Diocese of Ispahan, Iran 🇮🇷 (Armenian Rite)

Continent: Central and Southwest Asia

Rite: Armenian

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Ispahan / Esfáan / Hispahanen(sis) Armenorum (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Cilicia

Neighbouring Dioceses: Baghdad (←), East Europe (↑)

Depends on: Dicastery for the Eastern Churches

History

1850.04.30: Established as Diocese of Ispahan / Esfáan / Hispahanen(sis) Armenorum (Latin) (became suffragan of Cilicia)

Present Prelates

Bishop:	vacant
Apostolic Administrator (2026.02.09 – ...):	Bishop Sarkis Davidian, I.C.P.B. (82)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Ispahan (Armenian Rite)

Bishop Sarkis Davidian, I.C.P.B. (82)
(Apostolic Administrator 2026.02.09 – ...)

Bishop Sarkis Davidian, I.C.P.B. (82)
(2015.10.01 – 2026.02.09)

Apostolic Administrator of Ispahan of the Armenians (Iran)
Bishop emeritus of Ispahan of the Armenians (Iran)

Born:	1943.11.09 (Aleppo, Syria)
Ordained Priest:	1970.10.11
Consecrated Bishop:	2015.11.21

Bishop of Ispahan of the Armenians (Iran) (2015.10.01 – 2026.02.09)

Apostolic Administrator of Ispahan of the Armenians (Iran) (2026.02.09 – ...)

Archbishop Neshan Elijah Karakéhéyan, I.C.P.B.
(Patriarchal Administrator 2005.04.02 – 2015.10.01)

Bishop Neshan Elijah Karakéhéyan, I.C.P.B. (later Archbishop)
(2000.09.27 – 2005.04.02)

Born:	1932.04.17 (Pirea, Greece)
Ordained Priest:	1960.07.02
Consecrated Bishop:	2001.01.28
Died:	2021.02.15 (Yerevan, Armenia † 88)

Ordinary of Greece of the Armenians (Greece) (1991 – 2000.09.27)

Bishop of Ispahan of the Armenians (Iran) (2000.09.27 – 2005.04.02)

Apostolic Administrator of Greece of the Armenians (Greece) (2000.09.27 – 2015.03.21)

Ordinary of East Europe of the Armenians (Armenia) (2005.04.02 – 2010.01.06)

Patriarchal Administrator of Ispahan of the Armenians (Iran) (2005.04.02 – 2015.10.01)

Titular Archbishop of Adana of the Armenians (2005.04.02 – 2021.02.15)

Bishop Vartan Tékéyan, I.C.P.B.
(1972.12.06 – 1999.04.12)

Born:	1921.03.05 (Adana, Iran)
Ordained Priest:	1944.01.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1973.02.25
Died:	1999.04.12 (Tehran, Iran † 78)

Bishop of Ispahan of the Armenians (Iran) (1972.12.06 – 1999.04.12)

President of Iranian Episcopal Conference (1995 – 1999)

Bishop Léonce Tchantayan
(1967.08.05 – 1972.01.16)

Born:	1908.01.20 (Konia, Turkiye)
Ordained Priest:	1937.11.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1967.11.19
Died:	1990.11.13 († 82)

Bishop of Ispahan of the Armenians (Iran) (1967.08.05 – 1972.01.16)

Titular Bishop of Sebastopolis in Armenia (1972.01.16 – 1990.11.13)

Auxiliary Bishop of Beirut of the Armenians (Lebanon) (1977 – 1990.11.13)

Bishop John Baptist Apcar
(1954.09.24 – 1967.07.09)

Born:	1884.01.04 (Giulfa, Iran)
Ordained Priest:	1907.11.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1954.11.21
Died:	1967.07.09 († 83)

Bishop of Ispahan of the Armenians (Iran) ([1954.08.24] 1954.09.24 – 1967.07.09)

Bishop Gregoriius Dabanly
(1861.04.26 – ?)

Born:

1808?

Bishop of Ispahan of the Armenians (Iran) (1861.04.26 – ?)

Fr. Joannes Zadighian
(1859.04.05 – 1860.04 not possessed)

Born:

1808?

Bishop of Ispahan of the Armenians (Iran) (1859.04.05 – 1860.04 not possessed)

Fr. Pierre Tilkian (later Bishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 1853.06.28 – 1858.09.17)

Fr. Joannes Derderian
(1850.04.30 – 1852 not possessed)

Born:	1785?
Ordained Priest:	1810.02.14
Died:	1852 († 67)

Bishop of Ispahan of the Armenians (Iran) (1850.04.30 – 1852 not possessed)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Surp Grigor Lusavorich Cathedral, Tehran

Churches by City (1)

Baghdad (←), East Europe (↑)

Statistics (2017.12.31)

Population: 150 Catholics

Pastoral Centres: 1 parish

Armenian Diocese of