Armenian Prelacy of Canada

As the number of Churches grew over the years, the Armenian Prelacy of America was split into two jurisdictions, Eastern and Western.

At a young age, he and his family relocated to Lebanon, where he was educated at Torkomian School, and in 1961 entered the Seminary at the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias.

After serving in that capacity for eight years, he returned to Lebanon where he resumed his academic studies at the Middle East Theological institute.

In 1994, Hagopian was assigned to serve as the parish priest of the Holy Martyrs Armenian Church in Encino.

*Bishop Meghrig Parikian (10 May 2014 - 16 February 2016) In July 1994, he was given the title of Very Reverend – Vartabed, by Archbishop Ardag Manougian, after presenting his thesis on the Letters of His Holiness, Catholicos Nerses of all Armenians.

In 1997, he moved to New York to attend Mannes College, The New School for Music and was instructed by Peter Bellino until his departure in 1999.

In May of that year he was given the title of Right Reverend by Bishop Zareh Aznavourian; on the same day, Aram I bestowed on him the right to wear the official purple cassock of the Armenian Catholicosate.

Three years later, he completed his education in Theology and Armenian Studies, was ordained as a celibate priest by Archbishop Datev Sarkissian, and renamed Fr.

During his tenure at the Seminary from 1986 to 1993, he also occupied the posts of Official Staff Bearer and Personal Secretary to Karekin II.

Following his service at the Western Prelacy of the United States, he moved to Syria, where he served the community of Qamishli as Vicar General from 2002 to 2004.