For Immediate Release

ACWD PRESS OFFICE
3325 North Glenoaks Blvd. Burbank, CA 91504
Tel: (818) 558-7474 Fax: (818) 558-6333
E-mail: newsletter@armenianchurchwd.com
Website:

May 3, 2006

Burbank, CA, United States

Condolence Statement from Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of
the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America

On behalf of Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America
and its faithful, we extend our heartfelt sympathies and prayers to the
families and relatives of the 113 passengers and crew of the Armavia
passenger plane which today crashed on its way from Yerevan to Sochi.

It is with great sorry and pain that we mourn the tragic loss of the
innocent lives that fell victim of this deadly crash and pray that God
Almighty console the pain and suffering of their families and loved
ones and grant them the strength to overcome this calamity. May God
accept the souls of those who perished in the illuminated heights
of Heaven.

With Prayers,

Archbishop Hovnan Derderian

Primate

The Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, providing
spiritual guidance and leadership to the Armenian Apostolic community,
is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization comprised of 47
churches in 16 western states. The Western Diocese was established in
1898 as the Diocese of the Armenian Church encompassing the entire
United States and Canada. In 1927 the Western Diocese was formed to
better serve the growing Armenian population of the western United
States.