A regular meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council
convened in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin from February 24 through 26,
under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, with the attendance of the general members. The
first session was opened with the Lord’s Prayer and remarks by His Holiness.
His Holiness noted that this was the first meeting being convened during the
cherished year of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and the
agenda included organizational issues related to the anniversary events, and
various ecclesiastical and diocesan matters.
The Supreme Patriarch expressed
his wish to the members for productive sessions, noting confidence that the
decisions adopted during the meeting will benefit the scheduled events, support
the effective offering of religious services, and help the progress of the
spiritual life of the church.
The rotating co-chairman for the meeting sessions were
His Eminence Archbishop Aram Ateshian, Patriarchal Vicar of the Armenian
Patriarchate of Constantinople; Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the
Eastern Diocese of North America; Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the
Western Diocese of North America; and His Grace Bishop Arshak Khachatryan,
Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The Supreme Spiritual Council members discussed the
commemorative events and the Canonization service which will be held from April
22 to 24 in Mother See. Reports were presented by His Eminence Archbishop
Nathan Hovhannisyan, His Grace Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan and His Grace Bishop
Hovakim Manoukyan. The council discussed issues related to the April 22 Vigil,
the Divine Liturgy and Canonization services on April 23, details about the
preparation of icons and reliquaries, the harmonic collaboration process of the
canonization hymn, as well as the participation of the Armenian Church in other
commemoration events.
At the invitation of the Mother See, over 70
representatives from 38 churches, ecumenical organizations, and religious
organizations, will participate in the April 22-24 events. Among them are four
leaders from the Sister churches and three from the Eastern Orthodox family,
eight presidents of ecumenical organizations, general secretaries, delegations
from the Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican and Protestant Churches, and clergymen
from Rwanda and Darfur. The events will be attended by representatives from all
Armenian Diocese over the world.
The Supreme Spiritual Council expressed satisfaction at
the work that had been completed, and instructed the presenters to continue the
proper organization of the planned events with the same zeal.
His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and His Grace Bishop
Hovakim Manoukyan presented a report on the commemoration events for the 100th
Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, scheduled to be held in the spiritual
centers of the Sister Churches and in the Armenian communities of the Diaspora.
The Council reviewed a draft of the general guidelines
for the Pan-Armenian Church Youth Organization, in a report that was presented
by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian. The Pan-Armenian Church Youth
Organization will convene its third International Assembly in the Mother See in
July, 2015.
His Grace Bishop Arshak Khachatryan presented an annual
report on the activities of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for 2014, in
which reports were made on the Pontifical visits and receptions during the last
year, the intra-church and Ecumenical projects implemented, the Brotherhood of
the Mother See, activities of the departments and programs of the Mother See,
and the Church’s activities in the preaching, educational and social mission.
It was noted that the Catholicosate of All Armenians has
737 clergymen - 56 Archbishops and Bishops, 43 Very Reverend and Reverend
Fathers, 50 monks, 446 married priests and 142 Deacons. Last year, 3 Reverend
Fathers were ordained and consecrated to Bishop, and 27 married priests and 22
deacons were ordained.
In 2014, 982 employees worked for the Mother See. There
were 230 students studying in the religious- educational institutions of the
Mother See - 104 in the Gevorkian Theological Seminary, 74 in the Vaskenian
Theological Academy at Lake Sevan, 39 in the Harichavanq Turpanjian High
School, and 23 in the accelerated clergy training course. The 7 Youth Centers
operating through the joint sponsorship of the Mother See and AGBU; educated
more than 3,000 children and youth, and in 2014 organized over 225 various
events on the occasion of church, national and state Feast days.
Last year, the Mother See continued to implement
extensive religious programs in different areas of our national life: public
education, youth organizations, the RA Armed Forces, the penitentiary
institutions, and as well as in the monasteries under the direct supervision of
the Mother See.
The Social Service Department of the Mother See was
founded in January, 2014 under the presidency of His Holiness, and has offered
assistance through all possible means to the most vulnerable population groups.
In the reporting year, a large volume of support has been implemented,
including cash assistance, to 25,000 people.
In the Armenian and Diaspora dioceses, 18 new churches
were consecrated in 2014, and 98 churches are under construction or renovation.
896 parishes and mission parishes operate within the dioceses, with 241 Sunday
Schools.
The Council also received the 2014 Financial Report of
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. During the sessions, reports were submitted
about the selection process for primates of the Armenian Diocese of Great
Britain and Ireland; and the Armenian Diocese of Bulgaria, as well as issues
related to Holland, Belgium and the Far East ecclesiastical communities were
discussed.
The meeting was closed with remarks by the Catholicos of
All Armenians and recitation of the Lord’s Prayer.
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