Karekin II

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Catholicos Karekin II (Armenian: Գարեգին Բ also Garegin) is the current head of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church.

He was born as Ktrich Nersessian in Voskehat, Armenia on August 21, 1951. He entered the seminary at Echmiadzin in 1965 and graduated with honors in 1971. Before that he became a deacon in 1970. Later he became a monk and was ordained priest in 1972. In the late 1970s the Catholicos of that period encouraged him to study outside of Armenia. This led to him continuing his studies in Vienna, Bonn University, and Zagorsk, Russia. On October 23, 1983 he was consecrated bishop at Echmiadzin. He became an archbishop in 1992.

In 1988 he took an active role in helping his people overcome the Armenian earthquake. He has built a number of churches and schools. He also showed an interest in using modern technology and telecommunications to help the life of his churches as well as dealing with the legacies of the Soviet era.

In 1999 he was elected Catholicos of Armenia and of All Armenians at Echmiadzin, succeeding His Holiness, Karekin I. His relations with Pope John Paul II were generally positive. When the Pope visited Armenia in 2001, he stayed with the Catholicos.

In 2006 Karekin made a weeklong visit to Istanbul, Turkey to meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and to bless the city's Armenian community. During his visit he caused some controversy by affirming the Armenian Genocide, which Turkey vehemently denies, and insisting on its recognition.

In October 2007 he began a second visit to the United States.^[1]

On October 10, 2007, he offered the opening prayer for the day's session of the United States House of Representatives.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Website of His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II & Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
• Catholicos Karekin II
• Encyclical from Catholicos Karekin II

Preceded by Karekin I

Catholicoi of the Holy See of St. Echmiadzin and All Armenians 1999 – present

Incumbent