ARCHBISHOP SARGIS JALALYANTS

1857-1861 (Years of Leadership)

Archbishop Sargis Jalalyants was born in 1819. He is descend from Hasan-Jalalyants in Khachen. Archbishop Sargis Jalalyants traveled to Eastern Armenia, collected numerous materials on the history and traditions of the local Armenians there, and later published a book, “Journey through Great Armenia” (part 1-2, 1842 and 1856). He was a prominent Church leader, philologist, paleontologist, and writer. 

In 1861, Archbishop Sargis Jalalyants completed the construction of the residence of the Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia in Tbilisi. This interesting fact is recorded in the book “Armenian inscriptions in Georgia” written by P. M. Muradian  (Yerevan, 1988, p. 57, in Russian); it reads thus : “In addition to nuncupative will of my spiritual father and great patriot His Holiness Nerses V Ashtaraketsi, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, your humble servant Bishop Sargis Hasan-Jalalyan finished in 1861 the construction of the residence of the Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia in Tiflis. I beseech thee to remember me.”

In 1880, Archbishop Sargis Jalalyants bequeathed to the Armenian spiritual, cultural and educational institutions of Georgia the amount of 25 thousand roubles, to be used in 2005, which 125 years later could reach 12 million.

In 1879, Archbishop Sargis Jalalyants passed away at the age of 60.