Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian
Encyclopedia
Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian (born Haik Sarkis Chouldjian, , , , also Sebuh, Sepouh, Sepuh, Chuljian, Tchuljian, Chuljyan, Çulciyan) is the Primate of the Diocese of Gougark
of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church
.
, Turkey. He received his primary education at the Nersisian College of Istanbul. In 1969, his family repatriated to Armenia
and settled in the city of Gyumri
, where he continued and finished his primary education.
In 1978 he entered the Gevorkian Theological Seminary
at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1985, by the Grand Sacristan of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Archbishop Hoosik Santourian. He successfully defended his final thesis entitled "The Translation Works of Lukas of Kharpert" in March, 1986. Upon his graduation from the seminary he was appointed to serve in the Secretariat of the Pontifical Administration.
He was ordained as a celibate priest by Archbishop Nerses Pozapalian on June 7, 1987, the Feast of Pentecost
, and given the priestly name Sebouh. Following his ordination, he continued his service in the Pontifical Administration.
By the appointment of Vazgen I
, Catholicos of All Armenians, he served as the Vice Dean of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary
at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in September, 1987. In November, 1989, he successfully defended his doctoral thesis entitled “The Fast in the Armenian Apostolic Church
,” and received the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet
).
In 1990, Vazgen I
appointed Father Sebouh to serve as the spiritual pastor of the Armenians of Geneva
, Switzerland. He returned to Armenia in 1991 to serve as the Vicar of the Diocese of Shirak.
After the Republic of Armenia gained independence, vast administrative tasks were placed on the Armenian Church. In the summer of 1993, Father Sebouh worked closely with Archbishop Hovnan Derderian (the then primate of the Diocese of Canada) and Ronald Alepian
to organize the first mission of Canadian Youth Mission to Armenia (CYMA). In June 1995, Father Sebouh was appointed to serve as the Director of the Reserve Stewardship Inventory Committee of the Armenian Church. Also in that same year, he was appointed to serve as the Director of the committee responsible for tracking the return and receipt of all previously confiscated church buildings, land and construction projects (most of the churches, buildings, structures and properties belonging to the Church had been seized by the State during the time of the Soviet Regime).
In 1996, he served as the representative of the Armenian Church on the Humanitarian Aid Central Committee of the Republic of Armenia. On June 3, 1996, by the Pontifical Encyclical of the Karekin I
, Catholicos of All Armenians, Father Sebouh he was appointed to serve as the Primate of the Diocese of Gougark
.
Father Sebouh was consecrated as bishop by Catholicos Karekin I
on June 15, 1997. He was a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Church during 2000–2007.
Bishop Sebouh presently serves as the Primate of the Diocese of Gougark
in Armenia.
in 2010.
Mesrop II Mutafyan, the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease
in July, 2008, and was incapable of running the Patriarchate since then. This led the Armenian community to a painful condition of uncertainty. In late 2009, the Patriarchate’s Religious Council wrote to the Turkish government seeking permission to elect a coadjutor (co-Patriarch). Three bishops stated that they were going to run for the elections: Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian, Archbishop Karekin Bekchian – the Primate of the Armenian Church Diocese of Germany, and Archbishop Aram Ateshian – the chairman of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Patriarchate of Istanbul.
Among the main ideas proposed by Bishop Sebouh as a candidate was that the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople should become a spiritual and cultural bridge among Yerevan, Ankara and the Armenian Diaspora. He paid particular attention to the importance of dialogue among Armenians and between Turkish and Armenian people.
On February 10–17, 2010 Bishop Sebouh visited Istanbul
, Turkey to have meetings with the Armenian community of Istanbul. During his meetings and interviews he urged to continue Hrant Dink
's way (i.e. dialogue between Armenian and Turkish people) and keep Armenian Patriarchate free from politics.
On June 29, 2010 the government of Turkey made a decision to reject the request of the Armenian community of Turkey to allow co-patriarch elections. The Turkish Government said that they did not find the elections of either patriarch or co-patriarch reasonable and allowed carrying out only the elections of Patriarchal Locum Tenens. Hours later Archbishop Shahan Svajian – the that time Locum Tenens, resigned and the Spiritual council of the Patriarchate elected Archbishop Aram Ateshian a new Patriarchal Locum Tenens. However, according to some experts, the Armenian Community of Turkey was inclined to elect Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian (citizen of Armenia) as their spiritual leader which was disallowed by the Turkish government after unsuccessful negotiations of Armenia-Turkey reconciliation.
