Nourhan Manougian

Manougian was born on 24 June 1948 in Aleppo, Syria. His baptismal name was Boghos. After completing his primary education at the Haigazian School of Aleppo, he studied at the Theological Seminary of Antelias in Lebanon from 1961. He went to the Jarankavoratz Theological Seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem in 1966. He was ordained a deacon in 1968 and in 1971 ordained as celibate priest by Patriarch Yeghishe Derderian.[2]

In 1972, he became pastor of the Armenian community in Geneva, Switzerland. In 1974, Manougian returned to the Middle East and served as the pastor to the Armenian communities of Jaffa and Haifa in Israel. He also taught at the Sts. Tarkmanchatz School in Jerusalem's Armenian Quarter.

In 1979, Manougian served the Armenian Community in Almelo, the Netherlands. In 1982 he studied at The General Theological Seminary, upon invitation by the Primate of the Armenian Church of America, Archbishop Torkom Manoogian. Manougian graduated in 1985. During his time in America, Manougian served as pastor to communities in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Springfield, Massachusetts; and Houston, Texas.[3]

In 1998, Manougian was elected as the Grand Sacristan of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and in 1999 ordained a bishop. In 2000 he was ordained as archbishop by Catholicos Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. In 2009 he became patriarchal vicar, supervising the patriarchate. On 24 January 2013, Manougian was elected as the 97th Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem. On June 4, 2013, he was officially enthroned.

Since his enthronement, Manougian has undertaken already several renewing projects, such as renovations of St. James Cathedral; as well as participating in the extensive renovations of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Edicule in the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.

On February 6, 2014, Manougian received the honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree from the General Theological Seminary in Manhattan, New York.

He gained more focus, when signed controversial contract with Australian-Jewish bussinesman to lease litteraly 25% of Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem's Old City for 98 years without letting out the details of contract.