“If you can’t fly then run. If you can’t run then walk.
If you can’t walk then crawl
but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
(Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.)
It was with this conviction of progressing and growing in their Christian life that the delegates of the 70th Annual ACYO Convention of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America assembled at St. John Armenian Church in San Francisco over the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Weekend from January 18-20, 2019. It was the first time that St. John Armenian Church hosted the ACYO Convention in over 30 years.
With over 80 delegates participating, the 2019 ACYO Convention, dedicated to the memory of the founder of the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA) H.E. Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan (1904-1989), was the largest of its kind in the history of the Western Diocese. With the Diocesan Primate presiding, the Rev. Fr. Mesrop Ash, the Rev. Fr. Avedis Abovian, the Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan, Archpriest Fr. Datev Harutyunian, the Rev. Fr. Zacharia Saribekyan, the Rev. Fr. Zaven Markosyan, the Rev. Fr. Yessai Bedros, the Rev. Fr. Haroutioun Tachejian, the Rev. Fr. Serovpe Alanjian and the Rev. Fr. Yeghia Isayan participated in the convention.
1st SESSION (January 18)
The first session commenced with an opening prayer after which the delegates recited the pledge of the ACYO in unison. After the official introductions of the ACYO Central Council and the clergy, the Diocesan Primate delivered the welcoming remarks. In his address to the youth, His Eminence read the inspirational story of the great theologian Archbishop Desmond Tutu:
“In the Church of Sant’Edigio in Rome, home of an extraordinary community of laypeople devoted to working for the poor, there is an old crucifix that portrays Christ without arms. When I asked about its importance to the community, I was told that it shows how God relies on us to do God’s work in the world.
Without us, God has no eyes; without us, God has no ears; without us, God has no arms of hands, God relies on us. Won’t you join other people of faith in becoming God’s partners in the world?”
Elaborating on this statement, Archbishop Derderian said, “We are called to become God’s partners in the world. As I see the youth in the life of the Church, the first thought which comes to my mind is the gift of the youth in our lives – a gift from God.”
Each of you here represents your respective community. You are privileged to receive the call to share your God-given graces with your fellow members, families and friends. I exhort you to heed to God’s call with humility, wisdom and grace.
The first session concluded with the presentation of the administrative report of ACYO Central Council Chair Nataline Jindoian who highlighted the missions and activities of the ACYO throughout 2018.
2nd SESSION (January 19)
On the following day, the delegates gathered in the sanctuary of St. John Armenian Church for start of the second session, which commenced with a collective prayer.
In the second session, Deacon Nerses Ohanyan addressed the youth with an educational lecture themed Leadership in the Armenian Church Youth Organization, in which he stressed the importance of establishing, working towards and realizing goals for the youth to better prepare for challenges that lie ahead.
Presentations of financial reports by the Central Council and the Auditing Committee were held. The second session concluded with elections as the delegates cast their ballots for the Central Council, Nominating Committee and Auditing Committee officers.
In his remarks, the Primate stressed the significance of witnessing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Calling the youth, “young ambassadors of Christ,” Archbishop Derderian said,
After the Resurrection, our Lord commands His apostles to be His witnesses, entrusting them to spread the Good News of the Gospel, telling people about the life of their master and spreading the Word of God. “You shall be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8).
Below is the continuation of the Primate’s message in its entirety:
“You shall be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:8).
To my understanding, in fulfilling their master’s commandments, the apostles were becoming His witnesses. They were called to be the apostles, the partners in the mission of the Lord. And they have responded to God’s call with courage and spiritual strength and through their apostleship and martyrdom, they became witnesses of the Lord and their blood became the foundation of the Church.
The reason I wanted to make this brief introduction is because we all are called to be the witnesses of Christ: “You shall be my witnesses.”
As priests and youth of the Armenian Church, we have a calling graced upon us all to become the witnesses of the Lord. Our founders and the ancestors have been witnesses of Christ, our Lord and have entrusted us all with the sacred legacy of the Armenian Church and making the Church the anchor in our nation’s life.
The question which needs to be addressed to us all is an important one: What is the mission of our Church and what are the ways and tools that need to be applied in order for us to become witnesses of Christ?
The Church is the House of God, the fellowship of the faithful and therein we are charged and empowered to become guardians of the divine institution which guides us and the people of the world to become partners in God’s work. God’s work is the creation and the Living Word. Can we become partners in the work of God? Can we be the guardians of the world? We call all respond to this question with a strong commitment: YES. For we are all graced with the gifts by the Almighty.
My message today to you all is for you all to become witnesses of Christ and witnesses of the Armenian Church, the history and the faith of our ancestors, and the Holy Traditions. The 70th Assembly of the ACYO becomes meaningful and successful when we only make and establish new steps in the life our organization.
3rd SESSION
Highlights from the 2018 Christian Youth Mission to Armenia or CYMA Pilgrimage, as it is widely known, marked the start of the third session. Following the approval of the proposed 2019 Central Council Budget, the report of the auditing committee was presented.
