Archbishop Datev Sarkissian has departed to the Lord
20.02.2026
With deep sorrow, we announce that on February 20, at the age of 85, after a prolonged illness, Archbishop Datev Sarkissian, one of the senior members of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, passed away.
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, together with the monastic clergy of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, deeply mourns the passing of the blessed archbishop and offers prayers for the repose of his soul.
The Funeral Service will take place on February 23 at 5:00 p.m. at the Monastery of Saint Gayane. On February 24 at 11:00 a.m., during the Divine Liturgy, the rite of final anointing will be performed, followed by the burial ceremony.
The memory of the just is blessed.
BIOGRAPHY
Archbishop Tatev Sargsyan was born in 1941 in Aleppo, Syria.
He received his primary education at the Armenian School “Haigazian” in Aleppo.
From 1953 to 1957, he studied at the Seminary of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia.
In 1957, he was ordained as a deacon by Archbishop Artak Manukyan.
In 1960, he was ordained a celibate priest, and in 1962 received the rank of Archimandrite (Doctor of Theology) from His Holiness Zareh I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.
From 1962 to 1965, he studied at King’s College London.
In 1972, he received the rank of Proto-Archimandrite (Senior Doctor of Theology).
In 1974, he was ordained and consecrated as a bishop by His Holiness Khoren I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.
In 1980, by a patriarchal encyclical of the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop.
From 1965 to 1995, he held various leadership and administrative positions, including responsibilities in the field of education, within the structure of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia.
In 1995, he moved to Armenia and engaged in administrative and educational leadership service at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
