Fr. Mesrop Aramian (Armenian: Տ. Մեսրոպ քահանա Արամյան, born June 20, 1966, Yerevan, Armenian SSR) is a priest of the Armenian Apostolic Church, theologian, scholar, writer, film producer, social entrepreneur and educator. He is the Adviser to the President of Armenia on Education. He is the Director of the National Program for Educational Excellence․ He is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Ayb School and co-founder of the Ayb Educational Foundation. Fr. Mesrop Aramian is the founder and director of Gandzasar Theological Center and Vem Media Arts. He is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Vem Radio. He is the scriptwriter and producer of the documentary From Ararat to Zion, creative producer of the film The Book and the author of its idea. He has authored publications, articles, research studies, radio and TV shows, as well as educational projects and programs.
Early life and education
Fr. Mesrop (baptismal name Matevos) Aramian was born on June 20, 1966, in Yerevan.
Fr. Mesrop is a graduate of Physics-Mathematics Special School in Yerevan. He graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) with a Master of Science degree in Engineering and Theoretical Physics in 1990. He successfully passed Lev Landau's "Theoretical Minimums" in 1995-1996 and joined Vitaly Ginzburg's theoretical physics group in 1998. He was ordained a priest of the Armenian Apostolic Church on May 28, 1991.
In 1991, Fr. Mesrop Aramian founded Gandzasar Theological Center and heads it as Director and Editor-in-Chief. To date, the Center has published over 80 publications.
In 2002, he founded Vem spiritual-cultural radio station and has since been its Editor-in-Chief.
In 2004, he created and still heads Vem Media Arts film production studio, which has released 12 environmental documentaries. Vem Media Arts has also produced two television shows: Catechism and Spiritual Discussions.
In 2006, in association with a group of friends, he established the Ayb Educational Foundation.
In 2010, Vem Media Arts released the internationally acclaimed documentary feature film, From Ararat to Zion, depicting the centuries-old Armenian presence in the Holy Land. Fr. Mesrop Aramian is the writer and producer of the film.
In 2011, the Ayb Educational Foundation established Ayb School. Fr. Mesrop Aramian is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Ayb School and author of educational curricula.
In 2013, he was appointed Adviser to the RA President on Education.
In 2014, Vem Media Arts studio released the film The Book. Fr. Mesrop Aramian is the creative producer and author of the film idea.
In 2014, the RA Ministry of Education and Science and Ayb Educational Foundation in cooperation with the University of Cambridge and UCL Institute of Education launched a major educational initiative - the National Program for Educational Excellence (NPEE), based on Ayb School's curricula. Fr. Mesrop Aramian is the Program Director.
He is a member of the Artsakh Diocesan Council and was twice elected a delegate for the National Ecclesiastic Assembly from the Artsakh Diocese.
He serves as a Board member of the Luys Foundation Education Board.
He is a member of the International Association of Patristic Studies.
Awards and honors
On June 5, 2010, Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan awarded Fr. Mesrop Aramian with Mesrop Mashtots order.
Fr. Mesrop Aramian is married. Together with his spouse Irina, they raise seven children: Nerses, Mariam, Marta, Gayane, Mikayel, Sofia, and Hovhannes.
Articles
“St Gregory of Narek: Genius of Prayer,” April 18, 2015.
“Jumping over the Abyss,” April 3, 2015
“Values,” March 16, 2015.
“A Mission that Unites Us All,” April 7, 2015.
“Competitive Education and Armenian Realities,” April 10, 2011.
“Restoring the Orthography of the Armenian Nation: A Task for Our Generation,” January 18, 2009.
Interview to Mediamax, April 22, 2015.
Armenia TV’s R-Evolution show hosted Fr. Mesrop Aramian, November 16, 2014. (Armenian)
Armenia TV’s R-Evolution show hosted Fr. Mesrop Aramian, September 1, 2013. (Armenian)
Interview to Aniv (The Wheel) Russian-language magazine: “Discussions with Fr. Mesrop Aramian: We Haven’t Agreed around Anything,” January 15, 2013. (Russian)
Continuation--(N4, (43), January 28, 2013. (Russian)
Interview to Shant TV, March 7, 2011. (Armenian)
Interview to Echo of Moscow Russian radio station re the film From Ararat to Zion, June 22, 2010. (Russian)
Interview to Yerevan Russian-language magazine: "Following the Guiding Star" (“Za putevodnoy zvezdoy”), January-February 2010 issue. (Russian)
Interview to Aniv (The Wheel) magazine: “Spiritual Labor,” July 25, 2009. (Russian)
"Erek‘ tiezerakan žoġovneri dawanut‘iwnə" (astuacabanakan aknark) [The Confession of Faith of the Three Ecumenical Councils: A Theological Sketch]. Yerevan. Gandzasar Theological Review 1 (1992): 110-140.
"Hay Ekeġec‘u k‘ristosabanakan mtk‘i uruagcer (D-Ǝ dd.)" (dawanabanakan ētiwd) [An Outline of the Christological Thought of the Armenian Church (IV-VIII Centuries): Dogmatic Study]. Yerevan. Gandzasar Theological Review 2 (1992): 86-122.
