- Diocese of Gougark
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Diocese of Gougark Գուգարաց թեմ Province(s) Lori and Tavush Administrative center Vanadzor, Armenia Postal address Primacy of the Diocese of Gougark, 31 Zakarian Street Cathedral St. Gregory of Narek Cathedral 
Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian, Primate of the Diocese of Gougark.
Headquarters of the Diocese of Gougark.The Diocese of Gougark is located in Northern Armenia and encompasses the regions of Lori and Tavush. In ancient times the region of Lori was referred to as Gougark. The Diocesan Headquarters is located in Vanadzor. The Diocese includes 29 working churches with 14 full-time priests.
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Primate of the Diocese of Gougark
Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian has been the Primate of the Diocese of Gougark since June 3, 1996.
History
During the times of Soviet rule, the region of Lori was included within the Shirak Diocese. The St. Mary (Holy Mother of God) Church of Vanadzor and St. Sarkis Church of Stepanavan were both operating at that time. At the end of the 20th century with the independence of the Republic of Armenia, the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Vazgen I of Blessed Memory, started reorganizing the regions and the Dioceses of the Armenian Church to enable them to operate more effectively. This time-consuming work was continued by the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin I of Blessed Memory.
On April 15, 1990, the historical Haghpat Monastery was reopened and Rev. Fr. Yeznik Petrossian was appointed as the Parish priest.
In 1991, the Diocese of Gougark was officially established by the Pontifical Encyclical of His Holiness, Vazken I. It included today's region of Tavush and the town Alaverdi. His Eminence Archbishop Arsen Berberian was appointed the Primate; the headquarters was located in the town of Dilijan.
The Diocese was reorganized again on May 30, 1996, to its present administrative boundaries by Karekin I. It now includes the whole regions of Lori and Tavush (containing the major towns of Vanadzor, Spitak, Stepanavan, Tashir, Alaverdi, Tumanyan, Ijevan, Berd, Dilijan, and Noyemberyan). The Diocesan Headquarters has since been located in Vanadzor with its St. Mary (Holy Mother of God) Church.
Present day
At the time, Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian (who was then an Archamandrite) from Malatya, Western Armenia, was appointed to serve as the Primate of the Diocese of Gougark by the Pontifical Encyclical of the Catholicos. Due to his continuing efforts and dedicated work, various difficulties could have been overcome in the Diocese. Church life has developed with steady steps.
As a result of the consistent preaching of the clergy, various forgotten feasts and traditions have gradually been reawakened and established in people. In all, the working churches of the Diocese acolyte classes have been created. They work and continuously offer liturgies and other services. With the help and support of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, organizations and individual benefactors from Armenia and the Diaspora, various preaching, church-building, reconstruction and social service programs have been completed.
External links
- Gougark Diocese
- Gasparyan, Khoren (2009-03-25). "Deeds as Biography. On the Occasion of the 50th Birthday Anniversary of Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian (Armenian: Գործը` կենսագրություն. Սեպուհ եպիսկոպոս Չուլջյանի ծննդյան 50-ամյակի առթիվ)" (in Armenian). Azg Armenian Daily. http://www.azg.am/AM/2009032521. Retrieved 2009-03-25.
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