Fr. Hovnan earned his B.A. from Boston College, Masters of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School and Certificate in Armenian Studies from St. Nersess Seminary. From 1996 to 1998 Fr. Hovnan spent two years teaching in the public schools of Armenia as a member of the U.S. Peace Corps. This experience motivated him to establish the Armenian Volunteer Corps in 2000, an organization which continues to bring scores of Diasporan Armenians to live and work in Armenia each year. Returning to the U.S. in 2003 with his newly wed wife Anna, Fr. Hovnan joined the Diocese of the Armenian Church, heading a new program to find Armenian college students and promote their spiritual growth. In June of 2007, he was ordained a priest and assigned pastor of St. Hagop Armenian Church in Pinellas Park, FL, where he serves today.  He and Anna have been blessed with their son Narek and daughter Nora.

Fr. Hovnan believes that becoming a better Armenian Christian and pastor, is a life-long process of growth in relationship with Christ and the people of His church.  He is grateful to God and all those in his life who have traveled with him thus far.