Reverend Nareg A.K. Matarian, baptized Khatshatour Matarian, was born in Ain El Arab town in Syria on July 10, 1946. After attending the Avedis Sarafian Armenian Elementary school in his native town, in 1960, he was admitted to the Armenian Theological Seminary in Jerusalem.
After two years of religious studies in Jerusalem, he returned to Aleppo and worked as a carpenter.
In November 1965 the entire Matarian family immigrated to Soviet Armenia and established their home in Kirovakan City of Armenia.
In January 1966, Khatshatour Matarian was admitted to the Romanos Melikian Conservatory vocal section in Yerevan, Armenia.
In January 1969 he was married to Miss Paitsar Yotnaghperian and soon after that he was drafted to the Soviet Army to serve his country.
In November 1969 his first son was born and was named Michael.
In 1971, Khatshatour Matarian was discharged from the Soviet Army and continued his studies in music until his graduation in 1972.
In February 1972, his second child was born and was named Anahid.
From 1971 on he worked with the Alexander Spentiaryan Ballet & Opera in Yerevan as well as a music instructor for school #105 in Shahumyan area.
In 1973 he was admitted to the Gomidas Conservatory in Yerevan as a soloist and a year after as a conductor.
In 1978 he entered to the Armenian Academia and performed under the direction of conductor Hovhannes Chekidjian.
In September 1979 he was admitted to The Holy Seminary of Etchmiadzin in Armenia and in February 1980 he was ordained pries and named Father Nareg Matarian by the permission of The Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians, His Holines Vazken I.
From 1980 to 1992 Fr. Nareg served in The Holy See of Etchmiadzin in various religious positions.
In 1989 Fr. Nareg had the misfortune of losing his son Michael due to a serious illness in Armenia.
In August 1991 God blessed him with another son, Kevork, who was born in Los Angeles, California.
In 1992 Fr. Nareg came to Los Angeles as a visiting clergy. Upon permission of the Primate Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian, The Armenian Church of Western Diocese, he was assigned as a parish priest to The Saint Sarkis Armenian Church of East Los Angeles from March 1995 to May 2009.
Click Here for a PDF version of Reverend Nareg A.K. Matarian's Bio
Schedule of Holy Week Services