Archbishop Vicken Aykazian
- General Information
Was born in Sghert, Turkey. Baptismal name is Onnik.
From 1963 to 1966 - Holy Cross Seminary in Istanbul.
From 1967 to 1971 - Jarankavoratz Theological Seminary.
From 1975 to 1976 - St. Augustine College of Canterbury (England).
From 1976 to 1979 - Kings College in London (Bachelor of Theology).
From 1988 to 1991 - Catholic University of Freiburg (Switzerland) (PhD degree).
- Ecclesiastical titles and ordination
In 1968 - Ordained to the Diaconate by His Eminence Archbishop Yeghishe derderian.
In 1971 - Ordained as a Celibate priest by His Eminence Archbishop Yeghishe derderian.
In 1978 - Rank of Archimandrite by His Eminence Archbishop Yeghishe derderian.
In 1992 - Consecrated as a Bishop by Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Vasken I.
In 2006 - Rank of Archbishop by the Pontifical Encyclical of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
- Tenure
From 1971 to 1974 - Senior Translator at the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
From 1972 to 1973 - Lecturer at the Jarankavoratz Theological and Translator's Seminary.
From 1973 to 1975 - Preacher at the Armenian churches in Istanbul.
From 1981 to 1992 - Spiritual Pastor to the Armenian community in Switzerland.
From 1985 to 1991 - Representative of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in the Central Administration of the World Council of Churches.
From 1992 to 1996 - Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Switzerland.
From 1997 to 1999 - In-County Director of the Fund for Armenian Relief Organization (FAR), a charitable arm of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.
From 1994 to 1995 - Assistant to His Beatitude Torkom Manoukian, Catholicosic Tenens.
From 2006 to 2010 - President of the National Council of Churches in the United States.
From 2004 to 2012 - President of the “Habitat” International Charitable Foundation.
Since 2006 - Chairman of the Finance Committee and the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches.
Since 2016 - Secretary of the Central Board of the National Council of Churches of Christ (NCC).
Since 2022 - Vice-moderator of the World Council of Churches.
Since 2023 - Chairman of the commission between the World Council of Churches and the Vatican.