"Mkrtut‘ean araroġut‘ean astuacabanut‘iwnə" [The Theology of the Rite of Baptism]. Yerevan. Gandzasar Theological Review 3 (1993): 57-88, 4 (1993):72-94.
"Mieġinut‘ean skzbunk‘ə astuacabanut‘ean mej" [The Principle of Oneness in Theology]. Yerevan. Gandzasar Theological Review 5 (1994): 81-96.
"Yovhannēs Sarkawagi 'Yałags nšanaki hawatoy Nikiakann VŽƎ-ic‘n' žoġovacun" [Hovhannes Sarkavag's Collection 'On the Confession of Faith of the 318 [Fathers] of Nicea']. Yerevan. Gandzasar Theological Review 6(1996): 44-78.
"Uġġap‘aṙ hawatk‘i dawanut‘iwnə orpēs hogewor keank‘i himk‘" [The Confession of Orthodox Faith as the Basis for Spiritual Life]. Yerevan: Vem. Gandzasar Theological Review 7 (2002): 27-49.
"K‘ristosi paycaṙakerput‘iwnə" [The Transfiguration of Christ]. Yerevan. Gandzasar Theological Review 8 (2010): 11-20.
Translations and other studies
S. Nersēs Šnorhali. T‘uġt‘ əndhanrakan [Encyclical]. Translated into E Armenian by Fr. Mesrop Aramian, Tigran Khachatryan and Seda Stamboltsyan. Yerevan, 1991. Gandzasar series.
Surb Neġos Sinayec‘i [St. Nilus of Sinai]. Aġot‘k‘i masin [On Prayer]. Yerevan. Gandzasar Theological Review 1 (1992): 177-196. Trans. into E Armenian.
Erg Ergoc‘, handerj meknut‘eamb naxneac‘ [Song of Songs, With Commentary of Ancient Fathers]. Yerevan, 1993. Gandzasar series. Study.
S. Yovhan Mandakuni [St. John Mandakuni]. T‘ułt‘k‘ [Epistles], 1-4. Yerevan. Gandzasar Theological Review 3 (1993): 122-146. Trans. into E Armenian.
S. Grigor Lusaworič‘ [St. Gregory the Illuminator]. Yačaxapatum čaṙer [Stromata], 1, 2, 16. Yerevan. Gandzasar Theological Review 4 (1993): 134-164. Trans. into E Armenian.
Hogewor keank‘i masin [On Spiritual Life]. Yerevan, 1997. Gandzasar series. Collection of discourses by medieval Armenian Fathers. Five of the discourses were translated by Fr. Mesrop Aramian.
Aġot‘agirk‘ [Prayer Book]. Yerevan: Vem, 2000. [Compiler, co-translator and author of additional materials]. Classical Armenian texts and parallel E Armenian translations.
Surb At‘anas Alek‘sandrac‘i [St. Athanasius of Alexandria]. Ordu mardeġut‘ean ew Surb Errordut‘ean masin [On the Incarnation of the Son and on the Holy Trinity]. Translated from Classical Armenian by Fr. Mesrop Aramian and Deacon Sahak Ghazaryan. Yerevan: Vem. Gandzasar Theological Review 7(2002): 188-212.
Surb Yovhannēs Ojnec‘i [St. John of Odzun]. Ǝnddēm erewut‘akanneri [Against Docetists]. Translated from Classical Armenian by Fr. Mesrop Aramian and Deacon Ara Nalchajyan. Yerevan: Vem. Gandzasar Theological Review 7(2002): 237-273.
Srabazan Patarag Hay Aṙak‘elakan Uġġap‘aṙ Surb Ekeġec‘woy [The Divine Liturgy of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church]. Yerevan: Gandzasar Theological Center, 2010. Study and E Armenian translation with parallel Classical Armenian text.
Yovhannēs Sarkawag. Yałags Nšanaki hawatoy Nikiakann YŽƎ-ic‘n [On the Confession of Faith of the 318 [Fathers] of Nicea]. Discourse 1. Yerevan. Gandzasar Theological Review 6(1996): 278-297.
Pōłos Tarōnac‘i. Ban hawatoy ənddēm herjuacołac‘ [Word of Faith Against Heretics]. Yerevan:Vem. Gandzasar Theological Review 7 (2002): 298-331.
Yovhannēs Sarkawag. Yałags Nšanaki hawatoy Nikiakann YŽƎ-ic‘n [On the Confession of Faith of the 318 [Fathers] of Nicea]. Discourses 5-7, 10-11. Yerevan: Vem. Gandzasar Theological Review 7 (2002): 332-370.
Yovhannēs Erznkac‘u "I ČX sałmosn" čaṙə [John of Erznka's Discourse on the 140th Psalm], Yerevan:Vem. Gandzasar Theological Review 7 (2002): 384-386.
Yovhannēs Sarkawag. Yałags Nšanaki hawatoy Nikiakann YŽƎ-ic‘n [On the Confession of Faith of the 318 [Fathers] of Nicea]. Discourses 2-4, 8-9, 12-14. Yerevan. Gandzasar Theological Review 8 (2010): 351-455.
Awag Šabat‘ (gunazardman grk‘uyk) [The Holy Week (coloring book)]. Yerevan: Gandzasar Theological Review, 1992. (Author of the texts).
