Western Diocese

A Retreat of the Western Diocese Sanahin Institute was held from July 19 to 21, 2007 at the Aldersgate Retreat Center and Chapel in Pacific Palisades, California.

In the absence of the Primate, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian presided over the retreat, representing the Primate.  The participants arrived on at 5:30 p.m. on July 19.  The program on Friday, July 20. began with a morning service at 7:30 a.m.  Archpriest Fr. Vartan Kasparian  lectured on ”The Sacrament of Healing;” Fr. Sarkis Petoyan spoke on “The Nicene Creed,  Part One” and, again following Lunch, he discussed “Part Two of the Nicene Creed.” Zar Der Mugrdechian spoke about “The Methodology of 7th and 8th Grades Sunday School.”  Meditation was held following dinner.

On Saturday morning, July 21, following morning service and breakfast, Mashdots Jobanian, Director of the Christian Education Department spoke about Christian Ethics.  The final speaker was Archpriest Fr. Kevork Arakelian, a visiting Priest, whose topic was “The Gospel of St. John.”