BISHOP VAHAN GALAMDARIAN

1956-1957 (Years of Leadership) 

Bishop Vahan Galamdarian (baptismal name Andranik) was born on August 13, 1928, in Galaturan village of Kesab region, Syria. He received his primary education at the Mesropian National School of Galaturan.

In 1943, he moved to Lebanon and entered the Armenian Theological Seminary of Armenian Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia.

In 1945, he immigrated to Armenia and continue his studies at the Gevorkian Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and graduated in 1950.

On June 18, 1949, he was ordained as a deacon. By the order Gevorg VI Chorekchyan, Catholicos of All Armenians, he was sent to Moscow to reinforce his knowledge in the theological field, where studied for two years in Russian Theological Academy.

On September 12, 1954, he was ordained as a celibate priest.

From 1956 to 1957, he was appointed to serve at the Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia, as the Vicar General.

On October 6, 1956, he received the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet) by Vazgen I Paljyan, Catholicos of All Armenians, in the Mother Cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

On November 4, 1957, Archimandrite Vahan Galamdarian was appointed to serve at the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese, as the Vicar General.

In 1960’, Archimandrite Galamdarian studied at the Yerevan State University and successfully graduated from it.

On May 30, 1964, Vazgen I Paljyan, Catholicos of All Armenians granted Archimandrite Vahan Galamdarian the rank of Senior Archimandrite (Dzayraguyn Archimandrite) after successfully defending a doctoral thesis entitled “History of Holy Etchmiadzin School from IV to XX Century.”

On November 20, 1964, Vazgen I Paljyan, Catholicos of All Armenians, consecrated Senior Archimandrite Vahan Galamdarian as a Bishop and reappointed his to serve at the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese, as the Vicar General.

In 1972, Bishop Vahan Galamdarian was appointed at the Indian Armenian Spiritual Pastorate, however, due to serious illness, after short while he had to return to Armenian for the treatment.

From 1975 to 1977, Bishop Vahan Galamdarian served at St. Geghard Monastery as the Manager.

The last years of his life, Bishop Vahan Galamdarian was retiring at home in Yerevan, Armenia, and was receiving a special pension from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

Bishop Vahan Galamdarian deceased in 1986, in Yerevan, Armenia.