Bishop Ashot Mnatsakanian
Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Egypt
Bishop Ashot Mnatsakanian (baptismal name Garoun) was born on November 04, 1972, in the village of Tatev, Syunik Region of Armenia.
From 1979 to 1989, he received his primary education in the secondary school of Tatev.
From 1989 to 1995, he studied at the Gevorkian Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin; defending his thesis entitled "Life and Religious Views of Hovnan of Vorotnetsi".
In 1995, he was ordained to the diaconate by His Grace Bishop Anania Arabajian.
From 1995 to 1996, he was in charge of the Manuscript Depository of the Mother See.
On June 02, 1996, he was ordained a celibate priest by His Eminence Archbishop Shahe Ajemian in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and given the priestly name of Ashot.
From 1996 to 2001, he served as a Head of the office of the Committee for the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as the State Religion, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
In March 2002, Father Ashot received the rank of Archimandrite (Vartabet), after successful defense of his doctoral thesis entitled "The Prodigal Son’s Embodiment in Armenian Literature".
On October 14, 2002, by Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; he was assigned to serve as Vicar General of the Armenian Diocese of Egypt.
On February 21, 2004, he was appointed to serve as Locum Tenens of the Armenian Diocese of Egypt.
In 2005, he was elected as a Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Egypt.
On January 15, 2006, Father Ashot was consecrated as a Bishop by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