Later, in his letter to the Armenian Community of Turkey from July 15, 2010 Bishop Sebouh mentioned that interference of Turkey's Government was in contradiction with the adopted new policy on dealing with ethnic minorities. "We continue to hope that this is not the manner of actions of Erdoğan's government, but that of the stationary state sub-agencies, which hamper the democratic development of Turkey with their old mentality". Bishop Sebouh said it was the moral obligation of Archbishop Aram Ateshian to send a new letter to the Turkey's Government with request to hold the elections of Co-Patriarch.
Protests were raised within the Armenian community, though it is hardly possible to hold new patriarch elections as long as the current patriarch Mesrop II is alive. As of now, "We Want to Elect Our Own Patriarch Initiative" is active and holds silent protests in Armenian churches on Sundays.
He holds Fridtjof Nansen
Golden Medal (2005), Republic of Armenia Prime Minister's Medal for vast contribution in development of state-church relations (2006), Hayrenik Gold Medal (2010).
On March 24, 2009, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan
warmly congratulated Bishop Sebouh on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of birthday. In his message he emphasized Bishop Sebouh's input in organizing Christian education, revivification of church life and restoration of ethnic and spiritual identity of the Armenian nation.
Diocese of Gougark
The Diocese of Gougark is located in Northern Armenia and encompasses the regions of Lori and Tavush. In ancient times the region of Lori was referred to as Gougark. The Diocesan Headquarters is located in Vanadzor...
of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
.
Biography
Bishop Sebouh was born on March 24, 1959 in MalatyaMalatya
Malatya ) is a city in southeastern Turkey and the capital of its eponymous province.-Overview:The city site has been occupied for thousands of years. The Assyrians called the city Meliddu. Following Roman expansion into the east, the city was renamed in Latin as Melitene...
, Turkey. He received his primary education at the Nersisian College of Istanbul. In 1969, his family repatriated to Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
and settled in the city of Gyumri
Gyumri
Gyumri is the capital and largest city of the Shirak Province in northwest Armenia. It is located about 120 km from the capital Yerevan, and, with a population of 168,918 , is the second-largest city in Armenia.The name of the city has been changed many times in history...
, where he continued and finished his primary education.
In 1978 he entered the Gevorkian Theological Seminary
Gevorkian Theological Seminary
Gevorkian Theological Seminary is a theological school-college of the Armenian Apostolic Church founded by Catholicos Gevork IV in 1874. It is located in the city of Vagharshapat within the complex of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, Republic of Armenia.-History:During the tenure of Catholicos...
at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1985, by the Grand Sacristan of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Archbishop Hoosik Santourian. He successfully defended his final thesis entitled "The Translation Works of Lukas of Kharpert" in March, 1986. Upon his graduation from the seminary he was appointed to serve in the Secretariat of the Pontifical Administration.
He was ordained as a celibate priest by Archbishop Nerses Pozapalian on June 7, 1987, the Feast of Pentecost
Pentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
, and given the priestly name Sebouh. Following his ordination, he continued his service in the Pontifical Administration.
By the appointment of Vazgen I
Vazgen I
His Holiness Vazgen I was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1955 and 1994, in one of the longest reigns of the Armenian Catholicoi. A native of Romania, he began his career as a philosopher, before becoming a Doctor of Theology and a member of the local Armenian clergy...
, Catholicos of All Armenians, he served as the Vice Dean of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary
Gevorkian Theological Seminary
Gevorkian Theological Seminary is a theological school-college of the Armenian Apostolic Church founded by Catholicos Gevork IV in 1874. It is located in the city of Vagharshapat within the complex of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, Republic of Armenia.-History:During the tenure of Catholicos...
at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in September, 1987. In November, 1989, he successfully defended his doctoral thesis entitled “The Fast in the Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
,” and received the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet
Vardapet
A Vardapet is a highly-educated archimandrite in the Armenian Apostolic Church tradition who holds a Doctorate in Theology.In the English-speaking world, the best-known of the doctor-monks of Armenia is Mekhitar of Sebaste, founder of an Armenian Catholic community of monks, the...
