Our Parish Priest

Fr. Mesrop Ash was born on June 12, 1981, to Ralph and Jeanine Ash. Through his parents' dedicated service he was raised within the community of St. James Armenian Church of Los Angeles. His formative years were devoted to Sunday School, Armenian Church Youth Organization, and the Western Diocese Summer Camp. As a young adult, he began transitioning to a leadership role within the life of the Church and found outlets for service in Lay Ministry with the youth. During this time he gained experience which would later be of use to his ministry, working with the Armenian Assembly of America and studying in the field Organizational Communications. He also cultivated skills in the IT field, most notably web design and development. In 2005, with the support and encouragement of the Primate, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian, he was accepted as a Candidate to the Priesthood for the Western Diocese and subsequently served as Diocesan Youth Director for two years.

In 2006, he was ordained to the Order of the Diaconate by Abp. Derderian. In 2008, he married his dear wife Ani, who has ardently supported him in his ministry. In 2009, with the blessing of the Primate and His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, he began his studies at the Kevorkian Seminary and Theological University located at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in Armenia. On April 29, 2012, he was ordained and consecrated to the Holy Priesthood. Since 2012, Fr. Mesrop has served as the Parish Priest of St. John Armenian Church in San Francisco, a richly diverse parish which is currently celebrating its 75th anniversary. In 2015, Fr. Mesrop and Ani were blessed with their first child, Maneh.

Contact

To contact Fr. Mesrop directly regarding pastoral matters call him at (415) 661-1142 ext. 16, or email him at pastor@stjohnarmenianchurch.com.