EXPLORING & CELEBRATING
THE CREATIVE SPIRIT
Under the Auspices of
His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate
at the
Western Diocese Headquarters and
Cathedral Complex, Burbank, California
March 2-4, 2018
#ReclaimAC2018
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will
send in my name, will teach you all things and
will remind you of everything I have said to you.
- Jesus
His Eminence Archbishop
Hovnan Derderian invites you to...
Fr. Serovpe Alanjian parish priest of the St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Santa Clarita. A gradu-
ate of the St. John’s Catholic Seminary with a degree of MA in Pastoral Ministry, writing a
thesis on the importance of Christian Education in the Armenian family based on the encycli-
cal of St. Nersess the Gracefilled, titled, “Watch Your Steps.” He has served at the St. Leon
Cathedral in Burbank and at the Armenian Church of Ventura County. He is one of the father
-confessors for the conference.
Sophia Armen is scholar, civil rights organizer and writer. She is pursuing a PhD in Ethnic
Studies at the University of California, San Diego with a focus on the history of Armenian-
Americans, gender politics, class, race and labor. She has worked with many organizations that
focus on social justice and has been active in the St. Peter's Church Van Nuys. During her
undergraduate studies at UCSB she served at student body President. Topic:
Fr. Mesrop Ash is the parish priest of the St. John Armenian Church in San Francisco, where
he has serviced since his ordination in 2012. Through his parents' dedicated service he was
raised within the community of St. James Armenian Church of Los Angeles. has worked
with the Armenian Assembly of Amercia His formative years were devoted to Sunday
School, ACYO and theWestern Diocese Summer Camp.
Topic:
Isabel Bayrakdarian - Opera Singer, Professor of Music at UCSB, Biomedical Engineer. In a
career still in its second decade, an eagerly anticipated visitor to opera houses and concert
halls the world over, Isabel Bayrakdarian is celebrated for her beauty, presence, and style as
for a strikingly multihued voice that’s wholly in sync with the rest of her.
Conference Address:
Ronda Berkeley cultivates and applies a unique visual and contextual aesthetic to theatrical
experiences in multiple disciplines as a dramaturg, director, choreographer and perform-
er. During her tenure as Associated Artistic Director of AMAN World Music and Dance, the
company has been the recipient of numerous awards. She has provided creative leadership on
projects for institutions like The Chitresh Das Dance Company and performed in works for
international events like the Los Angeles Olympic Arts Festival. She leads the “Spiritual Dance”
at Reclaim
Gail Chelebian is the Chairlady of the Western Diocese Christian Education Council and Super-
intendent at St. James, LA. Gail has been active in the Armenian church and community since
she was a young girl, specifically in Sunday school, Hye Camp, the Ladies Auxillary Debutante
Ball and by spending summers in Armenia participating in intensive language programs. Gail
is a graduate of UCLA with degrees in Linguistics, Spanish and an MA in Education. Topic:
Mardiros “Marty” Dakessian founded Dakessian Law in 2015, specializing in California tax
controversy and litigation. Dakessian is on a short list of the most well-known and successful
attorneys in California taxation and has been named “Tax MVP” four times in the past five
years by the legal publication , which lauded him as “a top-flight litigator.” He is a
graduate of UC Berkeley with a degree in Political Science and UC Hastings College of the Law.
Topic:
Azad DerBedrosian is a hiker, engineer, photographer and artist.
He has served at St. Peter Armenian Church, Glendale for over 10 years in various positions.
With the Armenian Hikers Association, Azad organized a 4 days 100km hike to commemo-
rate the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. He has served as president of the Armenian
Engineers and Scientists of America. A graduate of Cal Poly Pomona he currently works
at JPL, Pasadena. His artistic works can be seen at
Azad leads Reclaim’s “Spiritual Hike” Saturday morning.
Sevag Derderian is the founder and director of the Music Education Department of the AACCWD.
