Born in Aleppo, Syria, Tertsakian was ordained a priest for the Congregazione Mechitarista on September 8, 1948.
Prior to becoming a bishop, he served as the Abbot General of the Order of the Mechitarists, and as the rector of St. Ann's Cathedral in New York City.
[1] Pope John Paul II named Batakian as the Titular Bishop of Trapezus degli Armeni and the Apostolic Exarch of the United States of America and Canada on January 5, 1995.
He was ordained a bishop by Patriarch Jean Pierre XVIII Kasparian of the Armenian Catholic Church on April 29, 1995.
[1] Tertsakian served as exarch until his resignation was accepted by Pope John Paul on November 30, 2000.