Catholicoi of Armenia

Apostolic Era

• St. Thaddeus the Apostle
  Saint Jude
  Jude was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is generally identified with Thaddeus, and is also variously called Jude of James, Jude Thaddaeus, Judas Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus...
  
   (43-66) -- Սբ. Թադևոս Առաքյալ
• St. Bartholomew the Apostle
  Bartholomew
  Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, and is usually identified as Nathaniel . He was introduced to Christ through St. Philip, another of the twelve apostles as per , where the name Nathaniel first appears. He is also mentioned as “Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee” in...
  
   (60-68) -- Սբ. Բարդուղիմեոս Առաքյալ
• St. Zacharias (68-72) -- Սբ. Զաքարիա
• St. Zementus (72-76) -- Սբ. Զեմենդոս
• St. Atrnerseh (77-92) -- Սբ. Ատրներսեհ
• St. Mushe (93-123) -- Սբ. Մուշե
• St. Shahen (124-150) -- Սբ. Շահեն
• St. Shavarsh 151-171—Սբ. Շավարշ
• St. Leontius (172-190) -- Սբ. Ղեոնդիոս

Sophene Era

• St. Merozanes (240-270) -- Սբ. Մերուժան
• St. Gregory I the Illuminator
  Gregory the Illuminator
  Saint Gregory the Illuminator or Saint Gregory the Enlightener is the patron saint and first official head of the Armenian Apostolic Church...
  
   (288-325) -- Սուրբ Գրիգոր Ա. Պարթև (Լուսավորիչ)

First 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....

 era 301-452

• St. Gregory I the Illuminator
  Gregory the Illuminator
  Saint Gregory the Illuminator or Saint Gregory the Enlightener is the patron saint and first official head of the Armenian Apostolic Church...
  
   (301-325) -- Սուրբ Գրիգոր Ա. Պարթև (Լուսավորիչ)
• St. Aristaces I
  St. Aristaces I
  St Aristaces was assigned by St. Gregory I the Enlightener as the next Armenian Catholicos in line of Armenia's Holy Apostolic Church, to stabilize and continue strengthening Christianity not only in Armenia, but also in the Caucasus and Anatolia...
  
   (325-333) -- Սբ. Արիստակես Ա. Պարթև
• St. Vrtanes I
  St. Vrtanes I
  St Vrtanes was Armenian Catholicos in Armenia's Holy Apostolic Church immediately after St. Gregory I the Enlightener and his son St. Aristaces I as third in line in the-then hereditary Parthian line of catholicoi. He reigned from 333 to 341 AD....
  
   (333-341) -- Սբ. Վրթանես Ա. Պարթև
• St. Husik I
  St. Husik I
  St. Husik was Armenian Catholicos in Armenia's Holy Apostolic Church and fourth in line of then hereditary line of Parthian catholicoi, immediately after St. Gregory I the Enlightener, his son St. Aristaces I and St. Vrtanes I. He reigned from 341 to 347 AD....
  
   (341-347) -- Սբ. Հուսիկ Ա. Պարթև

• Daniel I of Armenia
  Daniel I of Armenia
  Daniel I of Armenia was a Syrian who became Catholicos in Armenia's Holy Apostolic Church after the reign of four hereditary Parthian catholicoi Daniel I of Armenia was a Syrian who became Catholicos in Armenia's Holy Apostolic Church after the reign of four hereditary Parthian catholicoi Daniel...
  
   (347) -- Դանիել Ա

• Pharen I of Armenia
  Pharen I of Armenia
  Pharen I of Armenia was Catholicos in Armenia's Holy Apostolic Church of the Ashishatts Dynasty. He reigned for 5 years from 348 to 352 and was succeeded by St. Nerses I the Great of the Arsacid Dynasty of Armenia...
  
   (348-352) -- Փառեն Ա. Աշտիշատցի

• St. Nerses I the Great (353-373) -- Սուրբ Ներսես Ա. Մեծ (Պարթև)

• Sahak I (373-377) -- Սահակ Ա. Մանազկերտցի
• Zaven I
  Zaven I
  Zaven I was a catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church. He reigned from 377 to 381 AD and second of three catholicoi from the Albaniosid Dynasty....
  