During his time as Chairman, the AACCWD has launched two music scholarship funds, developed a
music curriculum for the CEC & HyeCamp, held masteclasses, workshops, trainings, and expanded
the online sacred music library. He is a proud member of the CSULA Gohar & Ovanes Andriassian
Classical Guitar Competition, Festival & Symposium and American Federation of Musicians. Topic:
Michael Goorjian, born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, is an Armenian-American
actor, filmmaker, and writer. His acting credits include (Emmy Award for
Best Supporting Actor), Fox’s
and HBO’s Film credits include,
and , a film Michael wrote, directed and starred in alongside
Hollywood-legend Kirk Douglas. Michael’s first novel was
release in 2016. More at michaelagoorjian.com Topic:
Dr. Yvette Hovsepian-Bearce is a Middle East scholar specializing in contemporary Iranian politics.
Her book,
f was published as a volume in the UCLA Center for Middle East Development series. Hovsepi-
an Bearce’s work also focuses on comparative studies of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Currently
Hovsepian Bearce has dedicates herself to humanitarian work in response to the Syrian Refugee
Crisis, working with refugees, non-governmental organizations, and policymakers in Germany.
Topic:
Fr. Haroutioun Tachejian is the parish priest of the St. James Armenian Church of Los Angeles.
Born in Aleppo, Syria, he is a graduate of the Seminary of the Armenian Catholicosate of the
Great House of Cilicia. He was ordained as a married priest in 1992 and has pastored the St.
Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church in Chaville - France, St. Mary Magdalene Armenian
Church in Brussels - Belgium and the Holy Cross of Varak in Arnouville – France. He is one of
the Father-Confessors of this conference.
Madilyn Smith is a local singer/actor. In theater, she has played the lead in Once Upon A Mat-
tress as Princess Winnifred and the part of Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family Musical at
EagleRock High School. Her YouTube channel highlights her musical prowess with cover rendi-
tions. This young and upcoming artist performs at Reclaim for everyone’s enjoyment.
Melina Sardar has a proven track record for motivating and inspiring business professionals,
youth, adults, and groups within a diverse population. Her best ability is in empowering and
motivating others to act with purpose and set goals with the pursuit of achieving them. Since
2003, Melina has been operating her private coaching practice, and specializes in providing 1
-on-1 coaching in areas of career, relationship, emotional awareness, stress and anxiety
management. More at www.MeltheLifeCoach.com
Melina will be leading the orientation: “ ”
Fr. Krikor Zakaryan, is the parish priest of the St. Garabed Armenian Church in Rancho Mi-
rage. Born and raised in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Fr. Krikor studied Biology, Humanitarianism and
French. He served valiantly in the Bulgarian army. Fr. Kirkor celebrated his first Divine Litur-
gy at the social hall of the Armenian Church of the Desert in Rancho Mirage. During his
pastorate, the Sanctuary of St. Garabed’s was built and completed. Fr. Krikor Zakaryan re-
ceived his Masters of Theology degree from the Claremont School of Theology, Claremont.
Topic: “ .”
David Karapetyan, a recent class of 2017 graduate from UCLA majoring in business economics, has been working
at the forefront of the emerging world of virtual reality since its earliest days. When an opportunity to create one
of the first ever content pieces in VR for European telecom giant 02 presented itself, David and his brother, com-
mercial director Gevorg, had to assemble a one-of-a-kind team of experts to pull it off. Exploiting their creativity,
they started the virtual reality production company, Bipolar Studio. Come by their room to get a chance to chat
and fully experience some of their content in true VR. They will have demo stations set up and would love to
share the excitement of VR with you.
Room? Time? When? Where? What? Who? Need help?
Look for the braided cross label pin! St. Leon ACYO members are your hosts
and hostesses for this weekend. They’ll make sure you’re headed in the
right direction and at the right time. Just ask! They’re here for you!
During the Conference two priests, Fr. Haroutioun and Fr. Serovpe will be hearing private
confessions in the vestry of the Cathedral. Request a session at the entrance of the Cathedral.
