By the Canon of the Eastern Catholic Churches (Canons 276-278), and due to the pastoral needs of the region entrusted me. I appoint Reverend Father Nerses Galstyan, parish priest of the Armenian Catholics of the Tashir region, as Dean of Armenia for three years, while he continues to fulfill his duties as the Parish Priest of the region of Tashir. In appointing him to this position, I consider his vast pastoral experience and knowledge over many years.

I am convinced that these qualities will significantly strengthen the new and important mission that he is to fulfill. With sincere prayers I turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the God, asking for all divine graces and gifts for our reverend brother. May he accept his new role and complete it with apostolic and pastoral enthusiasm, promoting the spiritual development of the Armenian Catholic communities and glorifying God.

✠ Most Rev. KEVORK ARCHBISHOP NORADOUNGUIAN

Titular Archbishop of Sebastia,

Ordinary of the Armenian Catholics of Armenia, Georgia, Russia

and Eastern Europe

Reverend Father Nerses Galstyan

Parish Priest of Armenian Catholics of Tashir

Biographical information

Birthdate: 31.03.1980, Gyumri.

Fr. Nerses (passport name: Artyom) studied at secondary school No. 4 in Gyumri, and also at music school No. 5. Then he continued his studies at the Gyumri College of Fine Arts, after which he was drafted into military service.

In 2000, he entered the Nersisyan Seminary in Gyumri.

In 2002, he left for Ukraine to receive higher religious education, studied at the Faculty of Philosophy of the Catholic University of Lviv, graduated in 2005.

In 2005, he moved to Lublin, Poland, where he studied at the John Paul II Catholic University.

In 2009, he defended his dissertation with honors on the topic “The Synod of Armenian Catholic Bishops of 1911” and received a Master’s degree in Theology and Canon Law.

In 2008, he was ordained a deacon in Lublin by Archbishop Nshan Karakeheyan.

In 2009, he was ordained a celibate priest in St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Arevik by Archbishop Nshan Karakeheyan. He is the first celibate priest to be ordained in Armenia after the post-Soviet years.

In 2009-2010, he served as the head of the Armenian Catholic community of Gyumri, and also performed pastoral service in neighboring villages.

In 2010, he moved to Tbilisi and served as the deputy parish priest of the local community for a year.

In 2011 was appointed spiritual head of the Nersisyan Seminary in Yerevan and served for one year.

In 2012, he was appointed parish priest of the Armenian Catholic communities of the Tashir region of Lori province and serves in that position.

In 2014, he undertook and completed the renovation and reconstruction of the St. Hovhannes Church in the village of Metsavan, as well as the construction of the St. Cross Church in the village of Norashen.

Thanks to his permanent residence in Tashir, he restored spiritual life in the Tashir region.

In 2020-2022, he received a Master of Laws degree through distance learning at the Yerevan Institute of Forensic Expertise and Psychology, specializing in jurisprudence and forensic expertise.

On December 19, 2024, Archbishop Gevorg Noradounguian, by his decree 154/А, appointed Father Nerses Galstyan as the Dean of the Armenian Catholic Church in Armenia.

Վճիռ անվանման, Հ. Ներսես Գալստյան

Secretariat of the Ordinariate

13.02.2025