Archbishop Aram Ateshian
Archbishop Aram Ateshian (baptismal name Artin /Haroutiun/) was born on January 01, 1954, in Tigranakert, where he received his primary education. He received his secondary education at the Holy Cross School of Constantinople. He continued his studies at the Jarankavoratz Theological Seminary at the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
In 1973, he was ordained to the diaconate, by Archbishop Hayrik Aslanian of Jerusalem.
In 1976, he was ordained as a celibate priest by then Patriarch of Constantinople, Archbishop Shenork Kaloustian, and given the priestly name of Aram. Following his ordination, he served as the administrator of all the Armenian Churches of Constantinople.
In 1987, upon the successful defense of his thesis, he received the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet), by the Patriarch of Constantinople, Archbishop Shenork Kaloustian.
In 1999, he received the rank of Senior Archimandrite (Dzarakouyn Vardapet) by then Patriarch of Constantinople, Archbishop Mesrob Mutafyan.
In 1999, Father Aram was consecrated as a Bishop by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. During his service to the Armenian Church, he served as spiritual pastor to the Armenian faithful. Bishop Aram served as the Grand Sacristan of the Holy Mother of God Armenian Cathedral at the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople in Kumkapi, Istanbul.
From 2010 to March 15, 2017, His Eminence Archbishop Aram Ateshian served as Locum Tenens of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
