Supreme Spiritual Council Meets in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
From March 17 to 19, the Supreme Spiritual Council convened its regular meeting in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
The meeting convened with a prayer for the repose of soul of His Eminence Archbishop Husik Santurian, senior Member of the Brotherhood of the Mother See.
Following the opening, the Pontiff of All Armenians extended his appreciation and blessing to the members of the Supreme Spiritual Council, wishing them a successful meeting. His Holiness also welcomed the presence of His Eminence Archbishop Aram Ateshian, Patriarchal Vicar of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople.
His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America and His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America served as co-Chairmen of the meetings.
The 2010 administrative and financial reports for the Mother See were presented to the members of the Council. On the agenda for the meeting were issues related to the Mother See, Hierarchal Sees, Church-State relations, Pontifical and Inter-Church visits of the Armenian Pontiff, and intra-Church issues.
The Members of the Council were presented with information on the relationship between the hierarchal Sees and the Mother See. Co-chairmen of the Committee – His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian; and His Grace Bishop Arshak Khachatrian, Chancellor of the Mother See; reported on the recent activities of the Canonical and Liturgical Committee of the Catholicosate of All Armenians and the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia. The Supreme Spiritual Council received the reports with appreciation and satisfaction and encouraged the committee to continue their work in finding resolutions to the current canonical and liturgical issues of the Armenian Church.
His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and His Eminence Navasard Kjoyan, Vicar of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese; presented a report on the outcome of the Brotherhood of St. James General Assembly. It was reported that a Committee elected during the meeting would shortly present to His Beatitude Abp. Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, relevant details taken from the Patriarchate Constitution, on a coadjutor patriarch.
His Eminence Archbishop Aram Ateshian, Patriarchal Vicar of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople; reported on the current issues of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople. His Eminence also presented upcoming events on the occasion of the 550th anniversary of the establishment of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople. The Supreme Spiritual Council expressed its appreciation to His Eminence, and decided to organize anniversary celebrations in the Homeland in honor of the occasion.
During the meeting there was also a reflection on various intra-Church issues. His Eminence Archbishop Norvan Zakarian, Pontifical Legate of Western Europe and His Eminence Archbishop Yeznik Petrosian, reported on the current issues in the Armenian Diocese of Switzerland. The Armenian Diocese of Switzerland was established by His Holiness Vasken I of Blessed memory in 1992. His Grace Bishop Viken Aykazian was appointed to serve as the first Primate of the Diocese. The local parishes served as a base for the Pontifical Diocese and in Switzerland, where the World Council of Churches and other ecumenical institutions are operating, there was a need to raise the level of representation from the Armenian Church. As a result of discussions, the Supreme Spiritual Council decided to appoint Rev. Fr. Mesrop Parsamian, Vice Chancellor of the Mother See, to serve as a Locum Tenens of the Armenian Diocese of Switzerland and to contribute to the reorganization of the Diocesan life and serve as a Spiritual pastor to the Armenian community. It was also decided to invite Rev. Fr. Abel Manoukian, Spiritual pastor of Geneva, to return to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for other service.
During the meeting, there was a reflection on the revisions as well as on the results of input received, for the guidelines of the Diocesan-Parish Bylaws.
His Grace Bishop Ararat Kaltakjian presented preliminary details of the visit of the Armenian Pontiff to the Dioceses of South America, scheduled for May 7 to 26, 2011.
There was also a review of the Inter-Church and Pontifical visit of the Armenian Catholicos to the Georgian Church and to the Armenian Diocese of Georgia which is planned for June 2011. His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manoukian, Director of the Inter-Church Relations Department of the Mother See and His Grace Bishop Vasken Mirzakhanian presented the agenda and outline of the visit.
His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, General Secretary of the Pan ACYO, presented a report on activities of the International Pan-Armenian Church Youth Organization (ACYO). He reported that the second meeting of the Governing Board would be held from 7-10 July 2011. The Supreme Spiritual Council expressed it appreciation to His Eminence for the work that has been done, stressing the importance of endeavors directed to the Christian Education of the Youth.
The Supreme Spiritual Council noted with joy that this year would be the 60th birthday of the Armenian Pontiff, and it was decided to officially celebrate the milestone in November – on the day of the anniversary of Enthronement of His Holiness.
The Supreme Spiritual Council decided to create an endowment Fund to specifically be directed towards the preparation of spiritual servants of the Armenian Church. The designated funds would result in a more efficient implementation of programs aimed at education of the younger generation of clergy. A committee has been formed to organize the work for the establishment of the Fund.
During the meeting, there was a presentation of the final reports made by the Diocesan Primates of the Armenian Church. The members of the Supreme Spiritual Council expressed their views on the reports and stated their joy related to the successes of the Dioceses in Spiritual-Ecclesiastical life.
The 3 day meetings closed with His Holiness expressing his appreciation to the Council members for their work and dedication and a final prayer.
