This week, the 124th Diocesan Assembly will convene at the historic Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, WI. The city’s St. John the Baptist Armenian Church will host the Clergy Conference (meeting April 28-30), and the Diocesan Assembly (meeting April 30-May 2), bringing together hundreds of Armenian Church leaders from the Eastern Diocese.
Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan will preside over the gathering, which marks the fourth Diocesan Assembly since his election in 2022.
The General Sessions—scheduled for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, April 30 1 through May 2—will go forward under the theme “Renewed in Hope.” In his formal address, the Primate will introduce the theme during the Friday morning session.
This year’s Diocesan Assembly will be the occasion for an election for the office of Primate, which is held every four years in accordance with the Diocesan Bylaws. The Diocesan Council has announced that the slate of candidates for the election of Primate will include Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian, and Fr. Movses Sargsyan.
Assembly business will also include elections for the Diocesan Board of Trustees and various official committees. Other highlights include an update on the campaign for the restoration of St. Vartan Cathedral; presentations from the Fund for Armenian Relief, Armenian Church Endowment Fund, and auxiliary organizations; and “break-out sessions” on the Diocesan Ministries departments.
The gala awards banquet will take place at the Pfister Hotel on Friday, May 1. At that time, John Kaishian and Ara Cherchian will be honored as this year’s “Armenian Church Members of the Year,” and Dr. Robin Darling Young will receive the “Friend of the Armenians” award. (Click here to read more.)
Running concurrently with the Diocesan Assembly will be the 37th Women’s Guild Assembly, organized by the Women’s Guild Central Council. The WGCC will hold its 13th “Women of Wonder” award luncheon on Friday, May 1, at 12:15 p.m.
The Divine Liturgy at St. John the Baptist Church will conclude the Diocesan Assembly on Sunday, May 3.
Of special note, the host parish has arranged for Milwaukee’s iconic Hoan Bridge to be illuminated on May 1, from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m., to mark the 124th Diocesan Assembly, and to honor the martyrs and survivors of the Armenian Genocide. “This meaningful tribute stands as a symbol of remembrance, faith, and unity within the Armenian Church community of greater Milwaukee,” said St. John the Baptist pastor Fr. Guregh Hambardzumyan.
Find detailed information and the schedule of events on the host parish’s website. And next week, check the Eastern Diocese’s Instagram and Facebook page for updates on the Diocesan Assembly proceedings.