Supreme Spiritual Council Session in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
On May 29-30, the regular session of the Supreme Spiritual Council was held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided during the two days of meetings. In the course of the session, a number of issues related to the internal life of the Church were discussed.
In 2003, the Armenian Church will celebrate the 1700th Anniversary of the consecration of the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, which was founded in 303 AD. The Supreme Spiritual Council recommended beginning preparations for the upcoming Cathedral jubilee.
Also discussed was the Constitution of the Armenian Church, and specifically, amendments to the document-in-progress.
Great importance was focused on higher education and preparation of the members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness informed the Council that 12 young priests of the Brotherhood presently continue to advance their theological education abroad, in various institutions of higher learning. An additional eight priests will be leaving for universities in the United States and Europe in the near future.
The members of the Supreme Spiritual Council also shared their impressions of the Second Armenia Diaspora Conference, held in Yerevan on May 27-28. They noted their appreciation of the Conference?s work directed towards uniting the entirety of the Armenian nation dispersed throughout the world, and supporting and strengthening the Motherland.
The Catholicos, noting that the two Chairmen of the Council, His Beatitude Abp. Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, and His Beatitude Abp. Mesrob Moutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, could not participate in the session. His Holiness appointed senior members of the Council, His Eminence Abp. Zaven Chinchinian and His Eminence Abp. Vatche Hovsepian, as co-chairmen of the session.
