On June 15, 2016 at 7:00 p.m., the Diocesan Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian will bestow the Rank of Dzayrakooyn Vartabed (Supreme Doctorate)Â upon the Very Rev. Fr. Pakrad Berjekian. The ten degrees of Dzayrakooyn Vartabed will be bestowed upon the member of the Armenian Brotherhood of St. James in Jerusalem during a service at St. Leon Armenian Cathedral with the participation of Diocesan clergy of the greater Los Angeles area. The rank of Dzayrakooyn Vartabed is bestowed upon an archimandrite (vartabed) who has shown outstanding educational and leadership qualities.
Â
The service will be followed by a light reception.
All faithful are welcome to attend the service.
Â
Very Rev. Fr. Pakrad Berjekian: Brief Biography
Â
Fr. Pakrad (baptismal name Vartan) Bourjekian was born on October 11, 1970. He was ordained into the Sacred Order of the Priesthood in 1991 by His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem. From 1994-1998, he served as the Dean of the Theological Seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. From 1996-2000, Fr. Bourjekian served as member of the Synod (The Ecclesiastical Council of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Â
Fr. Pagrad’s previous assignments include Vice-Chairman of the St. James Brotherhood General Assembly and Holy Synod. (2002-2013). He has served as a member of the Judicial Religious Court (2002-2014) and a member of the Armenian Manuscripts Protection Committee (2002-2010). Father Pakrad is presently working on his PhD at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is fluent in Armenian, English, Arabic, Hebrew and French.
