Archbishop Navasard Ktchoyan
Vicar General of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese
Archbishop Navasard Ktchoyan (baptized Samvel) was born on September 18, 1957, in Yerevan.
In 1976, he graduated from secondary school.
From 1977 to 1979, he served in the Soviet Army.
In 1981, he entered the Gevorkian Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
In 1984, on the day of Commemoration of St. Stephen the Proto-martyr, he was ordained as a deacon.
In 1985, he graduated from the Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin defending a graduation thesis on the theme: “Polemic of St. John of Damascus against the heresy of Jacob of Assyria”․
From 1985 to 1986, he worked as a secretary at the editorial office of “Etchmiadzin” Monthly magazine.
In 1987, he was ordained as a celibate priest.
From 1987 to 1989, Father Navasard was the scepter-bearer and the secretary of His Holiness Vasken I, Catholicos of All Armenians. At the same time, he was the Head of the Ecclesiastic Art Department of the Mother See.
In 1989, he was appointed Abbot of the St. Mesrop Mashtots Church of Oshakan. In the same year, he defended his thesis for the rank of Archimandrite on the theme: “The Christological views of St. Gregory of Tatev” and received the rank of Archimandrite.
Since 1991, he is an honorable citizen of Oshakan (Armenia), and since 1995 - an honorable citizen of Alforvil (France).
In 1996, by the order of His Holiness Karekin I, Catholicos of All Armenians; he was appointed to serve as a Primate of the newly-formed Aragatsotn Diocese.
In 1996, with the blessings and under the patronage of Karekin I Catholicos, Fr. Navasard established the "St. Mesrop Mashtots” Cultural Center in Oshakan.
In 1997, he was ordained and anointed as a Bishop by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
On December 01, 1999, by the order of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, His Grace was appointed to serve as a Vicar General of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese.
Since 2000, he is a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council.
On February 22, 2002, the Presidency of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia awarded Bishop Navasard the title of Honorable Doctor.
In October 2003, the Academic Board of Yerevan State Academy of Art awarded His Grace the title of Honorary Professor.
In October 2005, Yerevan State Medical University named after M. Heratsi awarded him the title of Honorary Doctor.
On June 04, 2006, by the Pontifical Encyclical of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; His Grace Bishop Navasard Ktchoyan was granted Archbishop's honor and title.
In 2015, by the order of the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan was awarded the "Marshal Baghramyan" Medal of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia.
On October 25, 2017, His Eminence was elected as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the "Armenian Academy of Fine Arts" Fund.
On December 30, 2017, His Eminence Archbishop Navasard Ktchoyan was honored with the “Medal for Services to the Motherland, First Degree” by the President of the Republic of Armenia Mr. Serzh Sargsyan.
