Structure and leadership Armenian Apostolic Church

1 structure , leadership

1.1 seminaries
1.2 structure
1.3 2 catholicosates

1.3.1 mother see of holy etchmiadzin
1.3.2 great house of cilicia
1.3.3 reasons division


1.4 2 patriarchates: constantinople , jerusalem

structure , leadership

procession of armenian priests.

the armenian apostolic church central religious authority armenian orthodox population in republic of armenia armenian orthodox communities worldwide.

it headed catholicos (the plural catholicoi). traditional in eastern churches supreme head of church named patriarch , in armenian apostolic church hierarchy, position of catholicos not higher of patriarch. armenian apostolic church presently has 2 catholicoi (karekin ii, supreme patriarch , catholicos of armenians, , aram i, catholicos of great house of cilicia), , 2 patriarchs, plus primates, archbishops , bishops, lower clergy , laity serving church.

both clergy , laity involved in administrative structure of church. led karekin ii, spiritual , administrative work of armenian church carried out in republic of armenia in areas of religion, preparation of clergy, christian education, construction of new churches, social services, , ecumenical activities.

the following sees have own jurisdiction:

the catholicosate of great house of cilicia located in antelias, lebanon, led catholicos aram , has dioceses in countries of middle east, in europe , in north , south america.

the armenian patriarchate of jerusalem has jurisdiction on of holy lands , diocese of jordan, led patriarch archbishop nourhan manougian.

the armenian patriarchate of constantinople , of turkey, has jurisdiction in modern day republic of turkey, led patriarch archbishop mesrob mutafyan.

the 3 aforementioned historic hierarchical sees administer dioceses under jurisdiction see fit, while there spiritual authority of catholicosate of armenians.

armenian church in madras, india, constructed in 1712

in addition responsibilities of overseeing respective dioceses, each hierarchical see, , mother see of holy etchmiadzin, has monastic brotherhood.

seminaries

the mother see of holy etchmiadzin operates 2 seminaries, gevorkian theological seminary @ mother see of holy etchmiadzin, , vaskenian theological academy @ lake sevan. on 6-year course of simultaneous study, students receive both bachelor s degree , master s degree in theology. great house of cilicia operates 1 seminary, seminary of antelias @ bikfaya, lebanon. upon graduation, students receive equivalent of high school diploma , pre-graduate theological study.

the armenian patriarchate of jerusalem operates st. tarkmanchatz school (high school diploma) theological seminary of patriarchate. graduates theological seminary can become ordained priests..

the armenian patriarchate of constantinople had own seminary, holy cross patriarchal seminary, shut down turkish authorities in turkey along other private schools of higher education.

st. nersess armenian seminary in new rochelle, ny trains armenian priests, awarding master of divinity in theology (through affiliation nearby oca st. vladimir s seminary). st. nersess offers master of arts in armenian christian studies.

structure

archbishop sebouh chouldjian washing feet of children during washing of feet ceremony

regionally, each area of world armenian church , faithful located has dioceses, led primate diocesan headquarters. each diocese made of parishes , smaller communities.

the spiritual , administrative bodies representing authority of armenian church following:

the national ecclesiastical assembly supreme legislative body presided on catholicos of armenians. members of national ecclesiastical assembly elected individual diocesan assemblies. national ecclesiastical assembly elects catholicos of armenians.

the council of bishops administrative-deliberative body presided on catholicos of armenians. makes suggestions on dogmatic, religious, church, parish , canonical issues discussed agenda items during national ecclesiastical assembly.

the supreme spiritual council highest executive body of armenian church , presided on catholicos of armenians. members of council can elected national ecclesiastical assembly or appointed catholicos of armenians. catholicos of armenians, gevorg v. soorenian established supreme spiritual council on january 1, 1924, replace synod of bishops.

the diocesan assembly highest legislative (canonical) body of each diocese , headed primate of diocese. diocesan delegates (representatives of each parish community) elect delegates national ecclesiastical assembly, members of diocesan council discuss , decide on administrative issues within diocese such committees, budgets, building, etc. in dioceses, diocesan assembly elects primate of diocese.

