The Bishops’ Assembly Armenian Apostolic Church, convened on February 17-19 in Saint Polten, Austria, at the invitation and blessing of Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, has concluded.
As a result of the assembly, the attendees issued a statement, which reads as follows, in particular:
“We express our filial gratitude to His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, at whose paternal invitation we, the bishops serving in the homeland and in the Diaspora, have come together to reflect together on the challenges facing the Armenian Church and to find solutions to overcome them.
We record with deep concern and condemnation that due to unfounded criminal prosecution, the departure of the Armenian Patriarch and our six brother bishops from Armenia and their participation in this venerable gathering of great importance in the life of the Church were blocked. Due to this artificially created obstacle, we were forced to listen to the Patriarchal message of the Catholicos of All Armenians via video link. The enthroned of our other Patriarchal Sees also sent their messages to this gathering (…).
During its three-day sessions, the Bishops’ Assembly examined the following items on the agenda:
– “The Mission of the Church in the Modern Era and the Current Challenges in the Homeland and the Diaspora” (speaker: His Holiness Archbishop Hovnan Derderian),
– “The Current State of Church-State Relations and the Situation around the Church in Armenia” (speaker: His Holiness Bishop Grigor Khachatryan),
– “Protecting the Autonomy of the Church from Political Speculation and Ways to Overcome the Current Situation” (speaker: His Holiness Bishop Ashot Mnatsakanyan).
As a result of substantive, constructive discussions in an atmosphere of brotherly love and mutual understanding, we, the participants of the Bishops’ Assembly, resolutely reaffirm the orders and principles consecrated by the tradition and centuries-old experience of our Holy Church in relation to its mission of spiritual salvation, as well as to national and patriotic life, in particular by recording that:
a. The head of the Armenian Church, founded by the preaching of the apostles St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew, is Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:22). This God-given structure is governed by the Holy Scriptures, the doctrine and canons of the Church, and the principle of apostolic succession, by the patriarchate of the Armenian Patriarchs. The mission of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church in the homeland and in the Diaspora includes the spiritual care and Christian education of the children of our nation, the preservation of national and spiritual identity.
b. Throughout its centuries-old history, the Armenian Church, as “the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15), has always kept its original mission of preaching the Gospel of Christ and leading the people to salvation alive through internal reform in line with the demands of the times.
c. At the same time, the Armenian Church, as an ancient institution of national significance, has always been an advocate of the existence of the independent Armenian statehood and has supported it to the maximum extent and continues to contribute to its strengthening and progress today, with the unwavering conviction that the native state is the protector and guarantor of the survival of the Armenian people and the realization of national aspirations. On this path, the Armenian Church has never served and does not serve foreign powers or external interests, but has maintained its uncompromising loyalty exclusively to the Armenian people, its statehood, and the preservation of national identity.
In this context, the bishops’ assembly expresses deep concern about the undesirable current state of church-state relations and, in this dangerous situation, calls on the authorities of the Republic of Armenia to:
– stop the persecution of the Church and respect the centuries-old sovereignty and autonomy of the Church, anchoring church-state relations on mutual respect, a clear separation of powers, and the primacy of national interests;
– put an end to the repression of clergy and the nationally elected Patriarch of All Armenians through fabricated accusations and slander;
– release our four imprisoned bishop brothers, the priest, as well as the Armenians who came out in defense of the Church,
– to act exclusively in accordance with the Constitution, legislation and international laws of the Republic of Armenia, and to remain faithful to the proclaimed democratic principles: guaranteeing freedom of conscience, religion and belief in the country, ensuring social solidarity instead of division,
– to resolve existing problems and contradictions in the spirit of dialogue, without preconditions, refraining from unpromising ultimatum speech.
We, the participants of the Bishops’ Assembly, simultaneously urge the eight apostolic bishops to:
– dissolve existing problems and disagreements in the spirit of dialogue, without preconditions, refraining from unpromising ultimatum talk.
– act with the awareness of their vow of loyalty to Holy Etchmiadzin and the Catholicos of All Armenians and their call to service,
– raise and resolve issues related to intra-church life exclusively in the authorized bodies of the Church,
– refrain from anti-canonical actions, demoralizing steps, and separatist manifestations that threaten to cause schism, weakening the mission of the Church in the life of our faithful people. In this context, the discounting of the part of the mentioning of His Holiness the Patriarch in the Holy Liturgy on any grounds is ecclesiologically unacceptable and a direct blow to the unity of Holy Etchmiadzin and the unity of the Armenian Church.
Considering any reform movement under external coercion unacceptable, we consider it imperative to carry out the work of overcoming the challenges facing the Armenian Church and improving it solely in the Bishops’ Synod and in the highest canonical bodies of the Church.
We, the bishops of the Armenian Church, reaffirm our loyalty to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Catholicos of All Armenians as a visible symbol and guarantee of the unity, reconciliation and solidarity of the Church, (…).
With the blessing of the Armenian Patriarch, we commit ourselves to contribute to the examination and overcoming of the challenges facing the Church by periodically convening the Bishops’ Synod, and to the further strengthening of our spiritual ministry in the life of our people.
We urge the pilgrim clergy of our Holy Church to remain steadfast in their calling and service, (…).
The Church must steadfastly continue its sacred mission, regardless of external pressures, remaining faithful to the Holy Gospel and the Orthodox doctrine of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church.
On this occasion, we also call on our faithful people, as “one body and one Spirit” in Christ (Eph. 4:4), to remain faithful and united around our Holy Apostolic Church and to build and brighten our national and spiritual lands through prayer and devotion, good deeds.
Deeply concerned by the false trial and illegal verdicts against the leadership of Artsakh in Baku, we appeal to the international community and the Sister Churches to continue their efforts towards the speedy release of the Armenian hostages.
It is our heartfelt prayer that the Good God, through the intercession of the Holy Mother of God and all the saints, may keep and preserve our Holy Church unshakably and undisturbed, strengthen the independent statehood of Armenia, and lead the life of the Armenian nation throughout the world in peace and prosperity. We ask that the Lord grant peace to the whole world, to all nations and peoples.
- Archbishop Khajag Barsamian
- Archbishop Hovnan Derderian
- Archbishop Vicken Aykazian
- Archbishop Aram Ateshian
- Archbishop Yezras Nersissian
- Bishop Ashot Mnatsakanian
- Bishop Armash Nalbandian
- Bishop Ararat Kaltakjian
- Bishop Markos Hovhannisyan
- Bishop Hovakim Manukyan
- Bishop Tatev Hakobyan
- Bishop Nareg Berberian
- Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan
- Bishop Serovbe Isakhanyan
- Bishop Daniel Findikyan
- Bishop Tiran Petrosyan
- Bishop Oshakan Gyulgyulian
- Bishop Theodoros Zakarian
- Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan
- Bishop Koryun Baghdasaryan
- Bishop Kirakos Davtian
- Bishop Aren Shahenian
- Bishop Grigor Khachatryan
- Bishop Partev Barseghyan
- Bishop Khoren Arakelyan”
To note, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, who had joined Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, also has signed the aforesaid bishops’ statement in support of the Catholicos of All Armenians.
