Bishop Vertanes Abrahamyan
Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh
Bishop Vertanes Abrahamyan (baptismal name Kamo) was born on March 21, 1962, in the village of Tsovategh, Martuni district, Nagorno-Karabakh.
From 1969 to 1979, he received his primary education at the secondary school of the village.
In 1980, he entered the Gevorkian Theological Seminary at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
From 1981 to 1983, 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 Gevorkian Theological Seminary. Following his graduation, he was appointed to serve in the Museum of the Mother Cathedral.
On December 25, 1987, on the Feast Day of St. Stephen the Proto-deacon, he was ordained to the diaconate, by Archbishop Hoosik Santourian.
On March 10, 1988, he successfully defended his thesis entitled "The Brief History of the Aghvank Church in the IV-XVII centuries" and received a “very good” mark.
On May 22, 1988, on the Feast Day of Pentecost, he was ordained as a celibate priest, by Archbishop Hoosik Santourian, in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin and given the priestly name of Vertanes.
From 1989 to 1994, he served as the Abbot in the Amaras Monastery, in the Diocese of Artsakh.
In 1992, while serving as the Abbot, he also presented and successfully defended his thesis entitled "Hovsep Artsaghetsi - Shield of Orthodoxy", and received the rank of Archimandrite.
From 1994 to 1996, Father Vertanes served as the Vicar General of the Diocese of Artsakh.
In June 1996, he was appointed to serve as the Abbot of the St. Hripsime Monastery.
From 1997 to 1999, he was a spiritual adviser to the RA Minister of Defense.
From 1999 to 2001, he returned to St. Hripsime Monastery to serve as the Abbot.
In August 2001, Father Vertanes was appointed to serve as the spiritual pastor in the Diocese of Gougark.
In September 2006, Father Vertanes left Armenia to serve as a spiritual pastor in the Armenian Diocese of New Nakhichevan and Russia.
In October 2007, he was appointed to serve as the Head Chaplain of the Republic of Armenia Armed Forces Ministry.
On August 24, 2008, Father Vertanes was consecrated as a Bishop by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin.
On January 21, 2021, by Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; His Grace Bishop Vertanes Abrahamyan has been appointed to serve as the Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh, completing his duties as the Head Chaplain of the Armed Forces Ministry of the Republic of Armenia.
