Supreme Spiritual Council Meeting in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadizn
10.07.2018
On July 10, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenian; a Supreme Spiritual Council meeting was held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
During the meeting, they discussed recent anti-religious incidents in recent weeks that have been committed against the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, including the invasion of the Chancellery and provocative actions hampering the work of the Mother See. Discussing the current situation, the Council members pronounced the actions by the known initiative group as unacceptable and condemnable, which disrupts the inter-church tranquility and tried to lure the faithful.
The council was informed that numerous faithful from Armenia, as well as the Diaspora, Bishops, and clergy have voiced their concern and condemnation regarding the issue. On 06 July 2018 the members of the Brotherhood of the Mother See formally requested that His Holiness undertake strict measures to punish the members of the initiative. At the 06 July 2018 session of the Monastic Disciplinary Committee of the Mother See, the committee members unanimously decided to request that His Holiness defrock Rev. Fr. Koryun Arakelyan.
Nevertheless, based on the Church's mission to fully express love and forgiveness, the Supreme Spiritual Council, at the urging of the Catholicos of All Armenians, decided to set a one-week deadline, in order to give the members of the initiative one more opportunity to stop their anti-canonical actions; and through repentance and apology, return to the fold of Holy Etchmiadzin. As for Fr. Koryun, it was decided to offer a period of repentance in one of the monasteries.
During the meeting, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America; and Spiritual Dean of the World Armenian Church Youth Association of the Armenian Church, presented a report on the results of the pan-Armenian youth pilgrimage “"Towards the Homeland, towards the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin". The Council members expressed appreciation to the organizing committee for the successful gathering. They also highlighted the consistent work of the Pan-ACYO central office and diocesan youth structures with youth.