).
In 1990, Vazgen I
Vazgen I
His Holiness Vazgen I was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1955 and 1994, in one of the longest reigns of the Armenian Catholicoi. A native of Romania, he began his career as a philosopher, before becoming a Doctor of Theology and a member of the local Armenian clergy...
appointed Father Sebouh to serve as the spiritual pastor of the Armenians of Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland. He returned to Armenia in 1991 to serve as the Vicar of the Diocese of Shirak.
After the Republic of Armenia gained independence, vast administrative tasks were placed on the Armenian Church. In the summer of 1993, Father Sebouh worked closely with Archbishop Hovnan Derderian (the then primate of the Diocese of Canada) and Ronald Alepian
Ronald Alepian
Ronald Alepian is Vice President and Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications for the TMX Group, which owns Toronto Stock Exchange, TSX Venture Exchange, Natural Gas Exchange , Montreal Exchange, Boston Options Exchange , among others...
to organize the first mission of Canadian Youth Mission to Armenia (CYMA). In June 1995, Father Sebouh was appointed to serve as the Director of the Reserve Stewardship Inventory Committee of the Armenian Church. Also in that same year, he was appointed to serve as the Director of the committee responsible for tracking the return and receipt of all previously confiscated church buildings, land and construction projects (most of the churches, buildings, structures and properties belonging to the Church had been seized by the State during the time of the Soviet Regime).
In 1996, he served as the representative of the Armenian Church on the Humanitarian Aid Central Committee of the Republic of Armenia. On June 3, 1996, by the Pontifical Encyclical of the Karekin I
Karekin I
Karekin I , served as the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1995 and 1999...
, Catholicos of All Armenians, Father Sebouh he was appointed to serve as the Primate of the Diocese of Gougark
Diocese of Gougark
The Diocese of Gougark is located in Northern Armenia and encompasses the regions of Lori and Tavush. In ancient times the region of Lori was referred to as Gougark. The Diocesan Headquarters is located in Vanadzor...
.
Father Sebouh was consecrated as bishop by Catholicos Karekin I
Karekin I
Karekin I , served as the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1995 and 1999...
on June 15, 1997. He was a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Church during 2000–2007.
Bishop Sebouh presently serves as the Primate of the Diocese of Gougark
Diocese of Gougark
The Diocese of Gougark is located in Northern Armenia and encompasses the regions of Lori and Tavush. In ancient times the region of Lori was referred to as Gougark. The Diocesan Headquarters is located in Vanadzor...
in Armenia.
Co-Patriarch Candidacy (2010)
Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian was one of the three candidates for the Co-Patriarch at the Armenian Patriarchate of ConstantinopleArmenian Patriarchate of Constantinople
The Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople , one of the smallest Patriarchates of the Oriental Orthodox Church but one that has exerted a very significant political role and today still exercises a spiritual authority....
in 2010.
Mesrop II Mutafyan, the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
in July, 2008, and was incapable of running the Patriarchate since then. This led the Armenian community to a painful condition of uncertainty. In late 2009, the Patriarchate’s Religious Council wrote to the Turkish government seeking permission to elect a coadjutor (co-Patriarch). Three bishops stated that they were going to run for the elections: Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian, Archbishop Karekin Bekchian – the Primate of the Armenian Church Diocese of Germany, and Archbishop Aram Ateshian – the chairman of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Patriarchate of Istanbul.
Among the main ideas proposed by Bishop Sebouh as a candidate was that the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople should become a spiritual and cultural bridge among Yerevan, Ankara and the Armenian Diaspora. He paid particular attention to the importance of dialogue among Armenians and between Turkish and Armenian people.
On February 10–17, 2010 Bishop Sebouh visited Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey to have meetings with the Armenian community of Istanbul. During his meetings and interviews he urged to continue Hrant Dink
Hrant Dink
Hrant Dink or Հրանտ Դինք ) was a Turkish citizen of Armenian descent editor, journalist and columnist....
