His Grace Bishop Vardan Navasardyan
Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand
Bishop Navasardyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia. He entered the Spiritual Academy of the Diocese of Shirak from 1996 to 1997 followed by the Gevorkian Theological Seminary at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in 1997 until 2002. In 2003, in Holy Etchmiadzin he was ordained a celibate priest and received the rank of Archimandrite in 2014.
From 2002-2005 he was Assistant to the Grand Sacristan of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin.
In 2005, by the order of His Holiness Karekin II he was appointed the Vicar General of the Armenian Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, and Spiritual Pastor of Holy Resurrection Church in Sydney.
Returning to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in 2008, he served as the Director of the Christian Education Centre of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin until 2019. During these years, he was also the Dean of the Eurnekian Public School of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and Coordinator of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy of Calcutta.
In 2014 he was consecrated a Bishop by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians
During his tenures, he has also served as Dean of the Eurnekian Kindergarten in the village of Arevadasht, Armavir Region (2012-2019), Head of the Board of Trustees of the “High School N182 after Gevorg Emin” Foundation, Yerevan (2015-2019), Dean of the Youth Centers operating under the auspices of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Armenian General Benevolent Union (2017-2020).
By the order of His Holiness Karekin II he was appointed the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of the Baltic States where he served from 2020 to 2025.
From 1 February 2025, by the order of His Holiness Karekin II he was appointed the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Australia and New Zealand and Pontifical Delegate for India and the Far East.
Bishop Navasardyan arrived in Sydney on Friday 27 June 2025.
Reverend Father Norayr Patanian
Fr Patanian was born in Aleppo, Syria and was ordained into the priesthood in 1985 after migrating to Australia with his family the same year.
He was appointed Parish Priest and served in this position until June 2007 when he retired from full time church office duties. He continues to serve in church and parish life.
Fr Patanian was bestowed the Pectoral Cross in 1989 and floral robe in 1994. In 2004 he was elevated to the rank of Archpriest.
Reverend Father Bartev Karakashian
Fr Karkashian was born in Istanbul, Turkey and migrated to Australia with his family in 1985. He served as a deacon of the Church of Holy Resurrection for five years before being ordained a priest in 1990.
In 2009 he retired from full-time church office duties. He continues to serve in church and parish life.
Fr Karakashian was bestowed the Pectoral Cross in 1996 and floral robe in 2003.
In 2020 he was elevated to the rank of Archpriest.
Reverend Father Avetis Hambardzumyan
Fr Hambardzumyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia and was appointed to serve in the parish of Sydney by the order of His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. He arrived in Sydney in December 2010 with his wife and 10 month old son.
He is a graduate of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary in Holy Etchmiadzin and was ordained a married priest by His Holiness Karekin II in 2008.
Fr Hambardzumyan served in the Armenian Philanthropic Academy of Kolkata from March 2007 to November 2009 and subsequently at the Araratian Pontifical Diocese in Armenia before his arrival to Australia.
He is currently the Parish Priest of the Church of Holy Resurrection and was bestowed the Pectoral Cross on 20 November 2011.
