YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE GATHERING HELD IN MOTHER SEE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 07 2007
ETCHMIADZIN, MARCH 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A youth
representative gathering took place on March 6 at the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin, with blessing of His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos
of All Armenians and presided by U.S. Western Diocese primate
Archbishop Hovnan Terterian. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the
Information Services of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the goal
of the gathering is to found the Armenian National Church-Loving Youth
Organization under the patronage of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Its central office will be at the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin. Archbishop Hovnan Terterian coordinates the organization
under the Patriarchal authority of the Catholicos of All Armenians. And
friar Nshan Petrosian, a monk of the Mother See was appointed the
assistant of His Holiness. Students of the Gevorgian and Vazgenian
Spiritual Academies, young monks of the Mother See, representatives
of the Constantinople Armenian Patriarchate, about 70 young people
from Armenia, Artsakh and almost all dioceses of all over the world
participate in the representative gathering. The meeting works started
with the Lord’s Prayer and singing of "Surb Astuats" (Holy God)
Armenian church psalm, then Archbishop Hovnan Terterian addressed to
youth with the opening speech of the gathering. "We must consider this
day as historic one in your life as the Armenian Church-Loving Youth
Organization is for the first time officially founded. Though there
are youth unions inside separate diocesan structures, but the goal of
today’s meeting is to create a national youth structure which must be
led by one common regulations and function in a coordinated way under
the patronage of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Recalling the
activity of the Mother See Youth Office founded within the framework
of celebrations dedicated to the 1700th anniversary of adoption of
the Christianity as the state religion, His Holiness Hovnan considered
full participation of the youth in the life of the Armenian Apostolic
Surb (Saint) Church important and imperative. His Holiness persuaded
everybody to grow strong with each other and reinforce the title given
by the God inside their souls. "This gathering must become a reason
for transfiguration, transforming in our life for every refuge becomes
possibility of our service to rise towards the God," His Holiness
Hovnan mentioned. After discussions concerning the organization mission
and spheres of its activity, the gathering participants elected the
Central Council, which, using decisions of the representative meeting
will prepare the 2008 first deputy meeting of the Armenian National
Church-Loving Youth Organization. The organization’s draft regulations
fostered by the representative gathering will also be presented at
the deputy meeting. Before the deputy meeting, Armenian Church-Loving
Youth Organization offices will be established in the Armenian Church
dioceses, meetings of regional sub-commissions will be convened on
different continents. Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians received
the meeting gathering at the Patriarchate and passed his blessing to
them. "This initiative, formation of the Church-Loving Youth structure
of the Armenian Church is very essential and important for us. It must
be useful and beneficial in the affair of implementation of our church
mission. … The church must be able to be present in all spheres of
our life. It can not be implemented only owing to work of clergymen,
but with assistance of all Armenian sons of the elder and younger
generation. … The voice of youth must be heard inside of our church
structures, and your rows must be more widened and added by new members
during the time," His Holiness said, considering the taken first step
as promising and hopeful one. His Holiness Patriarch also expressed
his appreciation to His Holiness Hovnan for the love towards youth and
consistent and hard work. Archimandrite Aren Shahinian, the Armenian
spiritual pastor of Italy was present at the representative meeting.