Appointed as Pastor of St. Mary Armenian Church of Yettem

 

We are pleased to inform you that effective as Sunday, August 12, 2012, Rev. Fr. Zaven Markosyan will assume pastoral duties at St. Mary Armenian Church in Yettem. He will celebrate his first Divine Liturgy at St. Mary on Sunday, August 12, on the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God. Father Zaven will officially be introduced to the congregants by Archpriest Fr. Vartan Kasparian.

In his previous pastoral assignment, Rev. Fr. Zaven Markosyan was the Pastor of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Denver, Colorado.

Diocesan Priesthood-Candidates

Dn. Mkrtich Ksachikyan

Deacon Mkrtich Ksachikyan was born on June 6, 1984 in Yerevan, Armenia. He is the youngest child born to Hovhannes Ksachikyan and Alisa Aslanian. Deacon Mkrtich received his secondary education from School #50 in Yerevan. As an avid boxer, he was crowned city boxing champion twice.

On September 11, 1996, Deacon Mkrtich immigrated to the United States with his parents. In 2001, he was appointed to serve at St. Peter Armenian Church in Van Nuys under the pastoral guidance of Parish Priest Archpriest Fr. Shnork Demirjian. In his first year of service, Dn. Mkrtich attended St. Nersess Seminary where he took part in the Deacons’ Training and Preparation Program. He continued his studies for the next two years.

In 2002, he graduated from high school and attended Los Angeles Valley College. In 2003, Dn. Mkrtich became a member of the United Armenian Students. He received his Associate’s Degree after taking courses in philosophy.

On July 18, 2004, on the Feast Day of the Transfiguration of Christ, our Lord, Dn. Mkrtich was granted Four Levels of Acolyte and was ordained as a Sub-Deacon by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America. Dn. Mkrtich then studied Humanities and Armenian language at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA).

In 2008, he was ordained to the Diaconate at St. Peter Armenian Church in Van Nuys by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian. Shortly after his ordination, Dn. Mkrtich was accepted to St. Nersess Armenian Seminary to study as a seminarian. He graduated from St. Nersess in May 2011 and in September of the same year, he travelled to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to further enhance his study of religion.

Upon his return from Holy Etchmiadzin in the upcoming months, Dn. Mkrtich Ksachikyan will take on a new role as Diocesan Youth Director.

Deacon Hovnan Vardanyan

Deacon Hovnan Vardanyan was born in 1982 in Sisian, Armenia. He received his elementary education from Sisian’s School No. 3. From 1992-1996, he served at St. John (Hovhannes) Armenian Church in Sisian. In 1996, he was accepted to St. James Seminary in Jerusalem where he studied for four years. From 2000-2002, Dn. Hovnan served in the Armenian Armed forces.

In 2003, Dn. Hovnan founded and chaired SCYA (Sisian’s Christian Youth Association). In the same year, he was accepted to “Priesthood Preparation Program” of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. He graduated in 2005.

On May 28, 2006, he was ordained as a Deacon by His Grace Bishop Abraham Mkrtchyan. From 2006-2007, he was appointed to serve in the Diocese of Syunik. In 2007, he founded and served as editor-in-chief of the “St. Gregory the Illuminator” religious periodical.

Since 2008, he has served in the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America. Dn. Hovnan was accepted to Claremont Theological University in 2008. He graduated from the university with a Masters in Divinity degree in May 2011.

At the direction of Diocesan Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, in July 2012, Dn. Hovnan Vardanyan returned the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to further his studies. He is married to Alenoush Yeghnazar.

Deacon Sarkis Alanjian

Deacon Sarkis Alanjian was born on November 22, 1973 in Beirut, Lebanon. He received his elementary education from Mardigian School in Beirut. From 1985-1992, he received his secondary education from Yeghishe Manoogian College. In 1993, he was accepted to Beirut University College (BUC) where he studied as a jeweler. He graduated from BUC in 1994.

Given the country’s unstable situation at the time, Dn. Sarkis changed his profession. From 1996-2002, he was accepted to CIT and attended special technical courses in the field of electronics and cellular phone technology.

In 2003, he established permanent residence in the United States of America. In 2004, he met his future wife Arusyak Balikyan. From 2003-2007, Dn. Sarkis served at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church in Pasadena. In 2008, he was ordained into the Diaconate by Diocesan Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian and began serving at the Cathedral Parish in Burbank and the Armenian Church of Ventura County. To this day, he serves at St. Leon Armenian Cathedral in Burbank. Dn. Sarkis is an active participant in lectures, workshop and seminars organized by the Western Diocese for the deacons.

Since 2010, Dn. Sarkis has been working on his Masters in Divinity degree while attending St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo. He has been appointed as assistant to Archpriest Fr. Kevork Arakelian at the Armenian Church in Ventura County where the Divine Liturgy is celebrated every second and fourth week of the month.

Deacon Sarkis Alanjian and his wife Arusyak Balikyan are blessed with two children - Hovsep and Natalie Marie.

Visiting Priests Appointed to Mission Parishes

The clergymen listed below have been appointed by Diocesan Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian to serve as visiting priests to their respective mission parishes.

Archpriest Fr. Hovsep Hagopian – Denver, CO; Albuquerque, NM; Salt Lake City, UT                     

Rev. Fr. Nerses Hayrapetyan – Palmdale and Bakersfield, CA                                                                  

Rev. Fr. Zacharia Saribekyan – Tucson, AZ                                                                                           

Rev. Fr. Yeghia Isayan – Boise, ID                                                                                                     

Rev. Fr. Datev Harutyunian – Carmel, CA                                                                                               

 Rev. Fr. Zareh Mansuryan – South Lake Tahoe, CA and Reno and Carson City, NV

The Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, providing spiritual guidance and leadership to the Armenian Apostolic community, is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization comprised of more than 50 churches in 16 western states. It was established in 1898 as the Diocese of the Armenian Church encompassing the entire United States and Canada. In 1927 the Western Diocese was formed to exclusivly serve the western United States.

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