Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan
Primate of the Diocese of Aragatsotn
Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan (baptismal name Hayk) was born on August 13, 1975, in Vagharshapat, Armenia.
From 1981 to 1992, he received his primary education at the Secondary School № 4 after Khachatur Abovyan, in Vagharshapat.
From 1985 to 1990, he studied at the Tadevosian School of Art in Vagharshapat.
From 1991 to 1993, he served as the Chairman of the Armenian Church Youth Organization in Vagharshapat.
From 1993 to 1998, he studied at the Vaskenian Theological Academy at Lake Sevan.
From 1998 to 1999, he continued his education at the Gevorkian Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
On May 23, 1999, he was ordained to the diaconate by His Eminence Archbishop Voskan Galpakian.
From 2000 to 2001, he was assigned to serve as the Head of the Office of the Training of Teachers of Religion, in the Christian Education Center of the Mother See.
In 2000, he successfully defended his thesis entitled "Interpretation of the Liturgy" by Khosrov Andzevats", in the Gevorkian Theological Seminary, and received a “good” mark.
In 2001, Bishop Mkrtich has published several works including a translation from Classical Armenian of the theological work entitled "Interpretation of the Divine Liturgy” by Khosrov Andzevatsi, and the sermon entitled "Precept to All Priests" by Vardan Aygektsi.
On January 14, 2001, he was ordained as a celibate priest by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; and given the priestly name of Mkrtich.
From 2001 to 2003, he studied at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom and received a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors. During his studies, he also served as the visiting spiritual Pastor of the Armenian Community of Manchester, England.
From 2003 to 2004, he continued his advanced education at the University of Cardiff in the United Kingdom, and upon successful defense of his thesis entitled "Classical Redemption and Feminist Theology", and received a Masters of Theology (with distinction) degree.
On October 01, 2004, by the Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; he was appointed to serve as the acting Dean of the Vaskenian Theological Academy at Lake Sevan.
From 2005 to 2008, he was appointed to serve as the Dean of the Vaskenian Theological Academy at Lake Sevan.
From 2004 to 2008, he taught "Doctrine Theology" at the Vaskenian Academy and the Gevorkian Seminary.
In 2006, he presented and successfully defended his doctrinal thesis entitled "Attempt to Analyze Feminist Soteriology" and received the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet) by His Eminence Archbishop Yeznik Petrosian, at the St. Mesrop Church of Oshakan.
From 2007 to 2008, he studied at the School of Political Studies of Yerevan.
On March 19, 2008, by the Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; he was appointed to serve as the acting Parish Priest of the St. Sahak and St. Mesrop Armenian Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.
In 2009, he was appointed to serve as an Assistant to the Dean of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary.
On September 01, 2009, by Pontifical Order of the Catholicos of All Armenians, Father Mkrtich was appointed to serve as the Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Aragatsotn.
On April 18, 2010, by Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; he was consecrated as Bishop, and appointed to serve as the Primate of the Diocese of Aragatsotn.
