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Very Rev. Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian was
born in the city of Etchmiadzin, Armenia.
In 1979, he was admitted to a religious lyceum. After
graduation, he was called to enlist in the army of the former
Soviet Union, where he served from 1986 to 1988.
In 1988, he successfully passed the final exams at the
religious lyceum and in 1989 he wrote a dissertation titled,
"The Gospel According to John, by the Very Reverend Father
Matheos Choughayetzi." On June 11, 1989, he was ordained as a
celibate priest and renamed Fr. Mamigon.
For the next five years, he assumed various positions in the
monastery of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin, including director
of the guest-house, which involved taking care of guests'
needs and familiarizing them with the history of the Cathedral
of Holy Etchmiadzin in Armenia; director of the building of
the religious brotherhood, which included supervising the
members of religious brotherhood and keeping the building in
good order and repair; and director of the museum adjacent to
the Cathedral of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin, where he looked
after vessels, religious antiques, and relics.
He also held various positions at Holy Etchmiadzin that
related to music, including serving as instructor in church
music at religious lyceum and organist of the Cathedral of
Holy Etchmiadzin.
Since 1996, Fr. Mamigon has been a full-time student at the
prestigious Manhattan School of Music, pursing his studies as
an organist and conductor.
At St. Vartan Cathedral, he has conducted a choir of young
faithful. This group began with a few singers and grew
steadily to several dozen voices. For more than three years he
has been their conductor during various important liturgical
services in the Cathedral, including the children's service
welcoming the Catholicos in 1996 and 1998.
He has also taught organ to two Khrimian Lyceum students, who
went on to perform the Yegmalian Badarak at Armenian Christmas
and Easter Services.
In May 1999 he participated at the World Organ Competition,
which took place in Venice, Italy, at the St. Marco Church and
the Conservatory of Venice. Out of 200 participants, he took
fifth place. Since 1996, he has been a visiting professor at
St. Nersess Seminary, where he teaches Armenian church music.
From 1998 until 2000 he was a visiting Priest in Armenian
Churches in Nashville, TN and Kansas City, MO. Since March
10, 2000 he has been assigned as a full time priest of St.
Stepanos Armenian Church.
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