Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

Archbishop Vasken Mirzakhanian (baptismal name Edward) was born on July 21, 1965, in the village of Artimed (formerly Atarbekian) of the district of Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin).  

From 1982 to 1989, he studied at the Gevorkian Theological Seminary at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.  

From 1984 to 1986, he deferred the continuation of his education to serve in the Soviet Army.

In 1989, he was ordained to the diaconate by Archbishop Housik Santourian.   

In 1990, he successfully defended his final theses entitled “The life and Literary Heritage of Archimandrite Grigor Skearatsi” and got an excellent mark.

On July 28, 1991, was ordained as a celibate priest by Archbishop Nerses Pozapalian in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.  Upon his ordination, he was asked to serve as a lecturer in the Gevorkian Theological Seminary at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin while also working at the newly opened Christian Education Center. 

From 1993 to 1995, he served as the Executive Director of the Sunday School affiliated with the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.  

In 1995, by order of the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin I, of Blessed Memory, he was appointed to serve as the Director of the Center for Christian Education.   

From 1995 to 1999, by the order of Karekin I, Catholicos of All Armenians, he was appointed to serve as the Director of the Christian Education Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Until the end of the implementation of his duties, he organized the retraining of teachers of Christian Religion in the various schools of Armenia and Artsakh. During that period 26 books of spiritual content, textbooks on religion, and teacher’s manuals were published by the Christian Educational Center. The “Christian Armenia” biweekly newspaper was established, as well as the broadcasts of “Love each other” (“Siretsek Zmimeans”) daily religious program, the “Altar of Light” (“Khorhan Lusoy”) Saturday’s morning program for children and the “Morning of Light” (“Aravoud Lousoy”) Sunday’s morning religious program. 

In 1996, he successfully defended his Doctoral thesis entitled “The Quotation Sources of the Books “Hartsmants” “Book of Questions” and “Voskeporik” by St. Gregory of Datev”.   

On June 20, 1996, Father Vasken received the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet) by His Holiness Karekin I. 

On December 01, 1999, by the order of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; he was appointed to serve as a Locum Tenens in the Diocese of Aragatsotn, Armenia. 

From 2000 to 2002, under the leadership of Archimandrite Vasken Mirzakhanian, the Monasteries of Mօughni and Saghmosavank, Surb Hovhannes (St. John) Church in Byurakan, Surb Khach (Holy Cross) Church in Aparan and St. Mesrop Mashtots Church in Oshakan were fully repaired and re-consecrated, as well as the biweekly newspaper “Aragatsotn” was established. 

During the same period, with the support of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and Aragatsotn regional authorities, Archimandrite Vasken Mirzakhanian organized and implemented the teaching of the Christian Religion subject in the public schools of Aragatsotn region, Armenia.

On September 04, 2002, by the order of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; Archimandrite Vasken Mirzakhanian was appointed to serve as the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Georgia.

On June 23, 2003, he was consecrated as Bishop by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.

Since 2007, Bishop Vasken Mirzakhanian is a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

From 2017 to 2021, had been a member of the Monastic Disciplinary Committee of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

In 2012, due to the great efforts of Bishop Vasken Mirzakhanian, the Georgian parliament passed a law allowing religious communities in Georgia to receive Special Status. Based on that law, on March 12, 2012, the Armenian Diocese of Georgia is registered in the Public Registry of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia as a legal entity under Public Law.

In 2014, due to the great efforts of Bishop Vasken Mirzakhanian, the Vicariate of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church of  Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka’s was also registered in the Public Registry of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia as a legal entity under Public Law.

In 2017, Bishop Vasken Mirzakhanian was awarded the Medal of “Andranik Ozanian” by the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia.

In 2018, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, appointed Bishop Mirzakhanian to serve as the Chairman of the Armenia-Diaspora Committee. 

From 2002 to 2019, about 46 churches and chapels of the Armenian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia were built, renovated, and consecrated in Tbilisi, Akhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki, Aspindza, Batumi, Tetri -Tsgharo, Tsalka, Marneuli, Ninotsminda cities and regions. Among those churches, it is important particular to mention that the Cathedral of St. George and St. Etchmiadzin in Tbilisi have been completely renovated.

During the mentioned period, dozens of cross-stones (khachkars) and monuments were erected and consecrated in different Armenian-populated regions of Georgia. Negotiations with the Georgian Government and the Patriarchate were held regularly on the issues of the preservation of Armenian historical and cultural monuments and their restoration to the Diocese. 

Bishop Vasken Mirzakhanian established:

“Hayartun” Cultural, Educational and Youth Center,

“Vasken I Catholicos of All Armenians” Cultural, Educational Center,

“Archbishop Karapet Bagratouni” Cultural Center,

“Khrimyan Hayrik” Cultural, Educational Center,

“Alexander Mantashev” Cultural, Educational Center,

“Rafael Javakh” Cultural, Educational Center,

“Saint Gregory of Narek” Cultural, Educational Center,

“Vardges Sourenyants" Cultural, Educational Center

“Hovanes Tumanyan’s House” Scientific, Cultural, Educational Center

“Komitas Archimandrite” Center.

Numerous groups and ensembles of song, dance, folk instruments, recitation, vocal-instrumental, computer, aesthetics, as well as preschools, Saturday, and Sunday schools operate in those centers.

To make the Diocesan activity effective, Educational, Cultural and Youth, Media and Press, Legal and Cooperation, Financial, Administrative, Economic and Social Departments were established, a flexible management system was implemented. The Diocese was replenished with priests and deacons, the number of staff increased.

The “Norashen” journal was published and more than a dozen valuable books and albums were published as a result of the collaboration between “Vernatun” Union of Armenian Writers of Georgia, “Lori Canyon” compatriotic union and state and public organizations, films were shot about Georgian famous and historical figures. The website of the Diocese was established by the order of Bishop Vasken Mirzakhanian.

In 2019, by the order of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; Bishop Vasken Mirzakhanian was appointed to serve as a Director of the Office of Social Doctrine of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.