Father Daniel was elected as Primate on May 4th by the Diocesan Assembly of the Eastern Diocese. On May 8th, His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, confirmed the election of Father Daniel as the new Primate.
Father Daniel is a dear friend to the Northeast American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. During his tenure as the Dean of Saint Nersess Armenian Orthodox Seminary, he always shared of his paternal concern and love for our seminarians studying at Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary. In July 2011, Father Daniel was the the main speaker of our Diocesan Family & Youth Conference, where he stressed the importance of the unity of the Oriental Orthodox Church family, especially here in North America.
In his congratulatory letter to the new Primate, our Metropolitan shared the meeting of our Catholicoi in April 2015:
"Upon the invitation of the Armenian Church, His Holiness Catholicos Paulose II of the Malankara Church participated in the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Holy Etchmiadzin. It is here, the Catholicoi and Patriarchs of the Oriental Orthodox Churches renewed their commitment in strengthening our sacred communion. We look forward to working with you in the same spirit, by working together to strengthen our relationship and witness to the people of this land."
The Very Reverend Fr. Daniel Findikyan is a native of Fort Worth, Texas, and serves as the Professor of Liturgical Studies at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in New Rochelle, New York, and Director of the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center of the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern), New York. Fr. Daniel, a member of the brotherhood of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin, earned his doctorate in Liturgical Studies from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, where he studied under Robert Taft. SJ. He previously earned a Master of Arts degree in Musicology from the City University of New York, and the Master of Divinity from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary and St. Nersess Armenian Seminary.
The prayers, and best wishes of the clergy and faithful of the Northeast American Diocese were conveyed to the Very Reverend Fr. Daniel Findikyan, by our Metropolitan.