Bishop Vertanes Abrahamyan
Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh
- General Information
Was born in 1962, in the village of Tsovategh, Artsakh. Baptismal naem is Kamo.
From 1969 to 1979 - Local Secondary School.
From 1980 to 1987 - Gevorkian Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
From 1981 to 1983 - Service in the Soviet Army.
- Ecclesiastical titles and ordination
In 1987 - Ordained to the Diaconate by His Eminence Archbishop Hoosik Santourian.
In 1988 - Ordained as a Celibate priest by His Eminence Archbishop Hoosik Santourian.
In 1992 - Rank of Archimandrite by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian. (Thesis: "Hovsep Artsaghetsi - Shield of Orthodoxy").
In 2008 - Consecrated as a Bishop by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
- Tenure
From 1987 to 1988 - Service in the Museum of the Mother Cathedral.
From 1989 to 1994 - Abbot in the Amaras Monastery.
From 1994 to 1996 - Vicar General of the Diocese of Artsakh.
From 1996 to 1997 - Abbot of the St. Hripsime Monastery.
From 1997 to 1999 - Spiritual adviser to the RA Minister of Defense.
From 1999 to 2001 - Abbot of the St. Hripsime Monastery.
From 2001 to 2006 - Spiritual pastor of the St. Nerses Church in the Diocese of Gougark.
From 2006 to 2007 - Spiritual pastor in the Armenian Diocese of New Nakhichevan and Russia.
From 2007 to 2020 - Head Chaplain of the Republic of Armenia Armed Forces Ministry.
Since 2021 - Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh.
Since 2023 - Director of the Artsakh spiritual and cultural heritage office of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
