Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
Republic of Armenia Ministry of Education and Science
Yerevan State University

Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Foreign Press Secretary
Catholicosate of All Armenians
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
(374-10) 517-163

July 13, 2005

His Eminence Archbishop Shahe Ajemian Enters Eternal Rest

It is with great sadness that we report that on June 13, 2005, following a
long and debilitating illness, one of the most senior members of the
Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Eminence Archbishop Shahe Ajemian
entered his eternal rest. At the time of his death, Abp. Ajemian was the
dean of the Theological Faculty of Yerevan State University. He was 79
years old.

Abp. Shahe was born in Aleppo, Syria in 1926. He received his elementary
education in the Haigazian School of Aleppo; and from 1937 to 1939, he
attended the academy of the Mkhitarist fathers.

In 1939 he enrolled in the Aleppo Friars (Franciscan) School and graduated
with honors in 1943. He was accepted the same year in the seminary of
Antelias and ordained a deacon. Graduating from the seminary in 1947, he is
ordained a celibate priest by His Grace Bishop Terenig Poladian of blessed
memory.

>From 1947 to 1950, he attended classes at the University of Brussels and
graduated with a degree in literature and philosophy. He immediately began
teaching classes at the seminary in Antelias, as well as at the
Hovagimian-Manoogian School in Beirut.

>From 1952 to 1956, he served in the Chancellery of the See of the Great
House of Cilicia.

>From 1960 to 1994 he was a member of the Brotherhood of Saint James of the
Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. In 1965, His Holiness Vasken I,
Catholicos of All Armenians of blessed memory, consecrated him a bishop.
During his years of service in Jerusalem, he held the positions of
Chancellor and Properties Manager for the Patriarchate.

His Eminence Archbishop Shahe Ajemian contributed numerous works to the
“Sion” official monthly of the Patriarchate, focusing on research dedicated
to religion, history, science and philosophy. In 1982, he established the
Armenian Bible Center on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, with its emphasis
on research on the Armenian translation of the Bible and Armenian Church
canons.

Abp. Ajemian was a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian
Church from 1975 to 1985. He also contributed his worthy participation to
the activities of the Armenian Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
through his involvement in ecclesiastical-organizational matters, the
expansion and strengthening of international ties, preaching and ministry,
as well as his lectures at the Gevorkian and Vaskenian Theological
Seminaries of the Mother See.

In 1994, Abp. Ajemian moved to Armenia and in 1995 he established the
Theological Faculty at Yerevan State University. His Eminence was renowned
for his scientific-pedagogical activities and was the author of numerous
articles and papers. His death is a great loss for the Armenian Church and
for Yerevan State University. “Blessed be the memory of the righteous.”

Details regarding the funeral and burial services for Abp. Ajemian will be
forthcoming.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress