Archbishop

Pargev Martirosyan
Bishop of Artsakh
Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan
Native name
Պարգև արքեպիսկոպոս Մարտիրոսյան
ChurchArmenian Apostolic Church
DioceseArtsakh
Appointed1989
Retired21 January 2021
PredecessorInaugural bishop
SuccessorVrtanes Abrahamyan
Orders
Ordination1985
Consecration1988
by Vazgen I
Personal details
Born
Gurgen Martirosyan

(1954-03-20) 20 March 1954
Sumqayit, Azerbaijan SSR
NationalityArmenian

Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan (Armenian: Պարգև արքեպիսկոպոս Մարտիրոսյան; born 20 March 1954) is an Armenian clergyman who served as the Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh of the Armenian Apostolic Church from the re-establishment of the diocese in 1989 until 2021. He retired from his post in January 2021 and was appointed Pontifical envoy-at-large by Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.[1]

Early life and education

Martirosyan was born Gurgen Martirosyan in the Soviet Azerbaijani city of Sumqayit in 1954 to an Armenian family from Chardakhly village. His family moved to Yerevan in 1966. In 1976 he graduated from the Yerevan Institute of Foreign Languages. Martirosyan later worked in Yeghegnut village school as a Russian language teacher, after which he was drafted to the Soviet army. From 1978 to 1980, he worked at the Ministry of Industry. In 1980 Martirosyan was admitted to the Gevorkian Theological Seminary in Ejmiatsin. He was ordained as a deacon in 1983. He finished the seminary in 1984 and continued his education at the Leningrad Theological Academy until 1986.[2]

Caroline Cox, Baroness Cox described him as "a man of considerable intellect, substance, humanity, as well as a man of faith".[3]

Religious career

In 1985 he was ordained as a celibate priest and named Pargev. In April 1987 he was named vardapet (archimandrite). He taught at the Gevorkian Theological Seminary. In 1987 he earned his doctoral degree in theology from the Leningrad Theological Academy. The same year he started serving at the Saint Hripsime Church. In November 1988 he was consecrated as bishop by Catholicos Vazgen I. In March 1989, he was appointed the primate of the newly created Diocese of Artsakh. In 1999 he was given the title of archbishop by Karekin I.[2]

First Karabakh War

Ghazanchetsots Cathedral

Pargev Martirosyan was in Karabakh throughout the war with Azerbaijan, which ended in 1994. The Armenian forces marked their first major victory on 8–9 May 1992, when they took over Shusha, the historic center of the region. Archbishop Pargev blessed the Armenian soldiers before the start of the operation.[4] On the morning of 9 May 1992 Archbishop Pargev with a number of Armenians soldiers entered the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shusha, where they prayed for the fallen soldiers. It was the first time since the 1920 Shusha massacre that a prayer was heard at the cathedral.[5] Soon after the city was captured, restoration work began at Ghazanchetsots, which was used as an arsenal by the Azerbaijanis.[6]

Second Karabakh War

When the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War between Armenia and Azerbaijan began, Martirosyan made a public statement to the Armenian people, calling for strength and unity in the face of the war.[7] During the hostilities, Ghazanchetsots Cathedral, the seat of Martirosyan's diocese, was shelled by Azerbaijani forces. The cathedral was struck twice by missiles in one hour, wounding two Russian journalists and significantly damaging the cathedral's roof. Martirosyan compared the shelling to actions of the Islamic State and held a prayer in the damaged cathedral days later.[8][9]

Health problems and retirement

Martirosyan suffered a heart attack in November 2020 and was transported to the United States for treatment.[10] He recovered and returned to Armenia in December that year.[11]

On 21 January 2021, it was announced that Archbishop Pargev was retiring from the post of Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh, and instead would serve as Catholicos Karekin II's pontifical envoy-at-large. He was succeeded by Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, who previously held the post of spiritual leader of the Armed Forces of Armenia.[12] Archbishop Pargev stated in an interview that his retirement was due to his poor health.[13]

Works and activities

Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan has authored three books and a number of articles and essays.[2]

He holds a 1st dan-ranked black belt in shotokan karate. He is the honorary president of the Shotokan Karate Federation of Armenia. In 2014 he was awarded the title "Hero of Artsakh", the highest honorary title of the Republic of Artsakh.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Ghazanchyan, Siranush (21 January 2021). "Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan retires as Primate of Artsakh Diocese". Public Radio of Armenia. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Archbishop Pargev Martirosian". Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  3. ↑ Cox, Caroline (2006). Cox's book of modern saints and martyrs. London: Continuum. p. 101. ISBN 9780826487889.
  4. ↑ "Liberation of Shushi". Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western USA. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "History (1991–1992)" (in Armenian). Organisation "Aravni". Archived from the original on 8 June 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "Along Artsakh's paths of war to the church of the prayer for peace". Noravank Foundation. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Կոչ եմ անում լինել միասնական, ամուր, անկոտրում. Պարգև սրբազան" [I am calling for us to be united, strong, and unbreakable]. Public Television of Armenia (in Armenian). 27 September 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  8. ↑ Kocharyan, Stepanyan (8 October 2020). "They bomb our churches, we preserve mosques – Archbishop on Azeri "ISIS-style" attack in Artsakh". armenpress.am. Stepanakert. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  9. ↑ "Պարգև սրբազանը Շուշիի մայր տաճարում աղոթք է բարձրացրել Հայաստան, Արցախ աշխարհի խաղաղության, զորացման, հաղթանակի և միասնականության համար" [Archbishop Pargev made a prayer in Shushi's mother cathedral for the peace, strengthening and victory of Artsakh and Armenia]. armenpress.am. Stepanakert. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  10. ↑ Ghazanchyan, Siranush (22 November 2020). "Primate of the Artsakh Diocese, Abp. Pargev Martirosyan successfully operated on in LA". Public Radio of Armenia. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  11. ↑ "Արցախի թեմի առաջնորդ Պարգև Սրբազանը վերադարձել է եւ հանդիպել Կաթողիկոսին" [Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh His Holiness Pargev has returned and met with the Catholicos]. lragir.am. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  12. ↑ Ghazanchyan, Siranush (21 January 2021). "Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan appointed Primate of Artsakh Diocese". Public Radio of Armenia. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  13. ↑ "Բաց հարթակ. հարցազրույց Տ. Պարգև արքեպիսկոպոս Մարտիրոսյանի հետ" [Open platform: interview with His Holiness Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan]. Armenian Public Television. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  14. ↑ "Պարգեւ արքեպիսկոպոս Մարտիրոսյանին շնորհվել է "Արցախի հերոս" կոչումը". Մեդիամաքս (in Armenian). 29 September 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
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