Archbishop Pargev Martirosian
Pontifical Envoy-at-Large
Archbishop Pargev Martirosian (baptismal name Gurgen) was born in 1954, in the city of Sumgait, Soviet Azerbaijan, where he received his primary education.
In 1966, the Martirosyan family moved to Yerevan.
From 1966 to 1971, he studied at Yerevan N 132 School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.
From 1971 to 1976, he studied at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of Yerevan Polytechnic Institute after Karl Marx.
From 1972 to 1976, he studied at the Yerevan Institute of Foreign Languages after V. Brusov (now Yerevan Brusov State University of Languages and Social Sciences). His dissertation entitled “Problems of Art and Ethics in Mikhail Bulgakov's novel “The Master and Margarita”” won the All-Union Prize and was awarded a gold medal.
From August to November 1976, he taught the Russian language and literature in the School of Yeghegnut village.
In November, 1976, he was drafted to the Soviet Army.
From 1978 to 1980, he worked at the Ministry of Industry.
In 1980, he was admitted to the Gevorkian Theological Seminary at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
In 1983, on the Feast Day of St. Stephen the Proto-Deacon, he was ordained to the diaconate by His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Pozapalian.
In 1984, he graduated from the Seminary, defending the thesis entitled “Reflections of Zoroastrianism in the Armenian Bibliography of the Fifth Century and the Struggle against it”. Following his graduation, he was appointed to serve in the Alex and Marie Manoogian Treasury House of the Mother See.
On September 08, 1985, he was ordained as a celibate priest by His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Pozapalian and given the priestly name of Pargev. By the order of Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Vasken I, of Blessed Memory, he left Armenia to continue his education at the Leningrad Theological Academy.
In 1986, he was assigned to serve as the chief professor at the Gevorkian Theological Seminary.
In 1987, defending his doctrinal thesis entitled “Theology according to the Christian tradition and mystical teachings - yoga, theosophy and anthroposophy”; Father Pargev received the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet).
In 1987, he defended his doctoral thesis entitled “Theology according to the Christian tradition and mystical teachings - yoga, theosophy and anthroposophy”; earning his doctoral degree in Theology, at the Leningrad Theological Academy.
That same year, he was assigned to serve as the Abbot of the St. Hripsime Armenian Church in Vagharshapat.
In October 1988, presenting the translation of his thesis entitled “Theology according to the Christian tradition and mystical teachings - yoga, theosophy and anthroposophy”; he received the rank of Senior Archimandrite (Dzayraguyn Vardapet) by His Eminence Archbishop Torkom Manoogian.
In November 1988, Father Pargev was consecrated as a Bishop by the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Vasken I, of Blessed Memory.
In 1989, he was appointed to serve as the Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh.
In 1999, Bishop Pargev was elevated to the rank of Archbishop by the Pontifical Encyclical of the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin I, of Blessed Memory.
Archbishop Pargev is the author of three books and numerous articles.
During his fruitful activity, he has been awarded many medals, orders and letters of gratitude of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh, including:
“Hero of Artsakh” awardee, Order of the “Golden Eagle”; NKR
“For Merit to the Fatherland” second-degree medal; RA
“Vachagan Barepasht” Medal; NKR
“St. Gregory the Illuminator” Medal; NKR
Prime Minister’s Commemorative Medal; RA
“Gratitude” Medal; RA Armed Forces
“Marshal Baghramyan”; RA Armed Forces
“Andranik Ozanyan” Medal, RA Armed Forces
“Garegin Nzhdeh” Medal, RA Armed Forces
He is the Honorary President of the Alumni Association of the Brusov State Linguistic University and the “Shotokan Karate Federation” of Armenia.
In 2014, he was awarded the title of Honorary Doctor by the National Academy of Sciences.
On January 21, 2021, by Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; His Eminence Archbishop Pargev Martirosian was appointed to serve as a Pontifical Envoy-at-Large, completing his duties as the Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh.