With a topic titled ACYO Juniors: Foundations of the ACYO, the Rev. Fr. Mesrop Ash, pastor of the host parish, addressed the delegates about the importance of the guiding and counseling the junior members of the ACYO.
The Primate’s closing remarks emphasized the importance of celebrating our Christian faith and identity as a family of the youth.
“Let us celebrate that which unites us, that which we share in common.”
Our Christian Faith is the key element which unites the family of the youth. Thus, we are celebrating our Christian Faith and identity. Our Christian Faith empowers us to live a life with God, to become a close friend to Christ, to armor our spiritual lives with the necessary tools to live meaningful lives.
My message to the delegates of the 70th assembly is for you all to become architects of the Western Diocese. A quick review of the history of the Western Diocese is important; as to who the founders were, the hard work and dedication they had shown, their vision of the Church and the bond with their ancestral land, upholding the holy traditions of our Church…These are all very important factors which unite us all to become the family of the youth.
BANQUET
On Saturday evening, the parish hosted a banquet for the youth in the church hall. Expressing his wholehearted gratitude to the Rev. Fr. Mesrop Ash for his pastoral leadership, energetic ministry and his contribution to the vivacity of the parish, the Primate honored the young priest with a pectoral cross.
Archbishop Derderian also commended the Parish Council, Ladies Society and all auxiliary bodies of St. John Armenian Church to continue to work hand in hand with Fr. Mesrop and continue to shine as ambassadors of Christ in their community.
The election results were read and the newly elected ACYO officers were introduced to the delegates and clergy at the banquet.
The 2019-2020 ACYO Central Council members are as follows:
Gayane Parsegova
Victoria Amran
Kevin Kestekyan
David Safrazian
Alen Asikian
Natailine Jindoian
Sevan Jindoian
Archbishop Derderian also expressed his appreciation to the Rev. Fr. Avedis Abovian, Youth Director of the Western Diocese for his dedicated service in educating, guiding and mentoring the youth.
The Primate’s blessings and words of commendation were also addressed to Charles Cherezian, the director of the ACYO of St. John Armenian Church, and Kathy Kapeghian, Parish Council Chair, for their zealous Christian spirit and their steadfastness and loyalty in carrying out the mission of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
DIVINE LITURGY
On Sunday, January 20, the Diocesan Primate celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. John Armenian Church, the culmination of the spiritually uplifting weekend. The Rev. Fr. Haroutioun Tachejian, the Rev. Fr. Avedis Abovian and the Rev. Fr. Yessai Bedros participated in the service.
Assisted at the Holy Altar by the Rev. Fr. Mesrop Ash, and the deacons of the host parish, the Primate’s homily was centered on a faithful’s spiritual journey, one that is illuminated by God. “The ACYO Assembly has become a source of spiritual rebirth as the youth have been called to read carefully the words of our Lord inscribed high above the Holy Altar: “I am the light of the world, who that followeth me shall not walk into darkness,” stated His Eminence.
“The 70th ACYO Assembly has become a journey towards God, a journey of cultivating in our hearts the Christian Faith; a journey of apostleship to Christ, our Lord; a journey of promise to serve our Church and nation,” Archbishop Derderian continued. His Eminence also outlined the significance of the 70th ACYO Assembly in preparing the next wave of guardians of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Throughout the assembly, our youth were reminded that we were gathered “to celebrate that which unites us,” namely our Christian Faith.
Today’s message is reflected in the life of our youth, the ACYO, who held their 70th Assembly hosted by St. John Armenian Church of San Francisco. The last three days in the life of the youth, the delegates from respective communities gathered in prayer, a Christian fellowship and have renewed their faith in God and their commitment in the service of the Armenian Church.
Their assembly has become a source of spiritual rebirth as they have been called to read carefully the words of our Lord inscribed high above the Holy Altar: “I am the light of the world, who that followeth me shall not walk into darkness.”
The entire Assembly has become a journey towards God, Christ, our Lord, a journey of cultivating in our hearts the Christian Faith; a journey of apostleship to Christ, our Lord; a journey of promise to serve our Church and nation. Throughout the assembly, our youth were reminded that we were gathered “to celebrate that which unites us,” namely our Christian Faith. Our youth were reminded that God relies on us to do God’s work in the world, for we are all called to become “God’s partners in the world.”
During the service, Archbishop Derderian commended the selfless service of Dr. and Mrs. John and Paula Boghossian rendered to St. John Armenian Church and honored the esteemed couple with a Hye Spirit medal. “You have served at St. John Armenian Church with unrelenting dedication and enduring affection. In doing so, you have praised and glorified Christ, our Lord,” said Archbishop Derderian to the honorees.
During the service, Archbishop Derderian also blessed the newly elected ACYO Central Council, wishing upon them God’s divine peace, love and wisdom.
The 71st Annual ACYO Convention will be held on January 17-19, 2020 at St. Leon Armenian Cathedral in Burbank, California.