Supreme Spiritual Council Convenes in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
On September 25, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the Supreme Spiritual Council convened in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for a regular session. Following the opening prayer, a special prayer was offered for the peaceful resting of the soul of Archbishop Gevork Seraydarian, former Primate of Georgia, who entered his eternal rest on September 11.
A series of organizational issues were discussed during the one-day meeting. The most important item on the agenda was the upcoming celebrations dedicated to the 1,700th Anniversary of the founding and consecration of the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. The jubilee year of 2003 will be welcomed as a prime opportunity for spiritual renewal. In order to properly commemorate this important milestone, a preparatory committee was established and directed to plan the events. His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian of the Eastern Diocese of the United States was named as Chairman of the committee.
The Supreme Spiritual Council also focused on recent developments surrounding the Baron Der property of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and highly valued the contribution and efforts of the Mother See and the dioceses towards a positive resolution. The members were informed that the ongoing discussions with the Israeli government had reached a positive conclusion, and the agreement documents were in the process of being finalized.
Also discussed during the meeting was the progress of the Constitution of the Armenian Church, the planning for the Synod of Bishops, as well as other issues facing the Church.
Focusing on the role of the Armenian Church in the strengthening and re-building of the motherland, the Supreme Spiritual Council gave special emphasis to the necessity for the Mother Church and all of her diocesan structures to assist and participate in the activities of the ?All Armenia Fund?. The Council also expressed their satisfaction with the agreement signed between the Armenian Church and the Government of the Republic of Armenia, which provides that Armenian Church History be taught in all public schools of the country.
The members were informed of the upcoming visit of the head of the Assyrian Orthodox Church to Armenia. His Holiness Mor Ignatius Zakka Iwas I, Patriarch of Antioch and the East will arrive in Holy Etchmiadzin in October. Also discussed was His Holiness Karekin II?s planned Pontifical Visit to Australia in November.
His Holiness informed the Council that the Very Rev. Fr. Vazken Mirzakhanian will commence with his duties as Primate of the Diocese of Georgia beginning in October. His Holiness has also accepted the resignation of His Grace Bishop Daron Jerejian as Vicar to the Pontifical Legate of Western Europe.
At the conclusion of the session, it was decided to convene the expanded Supreme Spiritual Council meeting at the end of October.
