The annual Clergy Conference of the Eastern Diocese was held April 29 to May 1, in Haverhill, MA, as part of the 123rd Diocesan Assembly hosted by the city’s Holy Archangels Church of St. Michael and St. Gabriel. Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan presided over the gathering, with nearly the entire complement of active pastors from the Diocese in attendance, alongside several clergy in retirement.
Fr. Hakob Gevorgyan served as conference chair, with Fr. Norayr Kazazian as vice chair, and Fr. Voski Galstyan and Fr. Hovnan Demerjian as the Armenian and English secretaries, respectively. Host parish pastor Fr. Vart Gyozalyan welcomed the participants.
The Primate described his vigorous schedule of parish visits through the year, which has taken him to every parish and mission community in the Diocese. He also spoke joyfully about the two church consecrations, the priestly ordination, and the more than 100 ordinations into the diaconate and minor orders over which he has presided.
Bishop Mesrop also reported to the clergy on progress made on the St. Vartan Cathedral restoration project. Beyond such practical matters, the heart of the Primate’s message to the clergy was pastoral, revolving around the general Diocesan Assembly theme of “Love One Another,” taken from the Gospel of St. John.
The clergy also heard about the need to identify those with a vocational calling to serve God and the church; about new liturgical publications; about efforts on the world ecumenical stage; and about recent initiatives from the Diocesan Ministries departments. Two visiting clergy from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin—Fr. Poghos Vardanyan and Fr. Zareh Ashuryan—spoke on developments and present concerns in the homeland. The conference also welcomed Rev. Laura Everett of the Massachusetts Council of Churches, who spoke on her ecumenical work.
The Clergy Conference concluded with badarak at Holy Archangels Church—the Diocese’s newest sanctuary—celebrated by the Diocese’s newest priest, Fr. Nerses Krajekian (of St. Sahag Church, Minneapolis, MN). A requiem service for the departed clergy of the Eastern Diocese was offered at the end of the liturgy.
Click the following link to view photos of the 2025 Clergy Conference.