The 123rd Assembly of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America convened on Thursday, May 1, and continued through adjournment on Saturday, May 3, 2025. It was the third Diocesan Assembly to be presided over by Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan.
The newly-consecrated Holy Archangels Armenian Church of St. Michael and St. Gabriel, of Haverhill, MA, hosted the 123rd Diocesan Assembly, with business and social functions taking place at the Hilton Boston/Woburn Hotel. The weekend’s liturgical events took place at Holy Archangels Church.
The inaugural session was called to order on May 1. Delegates and guests were welcomed by host parish pastor Fr. Vart Gyozalyan and parish Assembly Committee chair Mark Kazanjian.
A formal message from His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, was read to the delegates, after which Bishop Mesrop set a warm-hearted tone for the meeting with his welcoming words.
In all, 142 parish representatives—clergy, parish council chairs, and Diocesan delegates—along with a substantial number of observers, gathered in person for the proceedings. Among the guests were two visitors from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin: V. Rev. Fr. Poghos Vardanyan and Rev. Fr. Zareh Ashuryan.
Elections and Reports
Under the guidance of Diocesan Assembly chair Diran Jebejian (of St. Leon Church, Fair Lawn, NJ), business moved forward at a brisk pace. Serving alongside him were vice chair Zaven Kalayjian (St. Mary Church, Washington, DC) and secretary Laurie Bejoian (Holy Translators Church, Framingham, MA).
On behalf of the Nominating Committee, Fr. Tadeos Barseghyan (Church of Our Saviour, Worcester, MA) took to the podium to explain the secure method of voting that would be employed throughout the proceedings. Continuing an innovation that emerged from the experience of holding assembly meetings virtually during the pandemic, all voting was conducted using a secure online balloting platform. (See below for the table of election results.)
As business went forward, Fr. Hovnan Demerjian (St. Hagop Church, Pinellas Park, FL) presented highlights of the Clergy Conference, which had met in the days prior to the main gathering. The delegates also heard highlights of the Parish Council Chairs Meeting, which had immediately preceded the inaugural session. Gregory Kolligian (Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge, MA) delivered the report on behalf of the assembled parish council chairs of the Eastern Diocese.
Diocesan Council chairman Richard Papalian (St. Gregory the Enlightener Church, White Plains, NY) delivered the report of the Diocesan Council, giving detailed information on the Diocesan operations, visualized graphically and projected onto display screens. Enhancing his presentation was an impressive Annual Report that had been printed for the delegates in advance of being distributed to the public.
The council report included remarks from administrators of the Diocesan Center, including form Interim Executive Director Fr. Davit Karamyan, current Executive Director Gregory Kazanjian, and Interim Director of Diocesan Ministries, Fr. Hratch Sargsyan.
The various Diocesan organizations also reported to the assembly. Presenters included Gregory Melconian and Marie Vanerian of the Armenian Church Endowment Fund (ACEF); Andrea Karanian of the Ararat Youth and Conference Center; Fr. Mardiros Chevian of St. Nersess Seminary; Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan of the Sacred Music Council; Nancy Kassabian of the Women’s Guild Central Council; and Bree Carriglio and Sarah Stites of the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), and its crowd-sourcing platform, “Ayo!”
The Diocese’s new Vocations Department Advisory Committee made its debut at the assembly, outlining its mission to inspire and guide the next generation of clergy and lay leaders in the Eastern Diocese. Fr. Krikor Sabounjian, Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, and Nora Knadjian-Kachian led the presentation.
Delegates also heard from Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, the Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Director, who spoke powerfully about the persecution of Christians throughout the world, his work with the International Forum on Religious Freedom, and his efforts through his leadership role in World Council of Churches to awaken the world’s churches and governments to the plight of Armenians of Artsakh and Jerusalem.
Informative reports from the various Diocesan Ministries departments were delivered during “breakout sessions,” in which groups of delegates rotated among different rooms to engage in small-group presentations and discussions, featuring staff from the Youth and Young Adult Ministry department and Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA); the Diocesan summer camps; Armenian Language Ministry; and Children and Family Ministry.
