Parishes
Posted: 04/29/2026
The Seattle Armenian community was honored to receive the episcopal blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, on Sunday, April 26, 2026.
During the Divine Liturgy, two altar servers, Hovhaness Nemishalyan and Karlen Aleksanyan, were elevated by the Primate to the four minor orders of the acolyte rank—Doorkeeper, Reader, Healer, and Candle Bearer—marking an important milestone in their spiritual journey and service to the Holy Church. The faithful congregation rejoiced in witnessing their dedication and continued growth in Christ.
In the course of the service, Archbishop Derderian also recognized Diana Akopyan and Silva Ghazarian for their devoted service to the Armenian Church, bestowing upon them the Diocesan Hye Spirit Medal in acknowledgment of their steadfast commitment and generous contributions to Holy Resurrection Armenian Apostolic Church.
In his homily at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence reflected on the significance of April 24, the day of remembrance of the 1.5 million holy martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. He called for this sacred day to be further transformed into a “Day of Armenian Life,” one that not only honors memory, but also celebrates the spiritual, familial, communal, ecclesial, and national achievements of the Armenian people.
Through a warm and engaging question-and-answer exchange, His Eminence also encouraged the students of Holy Resurrection School to pursue the Armenian language with diligence, to remain actively engaged in the life of the Church, and to deepen their connection to the traditions of their forebears. He also expressed his appreciation to the teachers for their devoted and faithful service.
The pastoral visit of Archbishop Hovnan, the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, and his inspiring message left a profound and lasting impression, reflected in the joyful and spiritually uplifted atmosphere among all those present.
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