Archbishop Movses Movsissian
Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Southern Russia
Archbishop Movses Movsissian was born on 13 September 1964 in the village of Goght, in Abovian, Armenia.
From 1970 to 1980, he received his primary education in the local secondary school.
From 1982 to 1989, he studied at the Gevorkian Theological Seminary in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
From 1983 to 1985, he deferred the continuation of his education to serve in the Soviet Army.
On May 07, 1989, he was ordained to the diaconate by Archbishop Housik Santourian.
On August 07, 1989, he successfully defended his thesis entitled “The School of Akner”.
From 1989 to 1991, he studied at the Spiritual Academy of Zagorsk. After successfully defending his thesis entitled “The Dioceses of Armenian Church in Russia” he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Theological Sciences.
On July 28, 1991, he was ordained as a celibate priest by His Grace Archbishop Nerses Pozapalian, and given the priestly name of Movses. Upon his ordination, he was assigned to serve as the spiritual pastor of the Holy Resurrection Church of Moscow.
While serving in Moscow and in addition to his pastoral duties, he lectured at the local Armenian Seminary. Father Movses was also involved in the Christian Education activities of the Armenian Faithful in the Community of Moscow.
In 1996, Father Movses prepared and defended his doctoral thesis entitled “The Christian Thought of Armenian Church in the 8th Century” based on the works of translators Hovhannes of Odzoon and Khosrovik.
On June 23, 1996, Father Movses received the rank of Archimandrite by the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin I, of Blessed Memory.
From 1997 to 1999, he was assigned to serve as the priest of the St. Hripsime Monastery in Vagharshapat, Armenia.
In 1999, by the order of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; Father Movses was appointed to serve as the Vicar General of the Diocese of Southern Russia of the Armenian Church.
On September 30, 2001, he was consecrated as Bishop by His Holiness Karekin II, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
In 2001, Bishop Movses was appointed to serve as the Primate of the Diocese of Southern Russia of the Armenian Church.
On February 26, 2019, on the Feast Day of St. Stephen the Proto-Deacon, Bishop Movses was elevated to the rank of Archbishop by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
