EXPLORING & CELEBRATING THE CREATIVE SPIRIT 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 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
His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian invites you to... Fr. Serovpe Alanjian parish priest of the St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Santa Clarita. A graduate 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 encyclical 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 performer. 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 Superintendent 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 commemorate 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. Hovsepian 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:
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: Madilyn Smith is a local singer/actor. In theater, she has played the lead in Once Upon A Mattress 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 renditions. This young and upcoming artist performs at Reclaim for everyone s enjoyment. 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. Fr. Krikor Zakaryan, is the parish priest of the St. Garabed Armenian Church in Rancho Mirage. 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 Liturgy 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 received 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, commercial 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!
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 graduate 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 Alternative 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 position 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: 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.
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 - BiPolar ID - 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
Afternoon Schedule of Speakers 1:30 2:20 3:10 4:00 Hampar Room Michael Goorjian - Creativity and the Artistic Process Dr. Yvette Hovsepian Bearce - Responding to the Current Global Crisis Michael Goorjian - Creativity and the Artistic 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 Zorayan 4 Sophia Armen - Reclaiming the Christian Narrative in America: Race, Hope & the Armenian Fight Hayk Madoyan - Ստեղծարար լինելու քրիստոնեական կոչումը Sophia Armen - Mashdots Jobanian - Reclaiming the Christian The Celebration of the Narrative in America: Holy Spirit in our Creative Process Race, Hope & the Armenian Fight Hayk Madoyan - Ստեղծարար լինելու քրիստոնեական կոչումը Mashdots Jobanian - The Celebration of the Holy Spirit in our Creative Process Mardiros Dakessian - Purpose and Passion: Conference Room How faith gives our work meaning Mardiros Dakessian - Purpose and Passion: How faith gives our work meaning Classroom2 Aram Kavoukjian - Creativity: The Wheel that keeps a business moving Virtual Reality - BIPOLAR id 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