Archbishop Haigazun Najarian
Archbishop Haigazun Najarian (baptismal name Vrezh) was born in 1952, in Aleppo, Syria.
From 1959 to 1964, he received his primary education at the Vahan Tekeyan Elementary School in Beirut.
From 1964 to 1967, he studied at the Hovakimian-Manoukian secondary school in Beirut.
From 1967 to 1973, he studied at the Gevorkian Theological Seminary at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
In 1973, he successfully defended his thesis entitled "Mkhitar Gosh; Interpretation of the Prophet Yeremia".
In 1973, he was ordained to the diaconate by His Eminence Archbishop Housik Santourian, in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin.
From 1973 to 1974, he worked as a secretary in the Catholicosate of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
In 1975, he was ordained as a celibate priest by His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Pozapalian, at the St. Sarkis Church in London.
From 1974 to 1975, he studied Pastoral Theology at the St. Augustine of Canterbury School in England.
From 1975 to 1978, he studied at the King’s College in London, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology (BD).
From 1978 to 1979, he studied at the St. Andrews School in Scotland.
From 1979 to 1981, he served as the Spiritual Pastor of St. Peter Church in London.
From 1981 to 1986, he served as the Assistant Dean and Professor of New Testament and History of the Universal Church at the Gevorkian Theological Seminary.
In 1983, he presented and successfully defended his doctoral thesis entitled "The Origin of the Monastic Movement in Armenia" and received the rank of Archimandrite by His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Pozapalian, at the St. Mesrop Church of Oshakan.
In 1986, he defended his doctoral thesis entitled "The Rules of St. Barsegh Kesaratsi" and received the rank of Senior Archimandrite by His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Pozapalian, at St. Mesrop Church of Oshakan.
From 1986 to 1988, by the order of His Holiness Karekin I, of Blessed Memory, he was appointed to serve as the Vicar General for the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.
From 1988 to 1990, he served as the Spiritual Pastor of the Church of St. Stephen in New Jersey.
From 1991 to 1995, he was reappointed to serve as the Vicar General in the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.
From 1993 to 1992, he studied at the University of Columbia, receiving a Master's degree (MA) in History.
From 1995 to 1999, by the Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; he returned to Armenia and served as the Dean of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary, and as professor of New Testament of the Seminary.
From 2000 to 2002, he served as the spiritual pastor of the St. Sarkis Armenian Church of Dallas, Texas.
From 2002 to 2007, he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and served as the pastor of the St. Sahak and St. Mesrop Church in Philadelphia.
From 2002 to 2010, he served as the Vicar General of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.
From 2010 to 2013, by Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, he served as a Pontifical Legate of Central Europe and Sweden.
On November 06, 2011, he was consecrated as a Bishop by His Holiness Karekin II, in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin.
In January 2013, by Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; His Grace Bishop Haigazun Najarian was appointed to serve as the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Australia and New Zealand.
On February 04, 2019, His Grace Bishop Haigazun Najaryan was elevated to the rank of Archbishop by the Pontifical Encyclical of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; in appreciation of his diligent service.
