Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan
Primate of the Diocese of Gougark
● General Information
1978 – Born in Gyumri. Name at baptism: Artur.
1985–1993 – Attended Petros Duryan Secondary School No. 28 in Gyumri.
1993–1997 – Studied at the Theological Seminary of the Diocese of Shirak.
1997–2003 – Studied at the Gevorgian Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
2010 – Studied at Saint John's University, Minnesota, USA.
● Ecclesiastical Ranks and Ordination
2002 – Ordained to the diaconate by His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Pozapalian.
2003 – Ordained a celibate priest by His Eminence Archbishop Davit Sahakyan.
2010 – Received the four degrees of the rank of Vardapet (Archimandrite) from His Grace Bishop Ararat Kaltakjian. Thesis: “The Heretical Sect of the Tondrakians.”
2011 – Consecrated Bishop by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
● Tenure
2003–2006 – Commandant of the Pontifical Residence.
2006–2010 – Staff-bearer to the Catholicos of All Armenians, concurrently serving as Master of Ceremonies of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
2010–2011 – Acting Grand Sacristan of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
2011–2020 – Grand Sacristan of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Since 2020 – Primate of the Diocese of Gougark.
