Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisian (baptismal name: Samvel Hovhannisyan) was born on May 09, 1955, in Yerevan, Armenia.  He received his primary education in school № 114. Before entering the Gevorkian Theological Seminary at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, he studied Piano and Music at the Arno Babajanian Musical-Pedagogical College of Yerevan, and continued his musical education at the Komitas Conservatoire of Yerevan, graduating the Prof. Kathy Malkhasyan class in 1980.

From 1984 to 1987, he studied at the Gevorkian Theological Seminary; defending the thesis: “Minucius Felix “Oktavios”. 

In 1986, he was ordained to the diaconate. 

In 1988, he was ordained as a celibate priest by Archbishop Housik Santourian and given the priestly name of Nathan. 

In 1989, he defended his doctoral thesis entitled: “Shepherd of Hermas” and received the rank of Archimandrite by His Grace Bishop Anania Arabajyan. At the same time, he was appointed to serve as the Vice-Dean of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary at Holy Etchmiadzin; while also delivering lectures on Patristics and Early Church History in the Seminary.  

In 1991, by the order of the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Vasken I, of Blessed Memory, Father Nathan was appointed to serve as the Locum Tenens of the newly organized Armenian Diocese of Ukraine. 

In 1994, defending his thesis entitled: “Petros Quture and his Anthology of Theology”, Father Nathan received the rank of Senior Archimandrite (Dzayraguyn Vardapet) by His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Pozapalian.

On June 15, 1997, he was consecrated as a Bishop by the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin I, of Blessed Memory; and was appointed to serve as the first Primate of the Armenian Church Diocese of Ukraine. 

From 1997 to 2000, he served as a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Church.

In 2000, Bishop Nathan was elected to serve as the Primate of the Armenian Church Diocese of Great Britain. 

From 2001 to 2006, he served as the President of the Council of the Eastern Orthodox Churches of Britain. 

From 2001 to 2010, he was the Chairman of the Forum of the Anglican-Orthodox Eastern Churches.

From 2006 to 2010, he was the Co-President of the Council of the Churches of England.

From 2006 to 2014, he represented the Armenian Church as a Member of the "Faith and Order" Commission for the World Council of Churches.

From 2010 to 2013, he served as the Head of the Publishing Department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

From 2013 to 2014, he served as the Locum Tenens of the Armenian Church Diocese of Canada.

In 2014, by Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; he was assigned to serve as the Director of the External Relations and Protocol Department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Archbishop Nathan was very active in Ecumenical circles. He participated in various International Conferences and Ecumenical Assemblies.

In 2015, His Eminence was awarded the 2nd degree Medal "For Services to the Fatherland" by the President of the Republic of Armenia.

On January 09, 2020, by the Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; Archbishop Nathan was appointed to serve as the Chairman of the Awards and Disciplinary Committee of the Mother See.

His Eminence is a Correspondent Member and Honorary Doctor of the International Personnel Academy of Ukraine.

In 1995, he was granted the Medal of "Prince Daniel of Moscow" by Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow.

In 2001, the President of Ukraine granted him the Order of Merit.

Since 2006, he has been an Honorary Citizen of Bethlehem.