Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian
Primate of the Diocese of Shirak
- General Information
Was born on December 27, 1963, in Gyumri. Baptismal name is Gevork.
From 1971 to 1981 - G. Sundukian School № 20, in Gyumri.
From 1981 to 1987 - Gevorkian Theological Seminary.
From 1982 to 1984 - Service in the Soviet Army.
From 1995 to 1997 - Papal Orthodox Institute of Rome (Master of Oriental Ecclesiastical Sciences).
- Ecclesiastical titles and ordination
In 1986 - Ordained to the Diaconate by His Eminence Archbishop Hoosik Santourian.
In 1988 - Ordained as a Celibate Priest by His Eminence Archbishop Hoosik Santourian.
In 1988 - Rank of Archimandrite by His Eminence Archbishop Anannia Arabajian. (Thesis: "Sis, The Capital City of Cilicia from 1890 to 1920").
In 1994 - Rank of Senior Archimandrite by His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Pozapalian
(Thesis:"Bishop Clemes of Rome").
In 2001 - Consecrated as a Bishop by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
In 2019 - Rank of Archbishop by the Encyclical of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
- Tenure
In 1987 - Secretary of the Pontifical Residence.
In 1988 - Grand Sacristan of the Mother Cathedral.
From 1988 to 1989 - Lecturer and Vice Dean at the Gevorkian Theological Seminary ("Commentary on the Divine Liturgy".)
In 1988 - Committee of the Mother See for assistance to victims of the Spitak earthquake.
In 1989 - Spiritual pastor of the Holy Cross Monastery in Yeghegnadzor.
In 1990 - Abbot of Gandzasar.
From 1990 to 1991 - Christian Education Center of the Mother See.
From 1991 to 1992 - Vice Dean of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary, lecturer (Patrology, General Church History, and Commentary on the Old Testament).
From 1992 to 1994 - Vice Grand Sacristan of the Mother Cathedral.
From 1994 to 1995 - Secretary of Pontifical Locum tenens Archbsihop Torkom Manookian.
From 1996 to 1997 - Secretary staff-bearer of His Holiness Karekin I, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
From 1997 to 1999 - Assistant of His Holiness Karekin I (Department of the Interchurch Relations).
From 1999 to 2000 - Director at the Armenian Philanthropic Academy of Calcutta.
In 1999 - Member of the "Faith and Order" Commission of the World Council of Churches.
From 1999 to 2001 - Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Shirak.
From 2000 to 2001 - Pontifical Legate to India for the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II.
Since 2001 - Primate of the Diocese of Shirak
Since 2023 - Member of the Supreme Spiritual Council.
