Canonical Committee Meets in Holy Etchmiadzin
20/8/2010
The Armenian Apostolic Church – Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
A Canonical Committee has been established with the blessings and high order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. The committee convened for a meeting on August 18-19, 2010, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The goal of the joint Committee is to contribute to the welfare of the sacred mission of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church and strengthen internal unity, as well as to provide a forum for discussion and resolution of current canonical issues of the Armenian Church.
The members of Canonical Committee are:
His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian (Chairman)
His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan (Chairman)
His Grace Bishop Mikael Ajapahian (Chairman)
His Grace Bishop Nareg Alemezian (Secretary)
Mr. Jim Kalustian
Mr. Arsen Danielian
Mr. Nikolay Hovhannisian
Mr. Tigran Jinbashian
On August 18 the Pontiff of All Armenians received the participants of the meeting in the Pontifical Residence. His Holiness extended his blessing to the participants wishing them productive results in their work. During the meeting His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan conveyed the fraternal greetings of His Holiness Aram I, to the Pontiff of All Armenians.
The meeting was opened with the Lord’s Prayer. Following welcoming remarks by the Chairmen, there was a presentation of reports on the topic “The Canonic Condition of the Armenia Church (the Definition of the Armenian Ecclesiology)”. His Grace Bishop Nareg Alemezian presented a report entitled “General Introduction and Biblical Basis of Ecclesiology”; His Eminence Archbishop Yeznik Petrosian presented: “The Theological-Ecclesiological Definition of the Armenian Church”; and His Grace Bishop Mikael Ajapahian presented “the Current Practical Aspects of the Armenian Church”. A question and answer session was held following each presentation along with an open discussion where the participants exchanged their thoughts and opinions.
Given the brotherly and productive atmosphere of the meetings, the participants felt strongly that resolution and implementation of the agreed upon issues would greatly contribute to the strengthening and unity of the Armenian Church.
