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