Archbishop Hovnan Derderian is a prominent religious leader in the Armenian Apostolic Church and, since 2003, is the Primate of the Western Diocese in the United States, one of the largest Armenian dioceses in the world. He has served as the Primate of the Diocese of Canada (1990-2003) and has held high-level leadership positions in the Armenian Apostolic Church and in various Ecumenical bodies. Since 1990, he is a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council, the highest executive body in the Church. Under his leadership, tens of churches and community centers have been built and consecrated and numerous new church communities established throughout Canada and the United States. Over the last three decades, he has established and supported numerous charities, humanitarian assistance programs, and educational projects and is the author of a vast collection of spiritual and pastoral publications. Archbishop Hovnan’s service and significant contributions have been widely recognized, including by the Government of Canada, the Government of Armenia, the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations in the United States, and other religious and civic organizations.
Early life and education
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian was born on December 1, 1957, in Beirut, Lebanon and was baptized as Vahram Derderian in the Armenian Apostolic Church. At the age of 13, he became a student of the seminary of the Armenian Church’s Catholicosate of Cilicia in Lebanon. Following his graduation, in 1976, he continued his theological education at the Mother See of the Armenian Church in Etchmiadzin, Soviet Armenia.
Upon the completion of his studies at Etchmiadzin’s Gevorgyan Seminary, on June 8, 1980, he was ordained a celibate priest by His Holiness Vasken I, Catholicos of All Armenians, and was renamed Hovnan. Soon after, the 23-year-old young Father Hovnan started his theological studies at St. Stephen’s House Theological College, University of Oxford. In 1983 he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in theology and returned to Etchmiadzin, where he taught a number of courses at the Gevorgyan Seminary. In 1987 he received a Master’s degree in Theology from Oxford.
In 1984 he was elevated to the rank of Vartabed (Doctor of Theology) in the Armenian Church for his scholarly work on church feasts, and in 1987 received the rank of Dzairakuyn Vartabed (a Supreme Teacher) for his study on Pastoral Theology.
Pastoral work and ministry in Canada
In 1984 young Father Hovnan was appointed pastor of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Toronto, Canada, where he served for six years. During his tenure the community was re-energized, especially the youth, and the Armenian Church Youth Organization of Canada (ACYOC) was re-established. The most significant achievement of the vibrant community led by Fr. Hovnan in Toronto was the construction of the cathedral-size new church and community complex, which was consecrated in 1987 by His Holiness Vazken I, the Catholicos of All Armenian.
Primate of Canada
In May 1990, at the age of 33, Fr. Hovnan was elected Primate by the delegates of the Diocesan Assembly of the Armenian Church in Canada, held in St. Catharines, Ontario. He was consecrated a bishop on October 7 by His Holiness Vasken I in the Cathedral of St. Etchmiadzin, becoming the youngest diocesan primate in the Armenian Church. He was made an archbishop on February 18, 1993. He was re-elected Primate of Canada in 1995 and 2000 respectively, serving the diocese for three consecutive terms.
His over decade-long tenure as the Primate of Canada was prolific. In addition to the six established parish communities, new parishes were established in various regions, such as the Holy Cross Church in Laval (Quebec), St. Vartan Church in Mississauga (Ontario) and the Holy Resurrection Church in Windsor (Ontario) and Mission Parishes in Halifax (Nova Scotia), Winnipeg (Manitoba), Edmonton (Alberta), and Calgary (Alberta).
Diocesan ministries were expanded and new projects and organizations established, dedicated to wide range of charitable projects in Canada and Armenia. As part of his many awareness-raising efforts and fundraising, Archbishop Hovnan once walked over 500 km (over 300 miles) from Montreal to Toronto and raised substantial funds for the Women’s Health Centre in Artik, Armenia.
He paid particular attention to ministering to the youth in the community, such as the Canadian Youth Mission to Armenia, which organized missions starting in 1993. He also established educational and cultural programs, and sponsored the publication of over 500 titles and resources to advance the spiritual mission of the Diocese. He is the author of many publications on pastoral theology, spirituality, prayer and reflections on everyday living.
