ARCHIMANDRITE HARUTSYUN ASTRAKHANTSI ALAMDARYAN

1828-1830 (Years of Leadership)

Archimandrite Harutsyun Astrakhantsi Alamdaryan (baptismal name Gevorg) was born on January 14, 1795. His father’s name was Manuk. Archimandrite Harutsyun Astrakhantsi Alamdaryan was an intelligent clerical, social and political figure, poet and teacher.

In 1813, he was invited by the Lazarians to Moscow, Russia to work for them as a clerk.

In 1815, Archimandrite Harutsyun Alamdaryan worked as a supervisor and professor at the Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages (Lazarian Seminary) of Moscow, Russia. 

From 1824 to 1830, he served as a supervisor in the Nersisyan Theological School of Tbilisi. In the school’s history, these years are known as “Alamdaryan’s century”. During his supervisory years, Archbishop Simeon Bjhnuni (Lame) was the Principal member of spiritual affairs and church administration.

Archimandrite Harutsyun Astrakhantsi Alamdaryan was blamed for accepting and sharing the ideas, views and philosophy of Nerses V Ashtaraketsi, Catholicos of All Armenians.

In 1830, the Synod of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin sent on exile Archimandrite Harutsyun Astrakhantsi Alamdaryan to Haghpat, on the instructions of Ivan Paskevich (Paskevich was an Imperial Russian military leader).

In 1831, he was appointed to serve, as the Abbot in the Monastery of Surb Khach (Holy Cross) in Nor Nakhijevan. On May 25, 1834, the monastery was burglarized and Archimandrite Harutsyun Astrakhantsi Alamdaryan was brutally murdered by thieves.

Archimandrite Harutsyun Astrakhantsi Alamdaryan was considered to be one of the outstanding intellectuals and knowledgeable clergyman of his time.