Vardapet

A vardapet or vartabed (Armenian: վարդապետ, Armenian pronunciation: [vɑɾtʰɑˈpɛt]) is a highly-educated archimandrite in the Armenian Apostolic Church tradition who holds a Doctorate in Theology. Members of this order of ecclesiastics frequently have charge of dioceses, with episcopal functions.

In the English-speaking world, the best-known of the doctor-monks of Armenia is Mekhitar of Sebaste, founder of an Armenian Catholic community of monks, the Mechitarists.

Tsayraguyn vardapet (Armenian: ծայրագույն վարդապետ) on the other hand is the rank of supreme doctor of Christian dogma in the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is bestowed upon a vardapet, a pastor, who has shown outstanding educational and leadership qualities.

References

• Pope John Paul II, Address of John Paul II to the Mechitarist Order on the third centenary of their founding. 3 July 2001. Retrieved 11 November 2008.

See also

• Gregory the Illuminator, Apostle of Armenia
• Mesrop Mashtots
• Komitas Vardapet
• Oriental Orthodoxy
• Christian monasticism