Page 55 - THE ARMENIAN CHURCH_Neat

56 The Armenian Church

Archbishop
Archbishop (ark‘episkopos) is an honora-
ry title given to a senior bishop by a catho-
licosal encyclical as an appreciation for his
many years of service. It is also conferred to
a diocesan primate who has a large diocese
and assistant bishops.

Bishop
A bishop (episkopos) is consecrated by the
catholicos, who is assisted by two bishops.
Canonically a bishop is elected as a primate
by the Diocesan National Representative
Assembly and consecrated for that diocese.
However, the catholicos may consecrate a bi-
shop also for a non-diocesan responsibility.

Vartabed and Supreme Vartabed
Vartabed (vardapet) means church doctor,
church divine, or teacher. It is an academic
title, conferred only to celibate priests by the
catholicos or a bishop through a liturgical
ceremony. The order consists of two sub-
orders: minor or particular vartabed (varda-
pet), which includes four degrees, and major
or supreme vartabed (cayragoyn vardapet),
which consists of ten degrees. With each
degree, the candidate is given a special staff,
at the top of which are two serpents inter-
twined, symbolizing prudence and wisdom,
headed by a cross. These orders are be-
stowed separately, since each order entails