The Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada: Parishes, Primate, and Community Life
Updated: Sep 4
The Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada is the national body of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Canada. It was established in 1983, has its seat at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Montreal, and oversees twelve parishes across four provinces and one territory.
What is the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada?
The Diocese is the administrative and spiritual structure that connects Armenian Apostolic parishes across Canada. It operates under the direct authority of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in Armenia, the historic centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
In practice this means the Diocese ordains and assigns clergy, coordinates the liturgical calendar, supports Armenian language and religious education, and represents Armenian Apostolic Canadians to other churches and to Canadian public life.
When was the Diocese established?
His Holiness Vasken I signed an encyclical on November 15, 1980 authorizing the creation of a Canadian diocese. The first Diocesan Assembly convened on September 3, 1983 at Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Toronto, which is the date the Diocese counts as its formal beginning.
Since 1984 the second floor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Montreal has served as the diocesan headquarters and the residence of the Primate.
Who is the Primate of the Armenian Church of Canada?
His Grace Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan is the Primate. He was elected in May 2014, and on November 16, 2014 he was consecrated and ordained to the rank of Bishop at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin by His Holiness Karekin II.
Where are the Armenian churches in Canada?
The Diocese includes twelve parishes. Here is where each one is located.
St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Cathedral of Montreal, 615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont, QC H2V 3H2
Holy Cross Armenian Church of Laval, 4464 Boulevard St. Martin West, Laval, QC H7T 2Y2
Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Toronto, 920 Progress Avenue, Toronto, ON M1G 3T5
St. Mary Armenian Church of Hamilton, 8 Mayhurst Avenue, Hamilton, ON L8K 3M8
St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church of St. Catharines, 49 Carlton Street, St. Catharines, ON L2R 1P7
St. Vartan Armenian Church of Mississauga, 1541 Oakhill Drive, Oakville, ON L6J 1Y6
St. Mesrob Armenian Church of Ottawa, 5065 Thunder Road, Ottawa, ON K0A 1K0
Holy Resurrection Armenian Church of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario
St. Vartan Armenian Church of British Columbia, 1260 West 67th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6P 2T2
Holy Almighty Armenian Church of Calgary, 19, 5200 53rd Avenue NW, Calgary, AB T3A 2C4
St. Narek Armenian Church of Edmonton, Edmonton, Alberta
Armenian Church of Yellowknife, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
What is the difference between the Diocese and the Armenian Prelacy of Canada?
They are two separate jurisdictions of the same church, and Armenian Canadians use both. The Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada answers to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and has its seat at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Outremont. The Armenian Prelacy of Canada is affiliated with the Holy See of Cilicia and is based at 3401 Olivar-Asselin in Montreal.
Both are part of the Armenian Apostolic Church and both serve Armenian Canadians. If you are looking for a specific parish, it is worth checking which of the two it belongs to.
What does the Diocese do beyond Sunday worship?
Armenian language classes, Saturday and Sunday schools, youth programs, and cultural events run through the parishes year round. For many families these programs are the main way children learn Armenian outside the home.
Parishes also host the community occasions that mark the Armenian year, including the Blessing of the Grapes in August, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in September, Armenian Christmas on January 6, and the April 24 Genocide commemorations.
How does the Diocese involve young people?
Youth programs, camps, and young adult groups run through individual parishes rather than centrally. Recent examples include the Young Adults Forum at St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church in Hamilton, Sunday school programs at Holy Trinity in Scarborough, and youth liturgies at Holy Cross in Laval.
The Diocese also organizes pilgrimages to Armenia, giving young Armenian Canadians a direct connection to the places their families came from.
Armenian faith and Canadian life
Armenian Canadians have built parishes, schools, choirs, dance ensembles, and community centres while participating fully in Canadian civic life. The Diocese sits at the centre of that, and its work shows that keeping a heritage alive and belonging to Canada are not in tension.
The Armenian Church in Canada is not simply preserving a heritage. It is helping that heritage live and grow.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Armenian Apostolic Church the same as the Catholic or Orthodox Church?
No. The Armenian Apostolic Church is one of the Oriental Orthodox churches and has its own hierarchy, liturgy, and calendar. It is not under the Pope, and it is distinct from the Eastern Orthodox churches such as the Greek and Russian Orthodox.
When is Armenian Christmas?
Armenian Christmas falls on January 6. The Armenian Church celebrates the Nativity and the Baptism of Christ together on that date, which is why it differs from December 25.
How many Armenian churches are there in Canada?
The Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada lists twelve parishes, in Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories. Additional parishes belong to the Armenian Prelacy of Canada.
Where is the Armenian Diocese of Canada located?
The diocesan headquarters is at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, 615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont, Quebec H2V 3H2, in Montreal.
Where can I find Armenian church events happening in Canada?
Tomsak.ca lists Armenian community events across Canada in one place, including parish feast days, liturgies, school registrations, youth programs, and cultural evenings. Events are added as organizations submit them.
Find Armenian events near you
Tomsak is the only platform listing Armenian community events across Canada in one place. Whether you are looking for a Divine Liturgy in Ottawa, a Saturday school in Toronto, or a concert in Montreal, you can browse what is happening and submit your own parish events for free.
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