Bishops Synod in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On June 6, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the regular meeting of the Bishops of the Mother See and Primates of the Dioceses in Armenia was held.

The Catholicos of All Armenians opened the meeting, extending with his blessings and appreciation to those present. His Holiness highlighted the importance of comprehensively discussing the agenda items, wishing for a productive outcome to the work of the members.

Discussed during the meeting were canonical, liturgical and social issues related to the spiritual-educational and preaching programs of the Church.

His Grace Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, Dean of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary and Rector of Religious Educational Institutions of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, presented a report on the projects of the religious educational institutions of the Mother See and the admission process for the academic year of 2014-2015. According to Bishop Gevorg’s report there are currently 236 students in the educational institutions of the Mother See. His Grace discussed the training programs for the clergy, the issues that have arisen during the organization of seminary admissions and the measures being taken to overcome them. On this occasion His Holiness Karekin II urged the Diocesan leaders, with the help of the spiritual pastors, to encourage the youth in their communities to apply to the Theological Seminary. The religious educational institutions were also asked to take additional steps in advocating the institutions to increase their publicity.

His Grace Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan, Director of the Ecclesiastical Liturgical Issues of the Mother See, presented a report on the issue of abortion. Bishop Bagrat reflected on the fundamental demographic issues in Armenia, decrease in birth rate, increase in the number of divorces and the issues concerning the artificial and gender oriented abortions. During the discussion they highlighted the essentiality of taking measures of both legislative and religious nature in overcoming those challenges.

The Catholicos of All Armenians exhorted the Primates to further reinforce preaching directed at strengthening the family and family values. An assignment was given to the Office of Liturgical Ecclesiastical Issues to undertake the efforts of specifying ecclesiastical approaches towards the sacrament of the Holy Matrimony and the issues discussed at the meeting.

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