Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate of the Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) Church in Great Britain and Ireland, has been nominated as CTE President for the Orthodox Churches. He succeeds Archbishop Nikitas of the Oecumenical Patriarchate (Diocese of Thyateira and Great Britain).
Churches Together in England General Secretary, Bishop Mike Royal, said: “Bishop Hovakim Manukyan has a rich history of ecumenical engagement as Primate of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Great Britain and Ireland. I’m delighted at his nomination as CTE President for the Orthodox Churches. He will represent those churches so well over the next 4 years”.
Bishop Hovakim Manukyan responded: “My journey—from my studies at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute, through my service at Holy Etchmiadzin and in the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches—has been deeply shaped by the ecumenical movement. Since coming to the United Kingdom, I have been blessed to find a welcoming and prayerful ecumenical family that has strengthened both my ministry and my faith.
“I believe that the unity of the Church is a gift from God, given through the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our calling is to protect and live this unity. In a world marked by division and conflict, our shared witness is more important than ever. It is a great honour to serve as the Orthodox President of Churches Together in England.”
CTE is represented by six Presidents from the major traditions of our 54 Member Churches. They meet regularly to discuss matters concerning the churches in England, and together seek to serve as a sign of our unity. They each sign a Covenant which describes their commitment to each other and to the churches in England.
Bishop Hovakim biography
Bishop Hovakim Manukyan is the Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church in the United Kingdom and Ireland of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
He received his theological education at the Vaskenian Theological Academy at Lake Sevan and the Gevorkian Theological Seminary at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and continued his studies abroad.
He was ordained a deacon in 2000 and a celibate priest in 2001, elevated to the rank of Archimandrite in 2006, and consecrated as a bishop in 2010 by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
His service has included work in the Inter-Church Relations Department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, participation in ecumenical programmes of the World Council of Churches, and service in the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches. He has also lectured at the Gevorkian Theological Seminary and the Vaskenian Theological Academy.
Since 2015, he has served as Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Great Britain and Ireland. During his episcopal ministry in the United Kingdom, he has continued the establishment of mission parishes, created the Armenian Diocesan Centre, strengthened youth ministry, and developed the digital presence of the Church. His ministry is devoted to pastoral care, the strengthening of parish and community life, and active engagement in ecumenical and inter-Christian relations.
Alongside his pastoral and ecclesial responsibilities, Bishop Hovakim has a personal passion for running. He has taken part in the Windsor 5K and the Kingston Half Marathon and hopes to run the London Marathon in the future.
Find out more about the Armenian Apostolic Church in Great Britain and Ireland.