The Primate of the Artsakh Diocese, Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan

  • He received his primary education at the secondary school of the village starting in 1969. He graduated in 1979.
  • Upon his graduation, he entered the Gevorkian Theological Seminary at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in 1980.
  • 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 Seminary. Following his graduation he was appointed to serve in the Museum of the Mother Cathedral.
  • He was ordained to the diaconate on the Feast of St. Stephen the Protodeacon, December 25, 1987, by Archbishop Housik Santourian.
  • In March of 1988 he successfully defended his thesis entitled "The Brief History of the Aghvank Church in the IV-XVII centuries" and received a mark of very good.
  • He was ordained as a celibate priest in that same year on the Feast of Pentecost, May 22, by Archbishop Housik Santourian, in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin and given the priestly name of Vertanes.
  • Following his ordination he served as the Abbot in the Amaras Monastery in the Diocese of Artsakh until 1994.
  • While serving as the Abbot, he also presented and successfully defended his thesis entitled "Hovsep Artsaghetsi - Shield of Orthodoxy".
  • Father Vertanes remained in Artsakh, and in 1994 was appointed to serve as the Acting Primate of the Diocese.
  • He remained in Nagorno Karabagh until 1996 whereupon he returned to Armenia. In June of that year he was appointed to serve as the Abbot of the St. Hripsime Monastery.
  • In 1997, the Armenian Church initiated the Armed Forces Ministry program to serve the Republic of Armenia.
  • Father Vertnes was appointed to serve as the first Head Chaplain. He remained as the spiritual advisor until 1999 whereupon he returned to St. Hripsime to serve as the Abbot of the monastery.
  • In August of 2001, he was appointed to serve as the spiritual pastor in the Diocese of Gougark for the region of Tavush where he provided to the faithful until 2006.
  • In September 2006 Father Vertanes left Armenia to serve as a spiritual pastor in the Diocese of New Nakhichevan and Russia.
  • He returned to Armenia in October 2007 and was reappointed to serve as the Head Chaplain of the Republic of Armenia Armed Forces Ministry, where he continues to serve today.
  • On August 24, 2008 Father Vertanes was consecrated as a Bishop by the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
  • By Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; on January 21, 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. Rev. Fr. Yenovq Yesayan has been appointed to serve as an acting Head Chaplain of the Armed Forces Ministry of the Republic of Armenia.
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