Hovannes Khosdeghian studied philosophy at the Pontifical Gregorian University, specializing in Pedagogy, (Bachelor in Philosophy, 1976), and theology at St. Thomas Aquinas University (Bachelor in Theology, 1980), both in Rome, Italy. His graduate work is in Biblical studies and Systematic Theology.
Between 1980 and 1983, he served as editor of Hye Endanik, a magazine published by the Mekhitarist Fathers of Venice. During the same period he was Assistant Rector and Academic Dean of the Seminary of St. Lazarus, where he also taught Classical Armenian, Classical Greek, History of Philosophy and History of Religion. Concurrently he was Secretary of the Academia Armena Sancti Lazari. In 1982, he became Assistant Superior of the Novitiate of the Order until December 1983, when he left the Order and settled in the United States.
He was Assistant Pastor in St. Mark’s Armenian Catholic Church in Wynnewood, PA, until the appointment of Rev. Msgr. Sarkis Gabadian. Later, as Assistant Pastor at St. Ann’s Armenian Catholic Cathedral he served as Editor of the Eternal Flame, the periodical of the Armenian Catholic Exarchate.
Between 1988 and 1992, he taught Classical Armenian language and Canon Law at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in New Rochelle, New York, and was a Research Fellow at the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center at the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.
He dedicates his free time to community service and three projects: a history atlas of the Armenian Highlands, an English-Armenian dictionary, and developing a farm in Zoravan, Armenia. He is married to Arpi Lajinian and they have two children, Talar and Kegham.