Catholicos Aram I Declares: “We Are Not Monophysites”; Emphasizes Shared Orthodox Roots with Greek Church

orthodoxtimes.com    and OCP News Service – 31/05/2025

Athens – Greece: His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia made a definitive statement on the theological stance of the Armenian Apostolic Church, declaring, “We are not monophysites. ‘One nature’ is heresy. The dual, united nature is Orthodoxy. Our theology is rooted in our shared apostolic foundation. Our interpretation is Orthodox.” This assertion was made during the Athens presentation of his book, The Armenian Church, recently translated into Greek by Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia. The event, held at the Old Greek Parliament, was attended by Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens, as reported by Efi Efthimiou for Orthodox Times on May 30, 2025.

Catholicos Aram I repeatedly underscored the deep commonalities between the Greek Orthodox Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church, highlighting their shared theological roots, traditions, and parallel historical journeys. “Anyone who observes closely can easily see this,” he noted, adding that every page of his book reflects the intertwined paths of both Churches and nations.

The Catholicos also voiced his firm belief in the importance of ongoing dialogue, under the guidance of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, to renew commitment to ecumenical and theological collaboration. He acknowledged a “common Christology, though with different interpretations,” and stressed the need to “move forward together—renew our efforts, and deepen our shared understandings.”

Addressing the Church’s contemporary role, Catholicos Aram I emphasized that “The Church is not a museum. It must consider its role in society—where it stands in relation to the world’s current realities, to climate change, to democracy and politics, to the problems that societies are facing today.” He described the Churches of Greece and Armenia as “Churches of the people, of the nations, of the martyrs,” advocating for them to become a more tangible reality in people’s lives.

Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia, the translator, expressed deep emotion and honor at his involvement in the book’s first Greek edition, published by Apostoliki Diakonia. He cited the 1700th anniversary of Armenia’s official conversion to Christianity in 2001 and the 100th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in 2015 as motivations for the book’s writing. Metropolitan Gabriel highlighted the Armenian Church’s apostolic origins and its role as the first nation to officially adopt Christianity in 301 AD, emphasizing its faithful preservation of apostolic identity despite persecutions. He stressed the publication’s importance for dialogue and rapprochement between Orthodox and Ancient Oriental Churches, advocating for support from the WCC and international organizations to prevent continued persecution of ancient Christian Churches.

Evangelos Venizelos, Professor of Constitutional Law and former Deputy Prime Minister, lauded the book for its comprehensive presentation of the Armenian Church’s identity and its engagement with both historical legacy and contemporary challenges. He noted the book’s insights into Church-state relations and national identity, which Catholicos Aram I addresses with “theological clarity.” Venizelos acknowledged that “What has historically separated the Armenian Church and the Church of Greece is the Christological doctrine.” He highlighted the significance of 2025 marking the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, viewing it as a crucial opportunity for renewed theological dialogue and a path to a unified Symbol of Faith between the Orthodox and Oriental Churches. He also stressed the need for Churches to remain responsive to global issues like climate change and artificial intelligence.

All speakers underscored the book’s role in reminding attendees of the profound ties uniting the two Churches and peoples, fostering a meeting of memory, hope, dialogue, and common witness to faith in the modern world.

Source:
 orthodoxtimes.com