Death of Catholicos Hakob V (March 21, 1763)

Hakob Shamakhetsi was one of the prominent figures of the Armenian Church in the 18th century. 

He was born in the 17th century in the city of Shamakhi (modern-day Azerbaijan). He received his education at Holy Etchmiadzin and taught at the monastic school. He was a member of the brotherhood and a renowned archimandrite who had mastery of several languages. Between 1731 and 1735, he worked in New Julfa. In 1743, he compiled a chronicle in which he recorded the events of the Catholicosate. 

In 1746, Nadir Shah of Persia launched a persecution against Catholicos Ghazar I Jahketsi (1737–1751), who fled from Etchmiadzin. His locum tenens, Archbishop Hakob Shamakhetsi, was arrested and imprisoned in the fortress of Yerevan. During his time there, he composed a collection of prayers and poems titled “Bread of the Afflicted,” in which he spoke in detail about the power of prayer. Thereafter, Hakob Shamakhetsi worked to persuade the Shah to release the Catholicos and restore him to his throne. 

In 1753, by order of Catholicos Alexander II Biuzandatsi (1751-1755), he was again appointed locum tenens. After the latter’s death, he administered the affairs of the Catholicosate from 1755 to 1759. HeThe electoral assembly convened in Constantinople  was elected him Catholicos Hakob V on August 15, 1759, by the electoral assembly convened in Constantinopleand he took the name Hakob V. 

After his election, the new Catholicos put into order the monastic estates of Etchmiadzin and carried out the renovation of the hermitage of Dzoragyugh near Yerevan, transforming it into a Catholicosal church. 

He encouraged the Armenian liberation movement. In the spring of 1760, he received Hovsep Emin  at the Mother See, encouraging his initiatives. Emin was a prominent figure from the Armenian community in Calcutta (modern-day Kolkata) and one of the early leaders of the Armenian liberation movement. In July 1760, heCatholicos Hakob V sent a petition to Empress Elizabeth I of Russia, requesting the liberation of Armenia from Persian rule. He also maintained correspondence with kings Teimuraz II and Heraclius II of Georgia. 

Catholicos Hakob V passed away on March 21, 1763, in the city of Vagharshapat. His remains were laid to rest in the courtyard of the Church of St. Gayane.