Diocese of the Armenian Church of Romania

The Armenian Diocese of Romania, founded in 1931, had belonged to the Patriarchate of Constantinople for the previous six centuries. It has been under the jurisdiction of the Holy See of Holy Echmiadzin over the past 90 years. Archbishop Hoosig Zohrabian headed the Armenian Diocese of Romania from 1921-1942, followed by Bishop Vazgen Baljian (Vazgen I, Catholicos of All Armenians) from 1943-1955 and Archbishop Dirair Mardigian from 1960-2010. After the latter’s death in 2010, Bishop Datev Hagopian was elected the 42nd head of the Armenian Diocese of Romania. Originally from Iraq, he had been the spiritual leader of the Armenians in Netherlands since 2004 and in November 2011 was ordained bishop in Holy Echmiadzin.