Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Hosts Inter-Church Conference on 1700th Anniversary of Council of Nicaea

OCP News Service & Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin– 05/09/2025

Yerevan-Armenia: With the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, an inter-church conference titled “Living the Faith Today: Commemorating the 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea” has begun at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The four-day conference, running from September 4-7, brings together young clergy and representatives from various churches to reflect on the legacy of the First Ecumenical Council and its relevance today.

The conference, organized by the Department for Inter-Church Relations, aims to foster a spirit of brotherhood and cooperation while addressing the challenges facing the Church. It is being attended by representatives from the Armenian Church’s patriarchal sees in Cilicia, Constantinople, and Jerusalem, as well as sister churches and various inter-church structures.

Catholicos Karekin II’s Opening Address

In his opening message, Catholicos Karekin II highlighted the decisive importance of the Council of Nicaea, which united various Churches to defend against the distortion of Gospel truths and to oppose heretical interpretations. He noted that the council, with the participation of Patriarch Aristakes from the Armenian Church, established the Nicene Creed, a “solid anchor of the Christian faith” that continues to unite Christians today. The Catholicos emphasized that in the face of contemporary challenges, a renewed spirit of cooperation is essential to preserve the faith and bring peace to the world.

His Holiness also spoke of the profound suffering of the Armenian people, citing the war with Azerbaijan in 2020 and the deportation of 120,000 Armenians from Artsakh in 2023. He noted the ongoing illegal detention of officials and prisoners of war in Azerbaijan and the destruction of Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage in occupied territories. He stressed that in light of these painful realities, the need for inter-church cooperation is more imperative than ever.

Conference Agenda and Participants

The conference program includes speeches and reports from representatives of Eastern Orthodox, Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran, and other churches. Discussions will be held on the issues raised, and participants will visit various holy sites, museums, and take part in ecumenical prayers to learn about the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Armenian Church.

On September 4, Catholicos Karekin II also received the conference participants at the Mother See, where he expressed gratitude to the heads of churches for their support and encouragement to the Armenian people during difficult times.

Source:

OCP News Service