On Friday, December 14, at St. John Armenian Church of San Francisco, His Eminence Abp. Aris Shirvanian, Locum Tenens of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem was welcomed by Bay Area clergy Rev. Fr. Datev Haroutyunian, parish priest of St. Andrew Armenian Church of Cupertino and Northern California Regional Vicar; Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan, parish priest of St. Vartan Armenian Church of Oakland; and St. John parish priest Rev. Fr. Mesrop Ash. 

At the invitation of Fr. Mesrop the clergy gathered for an intimate luncheon and meeting. Aris Surpazan informed the clergy with regard to the affairs of the Patriarchate in Jerusalem, and asked many questions about the state of the Armenian community of the Bay Area, where he had served as pastor of St. John Armenian Church for 16 years. During the luncheon the clergy were joined by dedicated St. John’s volunteers. Surpazan was very pleased and expressed his gratitude to all those in attendance for their hospitality and warm reception.