   (377-381) -- Զավեն Ա. Մանազկերտցի
• Aspuraces I
  Aspuraces I
  Aspuraces I was a catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church. He reigned from 381 to 386 AD and third of three catholicoi from the Albaniosid Dynasty....
  
   (381-386) -- Ասպուրակես Ա. Մանազկերտցի

• St. Sahak I
  Isaac of Armenia
  Isaac or Sahak of Armenia was Catholicos of Armenia. He is sometimes known as "Isaac the Great," and as "Սահակ Պարթև / Sahak Parthev" in Armenian, owing to his Parthian origin....
  
   (387-428) -- Սբ. Սահակ Ա. Պարթև

• Brkisho of Armenia (428-432) -- Բրկիշո
• Samuel of Armenia (432-437) -- Սամվել

• St. Hovsep I (437-452) -- Սբ. Հովսեփ Ա. Հողոցմեցի

Dvin

Dvin

Dvin was a large commercial city and the capital of early medieval Armenia. It was situated north of the previous ancient capital of Armenia, the city of Artaxata, along the banks of the Metsamor River, 35 km to the south of modern Yerevan...

 era 452-927

• Melitus I (452-456) -- Մելիտե Ա. Մանազկերտցի
• Moses I (456-461) -- Մովսես Ա. Մանազկերտցի
• St. Kyud I (461-478) -- Սբ. Գյուտ Ա. Արահեզացի
• St. John I (478-490) -- Սբ. Հովհաննես Ա. Մանդակունի
• Babken I (490-516) -- Բաբկեն Ա. Ոթմսեցի
• Samuel I (516-526) -- Սամվել Ա. Արծկեցի
• Mushe I (526-534) -- Մուշե Ա. Այլաբերցի
• Sahak II (534-539) -- Սահակ Բ. Ուղկեցի
• Christopher I (539-545) -- Քրիստափոր Ա. Տիրառիջցի
• Ghevond I (545-548) -- Ղեվոնդ Ա․ Եռաստեցի
• Nerses II (548-557) -- Ներսես Բ. Բագրևվանդցի
• John II (557-574)-- Հովհաննես Բ. Գաբեղենցի
• Moses II (574-604) -- Մովսես Բ. Եղիվարդեցի
  • vacant 604-607, administered by Verthanes Qerthol the Gramatic
• Abraham I (607-615) -- Աբրահամ Ա. Աղբաթանեցի
• Gomidas I
  Gomidas
  Gomidas, also known as Komitas, bishop of Taron, was the Catholicos of Armenia from 615 through 628. He is also known to have been a hymn writer. He pulled down the original chapel and rebuilt the St. Hripsime Church at Etchmiadzin as it is seen today....
  
   (615-628) -- Կոմիտաս Ա. Աղցեցի
• Christopher II
  Christopher II of Armenia
  Christopher II, was the Catholicos of Armenia from 628 through 630. According to the historian Sebeos 'he proved to be an arrogant and impious man whose tongue was as sharp as a sword'. Due to this accusations were brought against him and the bishops and princes of the land were assembled to...
  
   (628-630), died aft. 630—Քրիստափոր Բ. Ապահունի
• Ezra I (630-641) -- Եզր Ա. Փառաժնակերտցի
• Nerses III the Builder
  Nerses III the Builder
  Nerses III the Builder was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 641 and 661. He was originally from the village of Ishkhan in Tayk...
  
   (641-661) -- Ներսես Գ. Տայեցի (Շինարար)
• Anastasius I (661-667) -- Անաստաց Ա. Ակոռեցի
• Israel I (667-677) -- Իսրայել Ա. Ոթմսեցի
• Sahak III
  Sahak III
  Sahak III, was the Catholicos of Armenia from 677 through 703. According to the historian Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi Sahak III was alive in Damascus, where he had gone to discuss peace instead of making war, while a Muslim warrior Okbay was moving with his army through the area of Vanand when the...
  
   (677-703) -- Սահակ Գ. Ձորոփորեցի
• Elias I (703-717) -- Եղիա Ա. Արճիզեցի
• St. John III the Philosopher (717-728) -- Սբ. Հովհաննես Գ. Օձնեցի (Փիլիսոփա)
• David I
  David I of Armenia
  Catholicos David I was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 728 and 741. He was from Aramus in the district of Kotayk. He moved the Holy See from Dvin to Aramonk due to Dvin's having fallen into Arab hands and problems which resulted from that...
  
