His Eminence Archbishop Aris Shirvanyan Enters His Eternal Rest
03.01.2024
It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that on January 3, the devoted servant of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, one of the most distinguished Brotherhood members of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Eminence Archbishop Aris SHirvanyan, entered his eternal life.
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; and the Brotherhood of the Mother See mourn the passing of His Eminence Archbishop Aris SHirvanyan and pray for the repose of his soul.
On January 7, at 18:00, the order of the late Archimandrite will be performed in the Saint Gayane Monastery.
On January 8, at 10:00 a.m., during the Divine Liturgy, the last consecration ceremony of Archbishop Aris will take place, followed by the burial in the Congregational Cemetery of the Mother See.
Blessed be the memory of the righteous.
BIOGRAPHY
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His Eminence Archbishop Aris SHirvanyan (baptismal name Armenak) was born on July 23, 1934 in Haifa (Palestine, now Israel). He received his primary education in the Saint Yeghia Pre-Educational School in Haifa, then at Burj Hammoud Holy Forty Children's School in Lebanon.
From 1952-1957, he studied at the Seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, after graduating he was ordained a celibate priest, joining the Brotherhood of Saints Hakobyan of Jerusalem.
In 1964 the Archbishop studied at the Faculty of Theology at Durham University (England) with a Bachelor of Theology degree.
From 1964 - 1966 he studied at the Catholic University of Paris.
• Ecclesiastical titles and ordinations
In 1954, he was ordained to the diaconate by His Eminence Archbishop Yeghishe Terteryan.
In 1957, he was ordained as a celibate priest by His Eminence Tiran Nersoyan.
In 1964, he received the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet) in Etchmiadzin by His Grace Bishop Asoghik Ghazaryan
In 1972, he received the rank of proto-Archimandrite by His Eminence Archbishop Vatche Hovsepyan.
Archbishop Aris was consecrated as a Bishop in 1974 by Vazgen I Catholicos of All Armenians.
In 2006, he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop through the Encyclical of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
• Tenure
In 1957- Vice-dean and lecturer in the Seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
In 1958- Spiritual Pastor of St. Thaddeus Armenian Church in Amman (Jordan). Director of Hetumyan Armenian School.
In 1966 - Spiritual Pastor at the St. Hakob Armenian Church in Los Angeles (USA).
From 1972 - 1974 - lecturer, deputy Dean, then Dean at the Gevorgian Theological Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin.
From 1975 to 1979- Vicar General of the Armenian Diocese of Canada.
From 1979 to 1980- Dean of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy of Calcutta.
From 1998 to 1999- Dean of the Seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
In 2012- Locum Tenens of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
In 2013- Director of the Ecumenical and Foreign Relations Department of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and spokesperson.
