ARMENIAN CHURCH DIOCESAN ASSEMBLY COMES TO MILWAUKEE

Milwaukee, WI — The Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America will convene its 2026 Clergy Conference and 124th Diocesan Assembly in Milwaukee from April 28 through May 2, 2026. This marks the first time the Assembly — the governing body of the Armenian Church in the eastern half of the United States — will be hosted in Milwaukee.

The Diocesan Assembly brings together hundreds of clergy and lay delegates from across the country for a week of meetings, workshops, fellowship, and worship. Sessions will take place at the Pfister Hotel and at the host parish, St. John the Baptist Armenian Church (7825 W. Layton Ave.).

In a special gesture of welcome, the Daniel Hoan Bridge will be illuminated on Friday, May 1, in the red, blue, and orange colors of the Armenian flag in honor of the Assembly and its delegates.

The Armenian Church traces its origins to the earliest days of Christianity and remains one of the world’s oldest Christian communities. The 2016 visit of Pope Francis to Armenia highlighted the deep historical and spiritual ties between the Roman Catholic and Armenian Apostolic Churches, affirming their shared Christian heritage.

Armenians began arriving in the United States, including Milwaukee County, in the 1890s, fleeing religious persecution in Ottoman Turkey. These immigrants brought with them the rich faith and traditions of the Armenian Church, establishing parishes throughout the country and building a vibrant local community in Milwaukee that continues to thrive today.

For more information about the 124th Diocesan Assembly, please visit www.stjohnarmenianchurch.org or contact Rev. Fr. Guregh Hambardzumyan at [email protected].

About the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America

The Eastern Diocese serves Armenian Apostolic parishes across the eastern United States, supporting the spiritual, educational, and cultural life of Armenian-American communities.