PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 10) 517 163
Fax: (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail: ktrij@etchmiadzin.am
August 9, 2005

Holy Etchmiadzin Mourns Sudden Death of Young Priest

>From the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, we announce with great
sadness that on August 8, 2005, Rev. Fr. Zaven Hakobian was killed in
a tragic automobile accident on the road from the city of Yeghegnadzor
in southern Armenia to the Monastery of Noravank, where he served as
pastor.

Rev. Fr. Zaven Hakobian (baptismal name Arman) was born on May 12,
1977 in the city of Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin). From 1984 to 1992 he
attended the H. Hovhanisian No. 3 Secondary School. He began his
service to the Holy Armenian Church in 1989 at the St. Mary Church in
Etchmiadzin.

>From 1992 to 1994, he studied at the Seminary of the Armenian
Patriarchate of Jerusalem. In 1995, he was admitted to the Gevorkian
Theological Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin and graduated in 2000.

>From 2000 to 2001 he participated in management courses offered by
the American University of Armenia in Yerevan, and in 2001, Fr. Zaven
was admitted to Yerevan State University where he was studying at the
Faculty of Law.

>From 2000 to 2004, Fr. Zaven worked as a secretary for the
Catholicosate.

On December 24, 2002, on the Feast of St. Stephen the Protomartyr, he
was ordained a deacon by His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Bozabalian.
In April of 2003, he defended his graduation thesis entitled “The
Life, Spiritual-Social Work and Literary Legacy of Rev. Fr. Gyut
Archpriest Aghaniants”.

In April of 2004 he was assigned to work in the Architectural
Department of the Mother See.

On May 2, 2004, he was ordained to the Holy Order of Priesthood by His
Grace Bishop Abraham Mkrtchian and received his cowl indicating his
rank as a celibate priest.

On February 1, 2005, upon the Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin
II, Catholicos of All Armenians, Fr. Zaven was appointed as pastor of
the Monastery of Noravank in the Diocese of Syunik.

Fr. Zaven of blessed memory was a dedicated, devoted and hardworking
young priest. His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians,
and the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin mourn the untimely loss of
this young, faithful and kind clergyman.

Fr. Zaven’s body will be placed in the Church of Saint Gayane in Holy
Etchmiadzin for a public viewing at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, August 10.
The Service of the Church Funeral will be offered at 7:00 PM. On
Thursday, August 11, at 10:30 AM, during the celebration of a solemn
Divine Liturgy, the Last Blessing and Funeral Services for Fr. Zaven
will be offered. Fr. Zaven will be buried in the cemetery of the
Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin.

“Blessed be the memory of the righteous. Amen”