Vazgen I
Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church (1955-1994) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Vazgen I?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Vazgen I also Vazken I of Bucharest, (Armenian: Վազգէն Ա Բուխարեստցի), born Levon Garabed Baljian (Լևոն Կարապետ Աբրահամի Պալճյան; September 20, 1908 – August 18, 1994)[1] was the Catholicos of All Armenians between 1955 and 1994, for a total of 39 years, the 4th longest reign in the history of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2023) |
His Holiness Vazgen / Vazken I Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians | |
---|---|
Church | Armenian Apostolic Church |
See | Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin |
Installed | 1955 |
Term ended | 1994 |
Predecessor | George VI |
Successor | Karekin I |
Personal details | |
Born | Levon Garabed Baljian (1908-09-20)September 20, 1908 |
Died | (1994-08-18)August 18, 1994 (aged 85) Yerevan, Armenia |
Buried | Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin |
A native of Romania, he began his career as a philosopher, before becoming a Doctor of Theology and a member of the local Armenian clergy. The leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church hierarchy in Romania, he became Catholicos in 1955, moving to Soviet Armenia. Vazgen I led the Armenian Church during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and was the first Catholicos in newly independent Armenia.