“The Church in the Changing World: Challenges and Perspectives” Conference at the Mother See of Holy Etchmidzin

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin – 27/11/18

On November 23, with the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; a three-day conference was held in the “Karegin I” educational center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, entitled “The Church in the Changing World: Challenges and Perspectives”, organized by the partnership of the “Dialogue” NGO.

The conference began with the Lord’s Prayer, following which His Eminence Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Director of the External Relations and Protocol Department of the Mother See, welcomed the participating clergy and laymen.

Archbishop Nathan conveyed the blessings of the Catholicos of All Armenians, wishing success to the activities of the conference.

His Eminence stressed that from the first days of Christianity, the discussed themes and issues have constantly excited the human being.

“We also consider these issues to be very actual today because preserving Christian values in the general world becomes more and more difficult.

In my opinion, the first and most important condition is that Christian morality can be realized and be part of our everyday life only when we accept it not as a law, a moral norm or rule, but a lifestyle based on our Christian faith.

All of us, first and foremost, should take this into consideration: without faith, any Christian value is transformed into a theoretical law”, noted Archbishop Nathan, urging to give priority to faith in all thoughts and discussions, through which it will only be possible to reach the ultimate goal.

His Eminence urged the participants to be guided by the power of the Christian faith, the encouragement of the Holy Spirit and the peace granted by Christ in their assemblies.

Ms. Almast Muradyan, Chairman of the “Dialog” NGO also welcomed the participants.

Then, the Choir of the Holy Cross Church of Aparan of the Diocese of Aragatsotn performed spiritual songs.

During the three-day conference, reports will be presented on the following themes: “Modern World and Anti-Christian Manifestations”; “Secularization and Moral Issues in the 21st Century”; “Consideration of the Christian Value System in Interpersonal Relationship Structure”; “Morality Values in the Context of the Position of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church”; “Christian Family Model in Modern Society”.

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