Hundreds took part in the special prayer service at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Montreal on November 25 in welcoming the newly ordained and consecrated Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan, the Primate of the Canadian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Diocesan Primate traveled to Montreal to join the clergy in the Solemn Processional Entry of his Brother in Christ. Priests of the Armenian Apostolic Churches in Ontario and Quebec, clergy of Sister Churches of Montreal and ecumenical guests joined hundred of faithful in welcoming Bishop Hovakimyan.
Also present at the service were His Grace Bishop Datev Hagopian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Romania and His Grace Bishop Ararat Kaltakjian, Dean of the monasteries in Armenia. The congratulatory message of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians addressed to Bishop Hovakimyan was read by His Grace Bishop Datev Hagopian.
Archbishop Derderian commended the newly-ordained bishop for his selfless service to the Armenian Apostolic Church and offered words of encouragement as he begins a new chapter in his pastoral life.
A reception in honor of the Primate of the Diocese of Canada was held in the Marie Manoogian Hall following the service during which the faithful greeted Bishop Hovakimyan and received his blessing.
In his welcoming remarks the Primate said in part “Almighty God, give divine strength and wisdom to Your servant. Allow us to follow emulate the humility of Christ, our Lord in the service we render to the people of God. On behalf of the entire clergy of the Western Diocese and the Diocesan council, we congratulate you wholeheartedly and wish you years of unwavering service in leading the flock of Christ on the path to righteousness.”
H.G. Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan – A Biography
His Grace Bishop Abgar Hovakimian (baptismal name Samvel) was born on July 23, 1972 in Batoumi-Republic of Georgia.
From 1979-1989 he received his elementary education in the Stepan Shahumian Armenian school in Batumi.
From 1989-1995, he studied in the Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin defending his graduation thesis entitled “The Echoes of Armenian Doctrinal Thinking in the Interpretation of the Gospel of Matthew by St. Nerses the Graceful”.
In 1995, he was ordained a deacon by His Grace Bishop Anania Arabajian.
On June 2, 1996, he was ordained a celibate priest by His Eminence late Archbishop Shahe Ajemian, and given the priestly name of Abgar.
From 1996-2001, following his ordination as a celibate priest Father Hovakimian served at the Diocese of Georgia as Pastor of Soorp Prgitch Church in Batumi, Republic of Georgia.
By the Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians he continued his higher education at the Theological University of Salzburg, Austria from 2001-2004, and received a Master’s Degree in Theology. In 2006 he defended his dissertation entitled “Dionysius Areopagite in Armenian Bibliography” and received the rank of Archimandrite.
From 2005-2010 has served as Vicar General of the Diocese of Syunik in Armenia, assisting the Primate in the evangelization work and successfully organizing youth ministry within the Diocese.
From 2010-2011, Very Rev. Fr. Abgar Hovakimian served at the Diocese of Canada as Pastor of St. Mary Armenian Church of Hamilton and St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church of St. Catharines.
In 2011, he was appointed Locum Tenens of the Armenian Church Diocese of Bulgaria. Father Abgar speaks Armenian, German, Russian, Georgian and most recently learnt Bulgarian during his tenure as Locum Tenens of the Diocese in Bulgaria.
The Very Reverend Father Abgar Hovakimian was elected Primate with a majority of the votes, during the 31st Annual Assembly of the Armenian Church Canadian Diocese, on May 31, 2014 in Oakville, and ordained a Bishop by H.H. Karekin II on November 16, 2014, at Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
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