Primate Celebrant At St. Peter Armenian Church

On Sunday, October 8, 2017 the parish family of St. Peter Armenian Church received the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, who was the celebrant and homilist at the church.

Assisting the Primate at the Holy Altar were the Rev. Fr. Yeghia Isayan and the altar servers. Archpriest Fr. Dr. Zaven Arzoumanian participated in the service.

During the service, His Eminence granted four minor orders of acolyte to Tigran Hambardzumyan, Meruzhan Grigoryan, Arees Setrak and Sedrik Ranjbar. Congratulating the newly ordained altar servers, Archbishop Derderian encouraged the young men to serve Christ, our Lord, with renewed dedication and zeal and to serve the Armenian Apostolic Church with humility, loyalty and grace.

Twenty-eight Sunday School students led by their teachers gathered at the nave to greet His Eminence and to welcome him to the parish. In his message, he called upon the students to remain steadfast in their Christian education studies and to adhere to the divine messages of God. Together, with the Primate, the students prayed the Lord’s Prayer. His Eminence commended the teachers of the Sunday School for their unwavering service.

Archbishop Derderian also commended the pastoral leadership of the Rev. Fr. Yeghia Isayan, Parish Priest and his selfless dedication to the serving the flock of Christ. His Eminence reflected on the number of God-pleasing missions and projects being realized in the Parish through the collective efforts of the Pastor, the Parish Council and the Maidens of St. Peter Armenian Church. “The continuous growth in the number of Sunday School students alone is a testament to the noble vision of St. Peter Armenian Church of Glendale. You educate by instilling in the hearts of the youth, the divine love of Christ. Your mission is truly commendable,” said Archbishop Derderian in part.

Following the service, a reception in honor of His Eminence was organized by the Maidens of St. Peter Armenian Church.