Very Rev. Father Abgar Hovakimian, Elected Primate of the Armenian Church Diocese of Canada
The 31st Annual Assembly of the Armenian Church Canadian Diocese, hosted by St. Vartan Armenian Church Parish, was held on May 30 and May 31, 2014 in Mississauga, Ontario. The Assembly was presided by His Eminence Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisian, Locum Tenens of the Armenian Church Diocese of Canada. Mr. Jack Stepanian, former Chairman of the Diocesan Council, chaired the meetings.
On Saturday, May 31, 2014 the election for the Primate of the Diocese took place following the presentation of the Annual Reports of the different Church bodies and committees of the Diocese, the Clergy and the Diocesan Council. The forty-three delegates representing the parishes of the Canadian Diocese, the respective clergy and lay leaders cast their votes for the election of the new spiritual head of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada.
The Very Reverend Father Abgar Hovakimian was elected Primate with a majority of the votes, and will serve as Arachnort of the Diocese for the coming five years. The other two candidates were the Very Rev. Father Sasoon Zumrookhdian and the Very Rev. Father Aren Shahinian.
On June 9, 2014 His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians blessed and approved the election of Very Rev. Father Abgar Hovakimian as Primate of the Armenian Church Diocese of Canada.