1. Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan is an Armenian clergyman who served as the Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh of the Armenian Apostolic Church from the re-establishment of the diocese in 1989 until 2021.
15 Facts About Pargev Martirosyan
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Pargev Martirosyan retired from his post in January 2021 and was appointed Pontifical envoy-at-large by Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
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Pargev Martirosyan later worked in Yeghegnut village school as a Russian language teacher, after which he was drafted to the Soviet army.
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In 1980 Pargev Martirosyan was admitted to the Gevorkian Theological Seminary in Ejmiatsin.
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Pargev Martirosyan finished the seminary in 1984 and continued his education at the Leningrad Theological Academy until 1986.
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Pargev Martirosyan was in Karabakh throughout the war with Azerbaijan, which ended in 1994.
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Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan blessed the Armenian soldiers before the start of the operation.
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Pargev Martirosyan compared the shelling to actions of the Islamic State and held a prayer in the damaged cathedral days later.
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Pargev Martirosyan suffered a heart attack in November 2020 and was transported to the United States for treatment.
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On 21 January 2021, it was announced that Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan was retiring from the post of Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh, and instead would serve as Catholicos Karekin II's pontifical envoy-at-large.
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Pargev Martirosyan was succeeded by Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, who previously held the post of spiritual leader of the Armed Forces of Armenia.
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Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan stated in an interview that his retirement was due to his poor health.
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Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan has authored three books and a number of articles and essays.
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Pargev Martirosyan holds a 1st dan-ranked black belt in shotokan karate.
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Pargev Martirosyan is the honorary president of the Shotokan Karate Federation of Armenia.