the diocesan council highest executive power of diocese, presided on primate of diocese. regulates inner administrative activity of diocese under direction of primate. diocesan assembly elects members of diocesan council.

the monastic brotherhood consists of celibate clergy of monastery led abbot. of 2010, there 3 brotherhoods in armenian church – brotherhood of mother see of holy etchmiadzin, brotherhood of st. james @ armenian patriarchate of jerusalem , brotherhood of see of cilicia. each armenian celibate priest becomes member of brotherhood in has studied , ordained in or under jurisdiction of has served. brotherhood makes decisions concerning inner affairs of monastery. each brotherhood elects 2 delegates take part in national ecclesiastical assembly.

the parish assembly general assembly of community presided on spiritual pastor. parish assembly elects or appoints members of parish council , representatives or delegates diocesan assembly.

the parish council executive-administrative body of community. presided on spiritual pastor of community takes inner administrative affairs of parish , engaged in realization of administrative , financial activities. members of parish council elected or appointed @ parish assembly.

the armenian apostolic church 1 of few apostolic churches in world have democratic system; people decide if want keep priests in churches , may ask different ones, other ecclesiastical constitutions, such baptists , other congregational churches.

note armenian apostolic church should not confused, however, armenian catholic church patriarch-catholicos (of armenian catholic rite) krikor bedros xx gabroyan, eastern catholic church in communion holy see in rome.

two catholicosates

the armenian apostolic church has 2 sees, catholicos of armenians residing in etchmiadzin, armenia, @ mother see of holy etchmiadzin, having pre-eminent supremacy in spiritual matters on see of cilicia, located in antelias, lebanon, administers dioceses under jurisdiction see fit. 2 sees follows:

mother see of holy etchmiadzin

the etchmiadzin cathedral, armenia s mother church

the mother see of holy etchmiadzin (armenian: Մայր Աթոռ Սուրբ Էջմիածին) spiritual , administrative headquarters of worldwide armenian church, center of faith of armenian nation – mother cathedral of armenian church, , pontifical residence of karekin ii. mother see of holy etchmiadzin blend of past, present , future of worldwide armenian church.

preserving past numerous museums, libraries , mother cathedral itself, holding vast richness of history , treasures. mother see responsible preservation of artifacts, both created church , given church gifts on time.

carrying on work of present , future innumerable departments , programs of armenian church. under leadership , guidance of karekin ii, mother see administers social, cultural , educational programs armenia , diaspora.

the mother cathedral recognised landmark of armenian church. built , consecrated st. gregory illuminator , st. trdat great in ad 303, cathedral located in city of vagharshapat, armenia.

it said st. gregory chose location of cathedral in accordance vision. in dream saw miatsin , begotten son of god, glittering light on face descending heavens , golden hammer striking ground cathedral located. hence comes name etchmiadzin , translates literally place miatsin descended.

the mother cathedral open every day; divine liturgy celebrated every sunday.

great house of cilicia

saint gregory illuminator cathedral (1940) in antelias, lebanon

the catholicosate of great house of cilicia (armenian: Կաթողիկոսութիւն Հայոց Մեծի Տանն Կիլիկիոյ) located in antelias, lebanon, regional see of armenian apostolic church , autonomous church jurisdiction on segments of armenian diaspora.

as of 2012 catholicos aram head , catholicos of great house of cilicia. see has jurisdiction on prelacies in lebanon, syria, cyprus, greece, iran, persian gulf, united states, canada , venezuela. in united states, canada, syria, , greece there dioceses related mother see of holy etchmiadzin, there duality of representation of armenian apostolic churches in these countries.

the primacy of catholicosate of armenians (mother see of holy etchmiadzin) has been recognized catholicosate of great house of cilicia.

the rise of great house of cilicia autocephalous church occurred after fall of ani , armenian kingdom of bagradits in 1045. masses of armenians migrated cilicia , catholicosate established there. seat of church (now known catholicosate of great house of cilicia) first established in sivas (ad 1058) moving tavbloor (1062), dzamendav (1066), dzovk (1116), hromgla (1149), , sis (1293), then-capital of armenian kingdom of cilicia. beginning in 1293 , continuing more 6 centuries, city of sis (modern-day kozan, adana, turkey) center of catholicosate of great house of cilicia.

