VERY REVEREND ARCHIMANDRITE FATHER ZAVEN YAZICHYAN

Very Reverend Archimandrite Father Zaven (baptismal name is Sargis) Yazichyan was born on April 20, 1981 in the capital city of Republic of Armenia – Yerevan.

From 1988 to 1996, he studied at the secondary school № 54 named Manuel Khajuni, in Yerevan.

From 1996 to 1998, he studied at the college of the Foreign Languages and Diplomatic Relationships of Yerevan № 149.

From 1999 to 2002, Very Rev. Fr. Zaven Yazichyan studied at the Vazgenian Theological Seminary of Sevan, Republic of Armenia.

From 2002 to 2004, Very Rev. Fr. Yazichyan studied at the Gevorgian Seminary-Academy of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Republic of Armenia.

After his graduation, he served as a secretary of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians in the Catholicosate of All Armenian in Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia.

On December 25, 2004, on the Feast of Saint Stephen the First Deacon, he was ordained as a deacon by His Grace Bishop Yezras Nersissian, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Southern Russia.

In 2005, he successfully defended his final thesis entitled “The Dynasty of Lusignan in Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia” and received an Excellent mark.

On September 25, 2005, on the Feast of Soorb Varaga Khach (the Cross of Saint Varag), upon blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, he was consecrated and ordained as a celibate priest by His Grace Bishop Daron Jerejian, the Primate of Marseille, France and Vicar General of the Pontifical Legate, and given the priestly name of Zaven.

In 2006, upon the order and blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians and by sponsorship of the “Cafesjian Family Foundation” Very Rev. Fr. Zaven Yazichyan was sent to continue his study on Professional Counseling Psychology at the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota, USA.

From 2006 to 2009, Very Rev. Fr. Zaven Yazichyan was serving as the visiting pastor of the Armenian churches in Minnesota, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Illinois and New York at the Easter Diocese of Armenian Church of the United State of America.

In 2009, Very Rev. Fr. Yazichyan completed his high education at the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota, USA and  received Master Degree in Professional Counseling Psychology. He returned to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Armenian in the same year.

In 2009, Very Rev. Fr. Zaven was appointed as the Internet department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin as the editor of Armenian language.

In the second half of 2009, Very Rev. Fr. Yazichyan was appointed to serve at the Diocese of Syunik as the Vicar General.

In 2010, Very Rev. Fr. Zaven was appointed the First Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Syunik, Republic of Armenia.

In 2012, Very Rev. Fr. Zaven was appointed at the Human Recourse Department of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin as the director of the Department.

In the second half of 2012, Very Rev. Fr. Yazichyan was appointed at the Monastery of Saint Gayane in Armenia as the Abbot of the monastery.

In 2013, Very Rev. Fr. Zaven was appointed to serve at the Indian-Armenian Spiritual Pastorate as the Pastor of Indian-Armenians and the Manager of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy in Kolkata, India.

In 2016, Very Rev. Fr. Zaven was appointed as the Representative of Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians to The Far East.

On December 28, 2016, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Very Rev. Fr. Zaven Yazichyan successfully defended his doctoral thesis for the ecclesiastical degree of Archimandrite (Vardapet). The thesis is entitled: “The Importance of Psychology in the Service of the Spiritual Pastor”.

On December 29, 2016, with the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Very Rev. Fr. Zaven Yazichyan received the rank of Archimandrite at the St. Mesrop Mashtots Church in Oshakan, by His Grace Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan, Grand Sacristan of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

In 2017, Archimandrite Zaven Yazichyan was appointed to serve at Spiritual Pastorates of Myanmar, Singapore and Bangladesh as the Pastor of Armenian communities in Myanmar, Singapore and Bangladesh.

In end of 2017, after completing his duets in The Far East, Very Rev. Fr. Zaven Yazichyan returned to Armenia and with the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, was appointed as the Assistant of Grant Sacristan of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

In 2018, with the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Very Rev. Fr. Yazichyan was appointed to serve at the Armenian Diocese of Egypt as the Vicar.

In the second half of 2018, Very Rev. Fr. Zaven returned to Armenian from Egypt and was appointed at St. Gregory the Illuminator Mother Cathedral of Yerevan as the Vicar.

In 2019, with the order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Very Rev. Fr. Zaven Yazichyan was appointed to serve at the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia as the Pastor of Shahumyan, Karmir and Akhgyorpi villages in Kvemo Kartli region.

***

Rev. Fr. Zaven is the author of many theological and psychological articles published in various journals and magazines worldwide. Articles are in Armenian and Russian. Since 2007, Very Rev. Fr. Zaven Yazichyan is member of the American Psychological Association.

***

Rev. Fr. Zaven Yazichyan volunteered for United Way of Central Minnesota, US, MRC-Minnesota Resource Center, US, the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities in New York, US.

           

Place of residence:

Karmir village in Marneuli region, Georgia

Phone: +955 596 46 00 04

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.