His Eminence Archbishop Haigazoun Najarian
Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand
Archbishop Najarian was born in Aleppo, Syria. He entered the Gevorkian Theological Seminary at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in 1967 and was ordained to the diaconate in 1973. He continued his higher education at the St Augustine of Canterbury School in England where he studied Pastoral Theology. He was ordained a celibate priest in 1975 at the St. Sarkis Church in London. He continued his education at the King’s College in London and graduated in 1978 when he received a Bachelors Degree in Theology (BD). He continued his studies at the St Andrews School in Scotland and served as the Spiritual Pastor of the St Peter Church in London from 1979-81.
Returning to Armenia in 1981 he served as the Assistant Dean and Professor of New Testament and History of the Universal Church at the Gevorkian Theological Seminary until 1986.
By the order of His Holiness Vasken I of blessed memory he was appointed to serve as the Vicar General for the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America and served in that position from 1986-1988. He continued to serve in the Diocese as the spiritual pastor of the Church of St Stepanos in New Jersey and in 1991 returned to the Diocesan headquarters in New York and was reappointed the Vicar General until 1995. While serving in New York, he entered the University of Columbia in 1992 and graduated in 1993, receiving a Masters Degree (MA) in History.
From 1995 to 1999 by the Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, he returned to Armenia and served as the Dean of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary and as Professor of New Testament of the Seminary.
He returned to the United States in 2000, served as the spiritual pastor of the St Sarkis Armenian Church of Dallas until 2002 and pastor of the St Sahak and St Mesrop Church in Philadelphia until 2007. He concurrently served as the Vicar General of the Eastern Diocese, ending his service as Vicar General in 2010.
He moved to Sweden in 2010 and by Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II served as Pontifical Legate of Central Europe and Sweden until December 2012.
On 6 November, 2011 he was consecrated as a Bishop by His Holiness Karekin II in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin.
By the Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, in December 2012 Bishop Najarian was appointed the Primate of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.
On 3 February 2019, His Holiness Karekin II bestowed upon him the rank and title of Archbishop during the Pontifical Visit to Australia on the occasion of the opening of the new Diocesan Centre.
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.
