Vartan Kechichian, C.A.M. | |
|---|---|
| Coadjutor Ordinary of Ordinariate for Catholics of Armenian Rite in Eastern Europe | |
| Church | Armenian Catholic Church |
| Appointed | 17 February 2001 |
| Term ended | 2 April 2005 |
| Other post(s) | Abbot Primate of Mekhitarists (1997–2000), Titular Archbishop of Mardin for Armenians (2001–2017) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 8 September 1959 (Priest) |
| Consecration | 13 May 2001 (Bishop) by Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Vartan Kechichian 13 September 1933 |
| Died | 22 November 2017 (aged 84) Lido di Venezia, Italy |
Archbishop Vartan Kechichian, C.A.M. (Armenian: Վարդան Քեչիչյան; 13 September 1933 – 22 November 2017) was a Syrian-born Armenian Catholic hierarch. He served as a Titular Archbishop of Mardin for Armenians and Coadjutor Ordinary of Ordinariate for Catholics of Armenian Rite in Eastern Europe from 17 February 2001 until his retirement on 2 April 2005.[1]
Life
Archbishop Kechichian was born in the Armenian family in diaspora, in Syria. After the school graduation, he subsequently joined the Order of the Mechitarists in Venice, where he made a solemn profession on 15 August 1956. He was ordained as priest on 8 September 1959,[1] after studies in the Pontifical Gregorian University, Italy (1953–1959) with a licentiate in philosophy and theology.[2]
After his ordination to priesthood, he served in the different Mechitarists institutions in Italy, Lebanon, France, Argentina and Syria and in the same time made a pastoral work for the Armenian Catholics. Also from 1997 until 2000 he served as an Abbot Primate of Mekhitarists.[2]
On 17 February 2001 Vardapet Kechichian was nominated by Pope John Paul II and on 13 May 2001 consecrated to the Episcopate as a Coadjutor Ordinary. The principal consecrator was Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni, the Head of the Armenian Catholic Church.[1]
Archbishop Kechichian retired from office, before reaching the age limit. He died on 22 November 2017 at age 84.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 "Archbishop Vartan Kechichian, C.A.M. †". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
- 1 2 3 "È morto il vescovo mons. Vartan Kechichian, dei padri Armeni Mechitaristi". genteveneta.it (in Italian). 23 November 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.