   (728-741) -- Դավիթ Ա. Արամոնեցի
• Dertad I
  Dertad I
  Catholicos Dertad I was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 741 and 764. According to the historian Kirakos Ganjaketsi, Dertad was from Otmus village and was a 'modest, blessed man, radiant in all virtue'. He reigned in a time of relative peace with a break in the Arab invasions....
  
   (741-764) -- Տրդատ Ա. Ոթմսեցի
• Dertad II (764-767) -- Տրդատ Բ. Դասնավորեցի
• Sion I (767-775) -- Սիոն Ա. Բավոնեցի
• Isaiah I (775-788) -- Եսայի Ա. Եղիպատրուշեցի
• Stephen I (788-790) -- Ստեփանոս Ա. Դվնեցի
• Joab I (790-791) -- Յովաբ Ա. Դվնեցի
• Solomon I (791-792) -- Սողոմոն Ա. Գառնեցի
• George I (792-795) -- Գևորգ Ա. Բյուրականցի
• Joseph I (795-806) -- Հովսեփ Բ. Փարպեցի
• David II (806-833) -- Դավիթ Բ. Կակաղեցի
• John IV (833-855) -- Հովհաննես Դ. Ավայեցի
• Zacharias I
  Zacharias I of Armenia
  Catholicos Zacharias I of Armenia was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 855 and 876. During his reign a severe earthquake rocked Dvin, during which Zacharias offered powerful prayers. It is said his prayers protected Dvin's church from damage. He died in the twenty-second year...
  
   (855-876) -- Զաքարիա Ա. Ձագեցի
• George II
  George II of Armenia
  Catholicos George II of Garni, Kevork II in Armenian, was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 877 and 897. Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi calls him an honorable man who was selected from the Catholicos's household by Prince Ashot I of Armenia to succeed Patriarch Zacharias. George...
  
   (877-897) -- Գևորգ Բ. Գառնեցի
• Mashdotz I
  Mashdotz I
  Catholicos Mashdotz I was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 897 and 898. He was a monk of Sevanavank monastery and regarded as a very holy man. While a monk, he was asked by sparapet Abas to assist in overthrowing the current Catholicos, George II, and was promised the...
  
   (897-898) -- Մաշտոց Ա. Եղվարդեցի

Aghtamar

Akdamar Island

Akdamar Island also known as Aght'amar or Akhtamar, is the second by size of four islands in Lake Van in the south of Eastern Anatolia Region, Turkey, about 0.7 km2 in size, situated about 3 km from the shoreline. At the western end of the island a hard, grey, limestone cliff rises 80 m...

 era 927-947

• John V the Historian
  John V the Historian
  Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi was Catholicos of Armenia from 897 to 925, and a noted chronicler and historian. He is called John V the Historian, and is known for his History of Armenia. It was printed at the end of the seventeenth century...
  
   (898-929) -- Հովհաննես Ե. Դրասխանակերտցի
• Stephen II (929-930) -- Ստեփանոս Բ. Ռշտունի
• Theodore I (930-941) -- Թեոդորոս Ա. Ռշտունի
• Yeghishe I
  Yeghishe I
  Yeghishe I also known as Yeghishe I Rshtunetsi was the Catholicos of All Armenians in 941 – 946. Yeghishe I succeeded his brother Catholicos Theodore I. Ruled the Church from Aghtamar, at the time – the Holy See of the Armenian Apostolic Church...
  
   (941-946) -- Եղիշե Ա. Ռշտունի

Arghina era 947-992

• Ananias I
  Ananias I of Armenia
  Catholicos Ananias I was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 949 and 968.His predecessor Yeghishe had been deposed as Catholicos and by church regulations no one could be elected during his lifetime...
  
   (949-968) -- Անանիա Ա. Մոկացի
• Vahan I (968-969) -- Վահան Ա. Սյունեցի
• Stephen III (969-972) -- Ստեփանոս Գ. Սևանցի
• Khachig I
  Khachig I of Armenia
  Catholicos Khachig I was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 973 and 992.After a one year vacancy due to a confusing period where there were two rival Catholicoi, King Ashot III "the Merciful" called an assembly to pick a new Catholicos...
  