A special two-part presentation came from the St. Vartan Cathedral Renovation and Fundraising Committees. Richard Papalian walked the delegates through a detailed presentation on the major project to renovate and restore the Diocesan Cathedral in New York City. He described Phase 1 of the project—the restoration and repair of the cathedral exterior—which was completed on time and on budget in 2024, illustrating his remarks with slides showing features of the structure in their pre- and post-repair states. He informed the assembly about the budgets for all project phases, and the prospective schedule for going forward with Phases 2 through 4.
Oscar Tatosian, Melanie Dadourian, and Laurie Onanian delivered a presentation on the efforts of the Fundraising Committee over the past several years. They announced that the campaign’s fundraising has surpassed 19 million dollars, and urged the attending parish leaders to use the tools developed by the campaign—including printed posters and brochures; social media; and a website that explains the project, charts its progress, and provides a secure platform for contributions—in their home settings.
During previous assemblies, the delegates had shown enthusiastic support for the restoration project, which has also been approved by the Diocesan Council and Board of Trustees. To conclude the presentation this year, the 123rd Assembly passed a resolution to proceed with the renovation project and fundraising effort.
(Learn about and support the St. Vartan Cathedral Renovation campaign on its website: StVartan.org.)
“Love One Another”
The Diocesan Assembly theme, “Love One Another,” was brought to life in words and actions throughout the assembly. Setting the tone was a special “community outreach project” at the Holy Archangels host parish on Thursday night, that saw the entire body of delegates and clergy making meals for a local homeless shelter. It was the first time such a project had been undertaken as part of the Diocesan Assembly.
The next morning, Bishop Mesrop expanded on the theme in his engaging address, reflecting on Christ’s command to “Love One Another” (Jn 13:34). “We are called to express the same kind of love in our church life today,” he said. “Love that is mutual, and draws us together. Love that is sacrificial, regardless of the personal cost. Love that is an identity, that marks us as children of the risen Lord Jesus, and that turns outward to serving others as He did. That is what it means to fulfill His command to Love One Another.”
After recounting his personal experiences of outreach to others, and surveying charitable projects at the Diocesan Center and among local parishes, the Primate reflected on the meaning of active concern for the surrounding society. “These acts of love and service address the question: If your parish were to disappear tomorrow, would the larger community notice?”
The Primate noted that the Diocesan Center in New York has been a hub of growth and activity—spiritual, physical, and operational—through the year. He cited the completion of Phase 1 of the St. Vartan Cathedral Restoration Project; the great strides made in the Diocesan Ministries Department and its multimedia outreach efforts; steady growth in youth outreach and participation in the Diocesan summer camps; and new acquisitions in staff positions.
As milestones in his ongoing ministry to the Diocese, Bishop Mesrop noted that he had now visited every local parish and community in the Diocese, ordained more than 100 altar servers, consecrated two churches—St. Nerses Shnorhali Church in Jacksonville, FL, and Holy Archangels Church in Haverhill, MA—and ordained a new priest in the person of Fr. Nerses Krajekian.
Bishop Mesrop expressed the joy he felt whenever visiting parishes in person. In concert with such visits, the Primate has also led “virtual visitation” meetings with church leaders in more than 50 local parishes, during which pastors, parish council members, and Diocesan delegates share their successes and challenges.
To close his address, the Primate returned to the “the deepest meaning of Christ’s command to Love One Another.” He assured listeners: “By obeying those words, we are doing what Christ would do, and becoming more like Him. May that loving spirit animate all that we do, in our churches and communities, and draw us all closer together.”
A video titled “Love One Another” produced by the Diocesan Ministries department, and a set of personal testimonies, followed the Primate’s remarks. Dawn Houradjian (St. Leon Church, Fair Lawn, NJ), Michael Kazarian (St. John Church, Southfield, MI), Linda Yenicag (Holy Martyrs Church, Bayside, NY), and John Soraghan (Holy Archangels Church, Haverhill, MA), each spoke with passionate conviction about community outreach efforts undertaken by their local parishes.
Final Blessings
Saturday’s assembly session began with a requiem service for departed delegates, clergy, and Diocesan leaders of the past year, followed by a stirring reflection on the assembly theme of “Love One Another” by Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian (St. Peter Church, Watervliet, NY).
The final session also saw the passage of a balanced revised budget for 2025 and a balanced budget for 2026—both introduced and explained in a detailed visual presentation by Diocesan Council treasurer Alex Topakbashian.
