In this capacity, Chechemian served at Besui (1866-1868), Aintab (1868), Gurum (1868-1877) and then moved to Malatya.
At Malatya, probably in 1878 or thereabouts, Chechemian was blessed as vardapet,[REF] a highly educated celibate priest, or archimandrite, who is a doctor of theology [REF].