On April 8-9, 2016, His Grace Bishop Abgar Hovakimian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Canada paid a pastoral visit to Edmonton.

On April 8th His Grace attended an award ceremony at the Government House of Edmonton, where Svetlana Grigoryan, a young member of the community, was awarded with the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award by the Honourable Lois Mitchell, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.

On April 9, His Grace presided over the Annual Parish Assembly of St. Narek Armenian Parish of Edmonton. Upon conclusion of the Assembly, His Grace celebrated Divine Liturgy with members of St. Narek Parish. The Liturgy took place at St. Philip Antiochian Orthodox Church.

Following Divine Liturgy, Edmonton and Red Deer Armenians gathered in the church hall. With a moment of silence they honoured our newest heroes who lost their lives defending the Motherland during the recent Azeri attack against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

The attendees of the Armenian Sunday School of Edmonton performed national dance “Nazani”, recited Armenian poems and presented items made by the children.