Prime Minister of Canada Jean Chrétien, in a letter from the capital Ottawa (2003), addressed to the community, commended Archbishop Hovnan’s “wise stewardship and leadership” and “his extensive work on behalf of the Armenian community”, which “stands as an admirable example of commitment and benevolence.”
In summing up Archbishop Hovnan’s nearly two decades of service in Canada, the Chairman of the Diocesan Council wrote in 2003 on behalf of the community on the occasion of a farewell event. “Since 1984, you gave us, the Canadian Armenians, nineteen uninterrupted years of your young life in the service of God and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Nineteen years of distinguished service during which you touched the lives of thousands of your faithful.... Your strong love for the people and your unending energy will be remembered for many years to come.”
Primate of the Western Diocese
Archbishop Hovnan was elected Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America on May 3, 2003, by the 76th Annual Diocesan Assembly. Soon after, he introduced necessary changes in the Diocesan structure and brought in a young generation of professional staff. A number of departments were created, including the Office of Executive Director to effectively plan and execute all administrative matters related to the Diocesan headquarters, and the Christian Education Department of the Western Diocese.
Subsequently, the Nerouj young professionals’ group was founded, which organizes regular networking meetings and activities. In 2018, the group’s Inaugural Mentorship Event attracted more than 200 youth in the diocese.
In 2009, he was re-elected Primate for a second seven-year term by the 82nd Annual Diocesan Assembly. In 2016 and 2023 respectively, he received the vote of confidence during the annual Diocesan Assemblies, whereby the diocesan delegates re-elected the Primate to serve for subsequent seven-year terms.
In 2010, the Western Diocese celebrated Archbishop Hovnan’s 30th anniversary of Ordination into the Sacred Order of the Priesthood and the 20th anniversary of his elevation to the rank of Bishop. These milestones in the life of Archbishop Hovan were celebrated by the Western Diocese in 2015 and 2020 as well.
Since his election as Primate, Archbishop Hovnan has organized and hosted five pontifical visits to the Western Diocese by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
Archbishop Hovnan is engaged in many other civic and international initiatives, such as the hosting of a special event themed “Japan-Armenia Friendship” in celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Building and consecration of Churches
Archbishop Hovnan’s episcopal ministry and leadership are distinguished by the establishment of new church communities and consecration of houses of worship. Following his distinguished record in Canada, his leadership in the Western Diocese has been prolific in the last two decades. In 2006-2022, he has consecrated a score of churches and parish and community centres throughout the Western Diocese, including the majestic St. Leon Cathedral in Burbank. A number of other churches and community facilities in various parts of the Diocese are under construction under his leadership.
Ordination of priests
The recruitment, education and training of priests and parish priests have been essential part of Archbishop Hovnan’s episcopal leadership and remain as focal aspect of his ministry. Since 1992 he has ordained hundreds of priests (32), deacons and acolytes in the Armenian church, who serve in Armenia and the Diaspora. In 1992-2015, he has ordained scores of young priests in Canada, Armenia and the United States. Many of them continue to serve the Canadian Diocese and the Western Diocese.
Leadership positions in the Armenian Church
Since his consecration as a bishop in 1990, he is a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council, the highest executive body in the Armenian Apostolic Church, which convenes on a regular basis under the presidency of the Catholicos of All Armenians in Holy Etchmiadzin.
