Rev. Dr. Haroutune Selimian
President, Armenian Protestant Community in Syria
Pastor, Armenian Evangelical Bethel Church, Aleppo
Rev. Dr. Haroutune Selimian has served as Pastor of the Armenian Evangelical Bethel Church in Aleppo since 1993 and currently serves as President of the Armenian Protestant Community in Syria. For more than three decades, he has provided pastoral leadership, institutional oversight, and strategic direction to one of the historic Protestant communities of the Middle East.
Rooted in the Armenian Protestant tradition that emerged in the nineteenth century, his ministry integrates theological depth, historical awareness, and community-centered service. His work spans congregational leadership, educational governance, humanitarian coordination, and international ecclesial engagement.
Early Formation and Theological Education
Rev. Dr. Selimian received his theological formation at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut, one of the region’s leading Protestant seminaries, with grounding in biblical studies, systematic theology, church history, and pastoral ministry within a Middle Eastern context.
He later pursued advanced theological studies at McCormick Theological Seminary in the United States, broadening his academic and ecclesial exposure within the global Protestant tradition.
Committed to historical scholarship, he earned a Ph.D. in Historical Sciences from Yerevan State University. His doctoral research focused on Armenian Evangelical history and theology, contributing to the academic study of Armenian Protestant identity and its development within Ottoman and Middle Eastern contexts.
Scholarly interests include
- Armenian Protestant history
- Ecclesiology and congregational governance
- Church identity in minority contexts
- Faith and community resilience in crisis environments
Pastoral Ministry in Aleppo
Since assuming pastoral leadership of the Armenian Evangelical Bethel Church in 1993, Rev. Dr. Selimian has guided the congregation through profound regional changes. His ministry has emphasized faithful biblical preaching, structured congregational life, theological education, youth formation, and pastoral care across generations.
Beginning in 2011, with the outbreak of the Syrian conflict, he led the congregation and its institutions through years of insecurity, displacement, infrastructure damage, and economic collapse. Under his leadership, Bethel Secondary School remained operational, community healthcare services continued serving families, humanitarian programs were structured and implemented, and institutional stability was preserved despite national crisis.
Institutional and Educational Leadership
As President of the Armenian Protestant Community in Syria, Rev. Dr. Selimian oversees a network of institutions including the Armenian Evangelical Bethel Church, Bethel Secondary School, Bethel Polyclinic, Early Steps Daycare, and youth and camp initiatives.
His responsibilities include strategic planning, financial oversight in coordination with elected boards, institutional sustainability, and partner relations with international church and humanitarian organizations.
International Ecclesial Engagement
Rev. Dr. Selimian serves as Moderator of the International Congregational Fellowship, representing Armenian Congregationalism within a global fellowship of Protestant churches. In this role, he participates in international assemblies, theological dialogue, ecumenical engagement, and strategic cooperation among Congregational churches.
Scholarship and Public Voice
Beyond pastoral ministry, Rev. Dr. Selimian is recognized for scholarly contributions to Armenian Evangelical studies. His research and publications address the historical development of Armenian Protestantism and its theological foundations.
Leadership Philosophy
Rev. Dr. Selimian’s leadership approach is grounded in faithfulness to Scripture, responsible congregational governance, transparent institutional management, commitment to education as a stabilizing pillar, and service-oriented humanitarian engagement.
Continuing Commitment
Today, Rev. Dr. Haroutune Selimian continues to lead the Armenian Protestant Community in Syria with a focus on institutional sustainability, educational excellence, youth formation, community resilience, and international partnership development. His work represents the continuity of Armenian Protestant witness in Syria, a tradition that spans generations and remains committed to faith, education, and service.