Kalmar "Catholicos" ta samo asali ne daga kalmar Helenanci "katholikos," wanda ke nufin "duniya" ko "gaba ɗaya." A wasu mahallin, tana nufin shugaban ko shugaban Cocin Orthodox na Gabas ko memba na Cocin Apostolic Armeniya. Ana ɗaukar Katolika a matsayin shugaban ruhaniya na coci kuma yana da iko na addini. Gabaɗaya, ana amfani da take Catholicos don nuna matsayin jagoranci a cikin majami'un Kirista na Gabas dabam dabam.