After completing his secondary education at Karen Jeppe, he studied in Beirut, Lebanon. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology (Near East School of Theology) a Bachelor of Arts in Armenian Studies (Mashdots College) and a Master of Arts in Theology.

Before arriving to the United States, Dikran served as a pastor in Kessab and Damascus. In the U.S., he was the youth pastor at Cilicia Armenian Evangelical Church (Pasadena, CA) and served as assistant pastor at Armenian Evangelical Brethren Church (Pasadena, CA).

Pastor Shanlian was ordained as Senior Pastor of Armenian Evangelical Brethren Church (Los Angeles) in 1985. He started serving while the congregation was located at 3200 London Street in Silver Lake, CA. During his tenure he oversaw the relocation and development of the congregation and ministries to 1800 Lake Street.

Pastor Shanlian participated in establishing the first Bible college in Yerevan, Armenia. In the 1990s he traveled to Armenia regularly, teaching at the seminary, doing charitable work, ministering to orphans and overseeing the funding and building of the Baptist church in the town of Ararat.

He has served on the boards of Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School, Immanuel Bible College, Armenian Evangelical Social Service Center, Armenian Evangelical Union of North America and Pacific Church Network.

He preaches regularly at Sunday Services and teaches Tuesday at evening Bible Study and Prayer meetings. He writes articles for newspapers periodically. He has been the Armenian section editor of FORUM (a publication of the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America) and has written spiritual articles for, Pari Lour (Բարի Լուր) a newsletter he started at AEBC over 30 years ago.

He is the author of three books, Ansahman Ortnuytun (Boundless Blessing) Անսահման Օրհնութիւն,  Kachalerveh (Be Encouraged) Քաջալերուէ՛ , and Nor Jampah Me (A New Road) Նոր Ճամբայ Մը.

In his free time he enjoys reading, gardening, swimming and spending time with family.