Rev. Fr. Mesrob (former Deacon Vahe) Hovsepyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia in 1976. He is a graduate of both Vazkenian and Kevorkian Theological Seminaries (1993-1999). His thesis theme was “Martyrology of Saint Vahan of Gokhtn”.
On May 23, 1999 he was ordained as Deacon at the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin by His Eminence Archbishop Voskan Kalpakian.
Upon his graduation, Fr. Mesrob was appointed to work at the editorial office of “Echmiadzin” official monthly as a secretary. Meanwhile, he pursued classes in management and completed the “Management Skills for Seminarians” course organized by the American University of Armenia.
He served in the Armed Forces of Armenia as a Chaplain from 2001 to 2003. In 2004, by the invitation of Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, he came to the United States to further his education. After improving his English language skills at North Park University, Chicago, he was enrolled in various courses at St. Nersess Armenian, St. Vladimir’s Russian Orthodox and General Theological Seminaries. In the meantime, he was working with the Brooklyn Mission Parish teaching religion in the Sunday school.
In the summer of 2006 he completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education. Meanwhile he was appointed to St. Gregory the Enlightener church in White Plains, NY to do his pastoral internship.
From the fall of 2006 to the winter of 2007 he pursued his Master’s Program in Pastoral Studies at Fordham University in New York majoring in Pastoral Studies.
Fr. Mesrob was ordained to the holy order of priesthood on January 19-20, 2008, by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian at St. James Armenian Church of Richmond, VA and has been serving as the pastor of St. James since then.
Fr. Mesrob is happily married to Yn. Ruzanna Karapetyan and blessed with beautiful daughter Nareh.
Contact Der Hayr at frmesrob@stjamesva.org.
