Rev. Fr. Andreas Garabedian
Rev. Fr. Andreas Garabedian was born in Yerevan, Armenia on January 12, 1988. His father, Archpriest Rev. Fr. Keghart Garabedian at the time was the personal secretary of His Holiness the late Vasgen the I Catholicos of All Armenians. In 1989, Fr. Andreas’s family moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where Fr. Andreas’s father served under His Eminence the late Archbishop Vasgen Keshishian. The Archbishop assigned Fr. Andreas’s family to the parish of St. Vartan Armenian Church in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
At the age of 3, Fr. Andreas began serving on the Holy Altar of his parish. Under the guidance of the former Primate of Canada, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, at the age of 9, Fr. Andreas received the rank of acolyte (Tbir). 3 years later, Fr. Andreas was ordained to the rank of Sub-deacon by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian. On January 23rd, 2006 Fr. Andreas Garabedian was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstyan, former Primate of Canada.
Fr. Andreas Garabedian attended primary and secondary schools in Vancouver as well as attending Kwantlen Polytechnic University where he studied Philosophy and Political Science. In 2009, by the blessing of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstyan, Fr. Andreas moved to Montreal, Quebec where he was assigned to work alongside Rev. Fr. Myron Sarkissian as assistant youth and Christian education director.
In October 2009, with the blessing of His Beatitude Archbishop Torgom Manougian, the late Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem and the blessing of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstyan, Fr. Andreas Garabedian entered Sts. James’ Armenian Seminary of Jerusalem.
After graduating from Sts. James’ Armenian Seminary of Jerusalem in 2013 at the top of his class, Fr. Andreas Garabedian traveled to Armenia where he subsequently married his wife, Nune Chukhajyan. After getting married, Fr. Andreas and his wife moved to New Rochelle, NY where he attended St. Vladimir’s Orthodox and St. Nersess Armenian Theological Seminaries. During his studies, Fr. Andreas also did pastoral work at Westchester Valhalla prison and completed his CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) at New York Presbyterian Columbia Hospital.
Rev. Fr. Andreas Garabedian recently graduated with his Masters of Divinity (M.Div ’16) and looks forward to serving the Armenian Church in all capacities. June 2017, Fr. Andreas was assigned as full-time Deacon-in-Charge and Pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church of Chicago. On June 29, 2019 Fr. Andreas was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Primate of the Eastern Diocese Bishop Daniel Findikyan.
Fr. Andreas has a younger brother and sister. He is also fluent in both Eastern and Western Armenian, and enjoys playing and watching various sports, theater, opera and himself plays several musical instruments including duduk and singing.
Past Pastor’s of St. Gregory Armenian Church
Rev. Fr. Andreas Garabedian 2017 (as Deacon Narek; ordained to priesthood in 2019) – present
Very Rev. Fr. Aren Jebejian 1998 – 2015
Rev. Fr. Haik Donikian (Visiting Clergy) 1996 – 1997
Very Rev. Fr. Paren Avedikian 1994 – 1996
Rev. Fr. Haik Donikian (Visiting Clergy) 1991 – 1994
Rev. Fr. Vahram Hazarian 1982 – 1990
Very Rev. Fr. Jirayr Tashjian 1978 – 1982
Rev. Dn. Michael Ohanesian 1974 – 1975
Very Rev. Fr. Varoujan Dzv. Kabardjian (Visiting Clergy) 1973 – 1977
Rev. Fr. Sarkis Kashikjian 1966 – 1973
Rev. Fr. Vahrij Kazanjian 1964 – 1965
Rev. Dn. Hovhannes Kasbarian 1963
Rev. Fr. Arsen Barsamian 1962
Rev. Fr. Nerses Babourian 1960 – 1961
Rev. Fr. Vurtanes Papazian 1957 – 1959
Rev. Fr. Dickran Khoyian 1955 – 1956
Very Rev. Fr. Vahram Nazaretian 1944 – 1954
Rev. Fr. Zkon Der Hagopian 1941 – 1943
Rev. Fr. Ghevont Arabian 1940 – 1938
Rev. Fr. Vahan Culdalian 1925 – 1937
Rev. Fr. Vahram Nazaretian 1917 – 1924