after fall of armenian kingdom of cilicia, in 1375, church continued in leadership role in armenian community, , catholicos recognized ethnarch (head of nation).

in 1441 kirakos virapetsi of armenia elected catholicos in holy etchmiadzin. @ same time residing catholicos in sis, gregory ix mousabegian (1439–1446), remained catholicos of cilicia. since 1441, there have continued 2 catholicosates in armenian church, each having rights , privileges, , each own jurisdiction.

during first world war , 1915 armenian genocide, armenian population , home of catholicosate @ monastery of st. sophia of sis (which can seen dominate town in 20th-century photographs), destroyed. last residing catholicos in sis sahag ii of cilicia (catholicos 1902 1939), followed armenian flock exile turkey.

since 1930, catholicosate of great house of cilicia has been headquartered in antelias, lebanon.

reasons division

the division of 2 catholicossates stemmed frequent relocations of church headquarters due political , military upheavals.

the division between 2 sees intensified during soviet period , extent reflected politics of cold war. armenian revolutionary federation (arf) dashnaktsutyun social democratic political party had dominated independent republic of armenia 1918 1920 , active in diaspora, saw church , clergy, worldwide headquarters @ mother see of holy etchmiadzin in soviet republic of armenia, captive communist puppet, , accused clergy in unduly influenced communists, particularly clergy reluctant participate in nationalist events , memorials perceived anti-soviet. on december 24, 1933, group of assassins attacked eastern diocese archbishop levon tourian walked down aisle of holy cross armenian church in washington heights neighborhood of new york city during divine liturgy, , killed him butcher s knife. 9 arf members later arrested, tried , convicted. incident divided armenian community, arf sympathizers established congregations independent of mother see of holy etchmiadzin, declaring loyalty instead see based in antelias in lebanon. division formalized in 1956 when antelias (cilician) see accepted provide spiritual , religious guidance communities mother see of holy etchmiadzin refused.

the separation has become entrenched in united states, large armenian communities having 2 parish churches, 1 answering each see, though theologically indistinguishable. there have been numerous lay , clergy efforts @ reunion, since fall of soviet union.

in 1995, karekin ii, catholicos of cilicia period 1983–1994, elected catholicos of armenians in mother see of holy etchmiadzin upon death of vazgen i, becoming karekin catholicos of armenians, , serving supreme head of church until 1999. unable unite 2 catholicosates, however, despite having headed both.

two patriarchates: constantinople , jerusalem

the armenian apostolic church has 2 patriarchates of high authority both under jurisdiction of catholicos of armenians. are:

armenian patriarchate of jerusalem (armenian: Առաքելական Աթոռ Սրբոց Յակովբեանց Յերուսաղեմ literally apostolic seat of st. james in jerusalem) in armenian quarter of jerusalem headed since 2013 patriarch of jerusalem archbishop nourhan manougian
armenian patriarchate of constantinople in istanbul, turkey (armenian: Պատրիարքութիւն Հայոց Կոստանդնուպոլսոյ) headed since 1998 patriarch of constantinople archbishop mesrob ii mutafyan. in july 2010, spiritual council of armenian patriarchate of constantinople approved candidacy of archbishop aram ateshyan serve patriarchal vicar of patriarchate. in july 2008, announced mesrob mutafyan suffering alzheimer s disease , had withdrawn duties , public life, patriarch , archbishop life.




^ armenian church . 
^ st. nersess armenian seminary . st. nersess armenian seminary. retrieved 5 march 2015. 
^ documents 119-129. bryce. armenians. xv---cicilia (vilayet of adan , sankjak of marash) . retrieved 5 march 2015. 
^ minassian, oshagan (1974). history of armenian holy apostolic orthodox church in united states (pdf). phd dissertation. retrieved 2009-06-22. (subscription required (help)). 
^ alexander, ben (2007). contested memories, divided diaspora: armenian americans, thousand-day republic, , polarized response archbishop s murder . journal of american ethnic history. 27 (1). archived original on 2009-05-02.