Statement by the Bishops Synod of the Armenian Church
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin – 12/6/18
On June 8, a Bishops Synod was held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The meeting was attended by Bishops and lay members of the Supreme Spiritual Council. Following the meeting, the Synod issued the following statement:
In recent days, some individuals have planned an initiative, organizing protests, releasing statements on the web and making media appearances, through which they are expressing concern over a number of issues related to the mission of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
During this time, illegitimate accusations and allegations were made against His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, demanding the resignation of His Holiness Karekin II from the throne of Gregory the Illuminator. The ultimatum style of concern they have adopted is unacceptable, as it is presented to the Catholicos of All Armenians in the form of a demand. The Bishop’s Synod, as the main guarantor of the Canonical Order of the Armenian Church, and the fact of the Catholicos of All Armenians’ inviolability, confirms that the resignation of the Catholicos, imposed by external and forceful intervention, is anti-canonical and therefore invalid.
We realize our responsibility for the future of the Church and, corresponding to modern day realities, the necessity to continue the reform of church life.
Showing respect towards the reasonable expectations of the devoted faithful of our Church, within the framework of the Canonical bodies of the Armenian Church: the Supreme Spiritual Council; the Bishop’s Synod; the Church Representative Assembly; and the National-Ecclesiastical Assembly; we will continue to discuss and promote the process of church reform, to satisfy the spiritual needs of the faithful.
This upcoming Sunday is the Eve of the Fast of St. Gregory the Illuminator, which will be followed by the Commemoration Day of the discovery of the relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator. This is the best opportunity for all of us to strengthen our prayerful life during these fasting days, to make our sacred mission more fruitful.
We invite our faithful to continue worshiping God with a prayerful, peaceful, and humble spirit and bring their active participation in our church life for the vibrancy of our Holy Church.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the sacrament of the Holy Spirit be with you. Amen.
His Eminence Archbishop Sepuh Chuljyan
Primate of the Diocese of Gougark
His Eminence Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan
Vicar of the Araratyan Pontifical Diocese
His Eminence Archbishop Abraham Mkrtchyan
Primate of the Diocese of Vayots Dzor
His Eminence Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan
Director of the External Relations and Protocol Department of the Mother See
His Eminence Archbishop Arakel Karamyan
Primate of the Diocese of Kotayk
His Eminence Archbishop Paren Avetikyan
His Grace Bishop Sion Adamyan
Primate of the Diocese of Armavir
His Grace Bishop Michael Ajapahyan
Primate of the Diocese of Shirak
His Grace Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan
Primate of the Diocese of Tavush
His Grace Bishop Arshak Khachatryan
Chancellor of the Mother See
His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Jamkochyan
Spiritual Dean of the St. Gregory the Illuminator of Yerevan
His Grace Bishop Artak Tigranyan
Dean of the Monasteries of the Mother See
His Grace Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan
Primate of the Diocese of Aragatsotn
His Grace Bishop Moushegh Babayan
Director of the Administrative Department of the Mother See
His Grace Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan
Grand Sacristan of the Mother See
His Grace Bishop Vardan Navasardyan
Director of the Christian Education Center of the Mother See
