The Holy Week and Feast of the Ressurection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ are always a call to renewal through His mercy and glory. St. John gives thanks for the opportunity to celebrate these occasions in 2016 along with the family of the faithful.

On March 19, 2015, St. Vartan Armenian Church welcomed the clergy of the Eastern Churches of the Bay Area (ECoBA) to participate in joint prayers service in Lenten dinner. The event was hosted by Fr. Hovel Ohanyan, Parish Priest of St. Vartan, in cooperation with Fr. Datev Harutyunyan, Vicar of the Northern Region and Parish Priest of St. Andrew Armenian Church of Cupertino, and Fr. Mesrop Ash, Parish Priest of St. John Armenian Church of San Francisco.

Sunday, March 15, 2015, was a memorable day for St. John parishioners. Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, the Dean of the St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, who was visiting St. John church from New York, delivered the spiritual Message following the Divine Liturgy. Fr. Chevian, talked about how Jesus chose random fishermen to be his disciples, and they followed him because they had the calling. He challenged the congregation to find Christ's new disciples amongst them.

Saturday, February 28, 2015, Rev. Fr. Datev Harutyunian, Fr. Hovel Ohanian and Fr. Mesrop Ash along with Clergy from several Eastern Christian denominations, collectively referred to as the Eastern Churches of the Bay Area (ECoBA), participated in a demonstration outside the San Francisco Federal Building, to raise awareness regarding violence against Christians in Middle East. Several young men paid homage to the 21 Coptic Martyrs by wearing orange overalls who were brutally murdered by ISIS.

The first session of "Understanding Divine Liturgy" and Lenten Seminar Series was held on Tuesday, February 24 at 10:30am. Faithful attended the seminar and were engaged by the presentation and dialogue. Several participants also followed the presentation online, as it was boradcast live on Youtube, a first for St. John. Fr. Mesrop welcomed everyone and opened the session with prayer.

The lecture was divided in to 6 sections.

On Tuesday, February 17,  Rev. Fr. Datev Harutyunian, Northern Region Vicar,  Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan, and Rev. Fr. Mesrop Ash participated in Divine Liturgy and requiem prayers conducted by Fr. Bishoy William at the Archangel Michael and St. Mercurius Coptic Church in Redwood City. They were joined by several other clergy of Eastern Christian Churches from the Bay Area.

On Sunday, February 15, following the Divine Liturgy, under the leadership of Fr. Mesrop Ash and Youth Advisor Edward Barber Jr.  twelve members participated in the Armenian Church Youth Organization meeting. During the meeting they discussed the upcoming ACYO Jr. Retreat, Hye Camp registration and upcoming activities including April 24 events.

If anyone is interested in joining St. John ACYO please contact Fr. Mesrop Ash.

Each year, on the first day of the Fast of the Holy Catechumens (First Lent), the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church celebrates the Feast of St. Sarkis the Captain, his son Martiros and his 14 soldiers-companions. By the order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; the feast is proclaimed as a day of blessing of the youth. Saint Sarkis the Warrior is one of the most venerated Armenian saints. He is considered the patron saint of love and youth. His feast day is celebrated in late January or early February.

On January 29, Fr. Hovel Ohanyan, parish priest of St. Vartan Oakland, and Fr. Mesrop Ash of St. John San Francisco participated in meeting and prayer service of the Eastern Churches of the Bay Area (ECoBA), hosted by Our Lady of Lebanon Catholic Church in Millbrae. Ten clergy from different denominations joined in the Vesper Service and enjoyed a meal. In the spirit of brotherly love and respect they discussed issues effecting the Christian communities Near and Middle East, and how our parishes can help support them. Fr. Hovel and Fr.

On January 27, Fr. Hovel Ohanyan, Parish Priest of St. Vartan Oakland, and Fr. Mesrop Ash, Parish Priest of St. John San Francisco, enjoyed a spiritually uplifting meeting with His Eminence Bishop Marc Andrus, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California.