Very Rev. Fr. Pakrad Berjekian was born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1970. He has received his early education at the Armenian elementary school of the “Bird’s Nest” located at Jibeil, Lebanon. In 1981, he attended the Armenian Theological Seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. He graduated from the Seminary in 1991 and was ordained into the priesthood by His Beatitude the Patriarch Archbishop Torkom Manoogian.
1994 – 1997: He has held the position as Dean of the Theological Seminary.
1997 -2001: Furthered his studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, studied in the departments of “Indian, Iranian and Armenian Studies” and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree.
2005 – 2009: He pursued his studies in the Master’s Degree program at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His field was Armenian Studies and Comparative Religion culminating with the Master of Arts Degree. In 2010, He was accepted to pursue his PhD studies at the same University in the Department of “Middle Eastern Studies.”
Besides his academic achievements, Very Rev. Berjekian has held numerous positions within the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, such as the Vice-Chair of the General Assembly 2002-2013, Chair of the General Assembly 2013-2017, member of the Holy Synod Council 1996-2016, member of the Judicial Religious Court 2002-2014 and Director of the Estates Department 2000-2014.
Rev. Berjekian has published numerous scientific studies in the fields of Jerusalem and Armenian history in general and the Middle Ages in particular.
By the invitation of the Primate of the Western Diocese of North America HE Arch. Hovnan Derderian, he came to serve under the jurisdiction of the Western Diocese in 2016. In July 2016, HE Arch. Hovnan Derderian promoted Rev. Berjekian to the rank of Doctor of the Church (Dzayrakouyn) and subsequently assigned him as the Diocesan Vicar General.
Since February 2017, by the Primate’s order and with the invitation of the Parish Council of St. John Garabed Church of San Diego, Very Rev. Berjekian has been assigned to serve as the pastor of the Armenian Apostolic Church of San Diego.
After years of tireless work and commitment, and under the patronage of the Primate of the Western Diocese H.E. Abp. Hovnan Derderian and with the dedicated efforts and donations of the San Diego Armenian Community Members, the San Diego New Armenian Church Edifice came to fulfillment in 2022, consecrated on January 30th of 2022, named St. Sarkis, after one of the beloved saints of the Armenian Church.
Rev. Berjekian, now serves at the St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church of San Diego to this day.