ARCHPRIEST FR. SHNORK DEMIRJIAN

Fr. Shnork Demirjian (nee Mesrob) was born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1958. He is the son of Archpriest Zaven and Yeretzgin Mayranoush Demirjian. Fr. Shnork began his undergraduate education at Haigazian College in Beirut. After immigrating to the United States, he continued his studies at the Armenian American International College (AAIC) at University of La Verne, California where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Religion in 1989. Upon his graduation from AAIC, he entered St. Nersess Seminary and St. Vladimir Orthodox Theological Seminary in New Rochelle, New York where he received his Master of Divinity Degree.

In 1988, Fr. Shnork married Miss Lydia Sorfazian (Yn. Lydia Demirjian). They have been blessed with four children: Teveen, Mary-Anoush, Zaven, and Lori. 

He was ordained to the Order of the Diaconate in 1990 at St. Gregory Armenian Church in Pasadena. Upon completing his Clinical Pastoral Education at UCLA, he was ordained into the order of Priesthood at St. Peter Armenian Church on August 4, 1991 by His Eminence Archbishop Vatché Hovsepian. He was assigned to St. Peter Armenian Church in Van Nuys, California as parish priest on November of 1991 and has served St. Peter Church since that time.

During his 31 year ministry, Archpriest Fr. Shnork served the Church with unwavering dedication and enthusiasm. He led his congregation during its darkest days after the Northridge Earthquake in January of 1994, when the sanctuary, the adjacent classrooms and halls were renovated.

In addition to his pastoral duties, Fr. Shnork has assumed responsibilities in the Western Diocese. He has been elected a member of the Diocesan Council. He has served as representative of the Western Diocese on the General Board of St. Nersess Seminary. As a delegate, he attended the General Ecclesiastical Assembly during the elections of the recent two catholicoi. 

Fr. Shnork has demonstrated a unique ability to communicate with younger members of the church community. He continues to fulfill the pastoral needs of the AGBU Manoogian Demirdjian School. He has been guest lecturer there as well as at California State University of Northridge, University of California, Los Angeles, University of California, Irvine, Pepperdine, and other reputable institutions.  On the occasion of the 1700th Anniversary of Christianity in Armenia, he accompanied the primate in leading the Youth Pilgrimage of the Western Diocese to Armenia in the summer of 2001.

Since year 2000, Fr. Shnork introduced the digital projector screen in the church, so that the faithful were able to follow the Divine Liturgy in English and Armenian translations.