The Priests Of Reclaim 2018

“It is far better to light a candle than to curse the darkness,” remembers Fr. Vazken, as one of the inspirations he leans on in organizing this year’s Reclaim Conference – March 2-4 at the Western Diocese headquarters. The conference was started last year at the initiative of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, who continuously forges new grounds for the Armenian Church to serve her people. Abp. Derderian invites the community – young and old – to be a part of this year’s Reclaim Conference.

“With Reclaim we’re lighting some candles. We’re celebrating the creative spirit that leads and directs the human soul,” continues Fr. Vazken, who will be giving the Keynote address entitled, “The God Generation: Beyond what you think or believe.”

“Too often, people are discouraged, especially in the world today. They have the tools and knowledge to do well – to make a difference - but they lack the motivation and the spiritual energy to shine.” This conference is about exploring that spiritual energy and celebrating it. Through motivational speakers, dialogue, prayer, meditation, nature hike, music and dance, the Western Diocese once again says, come and Reclaim something precious and necessary to you: Your Faith!

Fr. Vazken’s message throughout the years has consistently rang a note of relevance with the listener. His weekly podcasts and video-explanation of the Armenian Church (AC101) are seen and heard throughout the world. He will present the keynote message to the conference on Friday night.

“It’s easy to curse the darkness and complain,” says Fr. Vazken, “Reclaim is a small but powerful light.” Fr. Vazken is a graduate of USC with degrees in Social Ethics and Psychology. He has pastored at St. Andrew, Cupertino, St. Gregory, Pasadena and St. Peter, Glendale, during his 35 years of service as a priest of the Armenian Church.

We have been featuring the various speakers of the Conference. Today meet the Priests of Reclaim:

Rev. Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, the Parish Priest of the St. Gregory Armenian Church in Pasadena, California will be one of the featured speakers. His talk is entitled, “The Parabele of the Talents: Allowing the Holy Spirit to Work through Me.”

Fr. Sarkis was raised in Northridge, California and holds two undergraduate degrees from CSUN.  Following graduation, he was employed for four years in the retail banking industry, where he held the position of branch manager.  At the age of 30 he resigned and began studying for the priesthood. He studied at Holy Echmiadzin, Armenia and then enrolled at St. Nersess Armenian Theological Seminary and St. Vladimir Orthodox Seminary in New York, where he earned an M.Div. degree. 

In 1998  following his marriage to Yeretsgeen Talin (Mermerian), he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood of Christ. During his eleven years as the shepherd of the Armenian community in San Francisco, he and Yeretsgeen Talin organized ten pilgrimages to Armenia, leading over 250 pilgrims from the Western Diocese.  The project resulted in raising and distributing over $400,000 for charitable projects throughout Armenia. He serves as Chaplain at the Western Diocese Armenian Church Summer Camp (Hye Camp) and represents the Western Diocese on the Board of Directors of St. Nersess. He has been parish priest of St. Gregory Armenian Church in Pasadena since 2009.

Rev. Fr. Krikor Zakaryan, is the parish priest of the St. Garabed Armenian Church in Rancho Mirage. He messages reverberate in the hearts and souls of the youth. This year he will be addressing the conference under the title, “The Holy Spirit and the mission of the Church.”

Born and raised in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Fr. Krikor studied Biology, Humanitarianism and French. He served valiantly in the Bulgarian army. Following his graduation from the Seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem in 2007 married Miss Anoush Yazadzhiyan in Bulgaria. In 2008, he was invited as a Priesthood-Candidate by His Eminence, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate.

Fr. Kirkor was ordained and consecrated to the Priesthood in 2009 by Archbishop Derderian, and he celebrated his first Divine Liturgy at the social hall of the Armenian Church of the Desert in Rancho Mirage. During his pastorate, the Sanctuary of St. Garabed’s was built and completed.

Fr. Krikor Zakaryan received his Masters of Theology degree from the Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, CA

Fr. Mesrop Ash was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Through his parents' dedicated service he was raised within the community of St. James Armenian Church of Los Angeles. His formative years were devoted to Sunday School, ACYO, and the Diocese Summer Camp. As a young adult, he began transitioning to a leadership role within the life of the Church and found outlets for service in Lay Ministry with the youth.

During this time he gained experience which would later be of use to his ministry, working with the Armenian Assembly of America and studying in the field Organizational Communications. He also cultivated skills in the IT field, most notably web design and development. In 2005, with the support and encouragement of the Primate, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian, he was accepted as a Candidate to the Priesthood for the Western Diocese and subsequently served as Diocesan Youth Director for two years.

In 2008, he married his dear wife Ani, who has ardently supported him in his ministry. He has studied at the Kevorkian Seminary and Theological University located at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in Armenia and in 2012 he was ordained and consecrated to the Holy Priesthood. Since 2012, Fr. Mesrop has served as the Parish Priest of St. John Armenian Church in San Francisco, a richly diverse parish. In 2015, Fr. Mesrop and Ani were blessed with their first child, Maneh.

Fr. Mesrop will be speaking at the Reclaim conference under the title, “Why Your Life is Too Complicated: Simplicity and Intentionality,”

Mashdots Jobanian is the Directors of Christian Education at the Western Diocese. His Bible Studies at several parishes are attended by large crowds of young and old. He has his own TV and Radio programs and is followed on the Internet throughout the world. Mashdots will be addressing the conference with always-vibrant enthusiasm for Holy Scripture. He will be challenging the attendees to look within to the Power of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Mashdots was born in Lebanon. In 1995 he graduated from The Theological Seminary of the Armenian Church of the Catholicasate of Cilcia, Antelias, Lebanon. He continued his studies from 1997-1999 at the Theological Faculty, Oslo Norway and in1999-2000 at the Theological Seminary, Denmark studying Biblical Missiology. From 2000-2005 Mashdots served as the director of the Christian Education Department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, Antelias, Lebanon. He then moved his efforts in 2006 to serve as the Director of the Christian Education Department of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America. Mashdots concluded his education from 2010-2011 Study course in Recovery Ministry at Fuller Seminary.

Father Confessors: Fr. Haroutiun Tachejian and Fr. Serovpe Alanjian

With a move to the practical, Reclaim will also give a chance for attendees to participate in private confession. The two Father Confessors that have been appointed by the Primate are the Rev. Fr. Haroutiun Tachejian, Parish Priest of the St. James Armenian Church in Los Angeles and the Rev. Fr. Serovpe Alanjian, the Parish Priest of St. Sarkis Armenian Church in Santa Clarita. Both priest will be available in the upper-chamber of the St. Leon Cathedral to hear confessions. It is an opportunity for participants to talk and share – one-on-one – with clergy who will offer prayers and solace.

For a list of all the speakers, times, information, registration and scholarships visit

www.Embracing-faith.com.