About Us
Armenian Prelacy of Kuwait and the Surrounding Countries
The Armenian community of Kuwait began to take shape in the 1950s with the arrival of Armenians—mainly young people seeking employment—from Iran, Syria, and Lebanon. From its early days, the community has enjoyed the patronage of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia.
Establishment Of First Community Administration
The number of families settled in Kuwait reached forty, while the number of individuals reached one thousand. Consequently, a community administration was formed, whose primary objective was to establish a school and a church.
First Rev. Ordainment
Rev. Fr. Baruyr Sarkissian arrived in Kuwait, having been ordained specifically to serve the Armenian community of Kuwait. The Reverend Father continued his service until February 1998.
Establishment of National Prelacy Building
The adjoining section of the National School building, established in 1965, was adapted to serve as the Church of Sts. Vartanants. Later, the building was converted into the National Prelacy, while the National School obtained its own building, accommodating more than 850 students, with divisions for the Primary And Secondary School
Iraqi War
Following the Iraqi invasion in 1990, the community experienced a major shock, yet it managed to preserve its institutions and, entering a new phase, reorganized itself within a few years.
Expansion To the Arab Gulf Countries
In 1992, it was named the “Prelacy of Kuwait and the Arab Gulf Countries,” consisting of three main regions: Kuwait as the central seat, Abu Dhabi, and the Northern Emirates. The Prelacy continued its activities in this form until 2014, when Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates became separate prelacies.
The Kuwait Prelacy then continued its mission under the name “Armenian Prelacy of Kuwait and the Surrounding Regions,” with its headquarters in Kuwait City and its regions including Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
First Bishop Ordainment
On February 19, 1998, the Prelate of the day, His Grace Bishop Oshagan Choloyan, ordained and consecrated Rev. Fr. Artak Kehyayan in this church, who continues to serve the Armenian community of Kuwait to this day.
From 1992 - 2026
From 1992 to 2025, the Prelacy has had the following Prelates and Catholicosal Vicars, in chronological order: His Grace Bishop Oshagan Choloyan, His Grace Bishop Sebuh Sarkissian, His Eminence Archbishop Yeprem Tabakian, His Eminence Archbishop Khoren Papian, and His Grace Bishop Shahe Panossian.
In 2013, the Very Rev. Fr. Masis Zobouyan arrived in the Prelacy as Catholicosal Vicar and in 2015 was elected Prelate. On April 15, 2018, by the hand of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, the newly elected Prelate received episcopal ordination and consecration.
In 2019, by Pontifical decree, the Very Rev. Fr. Bedros Manuelian was appointed Catholicosal Vicar of the Prelacy, and in February 2025, by the hand of His Holiness Aram I, he received episcopal ordination and consecration.
At present, Rev. Fr. Artak Kehyayan serves as Locum Tenens of the Prelacy, overseeing the current affairs of the Diocese.
On May 17, 2017, during his historic visit to the Prelacy, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, consecrated the Sts. Vartanants Armenian Church of Kuwait and inaugurated the new building of the National Prelacy. During this visit, His Holiness also met with the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. His Holiness Aram I later paid a second visit to Kuwait.
From this important event until today, the Armenian community of Kuwait has continued its active communal life within the new church complex and its own property. Alongside it, the Kuwait National School, established in 1961, continues to play its indispensable role.
The Armenian community of Kuwait also has numerous organizations that carry out their missions in charitable, athletic, cultural, and youth activities, as well as in various fields that preserve the national and religious identity of the community.
It is also worth noting that within the scope of the Prelacy’s activities, the Divine Liturgy (Holy Badarak) is occasionally celebrated in Bahrain, where members of our community, together with Armenians from nearby cities in Saudi Arabia, have the opportunity to participate.
The Armenian community of Kuwait, like the other Christian churches in the country, enjoys the patronage of the State of Kuwait and maintains close relations with high-ranking governmental authorities.