's way (i.e. dialogue between Armenian and Turkish people) and keep Armenian Patriarchate free from politics.
On June 29, 2010 the government of Turkey made a decision to reject the request of the Armenian community of Turkey to allow co-patriarch elections. The Turkish Government said that they did not find the elections of either patriarch or co-patriarch reasonable and allowed carrying out only the elections of Patriarchal Locum Tenens. Hours later Archbishop Shahan Svajian – the that time Locum Tenens, resigned and the Spiritual council of the Patriarchate elected Archbishop Aram Ateshian a new Patriarchal Locum Tenens. However, according to some experts, the Armenian Community of Turkey was inclined to elect Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian (citizen of Armenia) as their spiritual leader which was disallowed by the Turkish government after unsuccessful negotiations of Armenia-Turkey reconciliation.
Later, in his letter to the Armenian Community of Turkey from July 15, 2010 Bishop Sebouh mentioned that interference of Turkey's Government was in contradiction with the adopted new policy on dealing with ethnic minorities. "We continue to hope that this is not the manner of actions of Erdoğan's government, but that of the stationary state sub-agencies, which hamper the democratic development of Turkey with their old mentality". Bishop Sebouh said it was the moral obligation of Archbishop Aram Ateshian to send a new letter to the Turkey's Government with request to hold the elections of Co-Patriarch.
Protests were raised within the Armenian community, though it is hardly possible to hold new patriarch elections as long as the current patriarch Mesrop II is alive. As of now, "We Want to Elect Our Own Patriarch Initiative" is active and holds silent protests in Armenian churches on Sundays.
Honors and awards
Bishop Sebouh is member of the Armenian branch of the International Academy of Natural and Social Sciences (since 2000).He holds Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen was a Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. In his youth a champion skier and ice skater, he led the team that made the first crossing of the Greenland interior in 1888, and won international fame after reaching a...
Golden Medal (2005), Republic of Armenia Prime Minister's Medal for vast contribution in development of state-church relations (2006), Hayrenik Gold Medal (2010).
On March 24, 2009, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan
Tigran Sargsyan
Tigran Sargsyan has been the Prime Minister of Armenia since 9 April 2008.Tigran Sargsyan was born in Kirovakan, Armenian SSR . From 1980 to 1983, he attended Leningrad's Voznesenski Financial and Economic Institute. From 1983 to 1987 his postgraduate education ended in obtaining PhD degree...
warmly congratulated Bishop Sebouh on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of birthday. In his message he emphasized Bishop Sebouh's input in organizing Christian education, revivification of church life and restoration of ethnic and spiritual identity of the Armenian nation.
Gallery
See also- Photo gallery of the meeting of the members of the Organization of Istanbul Armenians with Bishop Sebouh at oia.net.
Biography
- In English:
- In Armenian:
- In Turkish:
- In Russian: ЧУЛДЖЯН АЙК – ЕПИСКОП СЕПУХ
News Articles
- In English
- 2010-10-09: Christian summer camps flourishing in Vanadzor
- 2010-09-29: MHP plans Friday prayer protest at eastern Turkey's Ani – Hürriyet Daily News
- 2010-08-12: Armenian Church officials to attend service in SE Turkey – Hürriyet Daily News
- 2010-07-16: Bishop Sepuh Chuljyan: “It Is Your Duty To Build Your Home” – RA Ministry of Diaspora
- 2010-03-30: Istanbul’s Armenian community wishes to see Sebouh Chouldjian as co-patriarch – PanArmenianNet
- 2009-06-07: Bishop Chuljyan, potential replacement for Patriarch Mesrob II, talks of peace
- 2010-03-13: Members of Clergy Meet with His Grace Bishop Sebouh Chouljian
- 2008-12-21: A meeting with Turkish historian and journalist Osman Koker in Vanadzor
- 2007-10-01: Availing opportunities for deaf and mute people
- 2002-07-13: Diocesan Summer Camp "Tsitsernak" Opens in Vanadzor
- In Turkish
- In Russian
Preachings
) | publisher = Iravakan Mshakuyt , p. 7| date = March 30, 2008 | url = http://www.acrpc.am/downloads/lc25.pdf | accessdate =January 21, 2010 | language = Armenian}}