ETCHMIADZIN–The first extended session of the Supreme Spiritual Council–convened on January 9 2002–and was held at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
His Holiness Karekin II– Catholicos of All Armenia’s–presided over the session. Following the Lord’s Prayer His Holiness welcomed the participants–and expressed his kind wishes to them on the occasion of New Year and Holy Christmas.
Speaking about the programs and projects realized during the jubilee year of 2001–His Holiness noted that they were successful. As His Holiness said–the festive celebrations dedicated to the 1700th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Christianity as the State Religion of Armenia–indeed served their purpose to contribute to the strengthening and spreading of the Christian spirit.
This first session will outline the activity of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin during the current year.
During the sessions–members of the Supreme Spiritual Council will discuss the Bylaws of Armenian Church–issues related to the relationship between the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Hierarchical Sees–Christian education–and spiritual-educational problems.
Having previously informed His Holiness–the two Chairmen of the Council–His Beatitude Abp. Torkom Manoogian–the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem–and His Beatitude Abp. Mesrob Moutafyan–the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople–could not participate in the session. That is why the most senior member of the Council present at the session – His Eminence Abp. Vatch Hovsepian – was the Chairman of the session.
His Eminence Abp. Zaven Chinchinian–Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Egypt; His Eminence Abp. Mesrob Krikorian–Pontifical Legate of Central Europe; His Eminence Abp. Missak Mouradian–Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Argentina; and Mr. Eduard Jakian–one of the lay members of the Supreme Spiritual Council–also could not participate in the session.
Thursday–the Supreme Spiritual Council will continues its work–and His Holiness will give the participants a report on the activity of the Mother See during the past nine months.