A Day Of Double Blessings At St. Sarkis Armenian Church In San Diego

On Sunday, September 28, 2025, the Sunday School of St. Sarkis Armenian Church of San Diego welcomed the Spiritual Director of Saturday schools in the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Deacon Hovhannes Gumruyan, alongside Saturday School Superintendent Dr. Ellie Andreasyan, in a formal visit to meet with our school’s faculty and leadership.

Simultaneously, our church hosted the faithful members of the "Shnorhali" Choir of St. Leon Cathedral, led by Fr. Khajak Shahbazyan, who visited as pilgrims and sang the Divine Liturgy (Badarak) in beautiful harmony with our own St. Sarkis choir. Fr. Khajak celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the Message of the Day. Accompanied by members of the St. Leon Parish Council, their presence filled the sanctuary with spiritual vibrancy and communion.

Deacon Hovhannes Gumruyan and Dr. Andreasyan were warmly received by Mrs. Tatiana Kevork Carlson, Superintendent of the Sunday School, along with the dedicated teachers and children of the school. Dn. Hovhannes Gumruyan opened the gathering with a heartfelt prayer, invoking God’s blessings for a fruitful school year and commending the teachers for their loving commitment to nurturing the next generation.

Dr. Ellie Andreasyan, a leading figure in Armenian language education for the diaspora, engaged in a meaningful session with the faculty. Drawing from decades of selfless work in curriculum development for Armenian Saturday and Sunday schools, she shared valuable insights and contemporary methods for teaching the Armenian language to non-native speakers. Her unwavering dedication and expertise continue to transform classrooms across the Western Diocese.

The Spiritual Superintendent of Saturday schools in the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic church Deacon Hovhannes Gumruyan, whose tireless service has fortified the Armenian Saturday School system under his stewardship, expressed his encouragement and appreciation for the work being done at St. Sarkis.

During the Social Hour, where our Ladies Society had prepared a neat hospitality service for our guests, in the presence of Fr. Pakrad Berjekian, Parish Council Chair Dr. Edward Adourian, and the visiting dignitaries, a special moment of recognition took place. Mrs. Tatiana Kevork Carlson was invited forward to receive a Certificate of Appreciation, issued by Spiritual Directorate of Saturday Schools in the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America. The certificate, read aloud by Deacon Gumruyan, commended Mrs. Tatiana for her outstanding dedication and commitment to the mission of the St. Sarkis Armenian Sunday School. In his remarks, Fr. Pakrad and the principal extended warm congratulations to Mrs. Tatiana, highlighting her tireless work, faith, and leadership that continue to enrich the lives of the parish’s children and families.

The day concluded with expressions of gratitude from Fr. Pakrad Berjekian, Dr. Adourian and Mrs. Tatiana Carlson, who all thanked Deacon Gumruyan and Dr. Andreasyan for their meaningful visit and reaffirmed hopes for continued collaboration and future visits to San Diego.

St. Sarkis Armenian Church celebrates and cherishes moments like these, which strengthen our educational mission, deepen our spiritual roots, and reaffirm our ties with the broader diocesan family. May God bless all those who serve our children and preserve the Armenian faith, language, and heritage with love and devotion.

Report from St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church of San Diego