Archbishop Karekin Bekdjian
Archbishop Karekin Bekdjian (baptismal name Dikran), was born on December 12, 1942, in Constantinople. He completed his primary and secondary education at the Mekhitarians School of Constantinople and having a great desire to become a clergyman he entered the Holy Cross Seminary in Scutari.
In 1960, he was ordained as an acolyte by the Patriarch of Constantinople His Beatitude Archbishop Karekin Khachatourian.
In 1962, he entered the newly opened Academy, at the same time studying at the University of Constantinople, attending courses of classical languages, sociology and history.
In 1963, he was ordained to the diaconate by the Patriarch of Constantinople His Beatitude Archbishop Shenork Kaloustian.
On July 25, 1965, on the Feast of Transfiguration, he was ordained as a celibate priest and given the name of Karekin.
In 1968, he entered the University of Bonn in Germany, to complete his studies. After a year at Bonn, he left for the University of Bochum in Germany to further his studies. Here he took courses in psychology and pedagogy.
In 1970, he received the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet) by the Patriarch of Constantinople His Beatitude Archbishop Shenork Kaloustian.
In 1973, he departed for Marseille, France, to serve as a spiritual pastor in the St. Karapet Armenian Church.
From 1976 to 1994, he was appointed to serve as a parish priest of the Holy Translators’ Cathedral of Marseille.
In 1991, by the order of the Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Vasken I, of Blessed Memory; Father Karekin was appointed to serve as the spiritual pastor In Germany, where he put efforts to create a new Church Diocese.
In January 1992, he was appointed to serve as the Primate of the Armenian Church Diocese of Germany.
On May 17, 1992, he received the rank of Senior Archimandrite (Dzayraguyn Vardapet) by then Patriarch of Constantinople His Beatitude Archbishop Karekin Kazanjian.
In September 1992, His Holiness Vasken I consecrated Father Karekin as a Bishop of the Armenian Church, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
In March 1998, he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop by Pontifical Encyclical of Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Karekin I, of Blessed Memory.
In 2017, at the invitation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, he left for Istanbul to assume the responsibility of organizing the patriarchal elections; and he was elected Patriarchal Vicar by the Religious Assembly of the Patriarchate. On December 31 of the same year, Archbishop Karekin resigned from his service as a Patriarchal Vicar. He is retired.
He is the author of numerous articles, booklets and has published a dictionary of personal names. His Eminence has organized 14 church communities in Germany. Due to his efforts, the diocese became a member of the Inter-Church Council of Germany.
