His Eminence Fr. Nerses Archbishop Ter-Nersesyan (baptismal name: Artashes) was born in Berlin, on 16 November, 1920. He spent his childhood in Bucharest, where he was a student of Levon Palchyan (later- Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen I).

In 1933, he entered Mkhitaryan Monastery, in St. Lazar, Venice. On 8 September, 1946, he was ordained a celibate priest, then in 1960 he received the title of Monsigniore.

For many years he held several responsible positions: as teacher, mentor, editor of  magazine “Bazmavep” and other magazines, as secretary, librarian, director of the Dzeragrats Matenadaran of Mkhitarist Monastery. Meanwhile he taught History of Philosophy at “Murad-Raphaelian” college, from 1952 to 1967.

He was the secretary and director of St. Lazar Academy, General Superior of Mkhitarist Order from 1986 to 1991.

In 1991 he was named as Bishop of Catholic Armenians in Armenia, Georgia, Russia and Eastern Europe by the Pope of Rome John Paul II.

On 17 November, 1992  he was ordained Archbishop in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, by the Holy Father, with Armenian rite and majestic ceremony.

On 22 June 1994, he was awarded with the medal of ”Jacob Meghapart” by Yerevan National Library. On September of the same year, he established the Bishop Chair in Gyumri and has led the Eparchy, then Ordinariate until April 2005. He was died on 24 December, 2006.

Fr. Nerses Archbishop Ter-Nersesyan left a great literary heritage, living communities growing in faith and a reputation of a good and faithful servant of God.