Three proposals were considered during the assembly. The first, which sought to permit online/remote participation in parish assemblies, was voted down by delegates.
The second proposal sought to revise select articles in the Diocesan Bylaws, to formally recognize a voluntary “stewardship” pledge system, as an authorized alternative to the dues-paying membership system that has traditionally prevailed among parishes. The delegates voted to table that proposal until next year, so it can be discussed in greater detail.
A third proposal, extending the timeframe of the stewardship system “pilot project” that has been active among Diocesan parishes for several years, was passed by the delegates.
Before adjourning the 123rd Diocesan Assembly, Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan approached the podium to thank the host parish and all the Diocesan leaders for their ongoing faith, love, activity in the church. Holding up a local newspaper, which included a feature story on the community outreach project the delegates had undertaken, the Primate offered congratulations for “embodying the spirit of our theme, ‘Love One Another,’ for all to see—just as our Lord Jesus Christ commanded us to do. I encourage you to take that spirit back to your parishes, to strengthen your continuing mission.”
Click here to view photos of the 123rd Diocesan Assembly sessions (by photographer Mano Baghjajian).
The 123rd Diocesan Assembly was also the occasion for the Annual Awards Banquet, the Diocesan Clergy Conference, and the 36th Women’s Guild Assembly. Look for expansive treatment of these gatherings in the near future.
The 124th Diocesan Assembly, meeting in May of 2026, will convene in Milwaukee, WI, hosted by St. John the Baptist Church.
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Election Results of the 123rd Diocesan Assembly
123rd Assembly Officers
Dn. Diran Jebejian (Fair Lawn, NJ)—Chair
Zaven Kalayjian (Washington, DC)—Vice Chair
Laurie Bejoian (Framingham, MA)—Secretary
Diocesan Board of Trustees (10-year term)
George Marootian (Fair Lawn, NJ)
Diocesan Council (4-year term)
Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian (Watervliet, NY)
Fr. Hratch Sargsyan (Cleveland, OH)
Lisa Esayian (Evanston, IL)
Mona Karoghlanian (Cleveland, OH)
Richard Papalian (White Plains, NY)
Alex Topakbashian (Wynnewood, PA)
Clergy Alternate: Fr. Avedis Kalayjian (Racine, WI)
Lay Alternate: Maritza Armagan (Greenfield, WI)
Nominating Committee (1-year term)
Laurie Onanian (Providence, RI)—Chair
Fr. Guregh Hambardzumyan (Milwaukee, WI)
Fr. Mesrob Hovsepyan (White Plains, NY)
Michelle Babikian (Chicago, IL)
Greg Saraydarian (Bayside, NY)
Alternate: Steve Migridichian (Providence, RI)
Proposals Committee (1-year term)
Fr. Tadeos Barseghyan (Worcester, MA)—Chair
Fr. Armash Bagdasarian (Wynnewood, PA)
Bruce Ashbahian (Bayside, NY)
Peter Babigian (Watertown, MA)
Dn. Ara Jeknavorian (Chelmsford, MA)
Alternate: Laurie Dadian (Greenfield, WI)
Auditing Committee (3-year term)
Ara Araz (Fair Lawn, NJ)
1st Alternate: Russ Kashian (Milwaukee, WI)
2nd Alternate: Svetlana Janumyan (Charlotte, NC)
ERA* Representative:
Fr. Aren Jebejian (Southfield, MI)
Ara Araz (Fair Lawn, NJ)
Dn. Serop Demirjian (Cleveland, OH)
Dr. Garo Garibian (Cheltenham, PA)
Clergy Alternate: Fr. Andreas Garabedian (Chicago, IL)
Lay Alternate: Zaven Kalayjian (Washington, DC)
NEA**/ ERA* Review Committee
Fr. Norayr Kazazian (Charlotte, NC)
Fr. Paren Galstyan (Orlando, FL)
Ara Araz (Fair Lawn, NJ)
Van Krikorian (White Plains, NY)
Dean Shahinian (Washington, DC)
Clergy Alternate: Fr. Voski Galstyan (Hartford, CT)
Lay Alternate: Dn. Krikor Ghazarian (Bayside, NY)
* ERA = Ecclesiastical Representative Assembly
** NEA = National Ecclesiastical Assembly