Legate of the Armenian Church

Based in Washington, DC, the Legate, represents the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) among a wide range of ecumenical Christian and inter-faith organizations, government offices, foreign embassies, and media-organizations, as well as other Armenian and non-government organizations. The Legate is particularly active in its work with the National Council of Churches and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. 

Bishop Vicken Aykazian currently serves as the Legate.  He has been very active in this role, as he serves on the National Council of Churches, recently being chosen as a member of a committee to oversee and forge policies for the National Council of Churches. 

Bishop Aykazian also will be leading a group if ecumenical leaders on a religious trip to Armenia.  Moreover, he meets often with other religious leaders of Oriental Orthodox Churches and is working on expanding a program of  dialogue between Jewish and Armenian youth to build stronger bonds for the future.  Bishop Aykazian also works with the Congressional Committee on Religious Liberty

Bishop Vicken Aykazian was born in Sirnak Siirt, Turkey in 1951.  He studied at the Jerusalem Patriarchate and was ordained a deacon in 1968, and a celibate priest in 1971.  In 1992 he was ordained as a bishop by His Holiness Vasken I, Catholicos of all Armenians. 

Bishop Aykazian served as the director of the Fund for Armenian Relief's Yerevan office from 1997 to 1999.  He served as primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church in Switzerland from 1980 to 1992.  Bishop Aykazian has been active in the World Council of Churches, and has served in several roles in the WCC.

Recent Activities

Among the highlights of the Legate's recent activities are:

Bringing Church Leadership to Washington

The Legate's office and the National Committee of the Legate with the assistance of St. Mary's Armenian Church and other Armenians living in Washington arranged a highly significant Pontifical visit for His Holiness, Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, to the capital of our nation.  His Holiness was not only able to meet and discuss key issues with members of the U.S. government, at the highest levels.  It was a wonderful opportunity for the Church to "deepen its roots" among the Ecumenical community.  A few of the  activities the Legate was able to coordinate are detailed below.

• A meeting between His Holiness and President Bush.
• His Holiness gave the Morning Prayer that begins the Congress' legislative day.
• A formal reception at the Capital where more than thirty-five Representatives and Senators came together to welcome His Holiness and discuss their concerns about Armenia and the Republic of Nagorno-Karabagh.  Several Congressional leaders openly and publicly praised the Armenian Orthodox Church for her contribution to the Armenian nation and to humanity in general.
• The passage of a special Senate resolution recognizing the 1700th Anniversary of the Christianization of Armenia and the visit of his Holiness to the Capital.
• An Ecumenical Dialogue event held in the Catholic National Shrine Cathedral presenting the history of the Armenian Church to seminarians from a variety of churches and other members of the public. The Very Reverend Professor Robert Wright, a well-known international church historian led the dialogue with the participation of the Very Reverend Professor Daniel Findikian and Professor Abraham Terian of St. Nerces Seminary.
• An Ecumenical service in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception with the participation of the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church and several Protestant Churches, brought the diverse denominations together to celebrate the 1700^th Anniversary of the Armenian Church.
• A visit to the Holocaust and the Genocide Museums.