Mashdots Jobanian is the Directors of Christian Education at the Western Diocese. His Bible
Studies at several parishes are attended by large crowds of young and old. He has his own TV
and Radio programs and is followed on the Internet throughout the world. Mashdots is a gradu-
ate of Theological Seminary of the Armenian Church of the Catholicasate of Cilcia, Antelias,
Lebanon and has studied at the Theological Faculty, Oslo Norway, at the Theological Seminary,
Denmark studying Biblical Missiology and at Fuller Seminary in Recovery Ministry. Topic:
Aram Kavoukjian, M.B.A, received his Bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship from Loyola
Marymount University, where he served as President of the Armenian Student Association,
VP of Finance of Sigma Phi Epsilon, Goalkeeper for LMU Men's Soccer, Leader of an Alterna-
tive Breaks trip to Israel/West Bank. At LMU, he found a passion for developing ideas into
products. He has worked on several startup companies, some of which are successful small
businesses today. Currently he works with in his family business, working closely with the
Starkey Foundation in donating and providing hearing aids for thousands of people in
Armenia. Topic:
Hayk Madoyan is the Ecumenical Officer and Librarian translator and interpreter of classical
Armenian and Theological texts of the Western Diocese. He is a Teacher/Catechist of Orthodox
Christianity and religious studies at large; specialized in the doctrine and history of The
Armenian Apostolic Church. He received his Masters of Theology degree from Yerevan State
University, Armenia and furthered his study in Biblical Studies (Biblical Hebrew and (Koine)
Greek) at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena. Topic: Ստեղծարար լինելու
քրիստոնեական կոչումը (The Christian call to Creativity)
Fr. Vazken Movsesian is a graduate of USC with degrees in Social Ethics and Psychology. He
has pastored at St. Andrew, Cupertino, St. Gregory, Pasadena and St. Peter, Glendale, during
his 35 years of service as a priest of the Armenian Church. His weekly podcasts and videos are
followed by a worldwide audience. He holds weekly Bible Study in Glendale and is currently
working on a new project called “Armodoxy.” More at Keynote Address:
“ ”; Sunday Morning: “
”
Archpriest Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, the Parish Priest of the St. Gregory Armenian Church in Pasadena,
holds two undergraduate degrees from CSUN. At the age of 30 he resigned his managerial posi-
tion in the retail banking industry and began studying for the priesthood at Holy Echmiadzin, St.
Nersess Armenian Theological Seminary and St. Vladimir Orthodox Seminary where he earned an
M.Div. degree. During his eleven years as the shepherd of the St. John Armenian Church in San
Francisco, he and Yeretsgeen Talin organized pilgrimages to Armenia and over $400,000 for
charitable projects throughout Armenia. Topic:
The Weekend at a Glance… Friday - March 2
6:00-8:00P - Registration & Mixer - Turpanjian Plaza
8:00 - Opening Ceremony - Kathryn Mgrublian, Welcome
- Reflections - Nataline Jindoian, ACYO Central Council
- Reflections - Charles Cherezian, St. John, San Francisco
- Keynote Address “The God Generation” Fr. Vazken Movsesian
- Spiritual Message and Prayer—Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate
9:15 - Around the bonfire - Turpanjian Plaza
- Spiritual Dance - Ronda Berkeley Songs - Madilyn Smith
Saturday - March 3
6:30A - Bus boarding at Diocese to hike site
7:00A - Wake Up with the Spiritual Hike - Azad DerBedrosian
Stough Canyon Nature Center, 2300 Walnut, Burbank, California
8:30A - Breakfast - Paul Galleria
10:00A-4:30P - Private Confession in Sanctuary (See Dn Garen or Dn Nareg)
Fr. Haroutioun Tachejian & Fr. Serovpe Alanjian
10:00 - Session 1 - “Ignite Your Soul’s Passion” - Melina Sardar
