Vardapet


A vardapet or vartabed is a highly educated archimandrite in the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armenian Catholic Church traditions who holds a Doctorate in Theology.
In the English-speaking world, one of the best known of the doctor-monks of Armenia is Mekhitar of Sebaste, founder of an Armenian Catholic community of monks, the Mechitarists.
Tsayraguyn vardapet, on the other hand, is the rank of supreme doctor of Christian dogma in the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armenian Catholic Church. It is bestowed upon a vardapet, a pastor, who has shown outstanding educational and leadership qualities.