His Grace Bishop Haigazoun Najarian returned from the United States on Wednesday having participated in the Supreme Spiritual Council meeting under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, hosted at the headquarters of the US Eastern Diocese in New York City. This was the first time the body had met outside of Armenia.

On October 31 and November 1, His Holiness and the 17 members of the Council convened a joint meeting with the executive bodies of the Eastern, Western, and Canadian dioceses and the AGBU, under the theme, “Bringing the Church to the People: Reaching Out to the Armenians of North America”. The meeting examined the emerging realities within the Armenian-American community, and the prospects for expanding the church’s ministry. From 2-3 November, the Supreme Spiritual Council reconvened to address ongoing matters of governance and ministry in the worldwide Armenian Church.

A highlight of Bishop Najarian’s visit back to the U.S. was celebrating the Divine Liturgy at St Sahag & St Mesrob Church in Philadelphia after nine years, where he had once served as the parish pastor from 2002-2007.