Karekin II
Encyclopedia
Catholicos Karekin II is the current head of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church
.
He was born as Ktrij Nersessian in Voskehat
, Armenia
, on August 21, 1951. He entered the Gevorkian Theological Seminary
at Echmiadzin
in 1965 and graduated with honors in 1971. He was ordained to the diaconate deacon
in 1970. Later he became a monk
and was ordained a celibate priest
in 1972. In the late 1970s the Catholicos of that period encouraged him to study outside of Armenia. This led to him continuing his studies in Vienna
, Bonn University, and Zagorsk, Russia
. On October 23, 1983, he was consecrated bishop at Echmiadzin
. He became an archbishop in 1992.
In 1988, he took an active role in helping his people overcome the Armenian earthquake. He has built a number of churches and schools. He also showed an interest in using modern technology and telecommunications to help the life of his churches as well as dealing with the legacies of the Soviet era.
In 1999, he was elected Catholicos of All Armenians at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, succeeding His Holiness, Karekin I
. His relations with Pope John Paul II
were generally positive. When the Pope visited Armenia in 2001, he stayed with the Catholicos.
In 2006, Karekin made a weeklong visit to Istanbul
, Turkey
, to meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and to bless the city's Armenian community. During his visit he caused some controversy by affirming the Armenian Genocide
, which Turkey vehemently denies, and insisting on its recognition.
In October 2007, he began a second visit to the United States
.
On October 10, 2007, he offered the opening prayer for the day's session of the United States House of Representatives
.
His ecumenical trip to India to meet Baselios Thoma Didymos I, Catholicos of the East in November 2008, has strengthened the communion of Armenian and Indian Orthodox Church
es.
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...
.
He was born as Ktrij Nersessian in Voskehat
Voskehat
Voskehat is a town in the Armavir Province of Armenia.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
, Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, on August 21, 1951. 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 Echmiadzin
Echmiadzin
Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin is a 4th century Armenian church in the town of Ejmiatsin, Armenia. It is also the central cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin of the Armenian Apostolic Church....
in 1965 and graduated with honors in 1971. He was ordained to the diaconate deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1970. Later he became a monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
and was ordained a celibate priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in 1972. In the late 1970s the Catholicos of that period encouraged him to study outside of Armenia. This led to him continuing his studies in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Bonn University, and Zagorsk, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. On October 23, 1983, he was consecrated bishop at Echmiadzin
Echmiadzin
Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin is a 4th century Armenian church in the town of Ejmiatsin, Armenia. It is also the central cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin of the Armenian Apostolic Church....
. He became an archbishop in 1992.
In 1988, he took an active role in helping his people overcome the Armenian earthquake. He has built a number of churches and schools. He also showed an interest in using modern technology and telecommunications to help the life of his churches as well as dealing with the legacies of the Soviet era.
In 1999, he was elected Catholicos of All Armenians at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, succeeding His Holiness, Karekin I
Karekin I
Karekin I , served as the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1995 and 1999...
. His relations with Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
were generally positive. When the Pope visited Armenia in 2001, he stayed with the Catholicos.
In 2006, Karekin made a weeklong visit to 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
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, to meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and to bless the city's Armenian community. During his visit he caused some controversy by affirming the Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
, which Turkey vehemently denies, and insisting on its recognition.
In October 2007, he began a second visit to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
On October 10, 2007, he offered the opening prayer for the day's session of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
His ecumenical trip to India to meet Baselios Thoma Didymos I, Catholicos of the East in November 2008, has strengthened the communion of Armenian and Indian Orthodox Church
Indian Orthodox Church
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, also known as the Indian Orthodox Church, is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church centred in the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the churches of India's Saint Thomas Christian community, which traces its origins to the evangelical activity of Thomas...
es.
External links
- Official Website of His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II & Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
- Catholicos Karekin II
- Encyclical from Catholicos Karekin II
- «Аравот»: Католикос всех армян похож на сериального мафиози _ NEWS.am
- «У вас и птицы есть, и зелень, и вино»: Эксклюзивные подробности переговоров грузинского и армянского патриархов (видео) _ NEWS.am
- Aravot: Catholicos's behavior reflects our intellectual and spiritual degradation
- Wikileaks - Karekin II complained about Georgia to Obama