ARCHBISHOP GEVORG CHOREKCHYAN

1921-1927, 1936-1938 (Years of Leadership)

Archbishop Gevorg Chorekchyan (baptismal name Gevorg) was born on December 2, 1869, in Nor-Nakhijevan. His father Khachatur Abraham Chorekchyan worked as a locksmith, mother was Katarine. Archbishop Gevorg Chorekchyan primary education received at the local parochial school of Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) Church, later he studied at the local Seminary.

In 1879, Archbishop Gevorg Chorekchyan entered the Gevorkian Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, where he successfully enrolled in the full course of study and graduated in 1889, in the same year he was ordained as a deacon.

After ordination of deaconate, Deacon Gevorg and Deacon Karapet Ter-Mkrtchyan were sent to Germany to study philosophy and theology at Leipzig University, by the order of Makar I Teguttsi Ter-Petrosyan, Catholicos of All Armenians. Within one year of preparation, Deacon Gevorg entered Leipzig Conservatory. After the graduation from the university and conservatory in 1894, he returned to Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

Deacon Gevorg was a lecturer of Music and History of Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church, at the same time supervised the Choir of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin.

One year later, Deacon Gevorg moved to Nor Nakhijevan to serve at Surb Khach (Holy Cross) Monastery, where he remained for more than 18 years. As a musician and mentor, he significantly helped the local community in church affairs, help the orphans, refugees, worked together with intellectuals and Armenian social organizations.

On June 20, 1913, by numerous request of the Armenian community of Nor Nakhijevan, Gevorg V Surenyants Tpkhisetsi, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, ordained and consecrated Deacon Gevorg as a celibate priest. Three days later he received the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet) and was appointed to serve as the Vicar of the Diocese of Nor Nakhijevan i at Surb Khach (Holy Cross) Monastery.

In 1916, according the will of Gevorg V Surenyants Tpkhisetsi, Catholicos of All Armenians, Archimandrite Gevorg was moved to serve permanently at the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin and was elected as a member of Synod of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin.

In 1917, he received the rank of Senior Archimandrite (Dzayraguyn Archimandrite). In April of the same year, he was consecrated as a Bishop. Then Bishop Gevorg occupied many responsible positions: he was the Chairman of Economic Council of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin; the Chairman of Monastery Administration; as the Grand Sacristan in Mother Cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin.

In 1921, Gevorg Chorekchyan was appointed to serve at the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia as the Vicar.

In 1922, Gevorg Chorekchyan was appointed to serve as the Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia.

In 1925, he was granted the title of Archbishop.

In 1927, Archbishop Chorekchyan returned to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and was elected a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

In 1936, by the order of Catholicos Khoren I Muradbekyan, Catholicos of All Armenians, Archbishop Chorekchyan was appointed to serve as the Patriarchal Vicar and was again sent to Tbilisi as the Head of the he Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia; to establish order, where in previous years due to the movement “Independent Clergy” situation had deteriorated considerably (“Life and activities of the Catholicos Gevorg V”, the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, 1955, p. 47).

 On April 5, 1938, Catholicos Khoren I Muradbekyan, Catholicos of All Armenians, suddenly appointed Archbishop Gevorg Chorekchyan to serve as the Vicar General of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

On April 10, 1941, the National Ecclesiastical Assembly invited Archbishop Gevorg Chorekchyan for the Elections of the Catholicos of All Armenians. However, considering the fact, that due to the war, the number of delegates was insignificant, the elections were postponed to a more auspicious time. However, Archbishop Gevorg Chorekchyan was elected as the Vicar General of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

After the World War II, on June 16, 1945, the National Ecclesiastical Assembly gathered at the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin and was elected as Gevorg VI Chorekchyan, Catholicos of All Armenians. The enthronement ceremony was held on June 24, 1945.

Gevorg VI Chorekchyan, Catholicos of All Armenians was great and wise leader; governed for nine years and deceased on May 9, 1945. He was buried near the bell tower of the Mother Cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.