ARCHBISHOP GAREGIN SATUNYAN

1904-1910 (Years of Leadership)

Archbishop Garegin Satunyan (baptismal name Harutsyun) was born in 1852, in Ashtarak, Armenia.

In 1867, Archbishop Garegin Satunyan entered the Gevorkian Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. After his graduation in 1872, he started to serve as a Clerk and became a member of the Brotherhood of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.  

In 1873, he was ordained as a deacon.

In 1876, he was ordained as a celibate priest.

In 1878, he received the rank of Archimandrite.

In 1901, he was consecrated as a Bishop, and in 1907 was granted the title of Archbishop.

In 1882, Archbishop Garegin Satunyan was appointed as the Vicar of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia.

In 1883, Archbishop Garegin Satunyan was appointed as the Vicar of the Diocese in Nukha.

In 1884, Archbishop Garegin Satunyan was appointed as the Assistant Administrator of the Diocese in Nukha.

In 1887, Archbishop Garegin Satunyan moved to Nor Nakhijevan and was appointed as the Chairman of the Spiritual Board, and on September 2, 1889, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Diocesan administration.

On February 28, 1890, Archbishop Garegin Satunyan was appointed to serve as the Vicar of the Diocese in Aleksandropol, Armenia. 

In 1892, Archbishop Garegin Satunyan returned to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

In 1894, Archbishop Garegin Satunyan was appointed as the Vicar of the Diocese in Gandzak.

From 1895 to 1897, he was the administrator of the Diocese in Karabakh.

In 1901, he was appointed the Abbot of Sanahin Monastery, Armenia.

In 1907, Archbishop Garegin Satunyan was awarded the Order of St. Stanislav, First Class.

On August 10, 1904, Archbishop Garegin Satunyan was appointed to serve as the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Imereti and Georgia (Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia) by the order of Mkrtich I Vanetsi Khrimyan, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians (commonly known as Khrimyan Harik).

On November 3, 1910, while still serving as the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Imereti and Georgia (Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia) Archbishop Garegin Satunyan completed his tireless activities and deceased at the age of 58, in Tbilisi.

Archbishop Garegin Satunyan was a clergyman-builder. He built e residence of the Diocese in Aleksandropol and renovated the Sanahin Monastery in Armenia. He also showed excellent administrative skills, while serving as the Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia during the difficult years of 1904-1907.