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A Brief History of
St. Peter Armenian Church and Youth Ministries’ Center
In January 2003, community businessman and benefactor, Onnig Mehrabian offered at building across the street from Glendale’s Hoover High School to Fr. Vazken Movsesian, Director of the Youth Ministries’ Department of the Western Diocese. They brought their talents together to build one of the most dynamic churches in the Western Diocese.
Fr. Vazken Movsesian with his years of experience in the Armenian Church and Youth Ministries and Onnig Mehrabian with his expertise in business development teamed up and renovated the building into an Armenian Church complete with all the amenities: pews, altar area and altar table. A new multipurpose room and classrooms were renovated to accommodate the youth programs and school.
On Palm Sunday, April 13, 2003 – just 40 days after work began on the building - the doors of the church were opened to the community and the youth. His Eminence Archbishop Vatché Hovsepian, Primate of the Western Diocese dedicated the building before an audience of community, civic and religious leaders. In his remarks, he outlined the goal and vision for the new church building, as an outreach to the community and place of spiritual refuge and growth for youth.
On Holy Wednesday 2003, a Youth Service was held under the auspices of the Primate, thus inaugurating the building as a Youth Ministries’ Center and bringing together the most valuable element of the Armenian community under the umbrella of the Armenian Church.
The first Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Holy Thursday, April 17, 2003 with Fr. Vazken Movsesian celebrating. In attendance was Rev. Fr. Gourgen Mouradyan, who was asked to be the Father Confessor of the ministry and appointed by the Primate. Deacon Dr. Hrair Dekmejian conducted the choir and was appointed as the choir leader and senior deacon for all services. Maria Hamparian was retained as the chief financial officer.
The building served as the headquarters of the Diocesan Department of Youth Ministries from April 2003 to May 2004. The governing board of trustees was Dn. Dr. Hrair Dekmejian, Dn. Allan Y. Jendian and David Mgrublian. Fr. Vazken Movsesian served as Director of the Department. As such all activities of the Diocesan Camp Program, Sunday School and ACYO were headquartered at this building, now referred to as the Youth Ministries’ Complex.
On August 31, 2003, the first ordinations took place at the church by Archbishop Hovnan Derderian. Deacon Tigran Gharibjanian was ordained as the deacon of the church and appointed as Assistant to the priest. Varoujan Movsesian and Hayk Gharibjanian were ordained as sub-Deacons and Acolytes Eric Simonoff, Christaphor Movsesian and Vatché Agopian, were ordained.
Two pontifical encyclicals from His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians were presented to Deacon Hrair Dekmejian and Diramayr Anna R. Movsesian. On this occasion, Archbishop Vatché Hovsepian presented each with the St. Nersess Shnorhali medal of honor.
Under the original contract between Onnig Mehrabian and Fr. Vazken, the department enjoyed all the benefits and opportunities granted by the facility and its owner. As part of an organized process of dismantling the Youth Ministries Department, the Diocesan Council and Primate demanded that the building be turned over to the Diocese. Subsequently, the building was consecrated according to the canons of the Armenian Church but without the aquisition of the building.
On January 4, 2004, the building was consecrated as the St. Peter Armenian Church and Youth Center by Archbishop Hovnan Derderian. The list of Godfathers is as follows:
Altar area: The Mehrabian family – headed by Onnig and Armenouhi Mehrabian and their children Peter and Taline. On this occasion, Onnig Mehrabian was awarded the St. Gregory the Illuminator medal of honor through a pontifical proclamation,
The other corners of the church had the following godparents:
1) Michael Geragos - St. Paul
2) Mardiros Dakessian, Hrayr Nalbandian, Tamar Papirian - St. Peter
3) Ara Krikorian & Aram Krikorian - St. Simon the Canonite
4) Anush Movsesian Burr - St. Matthias
5) Dn. Hrair & Anoush Dekmejian - St. James - Zebedee
6) Sako Batanian - St. Bartholomew
7) Ivy Grashian - St. Gregory the Illuminator
8) Tony Agajanian - St. James Alpheaus
9) Yn. Susan Movsesian - St. Andrew
10) Seta Bahudian & Nishan Panosian - St. Thomas
11) Sossi Missirlian - St. Thaddeus
12) Armen Avanessian - St. Luke
13) Rouben Tamasian - St. Mark
14) Armen Janian - St. Matthew
15) Raffi Karadolian - St. Phillip
16) Petros Malakian - St. John
On February 5, 2004, in recognition of the consecration and to honor the Primate for the first time in Western Diocese on his name day, on the feast of St. Hovnan a celebration was organized at the church. The first clergy conference under the Primacy of Abp. Derderian also took place at the church in April of that year.
In February 2004, the first organized famine for world hunger took place at the church under the newly formed In His Shoes Mission. Over $70,000 was raised. After school counseling, tutoring and mentorship took place daily at the Center. Meanwhile the Diocesan Camp program and Sunday School operations were directed and organized from the Center, until May 2004, when the newly elected Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian completely dismantled the Department of Youth Ministries.
In September 2004, a Parish Council was appointed by the Primate to oversee operations of the building. The members were, Mardiros Dakessian, Tamar Papirian, Anoush Dekmejian, Paul Karapetian, Hrair Nalbandian and Aram Krikorian. Maria Hamparian, continued to serve as financial officer and Dr. Dn. Hrair Dekmejian was appointed as advisor to the group. The other members of the Youth Ministries’ Board – Dn. Allan Y. Jendian and David Mgrublian - were relieved from duties by the Primate.
The Youth Ministries' program and the In His Shoes mission continues under the direct supervision of the Fr. Vazken Movsesian at the Center. Fr. Vazken also serves as the Parish Priest for the church. Dr. Dekmejian has identified the location of St. Peter as “Ground Zero” where one of the largest concentrations of Armenian youth outside of Armenia resides. The ministry at this church is unique and enjoys the support of local and distant partners. It is Christ centered and invites youth to take responsibility for their lives. A sister church relationship was established with the Amarass Monastery in Artzakh and over $14,000 was sent during the first year, most of which was raised by the youth. The Sunday School program takes place under the direction of Yn. Susan Movsesian. The church and ministry operate a website: www.hyeyouth.com which carries relevant news of events and activities. Broadcasts on local TV, a regular column in the Glendale Newspress, Webcasts and Podcasts are all part of the regular ministry of this parish.
The first Parish Assembly of the St. Peter Armenian Church & Youth Ministries’ Center took place on April 3, 2005 with 40 members signed up. A parish council was duly elected by the membership. The members are: Paul Karapetian, Anush Avejic, Mardiros Dakessian, Tamar Papirian, Anoush Dekmejian, Paul Simonoff, Hrair Nalbandian, Aram Krikorian, Maria Hamparian, Ludwig Barska and Ohannes Dembekjian.
Today the Church & Center operate as a unit bringing Christ's Light to a small corner of Glendale.