Rev. Fr. Torkom Chorbajian (baptismal name Murad), was born in Aleppo in 1990. He grew up in Aleppo serving at the St. Mary Armenian church at an early age as an altar boy, acolyte, choir member. He was admitted to the Theological Seminary of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia where he enrolled in and completed the seven-year program studying Church History, Old and New Testaments, Liturgy, Pastoral Theology, Church Music. During this time, he also completed graduate courses in Biblical and pastoral studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut. Following his graduation from the Theological Seminary in 2013, he was married to Shogher Proudian and was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Archbishop Nareg Alemezian at the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Antelias, Lebanon, and named Torkom.
Soon thereafter, Der Hayr and Yeretzgin were called to serve in the United States at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Granite City, Illinois, where they raised their family. They are blessed with two daughters, Gareen and Karny. In 2019, Der Torkom assumed the priestly duties at Holy Trinity Church of Worcester, Massachusetts, in one of the earliest Armenian communities in the United States. Since March 28, 2022, he has been serving at St. Gregory the Illiminator Armenian Apostolic Church as a Pastor.
Der Torkom holds a Master of Pastoral Studies degree (M.A.P.S.) from Aquinas Institute of Theology.
To contact Der Torkom, please e-mail frtorkom79@gmail.com.