On June 16-21, with the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the Monastic Council was held in the Mother See, in which monks of Holy Etchmiadzin from Armenia and the Diaspora, as well as representatives of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, the Armenian Patriarchates of Jerusalem and Constantinople took part. This was reported by the Information System of the Mother See.
The title of the IX Monastic Council was “Holy Etchmiadzin: the Key to the Kingdom of Heaven”.
On June 17, at the opening of the Monastic Council, the participants were greeted by the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Director of the Archives and Museums of the Mother See, His Eminence Fr. Father Asoghik Karapetyan and the Vice-Rector of the Eastern Armenian Diocese of the USA, His Grace Father Simeon Odabashyan, a member of the committee.
The Patriarch of All Armenians also conveyed his blessing and a paternal message to the participants of the Congress. His Holiness welcomed the presence of the brothers of the Mother See and the clergy of the Ecumenical Sees who gathered in Holy Etchmiadzin for the Congress, emphasizing that such meetings, which have become traditional, are a good opportunity to strengthen the spirit of prayer, as well as an opportunity to reflect on the key issues affecting the life of the Armenian Church and people, and to jointly seek ways to overcome them.
His Holiness, speaking about the unique mission of Holy Etchmiadzin, centered on Christ, especially noted: “The Armenian Church, with its spiritual center, has at all times conveyed to the Armenians the bright messages of the Lord, spiritually and nationally, while simultaneously fulfilling its mission of protecting the Armenian people, in times of crisis, in the absence of statehood, assuming the political leadership of our people and always being the owner and defender of national rights and our sacred Christian values.”
The Armenian Patriarch, speaking about the current difficult period for the homeland and the people, also reflected with concern on the attack on the Armenian Patriarch and the clergy by the Prime Minister of Armenia, noting that the planned attacks are aimed at discrediting the Armenian clergy and the Church, silencing the voice of the Church and reducing its high reputation and authority in our society.
The Catholicos of All Armenians called on his brothers to unite in the face of new challenges facing the homeland and the Armenian Church, to be faithful to their calling and to strengthen faith, the spirit of unity and solidarity in the hearts of the believing children of the nation.
“Thus, dear brothers and sisters, we must be able to ensure the security and stability of our statehood, build new progress and a peaceful, prosperous life for our Armenian people and always keep our Holy Church bright. In this regard, we are responsible before God, the homeland and future generations,” His Holiness emphasized.
In conclusion, the Armenian Patriarch expressed high praise for the participants of the Council Congress for their devoted and zealous service, praying to God that the Lord keep our homeland safe and secure, grant our people wisdom to achieve peaceful and enlightened goals through joint efforts.
The participants of the congress were also welcomed by the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, K. Representatives of the Armenian Patriarchates of Constantinople and Jerusalem.
During the five-day meeting, the monks of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin discussed various problems facing the Church and the Armenian people, and reports and speeches on key issues were heard.
The monks took part in the Holy Liturgies of the Ararat Week, which ended with the Holy Liturgy of the Monastic Vow and the sacred celebration of the Catholicos of Holy Etchmiadzin.
On June 21-22, with the blessing of the Catholicos of All Armenians, members of the organizing committee, together with a group of monks, also went to the communities of the Syunik Diocese with a pastoral mission. The monks of the Mother See visited the heroes who died defending the Fatherland, as well as the internally displaced Armenians of Artsakh, large and needy families.