Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
3325 North Glenoaks Blvd.
Burbank, Ca 91504
Tel: 818-558-7474
Fax: 818-558-6333
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COMMUNIQUE

ASSIGNMENTS OF DEACONS OF THE WESTERN DIOCESE

During the past two years the Western Diocese has been expanding its
horizons by establishing new parishes and assigning visiting priests
to smaller communities in order to better serve the needs of the
entire Diocese.

We would like to emphasize that since his election Eminence
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, has
ordained a large number of Acolytes, Sub-Deacons and Deacons, who
serve their respective churches along with their pastors.

It is also worthwhile to mention that His Eminence places equal
emphasis on small communities who have the hunger for Armenian
prayers and spiritual nourishment. We are happy to state that we have
several Deacons within the Diocese who as candidates of the priesthood
are enrolled in higher level courses of theology as well as a two-year
training course offered by the Diocese. Graduates of the Kevorkian
Seminary in Etchmiadzin, these candidates will continue their
education at the St. Nersess Seminary in New Rochelle, NY.

The Primate has assigned specific tasks to the Deacons and
Sub-deacons serving in the Diocese, such as Youth Director, Pastor’s
Assistant, etc. Below we have listed the assignments of the Diocesan
Deacons.

1. DEACON DR. VAROUJ ALTEBARMAKIAN

Member of Supreme Spiritual Council of the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin

Chairman of the Diocesan Council

2. SUB-DEACON MATTHEW ASH – student of THEOLOGY

Youth Director of the Diocese

3. DEACON HAGOP ISKENIAN

Spiritual Administrator of Holy Cross Armenian Church, Turlock

Spiritual Administrator of California Home, Fresno

4. DEACON MAYIS SHAHBAZIAN – student of THEOLOGY

Pastor’s Assistant, Armenian Church of La Verne

5. DEACON VAHE ABOVYAN – student of THEOLOGY

Pastor’s Assistant, St. John Garabed Armenian Church, Hollywood

Deacon in charge of LA Children’s Hospital

Director of the 4th and 5th sessions of Summer Camp

6. DEACON TIGRAN GARIBJANYAN – student of THEOLOGY

Spiritual Administrator of prisons and visiting deacon of Glendale
hospitals

7. DEACON MKRTICH KSACHIKYAN – student of THEOLOGY

Pastor’s Assistant, St. Peter Armenian Church in Van Nuys

8. DEACON KEROP ARTENIAN

St. John Garabed Armenian Church in Hollywood

Member of the Kevorkian Alumni Association

9. DEACON Dr. SARKIS MESROBIAN

St. James Armenian Church in Los Angeles

In charge of Bible Study at St. James Armenian Church

Primate’s representative on Health Task Force, Los Angeles Council
of Religious Leaders

10. SUB-DEACON SARKIS SEKAYAN

Armenian Apostolic Church of Santa Clarita (Valencia)

11. DEACON BARLOW DER-MUGRDECHIAN

In charge of conferences at the Diocese and liaison to universities

Spiritual Director of the Council of Diocesan Deacons

Member of the Diocesan Council

Chair of the Clergy Recruitment Committee

12. DEACON HAMLET MEHRABIAN

Ararat Home, Mission Hills

Chairman of the Kevorkian Alumni Association

13. DEACON kEVORK PARSEGHIAN

Assistant to Visiting Priest, Armenian Apostolic Church of Portland,
Oregon

Chair of the Parish Council

14. Deacon heros yeghiayan

Assistant to Visiting Priest, Armenian Apostolic Church, Reno,
Nevada

15. DEACON HAGOP AJEMIAN

Primate’s representative for the Armenian Ecclesiastical Brotherhood

16. Deacon VAN DER-MUGRDECHIAN

Director of Curriculum, Diocesan Summer Camp

17. Deacon ROD JORJORIAN

Pastor’s Assistant at St. James Armenian Church, Sacramento

18. Deacon HRANT AGAJANIAN

Member of Diocesan Stewardship Committee

Member of the Kevorkian Alumni Association

19. Deacon STEPAN GEOZUMIAN

Director of Khatchadourian Choir

Director of United Choir of the Western Diocese

20. Deacon YEGHIA JENDIAN

In charge of archives and database of clergy and deacons

21. DEACON KEVORK PANOYAN, PASADENA

Teacher of Armenian hymns

22. DEACON MIHRAN TOUMAJAN

Pastor’s Assistant, St. Gregory Armenian Church in Pasadena

Representative of St. Gregory Armenian Church in Sunday School

Member of Parish Council

Member of Diocesan Protocol Committee

23. DEACON CARL BARDAKIAN

Pastor’s Assistant, St. Gregory Armenian Church in Pasadena

Member of Parish Council

Assembly Delegate

24. DEACON VAHE CHARKHUTIAN

Pastor’s Assistant, Armenian Apostolic Church of Whittier

Chair of Parish Council

25. SUB-DEACON HAGOP JAMGOCHIAN

Pastor’s Assistant, Armenian Apostolic Church of Antelope Valley,
Palmdale

26. SUB-DEACON HAGOP NALBANDIAN

Pastor’s Assistant, Armenian Apostolic Church of Burbank

27. DEACON DENNIS DAKESSIAN

Pastor’s Assistant, St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, East LA

28. DEACON STEVE ADAMS

Directoe of Strategic Planning for Mission Parishes

29. SUB-DEACON FEDI GIRAGOSIAN

Pastor’s Assistant during Bible Study, St. James Armenian Church,
Los Angeles

30. DEACON NERSES OHANIAN

Liaison of Western Diocese to the ASA’s of Southern California
Universities

31. DEACON ARDAG BARAKEZIAN

Pastor’s Assistant, Armenian Apostolic Church of La Canada and
Crescenta Valley, Tujunga

32. DEACON GEORGE KHATCHADRIAN

Pastor’s Assistant, Armenian Apostolic Church of La Canada and
Crescenta Valley, Tujunga

33. DEACON HOVSEP MELKONIAN

Pastor’s Assistant, St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church, Pasadena

34. DEACON Stephen arakelian

Pastor’s Assistant, St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, Costa Mesa

35. DEACON ARA DAKESSIAN

Pastor’s Assistant, St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, Costa Mesa

36. DEACON DR. HRAIR DEKMEJIAN

Pastor’s Assistant, St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church, Youth
Center, Glendale

37. HAYK MADOYAN

Editor of religious textbooks

OFFICE OF THE WESTERN DIOCESE

October 3, 2005

Burbank, California

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress