Mesrob ashjian biography channel

It is with deep regret that the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin announces the death of His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian.

His literary accomplishments in the field of Armenology are widely respected. 

His Eminence had recently completed compiling a major volume, entitled "The Etchmiadzin Chronicles", which he had dedicated to the 1,700th Anniversary of the Vision of Holy Etchmiadzin. 

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the Brotherhood of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and the entire class of clergy and faithful, deeply mourn the untimely death of Archbishop Mesrob, and pray for the repose of his soul. 

Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Karekin II, on behalf of the clergy and lay officials of the Pontificate of All Armenians, has expressed his condolences to His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. 

As per the wishes of Archbishop Mesrob, he will be laid to rest in Antelias, Lebanon. 

Blessed be the memory of the righteous. 

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Biography of His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian 

His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian was born on January 3, 1941 in Beirut, Lebanon and given the baptismal name Hrair.

He has been a member of the standing committee of the Conference of the Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, and was a delegate to the World Council of Churches' Assemblies in Vancouver, British Columbia and Canberra, Australia. Following his graduation from the Cilician Seminary in Antelias, Lebanon, he furthered his studies at the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey, Switzerland, as well as at Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey, where he received a Master of Theology in 1971 and a second Master's degree in 1991.

Officiating at the services will be the current Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan.

Archbishop Ashjian’s final journey will be to his spiritual home in Antelias, Lebanon, where he will be placed in eternal rest in the Mausoleum of the Holy See of Cilicia, on Monday, December 8.

He was ordained a deacon of the Armenian Church in June 1958. Member Asia Society, World Council Churches, Princeton Club, Icomos Club. Son of Nerces and Martha (Kassabian) Ashjian. His Eminence entered his eternal rest in the United States on December 2, 2003.

archbishop

Mesrob Ashjian, Lebanese Archbishop.

After completing theological and armenological studies at the Seminary, he was ordained a celibate monk on May 28, 1961, by Catholicos Zareh I, who named him Mesrob in honor of the 1600th anniversary of the birth of Mesrob Mashdotz, the founder of the Armenian alphabet. In 1963 he received the rank of Vartabed (doctor) by Catholicos Khoren I; in 1977 he was elevated to the rank of Bishop and in 1983 to Archbishop by Catholicos Karekin II.

A man of keen intellect, with a life-long love for learning and books, Archbishop Ashjian furthered his studies at the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey, Switzerland; participated in the International Student Fellowship, a pilot project of the World Council of Churches and the United Presbyterian Church; and Princeton Theological Seminary where he received a Master of Theology in 1970.

In 1976 he received the rank of Senior Archimandrite, and in 1977 he was consecrated as a bishop by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos Coadjutor of the Great House of Cilicia (later Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin I, of blessed memory). 

Bishop Mesrob was elevated to the rank of Archbishop in 1983. Member Commision on Faith and Order WCC.

President Foundation for the Preservation of Armenian History Monuments.

Executive secretary 17 Centuries of the Proclamation of Christianity asState Religion of Armenia.

January 3, 1941—December 2, 2003

Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, who faithfully served the Armenian Church for half a century, including twenty years as the Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Eastern United States and Canada, died Tuesday, December 2, 2003, in New York City, of a massive heart attack.

His travels have taken him to every corner of the world where he has lectured, preached, met with world leaders, and sought out Armenian historical sites.

Following the earthquake in Armenia in 1988 he spearheaded a campaign to provide immediate aid to the stricken people.

He was elected to serve at the Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy in December 1977, and began his tenure in January 1978. A brother, Hagop, predeceased him.

The “Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian Fund for Publications” has been established at the Eastern Prelacy in his memory and in tribute to his life-long devotion to the written word.