His Eminence Archbishop Shahй Ajemian Enters Eternal Rest
13.07.2005
It is with great sadness that we report that on June 13, 2005, following a long and debilitating illness, one of the most senior members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Eminence Archbishop Shahй Ajemian entered his eternal rest. At the time of his death, Abp. Ajemian was the dean of the Theological Faculty of Yerevan State University. He was 79 years old.
Abp. Shahй was born in Aleppo, Syria in 1926. He received his elementary education in the Haigazian School of Aleppo; and from 1937 to 1939, he attended the academy of the Mkhitarist fathers.
In 1939 he enrolled in the Aleppo Friars (Franciscan) School and graduated with honors in 1943. He was accepted the same year in the seminary of Antelias and ordained a deacon. Graduating from the seminary in 1947, he is ordained a celibate priest by His Grace Bishop Terenig Poladian of blessed memory.
From 1947 to 1950, he attended classes at the University of Brussels and graduated with a degree in literature and philosophy. He immediately began teaching classes at the seminary in Antelias, as well as at the Hovagimian-Manoogian School in Beirut.
From 1952 to 1956, he served in the Chancellery of the See of the Great House of Cilicia.
From 1960 to 1994 he was a member of the Brotherhood of Saint James of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. In 1965, His Holiness Vasken I, Catholicos of All Armenians of blessed memory, consecrated him a bishop. During his years of service in Jerusalem, he held the positions of Chancellor and Properties Manager for the Patriarchate.
His Eminence Archbishop Shahй Ajemian contributed numerous works to the "Sion" official monthly of the Patriarchate, focusing on research dedicated to religion, history, science and philosophy. In 1982, he established the Armenian Bible Center on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, with its emphasis on research on the Armenian translation of the Bible and Armenian Church canons.
Abp. Ajemian was a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Church from 1975 to 1985. He also contributed his worthy participation to the activities of the Armenian Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin through his involvement in ecclesiastical-organizational matters, the expansion and strengthening of international ties, preaching and ministry, as well as his lectures at the Gevorkian and Vaskenian Theological Seminaries of the Mother See.
In 1994, Abp. Ajemian moved to Armenia and in 1995 he established the Theological Faculty at Yerevan State University. His Eminence was renowned for his scientific-pedagogical activities and was the author of numerous articles and papers. His death is a great loss for the Armenian Church and for Yerevan State University. "Blessed be the memory of the righteous."
Details regarding the funeral and burial services for Abp. Ajemian will be forthcoming.