In 2001 Archbishop Hovnan led the celebratory events marking the 1700th anniversary of Armenia’s adoption of Christianity as a state religion. In 2013 he was appointed Chair of the 100th Anniversary of Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Committee of the Armenian Apostolic Church by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. In 2017, Archbishop Hovnan initiated the establishment of the Diocese of the Armenian Church in Mexico. It was formally inaugurated with a visit of the Catholicos of All Armenians to Mexico, who also presided over the opening of the Armenian embassy in Mexico City. As a historic first, Archbishop Hovnan hosted the Supreme Spiritual Council meeting, for the first-time outside Armenia, presided by His Holiness Karekin II, at the Diocesan headquarters in Burbank, November 1-3, 2017. In 2018, as the founding spiritual leader of the International Armenian Church Youth Organization, Archbishop Hovnan led thousands of youth on pilgrimages to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
In 2019, the Catholicos of all Armenians appointed him Chairman of the Fundraising Committee for the Renovation of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. Shortly after his appointment and within a few months, Archbishop Hovnan initiated major fundraising on a global scale by personally visiting Armenian communities in South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
Humanitarian assistance
Following the 1988 earthquake in northern Armenia, Archbishop Hovnan mobilized the community in Canada for humanitarian aid to Armenia. A wide range of assistance provided much needed in housing, basic necessities and reconstruction. For many years, more than 1000 orphaned children received monthly monetary assistance from sponsors in the Diaspora.
During the first and second Artsakh wars, Archbishop Hovnan was among the first leaders in the Diaspora who organized immediate humanitarian assistance. In 2016, following the Four-day War along the line of contact of Artsakh and Azerbaijan, he established a humanitarian fund for the benefit of the families of the fallen soldiers.
On the first day of the Second Artsakh War, (September 27, 2020) Archbishop Hovnan initiated advocacy work with Ecumenical and civic leaders in the western United States. The diocesan headquarters turned into a major humanitarian center, where much needed necessities were collected for the peaceful civilians who suffered from the Azerbaijani aggression. The Primate also organized several major fundraising events for the victims of the war. He established a major humanitarian fund to aid displaced families of Artsakh. By 2021, the Diocese transferred enormous funds to the All-Armenian Fund to benefit families impacted by the 44-day Artsakh War.
In the aftermath of the 2020 war, besides humanitarian assistance, Archbishop Hovnan founded the Artsakh Heritage Committee of prominent scholars, experts and stakeholders with the aim of safeguarding the Armenian cultural heritage under the control of Azerbaijan. The committee brought the issue of the destruction of religious and cultural monuments in Artsakh to the attention of the international community and NGOs. Four international conferences were held—in Holy Etchmiadzin, Austria, Russia and the United States—bringing together leading experts and delegates from across the world to discuss cultural heritage, international legal rights and instruments and preservation. In 2025, this project was restructured and renamed Armenian Religious and Cultural Heritage Council.
The Western Diocese partners with the Starkey Hearing Aid Foundation. Substantial funds were raised for the Armenia Hearing Aid Mission. Over 1800 hearing aids were distributed to beneficiaries from all parts of Armenia.
Archbishop Hovnan has initiated a partnership between the Western Diocese and the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. It includes a substantial donation for the CHLA’s Vision Center, the Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases, the Newborn and Infant Critical Care Unit, the Literally Healing Program and the Interfaith Center. He has actively worked in partnership with many other organizations, including Providence Saint Joseph Hospital in Burbank, Adventist Health Glendale, the American Red Cross and World Vision.
In August 2020, the day following the horrific explosion at Beirut’s port, Archbishop Hovnan established a diocese-wide humanitarian fund for the Armenian community of Beirut.
Scholarships
In 2017, in recognition of his vision and leadership, the faithful established the Archbishop Hovnan Derderian Scholarship Fund that provides scholarships to local Armenian Schools. Since its inception, more than $500,000 have been allocated to the fund’s “No Deserving Child Left Behind” initiative. A substantial endowment fund has been created—through annual fundraising events with the Primate’s active participation—which makes it possible to provide scholarships in perpetuity.
Awards and Honors
Archbishop Hovnan has been honored by the Canadian government in 1992, on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada, and in 1994 with a Special Citizenship Award. In 2000, he was recognized by the United Nations International Information Academy. He was honored by the President of the Republic of Armenia in 2011 for his Services and Contributions to the Motherland. In 2014 he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations “for his invaluable contributions to the Armenian nation while exemplifying the values of the American way of life." In 2014, he received the prestigious Khrimian Hayrig Award by the Western Region of the Armenian National Committee of America.
