Primate Attends Graduation Ceremonies Of Agbu Schools

His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America and Mexico, has always placed keen emphasis on youth-based programs and missions. A vibrant youth ensures the sustainability and the vivacity of the Armenian Apostolic Church. As the founder of the Canadian Youth Mission to Armenia, the spiritual director of the Pan-Armenian Church Youth Organization (ACYO), and the organizer of the largest ever youth pilgrimage to Holy Etchmiadzin, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian has worked alongside the youth for decades.

The Diocesan Primate believes in the full potential of the youth, encouraging and motivating the future torchbearers of the Armenian Church to preserve and uphold the sacred traditions of the Armenian Christian family, to become ambassadors of Christ, to strive for academic excellence and to become exemplary members of society. The vision of the Primate was could not have been realized without the tireless work ethic of the Diocesan Committees coupled with the  have allowed the Western Diocese to further expand youth-based missions and outreach programs.

With such noble initiatives and newly-established traditions as Graduation Communion, the Nerouj Mentorship Program, the Abp. Hovnan Derderian Scholarship Program, the Western Diocese equips the youth with the necessary tools to prepare for a productive and fruitful future.

The Western Diocese is also proud of such long-standing Diocesan traditions as the Annual Children’s Christmas Pageant, presently in its 15^th year, regular pastoral visitations and the distribution of Holy Communion on the Feast of the Nativity and Holy Resurrection.

The commencement exercises of the graduating classes of the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School and the AGBU Vatche and Tamar Manoukian High School were held on June 1 and June 8, respectively. Having attended the ceremonies, Archbishop Derderian congratulated the students of the graduating class and wished them continued success in their educational lives.