About Us
Our Mission Statement
The Armenian Church Youth Organization of the Western Diocese of North America (ACYO-WD) actively integrates its members into the life of the church by providing opportunities for Worship, Service, Education, and Fellowship in Christ according to the doctrines and traditions of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Primate's Message
The ACYO-WD has been, and continues to be, and will remain the most important mission in the life of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Through this institution, our sons, and daughters, baptized in the holy font of our forefathers, are being trained to become strong visionary, and committed leaders of the living church. The ACYO-WD is the backbone of the Armenian Church of the Western Diocese. Once engaged in this mission and institution, each member certainly becomes affiliated with the tradition of the Armenian Apostolic Church. I trust that our youth have the divine wisdom and inspiration to make this organization the ground and stronghold for their Christian Armenian identity.
His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian
ACYO-WD Youth Director
Hello, beloved youth. My name is Very Rev. Fr. Yeremia Abgaryan, and I am the newest youth director of our beloved ACYO. I attended the Gevorkian Theological Seminary in Vagharshapat, Armenia, and graduated in 2010. Later that year, after my graduation, I was ordained as a celibate priest by Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan. After my ordination, I served in the Church and State Relationship Department of the Chancellery of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin from 2011 to 2015. I am excited to work closely with the Central Council and help guide our youth toward the message of Christ and teach the values of our Holy Armenian Apostolic Church.
The Prayer of ACYO
O Lord, Our Savior Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, give us, the youth of the Armenian Church, we beseech you, the wisdom to know, to love, and to serve you, both in our personal lives, and in the life of our organization.
You, who lead all people in the way, lead us, Your children, that we may be able to serve the Church through our people, with courage and vision, and in the faith of our illustrious forefathers.
Inspire us, O Lord, and open our eyes to Your light, that we may cherish and profit by the heritage which our forefathers have left to us, and that we may be aware of our responsibilities as citizens of our beloved country.
Fill us, O Christ our God, with your Holy Spirit, that we may be the obedient and unselfish servants of the Will of our heavenly Father, to Whom, together with You and the Holy Spirit, is befitting glory, dominion, and honor, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The Pledge of ACYO-WD
I solemnly promise and declare upon my honor, that as a member of the Armenian Church Youth Organization of the Western Diocese, I shall, to the best of my ability, be a faithful child of the Armenian Church; shall be a devoted upholder of the Armenian cultural heritage; shall be a loyal citizen of the United States; and I shall diligently abide by the objects, policies, and decisions of the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America. I shall not strive for personal recognition and pleasure, but will serve our Church, our Community, and our Country, for the greater glory of God.