The Supreme Spiritual Council, convened at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, described as unacceptable what it called the continuing policy of interference in the Church’s internal affairs, criminal and legal proceedings involving clergy, and restrictions imposed on Church activities through state mechanisms.
The Supreme Spiritual Council said the authorities’ infringement on the Church’s constitutional status was condemnable.
The meeting was attended by Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, representative of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, and Bishop Theodoros Zakaryan, financial overseer of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Doctor of Law Gevorg Danielyan and PhD in Law Ara Zohrabyan delivered reports on existing problems in Church-state relations and ongoing criminal proceedings and legal processes involving the Church and clergy.
The meeting also addressed legislative initiatives discussed in the National Assembly and provisions concerning the Armenian Church included in the government program.
“Manifestations of discriminatory administration, obstruction of the Church’s mission and repression against clergy were presented, along with domestic and international legal avenues for protecting the Church’s rights and the steps envisaged.
“The Supreme Spiritual Council considered unacceptable the authorities’ continuing policy of interfering in the Church’s internal affairs, as well as repression and restrictions implemented through the use of state mechanisms. It was noted that such actions violate constitutional guarantees of the Church’s autonomy and believers’ freedom of conscience and religion,” the statement said.
Bishop Mushegh Babayan, director of the Mother See’s Administrative and Economic Department, presented what the Church described as “artificial obstacles” created by Armenian state and local government bodies in the normal functioning of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, particularly what it called an unjustifiably negative approach toward implementing charitable and educational programs, registering property rights and issuing construction permits.
Council members discussed possible ways to resolve the existing problems and protect the rights of the Mother See, emphasizing that obstructing the Church’s pastoral, educational, charitable and nationally beneficial programs causes significant harm to national interests, particularly to the education and upbringing of the younger generation and the uninterrupted implementation of the Church’s multifaceted mission.
Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan and Ara Zohrabyan delivered reports on revisions to regulatory documents governing the Church’s internal affairs. The Supreme Spiritual Council discussed the proposals and instructed that work on revising the documents continue in accordance with the Armenian Church’s canonical principles and established traditions.
Father Husik Smbatyan, inspector of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary, presented a report on the activities of the Mother See’s spiritual and educational institutions, addressing work carried out to attract applicants, improve the quality of education and expand the teaching staff. The Council stressed the importance of training dedicated, committed and knowledgeable clergy, emphasizing the need to develop curricula, review the list of subjects and teaching methodology, expand the faculty, deepen students’ theological knowledge and develop their pastoral skills.
Bishop Zakaria Baghumyan, director of the Mother See’s Center for Christian Education, presented the progress of work on preparing a guidance manual for parish priests to organize Christian education in communities, establishing a unified system of Sunday schools, and developing educational programs and teaching materials.
The Supreme Spiritual Council accepted the report and instructed that practical steps be taken in cooperation with dioceses and parish priests to expand Sunday school activities and encourage children and adolescents to participate in spiritual and educational programs.
The meeting also discussed other issues concerning the activities of dioceses and efforts to make the Church’s mission more effective.
The government has devoted a separate chapter of its program to the Church, stating that “the removal — retirement — of the de facto head of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church will be ensured, and an election of a Locum Tenens of the Catholicos will be held in accordance with the established procedure.” While presenting the government program, the prime minister said legislative changes concerning the Church would be introduced in the near future.