Archbishop Arakel Karamian
Primate of the Diocese of Kotayk
- General Information
Was born on July 20, 1964, in the village of Yeranos in Martouni. Baptismal name is Elbek.
From 1070 to 1980 - Secondary school in Yeranos.
From 1979 to 1985 - Linguistics Department of the Khachatur Abovyan Armenian State Pedagogical University (distant learning).
From 1980 to 1987 - Gevorkian Theological Seminary.
From 1982 to 1984 - Serve in the Soviet Army.
- Ecclesiastical titles and ordination
In 1988 - Ordained to the Diaconate by His Eminence Archbishop Hoosik Santoorian.
In 1989 - Ordained as a Celibate priest by His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Pozapalian.
In 1994 - Rank of Archimandrite by His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Pozapalian. Thesis: “All the Evil is Torturous” by Arakel of Siunik.
In 1997 - Consecrated as a Bishop by His Holiness Karekin I, Catholicos of All Armenians.
In 2014 - Rank of Archbishop by the Pontifical Encyclical of the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II.
- Tenure
From 1988 to 1989 - Director of the “Alex and Marie Manoogian” Treasury House.
From 1989 to 1990 - Spiritual Pastor of the St. John Church in the village of Sisian.
From 1990 to 1992 - Vicar General in the Diocese of Syunik.
From 1993 to 1994 - Assistant Vicar of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese of the Armenian Church and the Dean of the Vaskenian Theological Academy at Lake Sevan.
From 1994 to 1996 - Dean of Vaskenian Theological Academy.
Since 1996 - Primate of the Diocese of Kotayk.
Since 2013 - Chaplain of the RA Police.
- Awards and titles
In 2013 - Medal of the “50th Anniversary of the Investigative Department”.
In 2014 - Medal of "Bulwark of Law"
In 2015 - Medal of "Andranik Ozanyan"
In 2015 - Title of the Honorary Citizen of Abovyan City of the RA Kotayk Region.
In 2017 - “Medal for Cooperation” by the RA Police.
In 2017 - Medal of "Mother's Gratitude" for the special services in the struggle for the freedom of Artsakh.
In 2018- Medal of the “100th Anniversary of the Police”.
