ARCHBISHOP VAHAN KOSTANYAN

1953-1955 (Years of Leadership)

Archbishop Vahan Kostanyan was born on February 3, 1881 in Vagharshapat, Armenia. He received his primary education at the local parochial school. He studied at the Gevorkian Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and graduated in 1907.

From 1905 to 1920, he served as the Secretary of Synod of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. 

In 1944, he was ordained as a celibate priest, later he received the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet) and became a member of the Brotherhood of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Holy Etchmiadzin.

On October 25, 1944, by the especial Encyclical of the Catholicos of All Armenians, he was appointed as the Head of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Persia and India.

On July 1, 1945, he was consecrated as a Bishop, and on June 18, 1949, he was granted the title of Archbishop.

Archbishop Vahan Kostanyan continued his service in Iran until October 22, 1949, then he returned to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and occupied many responsible positions there.

From 1945 to 1955, Archbishop Vahan Kostanyan was a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, as well as he was the Grand Sacristan of the Mother Cathedral of Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin

From 1953 to 1955, Archbishop Vahan Kostanyan served as the Primate of Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia.

In the last period of his life, because of the illness, he retired and spent last years at the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin. After a long and serious illness, Archbishop Vahan Kostanyan deceased on March 27, 1960, at the age of 79. He was buried in monastically cemetery of St. Gayane Monastery in Etchmiadzin, Armenia.