Дердерьян Овнан
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Derderian Hovnan
Дердерьян Овнан
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Archbishop Hovnan Derderian
His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian was the youngest Armenian clergyman to have been elevated to the rank of Archbishop. Born on December 1, 1957 in Beirut, and named Vahram at his baptism, Archbishop Derderian attended the Antelias Seminary at age 13 and graduated in 1975. The following year he taveled to Etchmiadzin, Armenia and completed his studies at the Seminary of the Holy See in 1980. In the same year he was ordained a celibate priest by His Holiness Vazken I, Catholicos of All Armenians, and was renamed Hovnan.
In 1980, on the recommendation of His Holiness, the young priest went to Oxford University in England to continue his education. In 1983 he obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Theology from Oxford. He returned to Etchmiadzin and worked at the Seminary lecturing on the History of the Armenian Church, General Church History, and music. Apart from his teaching assignments, he devoted all the time he could spare to work on his thesis, which comprised an in-depth study of the "Guides to Church Feasts" (Tonapatjar).
One year later, in 1984, already ordained "Vartabed", Father Hovnan was appointed pastor of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Toronto, Canada. He served the Toronto community for the following six years. Through his efforts the Toronto Chapter of the Armenian Church Youth Organization of Canada (ACYOC) became an active and vibrant group, the Committee to Aid Immigrants was created (1986) and the Senior Citizens' Group was formed.
Parallel to his personal duties, he undertook the construction project of the new church building and the adjoining structures, and thanks to his hard work and the dedicated support of the Parish Council and individual parishioners, the entire project was crowned with success. In appreciation for his services Father Hovnan Derderian was honored with an Encyclical by His Holiness Vazken I in 1986, and the following year the Catholicos himself visited Toronto to officiate the dedication of the newly built Holy Trinity Church.
Pastoral responsibilities and numerous community-related activities did not hinder Father Hovnan Derderian from pursuing his studies. In 1987 he received hid Master's Degree in Theology from Oxford University. Also, on the occasion of the conferment of the rank of "Dzairakuyn Vartabed" he presented and published a work entitled "A Practical Manual of Pastoral Theology".
At the Diocesan Delegates' Meeting of May 25-26, 1990 in St. Catharine's, Ontario, the Very Reverend Father Hovnan Derderian was elected Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church on Canada. On October 7 of the same year, His Holiness Vazken I ordained him a Bishop in the Cathedral of St.
Etchmiadzin. On February 18, 1993 the Catholicos, in concurrence with the request presented by the Diocesan Council, issued an encyclical elevating His Eminence to the rank of Archbishop. In 1995 he was elected for his second term as Primate and in 2000, his third.
As Primate, His Eminence was responsible for the expansion of the CFFA program (Children's Fund for Armenia) and for the creation of CYMA (Canadian Youth Mission to Armenia), two of the most successful volunteer managed programs in support of the young Republic of Armenia. He is also responsible for the founding of several new Armenian parishes and communities and for the establishment of the Canadian Diocese Endowment Fund.
Throughout 2001, His Eminence traveled the world extensively as Chairman of the Committee for the Celebration of the 1700th Anniversary of Armenia's official adoption of Christianity as the state religion. During his travels and his work in the Homeland, Archbishop Derderian sought and identified young faithful volunteers worldwide to guide the progress and growth of the Church internationally.
On May 3, 2003 His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian was elected Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America by the 76th Annual Assembly. Since his election, His Eminence has revitalized the Diocese by reorganizing it structures. He has created several new committees, including the Clergy Recruitment Committee which focuses on the recruitment and the preparation of well-educated clergy to lead the faithful; the Clergy Executive Committee, the Choir Central Committee, the Central Committee for Saturday Schools, and the Christian Education Council for the preparation of Sunday school teachers.
To cultivate and strengthen the cultural awareness of the faithful, the Primate also establishment the Diocesan Library, the official Opening Ceremony of which took place on October 27, 2004. His Eminence also created the Tarkmanchats Lsaran, for the general cultural edification of the clergy and the public.
Placing utmost importance on the youth, Archbishop Derderian created CYMA (Christian Youth Mission to Armenia), BFA (Brighter Future for Armenia) to encourage the youth of the Diocese to support the education of their peers in Hayastan, and the Armenian Alliance for Aid, which will seek to raise funds to ease the suffering of those subjected to modern day genocides.
The construction project of the Western Diocese Mother Cathedral took new flight with the election of Archbishop Hovnan Derderian. He has worked diligently for the implementation of the Cathedral project by securing new donors and Godfathers, as well as the assignment of a committee to oversee the project, and very soon the Mother Cathedral will be materialized.
His Eminence has strengthened the ties between the Western Diocese and the Armenian Community as well as the community at large. He pays visits to Armenian Day schools, regularly invites the organizations of the area for briefings and dialogue, and has created a stable ecumenical relationship with other churches. Thanks to Archbishop Derderian the Western Diocese now plays a major role in the religious Leaders' Meeting, which is held on a monthly basis, as well as the Southern California Ecumenical Council of Churches and the Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches.
Since 2003 Archbishop Derderian has ordained numerous individuals as Acolytes, Sub-Deacons and Deacons. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian has authored a number of booklets and articles on religious themes and personal experiences, which reflect a deep inner life and emphasize the values of spirituality Under his leadership several books, booklets, calendars and brochures have been published, both in English and Armenian, including sermons, the Divine Liturgy, and books on the Christian faith and the Armenian Church.
Archbishop Derderian
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