PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: +374-10-517163
Fax: +374-10-517301
E-Mail: ktrij@etchmiadzin.am
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March 14, 2007
Supreme Spiritual Council Meeting in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
Date for Blessing the Holy Chrism Announced
The regular session of the Supreme Spiritual Council convened in the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II,
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, from March 7 through 9,
2007.
Following the Lord’s Prayer, His Holiness opened the meeting, welcomed the
clergy and lay members of the Supreme Spiritual Council and extended his
pontifical blessing and appreciation for their contribution to the
discussions and solutions surrounding the challenges facing the Holy
Apostolic Armenian Church.
The first session was co-chaired by His Eminence Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian
and His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Krikorian. The second session was
co-chaired by His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian and His Eminence
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.
Among the items on the agenda which were discussed by the Supreme Spiritual
Council were the following:
The annual administrative and financial reports of the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin were presented to the Council during the first session. The
Council reviewed the reports, paying close attention to the activities in
the spheres of social services, preparation of clergymen, recent
developments in church / state relations, and ongoing relations between the
hierarchal sees.
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian presented an overview of the progress in forming
an International Armenian Church Youth Organization. His Eminence reported
on the two-day Inter-Diocesan Youth Meeting which had convened in the Mother
See in conjunction with the Supreme Spiritual Council meeting. Seventy
young men and women from throughout the world participated during the
meeting where an interim Central Council was appointed and given the task of
organizing the inaugural representative international assembly for the ACYO,
scheduled for 2008.
Also discussed by the Council were the continuing issues with the Armenian
Diocese of Georgia and its lack of legal status. His Grace Bishop Vasken
Mirzakhanian, Primate of the diocese reported on the challenges in
functioning within Georgia. One major effect of the diocese lacking legal
standing before the authorities is its inability to assert ownership over
the historic Armenian churches and properties in Georgia. The Supreme
Spiritual Council will continue to work with Georgian state and church
authorities in an attempt to find a solution to these matters.
The Supreme Spiritual Council also deliberated over the proposed diocesan
by-laws, having been amended and modified following the previous Council
meeting by the committee chaired by His Eminence Archbishop Yeznik
Petrosian. Abp. Petrosian focused on the proposals and suggestions which
were previously offered by the Council members. The Council also closely
reviewed those articles in the by-laws concerning the election of primates
and the responsibilities of the diocesan councils, and their jurisdictions
and mutual obligations. Once the work of the committee is completed, the
draft diocesan by-laws will be sent to all Armenian Church dioceses
throughout the world for their review and input. Following a final
presentation to the Supreme Spiritual Council, the diocesan by-laws shall be
presented to His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians for ratification.
Finally, the Pontiff of All Armenians joyfully informed the members of the
Supreme Spiritual Council that the date for the next blessing of the Holy
Chrism (Muron) has been decided. The service, which occurs once every seven
years and is offered by His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians, will
take place in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on September 28, 2008.