Archbishop Khajag Barsamian
Pontifical Legate of Western Europe
- General Information
Was born in 1951, Arabkir, Turkey. Baptismal name is Sargis.
From 1994 to 1976 - Holy Cross Seminary of Constantinople.
From 1976 to 1971 - St. James Seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
From 1977 to 1980 - University of Theology of the Anglican Church in New York (USA) (master's degree).
From 1980 to 1982 - St. John's Catholic University, Minneapolis.
In 1982 - University of Oxford Oriental Studies.
From 1982 to 1984 - Grigorian University of Rome.
- Ecclesiastical titles and ordination
In 1968 - Ordained to the Diaconate by His Eminence Archbishop Yegishe Derderian.
In 1971 - Ordained as a Celibate priest by His Eminence Archbishop Yeghishe Derderian.
In 1973 - Rank of Archimandrite His Eminence Archbishop Yegishe Derderian.
In 1990 - COnsecrated as a Bishop by the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Vasken I.
In 1992 - Rank of Archbishop by Pontifical Encyclical of His Holiness Vasken I.
- Tenure
From 1971 to 1974 - Assistant Dean of the Jarangavorats Theological Seminary of Jerusalem.
From 1974 to 1990 - Pastoral service in different districts of Istanbul, Jaffa, Haifa and Ramleh and the United States.
From 1990 to 2018 - Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.
Since 1990- Member of the Supreme Spiritual Council.
In 2018 - Pontifical Legate of Western Europe and Representative of the Catholicos of All Armenians in Vatican (residence in Rome).
- Titles and awards
USA “Ellis Island” Medal of Honor.
"Motherland" highest order by the President of RA.
Honorary Doctor of Theology University of the Anglican Church in New York (USA).
Honorary Doctorate of the Academy of Sciences of Armenia.
Honorary Doctor of University of New Jersey.