   (973-992) -- Խաչիկ Ա. Արշարունի

Ani

Ani

Ani is a ruined and uninhabited medieval Armenian city-site situated in the Turkish province of Kars, near the border with Armenia. It was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey...

 era 992-1058

• Sarkis I
  Sarkis I of Armenia
  Catholicos Sarkis I was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 992 and 1019. He was said to be mild mannered and humble, so that even as leader of the church he lived simply like a hermit....
  
   (992-1019), d. aft. 1019—Սարգիս Ա. Սևանցի
• Peter I
  Peter I of Armenia
  Catholicos Peter I Ketadarz was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1019 and 1058. He was the brother of a former Catholicos Khachig I. He was the author of several works of sermons, anthems, and elegies on early Christian martyrs.He was surnamed Ketadarz because he was said...
  
   (1019–1058) Պետրոս Ա. Գետադարձ

Second 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....

 era 1441-present

• Giragos I (1441–1443) -- Կիրակոս Ա. Վիրապեցի
• Gregory X (1443–1465) -- Գրիգոր Ժ. Ջալալբեկյանց
  • Aristaces II (Coadjutor) (1465–1469) -- Արիստակես Բ. Աթոռակալ
• Sarkis II the Relic-Carrier
  Sarkis II the Relic-Carrier
  Sarkis II the Relic-Carrier was the Catholicos of Armenian Apostolic Church from 1469-1474....
  
   (1469–1474) -- Սարգիս Բ. Աջատար
• John VII the Relic-Bearer (1474–1484), d. 1506—Հովհաննես Է. Աջակիր
• Sarkis III the Other (1484–1515) -- Սարգիս Գ. Մյուսայլ
• Zacharias II (1515–1520) -- Զաքարիա Բ. Վաղարշապատցի
• Sarkis IV (1520–1536) -- Սարգիս Դ. Վրաստանցի
• Gregory XI (1536–1545) -- Գրիգոր ԺԱ. Բյուզանդացի
• Stephen V (1545–1567) -- Ստեփանոս Ե. Սալմոստեցի
• Michael I (1567–1576) -- Միքայել Ա. Սեբաստացի
• Gregory XII (1576–1590) -- Գրիգոր ԺԲ. Վաղարշապատցի
• David IV (1590–1629), d. 1633—Դավիթ Դ. Վաղարշապատցի
• Moses III
  Moses III of Armenia
  Catholicos Moses III of Tatev was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1629 and 1632.He was a pioneer of the reform movement within the church and his work was carried on by his successors. He also obtained protection from the Shah of Persia against local Muslim chieftains....
  
   (1629–1632) -- Մովսես Գ.Տաթևացի
• Philip I (1633–1655) -- Փիլիպոս Ա. Աղբակեցի
• Jacob IV (1655–1680) -- Հակոբ Դ. Ջուղայեցի
• Eliazar I (1681–1691) -- Եղիազար Ա. Այնթափցի
• Nahabed I
  Nahabed I of Armenia
  Catholicos Nahabed I of Edessa was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1691 and 1705.He was a virtuous man of meek disposition. He made many improvements to Etchmiadzin during his reign and attempted to reunite his countrymen...
  
   (1691–1705) -- Նահապետ Ա. Եդեսացի
• Alexander I (1706–1714) -- Ալեքսանդր Ա. Ջուղայեցի
• Asdvadzadur
  Asdvadzadur of Armenia
  Catholicos Asdvadzadur was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1715 and 1725.As Catholicos, he secured an alliance with Christian Peter the Great of Russia for aid against the expansionist Muslim powers of the Ottoman Empire and Persia prior to the Russo-Persian War.He is buried...
  
   (1715–1725) -- Աստվածատուր Ա. Համադանցի
• Garabed II
  Garabed II of Armenia
  Catholicos Garabed II Oolnetzi was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1725 and 1729.He was elected Catholicos in Constantinople by the community and Patriarch there. He was seen by the Ottoman leaders as a trusted bridge to establish favorable relations with the new Ottoman...
  
   (1725–1729) -- Կարապետ Բ. Ուլնեցի
• Abraham II (1730–1734) -- Աբրահամ Բ. Խոշաբեցի
• Abraham III
  Abraham III of Armenia
  Catholicos Abraham III was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1734 and 1737. Born in Heraklion, Crete, to a Greek mother, he was bishop of Rodosto, Thrace and then Armenian prelate of Thrace from 1708-1734...
  
