Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian
Primate of the Diocese of Shirak
Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian (baptismal name Gevorg) was born on December 27, 1963, in Gyumri.
From 1971 to 1981, he received his primary education at the G. Byron (formerly G. Sundukian) School № 20, in Gyumri.
In 1981, he entered the Gevorkian Theological Seminary at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
From 1982 to 1984, he deferred the continuation of his education to serve in the Soviet Army. After the completion of his tour of duty, he continued his studies at the Seminary.
On December 25, 1986, he was ordained to the diaconate by Archbishop Housik Santourian, in the Mother Cathedral.
In 1987, following his graduation from the Seminary, he was appointed to serve in the Secretariat of the Catholicosate of All Armenians.
In March 1988, he successfully defended his thesis entitled "The Life and Activity of Archbishop Petros Berdoumian and his work "Commentary on the Epistle of Jacob"" and received an excellent mark.
On May 22, 1988, he was ordained as a celibate priest by Archbishop Housik Santourian, in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin and given the priestly name of Mikael, in remembrance of Very Rev. Father Mikael Ajapahian, who was martyred in Adana in 1909. After his ordination he served as the Grand Sacristan of the Mother Cathedral.
From 1988 to 1989, Father Mikael lectured in the Gevorkian Theological Seminary teaching the subject "Commentary on the Divine Liturgy".
In 1988, after the devastating Earthquake, he participated in the activities organized by the Mother See in distributing relief to the people who had suffered from the disaster.
In 1989, Father Mikael was appointed as the spiritual pastor of the Armenian faithful at the Holy Cross Monastery in Yeghegnadzor. Then, he was called to service in the newly established Diocese of Artsakh, serving as the spiritual pastor of Gandzasar.
In November 1989, he defended his doctoral thesis entitled "Sis, The Capital City of Cilicia from 1890 to 1920" and received the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet) at the St. Mesrop Church of Oshakan by Archbishop Anania Arabajian.
From 1990 to 1991, he worked in the newly-created Christian Education Center of the Mother See.
From 1991 to 1992, he served as the Vice Dean of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary and lecturer on Patrology, General Church History, and Commentary on the Old Testament.
From 1992 to 1994, while continuing his teaching duties at the Gevorkian Seminary, he also served as the Vice Grand Sacristan of the Mother Cathedral.
In May 1994, upon the successful defense of his thesis entitled "Bishop Clemes of Rome", he received the rank of Senior Archimandrite (Dzayraguyn Vardapet) in the Mother Cathedral by Archbishop Nerses Pozapalian.
From 1994 to 1995, he served in the Secretariat of the Catholicosate of All Armenians as a secretary and staff-bearer of, first, Pontifical Locum Tenens Archbishop Torkom Manookian, and then of Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin I, of Blessed memory.
In 1995, Patriarch Alexy II awarded him the Order of St. Daniel in appreciation of his ecumenical service.
From 1995 to 1997, he studied in the Papal Orthodox Institute of Rome.
In June 1997, he presented his thesis entitled "Poghos of Tarson and his work "Commentary on the order of church services"" and received a Master's degree in Orthodox Church Studies.
From 1997 to 1999, he served as the Assistant of His Holiness Karekin I in the Department of the Interchurch Relations, representing the Armenian Church in meetings and conferences organized in a number of cities.
From 1987 to 1999, in addition to his pastoral work, he contributed numerous philological and theological articles to the periodicals "Etchmiadzin" and "Gandzasar", and he has also delivered numerous lectures in Armenia and abroad.
From 1999 to 2000, he served as the Director at the Armenian Philanthropic Academy of Calcutta.
In September 1999, he was elected as a member of the "Faith and Order" Commission of the World Council of Churches.
On December 01, 1999, by the Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; he was appointed to serve as Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Shirak.
On May 5, 2000, Father Mikael was appointed to serve as the Pontifical Legate to India for the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II.
On September 30, 2001, Father Mikael was consecrated as a Bishop by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, and was appointed as the Primate of the Diocese of Shirak.
On February 26, 2019, on the Feast Day of the St. Ghevond the Priest, Bishop Mikael was elevated to the rank of Archbishop by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
