Primate Celebrant At St. Vartan Armenian Church In Oakland

The 67th Annual ACYO Convention culminated with the episcopal celebration  of the Divine Liturgy at St. Vartan Armenian Church on Sunday, November 29th. With the ACYO delegates taking part in the service, the day's celebrant was His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese who was assisted at the Holy Altar by the Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan and the deacons of the Oakland parish. 

During the Divine Liturgy, the Primate granted four minor orders of acolyte to Armen Phelps, Erik Nikssarian and Joshua Hames, calling upon the newly ordained altar servers to serve the Armenian Apostolic Church with a renewed sense of dedication and zeal.

His Eminence expressed his wholehearted gratitude to Fr. Ohanyan, the Parish Council and the ACYO of St. Vartan Armenian Church for graciously hosting this year's convention.

The Primate's homily was centered on Christ's parable of the fig tree (Luke 13:1-9). "In the vineyard of God, you, the youth, are the bearers of fruit. Through your noble deeds, you praise and glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ while cherishing within your hearts those values which mold the Christian spirit and identity," said His Eminence in part.

The youth departed with uplifted spirits.