Reclaim Booklet

Rev. Fr. Sarkis Petoyan was raised in Northridge, California and
holds two undergraduate degrees from CSUN. Following graduation,
he was employed for four years in the retail banking
industry, where he held the position of branch manager. At the
age of 30 he resigned and began studying for the priesthood.
He studied at Holy Echmiadzin, Armenia and then enrolled at St.
Nersess Armenian Theological Seminary and St. Vladimir Orthodox
Seminary in New York, where he earned an M.Div. degree.
His thesis examined the subject of the faith, membership and
attendance practices of third generation Armenians in America. In 1998 following
his marriage to Yeretsgeen Talin (Mermerian), he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood
of Christ. During his eleven years as the shepherd of the Armenian community
in San Francisco, he and Yeretsgeen Talin organized ten pilgrimages to Armenia,
leading over 250 pilgrims from the Western Diocese. The project resulted in raising
and distributing over $400,000 for charitable projects throughout Armenia. He
serves as Chaplain at the Western Diocese Armenian Church Summer Camp (Hye
Camp) and represents the Western Diocese on the Board of Directors of St. Nersess.
He has been parish priest of St. Gregory Armenian Church in Pasadena since 2009.
Father Confessor - 10:00A - 4:30P - in the Vestery of the Cathedral Sanctuary
Melina “Mel” Sardar, M.A., CPLC (Sardar Coaching and
Consulting), has a proven track record for motivating and
inspiring business professionals, youth, adults, and groups
within a diverse population. She has the ability to motivate
her clients towards higher success, individual achievement
and self-recognition. Her best ability is empowering others
to act with purpose, heal their past and set goals with the
pursuit of achieving them. In 2003 she earned a Master of
Arts Degree in Psychology, Emphasis in Marriage and Family
Therapy and in the past decade she has completed several
master level certifications in the field of Accelerated Human Change, Neuro-
Linguistic Programming, Professional coaching, and Hypnotherapy. In 2014 she
authored of a 21- Day workbook – where she has designed “Self-Care strategies”
for individuals, and professionals who work in “high burn-out” careers. She also has
authored a research on the “Effects of Immigration on the Identity Development of
Armenian Adolescents” and has mentored and empowered over 1300 youth in the
past decade. In 2012 Business Life Magazine, recognized her with the Women’s
Achievers Award for her involvement as the Educational Director with Ark Family
Center, Inc. the non-profit organization in Glendale, CA where she has been affiliated
with since 1999, and provides trainings, transformational programs, mentoring,
and one-on-one coaching services for youth, families and professionals, and
groups.
Finding Meaning and Purpose in Life 11:00A - Zorayan 2 and 3:30P Zorayan 3
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