PRELACY MOURNS THE TRAGIC PASSING OF VERY REV. FR. ANANIA KOUJANIAN
His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, on behalf of the Prelacy’s Representative Assembly, the Religious and Executive Councils, the clergy, and the entire community, extends heartfelt condolences to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and the Cilician Brotherhood on the tragic passing of Very Rev. Fr. Anania Koujanian on Saturday, February 1.
Fr. Anania, whose baptismal name was Andranik, was born on July 1, 1982, in Beirut, Lebanon. He received his primary education at the Karrasun Mangants School in Bourj Hammoud, continuing his studies at the Levon and Sofia Hagopian College.
In October 1995, he entered the Seminary of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia. After completing the five-year Jarankavorats program, he advanced to the Novitiate. Upon completing his first year, on June 2, 2002, he was ordained a deacon by Bishop Dirayr Panossian.
He was ordained a celibate priest on June 7, 2004, by His Eminence Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy of Tehran, and received the name of Fr. Anania.
In 2005, he was assigned to serve in the Armenian Prelacy of Atrpatakan (Iran) as the spiritual shepherd of the Armenian community of Urmia. After three years of service, he returned to the Catholicosate in Antelias, where he undertook various monastic responsibilities.
In 2009, he was again posted to the Armenian Prelacy of Isfahan (Iran), this time serving as the spiritual overseer of the Armenian community in Shahinshahr.
On December 5, 2010, Fr. Anania received the authority to carry the staff of Vartabed, conferred by Archbishop Gomidas Ohanian, presenting a thesis titled “The Armenian Cause and the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia.”
As a mark of recognition for his dedicated service, in 2012, he was granted the right to wear the pectoral cross with the blessing of His Holiness Aram I. Later, on May 22, 2016, he was elevated to the rank of Dzayrakuyn Vartabed by His Grace Bishop Shahe Panossian, Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy of Lebanon, presenting a thesis on “The Letters of Catholicos Sahak II.”
After eight years of service in the Armenian Prelacy of Isfahan, in 2017, he returned to the Catholicosate in Antelias and was appointed assistant to the Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy of Lebanon and preacher.
Since 2020, until his passing, he served as the spiritual overseer of the Bekaa Valley region.
The last unction of Very Rev. Fr. Anania Koujanian was held on Tuesday, February 4, at St. Paul Armenian Apostolic Church in Anjar, followed by the burial ceremony at the monastery of Antelias.
May the memory of the righteous be blessed.