Parish Spotlight: St. Sarkis Armenian Church Of Santa Clarita

As part of our Parish Spotlight series, we continue highlighting the communities that have helped shape the life of the Western Diocese.

St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church of Santa Clarita, located in Newhall, California, was established in 2004 to serve the growing Armenian community of the Santa Clarita Valley. Its first Divine Liturgy was celebrated on May 9, 2004, at Valencia High School, marking the beginning of a parish that would grow into a lasting spiritual home for local Armenian families. Over the years, St. Sarkis has developed an active parish life centered on worship, education, youth involvement, and community service. Today, the parish is led by Rev. Fr. Zaven Markosyan, who has served as pastor since 2020, continuing the mission of strengthening faith and Armenian identity for both longtime parishioners and new generations.