Rev. Takouhi Demirdjian-Petro was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon in an Armenian Family. Her father, born in Bursa, was an infant survivor of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Her mother was born in Beirut, Lebanon into an Armenian family who had escaped the Genocide from Marash. Both towns are located in present-day Turkey.
Rev. Takouhi [pronounced Ta-Koo-Hee] made her way out of Beirut through the mountainous roads of Lebanon into Syria. Through Damascus she found her way out to Los Angeles, where she lived with her eldest sister, Silva and graduated from high school in 1986.
On August 22, 1986, she found her way into Canada via the Vermont-Quebec border, as the Canadian Government had given permission to Lebanese citizens to enter and call Canada home.
The rest is history… Rev. Takouhi has called Canada home since 1986.
She married Gary Steven Petro on September 3, 2000 and life took a different turn… in 2002, Rev. Takouhi started receiving messages to go into ministry through different people of God, but she fought this “call” for a good two years.
In 2005, she enrolled into University and her six year educational journey began.
On May 28, 2011, Rev. Takouhi became the first Armenian Woman minister to be ordained in the United Church of Canada . This was a historical day for Rev. Takouhi, not for the strides she was able to make by God’s Grace, but this was also the 93rd Anniversary of the first Armenian Independence day (May 28, 1918).
After her ordination, from July 2011 to January 2013, she served the Ayer’s Cliff-Magog-Georgeville Pastoral Charge in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. However, living apart from her husband and the political situation in Quebec was difficult. Rev. Takouhi and Gary started earnestly to pray for a united life together, out of Quebec. Their prayers were answered when the Elgin-Portland Pastoral Charge was declared vacant in the Summer of 2012.
It took many discerning prayers on all sides and Rev. Takouhi was called to serve God through the community of the Elgin-Portland Pastoral Charge as of February 1, 2013.
Rev. Takouhi loves to celebrate worship and grow in faith and she loves EVERYONE…
If you ever want to experience a “real” worship celebration join us at one of our Sunday morning celebrations and see for yourself.
We look forward to welcoming you.
