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Gevorkian Seminary, also known as Gevorkian Theological Seminary, is a theological university of the Armenian Apostolic Church founded by Catholicos George IV in 1874. It is located in the town of Vagharshapat within the complex of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Armenia.HistoryDuring the tenure of Catholicos Gevorg IV, he called for the creation of a theological school at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to meet the educational needs of the clergy. In the summer of 1872 he called upon Archimandrites Gevork Surenian, Vahan Bastanian, Vahram Mankuni and Aristakes Sedrakian to facilitate the re-establishment of the historic school. It was decided to open a new seminary.Nineteenth centuryOn 18 May 1869, the cornerstone of the Gevorkian Seminary was laid on the north grounds of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The foundation stone was installed by Catholicos Gevorg IV. During the celebration ceremony writer Gazaros Aghayan was present. “On May 25 we witnessed the happy occasions, one of which was the second year anniversary of the Catholicos’ consecration and the other – the founding of the seminary” (Ararat, Vagharshapat, 1869 Issue). The seminary was under construction from 1869–1874. During this same time the Armenian Church was under negotiations with the Tsarist government regarding the opening of the school. On 28 September 1874, the seminary building was ready, and its completion celebrated. A few days later, on 5 October 1874, Gulkovich, the Officer of the Caucasus Commission, informed Archimandrite Bastanian that the tsar had approved the seminary charter and it was allowed to open. The seminary began its mission after overcoming many difficulties.
