Today, June 29, we honor the memory of His Holiness Karekin I, the 131st Catholicos of All Armenians, one of the most influential spiritual leaders in the modern history of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Born Neshan Sarkissian in Kessab, Syria, he dedicated his life to faith, scholarship, and the service of the Armenian people. After serving for nearly four decades as Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, he was elected the 131st Catholicos of All Armenians in 1995, becoming the spiritual leader of Armenians worldwide during the early years of Armenia’s independence.
A renowned theologian, author, and Oxford-educated scholar, Karekin I was admired for combining profound theological scholarship with a vision for renewing the Church in the modern era. He revitalized theological education, promoted dialogue between Christian churches, and strengthened ties between Armenia and Armenian communities throughout the diaspora, helping reaffirm the Armenian Apostolic Church’s role in a newly independent Armenia while remaining firmly rooted in its ancient traditions.
Karekin I was also a steadfast advocate for Artsakh. Throughout the First Artsakh War and the years that followed, he repeatedly visited Artsakh, strengthened the Church’s presence there, and spoke consistently in support of the rights, security, and self-determination of its Armenian people. His spiritual leadership and unwavering support offered hope and encouragement during one of the most difficult chapters in the nation’s modern history.
Catholicos Karekin I passed away on June 29, 1999, at the age of 67. More than a quarter of a century later, his legacy endures through his writings, his vision for the Armenian Apostolic Church, and his unwavering devotion to the Armenian nation. He remains one of the most respected and beloved Catholicoi of the modern era.
May his memory be eternal.