11:00 - Session 2 - “Inspired by the Spirit” - Isabel Bayrakdarian
12:00 Noon - Group Picture - In front of the Cathedral Sanctuary
12:30 Lunch - Turpanjian Plaza
1:30 - 5:00 - Virtual Reality - BiPolarID - Classroom #2
1:30 - Session 3
2:20 - Session 4
3:10 - Session 5
4:00 - Session 6
5:00 - Cathedral & Museum Tour - Hayk Madoyan
6:30 - Spiritual Supper - Zorayan Museum “Rivers of Living Water“
Sunday - March 4
9:00 - Creative Power and Energy of the Diving Liturgy - Fr. Vazken Movsesian
10:30 - Divine Liturgy - Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Celebrant
Procession of the children
CEC Workshop - Zorayan Museum
Holy Communion
12:30 PM - Fellowship and dismissal
See schedule of speakers on next page
Classroom2 Virtual Reality - BIPOLARid
Afternoon Schedule of Speakers
1:30 2:20 3:10 4:00
Hampar Room
Michael Goorjian -
Creativity and the Artis-
tic Process
Dr. Yvette Hovsepian
Bearce - Responding to
the Current Global Crisis
Michael Goorjian -
Creativity and the Artis-
tic Process
Dr. Yvette Hovsepian
Bearce - Responding to
the Current Global Crisis
Sanctuary
Sevag Derderian -
Hymns of the Armenian
Church
Sevag Derderian -
Hymns of the Armenian
Church
Zorayan 1
Fr. Mesrop Ash -
Why your life is too
complicated: Simplicity
and Intentionality
Fr. Mesrop Ash -
Why your life is too
complicated: Simplicity
and Intentionality
Gail Chelebian -
Spiritual Parenting:
Myself and Others
Gail Chelebian -
Spiritual Parenting:
Myself and Others
Zorayan 2
Fr. Krikor Zakarian -
The Holy Spirit and the
Mission of the Church
Fr. Krikor Zakarian -
The Holy Spirit and the
Mission of the Church
Fr. Sarkis Petoyan -
Parable of the Talents:
Allowing the Holy Spirit
to work through you
Fr. Sarkis Petoyan -
Parable of the Talents:
Allowing the Holy Spirit
to work through you
Zorayan 3
Sophia Armen -
Reclaiming the Christian
Narrative in America:
Race, Hope & the Arme-
nian Fight
Sophia Armen -
Reclaiming the Christian
Narrative in America:
Race, Hope & the Arme-
nian Fight
Mashdots Jobanian -
The Celebration of the
Holy Spirit in our Crea-
tive Process
Mashdots Jobanian -
The Celebration of the
Holy Spirit in our Crea-
tive Process
Zorayan 4
Hayk Madoyan -
Ստեղծարար
լինելու
քրիստոնեական
կոչումը
Hayk Madoyan -
Ստեղծարար
լինելու
քրիստոնեական
կոչումը
Conference Room
Mardiros Dakessian -
Purpose and Passion:
How faith gives our
work meaning
Mardiros Dakessian -
Purpose and Passion:
How faith gives our
work meaning
Aram Kavoukjian -
Creativity: The Wheel
that keeps a business
moving
Aram Kavoukjian -
Creativity: The Wheel
that keeps a business
moving
Acknowledgements
This conference is made possible through
a generous donation made in memory of
Takuhi Siranush Kuyumjian (1926-2017)
in recognition of her love and devotion to the Armenian Church
By the Kuyumjian and Panosian families
We gratefully acknowledge and thank
The St. John Armenian Church, San Francisco
for their farsighted belief in the Mission of the Armenian Church and ongoing support of the Reclaim Conference
The St. Leon (Srbots Ghevontyants) Parish Priest - Fr. Khajag Shahbazian,
The Parish Council, Ladies Society & ACYO
for hosting Reclaim, arranging meal services and hospitality
The Staff of the Western Diocese
Harout Markarian, Executive Director
and ALL Departments for the extraordinary attention paid to detail
The presenters, Artists & Speakers of the Reclaim Conference for sharing their time and talent so willingly and plentifully
As well as all those who volunteered their time and services Bus Service: Royal American Tours - Akop Madanyan
Signage: Studio MA, Inc.
Promotions Printing: @MSPrinting Plus
Thank you!
The Reclaim Committee
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Fr. Vazken Movsesian, Yn. Susan Movsesian,
Maria Hamparian, Suzie Shatarevyan, Charles Cherezian
Lida Ananian, Sevana Keshishian,
Marianna Muradyan, Michelle Markarian
#ReclaimAC2018