   (1734–1737) -- Աբրահամ Գ. Կրետացի
• Lazar I
  Lazar I of Armenia
  Catholicos Lazar I of Armenia was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1737 and 1751. He is notable for the numerous troubles he personally got into during his reign.Lazar had been bishop of Smyrna, Turkey and was a native of Jahuk...
  
   (1737–1751) -- Ղազար Ա. Ջահկեցի
• Minas I (1751–1753) -- Մինաս Ա. Ակնեցի
• Alexander II (1753–1755) -- Ալեքսանդր Բ. Բյուզանդացի
  • Sahak V (elected but never consecrated) (1755) -- Սահակ Ե.
  • vacant (1755–1759)
• Jacob V (1759–1763) -- Հակոբ Ե. Շամախեցի
• Simeon I (1763–1780) -- Սիմոն Ա. Երևանցի
• Luke I (1780–1799) -- Ղուկաս Ա. Կարնեցի
  • Joseph II (elected but never consecrated) (1800), d. 1801—Հովսեփ Բ.
  • David V (1801–1807) -- Դավիթ Ե. Էնեգեթցի (Ղորղանյան)
• Daniel II (1802–1808) -- Դանիել Բ. Սուրմառեցի
• Yeprem I (1809–1830), d. 1835—Եփրեմ Ա. Ձորագեղցի
• John VIII (1831–1842) -- Հովհաննես Ը Կարբեցի
• Nerses V
  Nerses V
  Nerses V , served as the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1843 and 1857. Previously, he served as the leader of Diocese of Georgia from 1811 to 1830, the leader of the Diocese of Bessarabia and Nakhijevan from 1830 to 1843.Nerses V is buried near Mother Cathedral of Holy...
  
   (1843–1857) -- Ներսես Ե. Աշտարակեցի
• Matthew I (1858–1865) -- Մատթևոս Ա.Կոնստանդնուպոլսեցի (Չուհաճյան)
• George IV (1866–1882) -- Գևորգ Դ. Կոնստանդնուպոլսեցի (Քերեստեճյան)
  • vacant (1882–1885)
• Magar (1885–1891) -- Մակար Ա. Թեղուտցի
• Mkrtich I Khrimian
  Mkrtich Khrimian
  Mkrtich Khrimian , also known as Khrimian Hayrik , was an Armenian writer, newspaper editor, and political and religious leader. He served as the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople , Prelate of Van and Catholicos of All Armenians...
  
   (1892–1907) -- Մկրտիչ Ա. Վանեցի (Խրիմյան Հայրիկ)
• Matthew II (1908–1910) -- Մատթևոս Բ. Կոնստանդնուպոլսեցի (Իզմիրլյան)
• George V (1911–1930) -- Գևորգ Ե. Սուրենյանց (Տփղիսեցի)
  • vacant (1930–1932)
• Khoren I
  Khoren I of Armenia
  Khoren I of Armenia was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church from 1932–1938.Khoren I is buried near the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. After his death, the position remained vacant for 7 years before the election of Catholicos George VI of Armenia....
  
   (1932–1938) -- Խորեն Ա. Մուրադբեկյան (Տփղիսեցի)
  • vacant (1938–1945)
• George VI
  George VI of Armenia
  George VI of Armenia was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church from 1945 to 1954.George VI is buried near Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin....
  
   (1945–1954) -- Գևորգ Զ. Չորեքչյան (Նորնախիջևանցի)
• 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...
  
   (1955–1994) -- Վազգեն Ա. Պալճյան (Բուխարեստցի)
• Karekin I
  Karekin I
  Karekin I , served as the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1995 and 1999...
  
   (1995–1999) -- Գարեգին Ա. Սարգիսյան (Քեսաբցի)
• Karekin II
  Karekin II
  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...
  
   (1999–Present) -- Գարեգին Բ. Ներսիսյան (Ոսկեհատցի)

See also

• Catholicos of All Armenians
• List of Catholicos of the East
• List of Armenian Catholicoi of Cilicia
• List of Armenian Patriarchs of Constantinople
• List of Armenian Patriarchs of Jerusalem
• List of Armenian Catholic Patriarchs of Cilicia