Nersès Zabarian

{{short description|Syrian-born Iraqi Armenian Catholic archbishop (born 1969)}}

{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Bishop
| honorific_prefix = The Most Reverend
| name = Nersès Zabarian
| honorific_suffix =
| title = [[Archbishop]] of the [[Armenian Catholic Archeparchy of Baghdad]]
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| church = [[Armenian Catholic Church]]
| archdiocese = [[Armenian Catholic Archeparchy of Baghdad|Baghdad]]
| see =
| appointed = 27 May 2023
| enthroned = 27 August 2023
| installation =
| term_end =
| predecessor = [[Emmanuel Dabbaghian]]
| successor =
| ordination = 31 October 1999
| consecration = 27 August 2023
| consecrated_by = [[Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian]]
| cardinal =
| rank =
| birth_name = Joseph Zabarian
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|6|6|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Aleppo]], [[Syria]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = [[Syria|Syrian]]
| residence = [[Baghdad]], [[Iraq]]
| alma_mater = [[Pontifical Oriental Institute]], [[Pontifical Gregorian University]]
}}

'''Nersès Joseph Zabarian''' (also '''Zabarra'''; born 6 June 1969) is a Syrian-born Iraqi [[Armenian Catholic Church|Armenian Catholic]] hierarch, who has served as the Archbishop of the [[Armenian Catholic Archeparchy of Baghdad]] in Iraq. He previously served as the Apostolic Administrator of the same see from 2018 until his episcopal election in 2023, and also was a Patriarchal Exarch of the [[Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem and Amman]] since 2019 until 2022.

== Early life and education ==
Nersès Zabarian was born in [[Aleppo]], Syria, in 1969. He began his religious formation at the Armenian Seminary of Aleppo and later continued his studies in [[Rome]] at the [[Pontifical Armenian College]]. He attended the [[Pontifical Oriental Institute]] and the [[Pontifical Gregorian University]], where he specialized in philosophy and theology.{{cite web |title=Rinunce e nomine, 27.05.2023 |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2023/05/27/0400/00884.html |publisher=Holy See Press Office |date=27 May 2023 |language=it |access-date=20 April 2026}}

== Priesthood ==
He was ordained a priest on 31 October 1999 for the [[Armenian Catholic Archeparchy of Aleppo]].{{cite web |last=Cheney |first=David M. |title=Archbishop Nersès (Joseph) Zabarian (Zabbara) |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bzabbara.html |work=Catholic-Hierarchy.org |access-date=20 April 2026}} Following his ordination, he served in various pastoral roles, including: parish priest of the Church of the Holy Cross in Aleppo; director of the "Zarian" Armenian school; chancellor and under-secretary of the Archeparchy of Aleppo. On 27 September 2016 he was appoined as Administrator of the [[Armenian Catholic Archeparchy of Baghdad]]

== Episcopal ministry ==
On 23 June 2018, [[Pope Francis]] appointed him as the [[Apostolic Administrator]] ''sede vacante'' of the [[Armenian Catholic Archeparchy of Baghdad]] following the retirement of Archbishop [[Emmanuel Dabbaghian]].{{cite web |title=Rinunce e nomine, 23.06.2018 |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2018/06/23/0476/01038.html#iraq |publisher=Holy See Press Office |date=23 June 2018 |language=it |access-date=20 April 2026}} In this capacity, he worked extensively to revitalize the Armenian community in Iraq, which had been significantly impacted by years of conflict. In 2019, he met with Armenian diplomatic representatives in Baghdad to discuss the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the region.{{cite web |title=Meeting of Ambassador of Armenia with the Head of the Armenian Catholic Church in Baghdad |url=https://iraq.mfa.am/en/news/2019/02/25/meetingassyrianf/6567 |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia |date=25 February 2019 |access-date=20 April 2026}}

While serving in Baghdad, he was also appointed as the Patriarchal Exarch of [[Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem and Amman|Jerusalem and Amman]] on 10 May 2019. He held this position until 11 September 2022, overseeing Armenian Catholic communities in [[Palestine]], [[Israel]], and [[Jordan]].

Zabarian has also been an active voice in ecumenical and interfaith relations in the [[Middle East]]. He was a signatory to statements by Christian leaders in the region condemning policies that threatened the stability of the Christian presence in the [[Holy Land]], describing certain annexation policies as "serious and catastrophic" for the peace process.{{cite web |title=Christian leaders: the annexation policy of the Israeli right is serious and catastrophic |url=https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Christian-leaders:-the-annexation-policy-of-the-Israeli-right-is-serious-and-catastrophic-50022.html |publisher=AsiaNews |date=11 May 2020 |access-date=20 April 2026}}

On 27 May 2023, Pope Francis confirmed his election by the Synod of Bishops of the Armenian Catholic Church as the Archbishop of Baghdad. He received his episcopal consecration and was enthroned on 27 August 2023 by Patriarch [[Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian]].

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bzabbara.html Archbishop Nersès (Joseph) Zabarian (Zabbara)] at the Catholic-Hierarchy.org

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zabarian, Nerses}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Religious leaders from Aleppo]]
[[Category:Bishops of the Armenian Catholic Church]]
[[Category:Syrian people of Armenian descent]]
[[Category:21st-century Eastern Catholic bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops appointed by Pope Francis]]
[[Category:Syrian Eastern Catholics]]
[[Category:Pontifical Gregorian University alumni]]
[[Category:Pontifical Oriental Institute alumni]]
[[Category:Syrian emigrants to Iraq]]