Armenien: 6th Armenian Church Representative Assembly at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

15. Juni 2017
On June 6, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; the 6th Armenian Church Representative Assembly commenced a four day meeting in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The meeting is being attended by Bishops of the Mother See and the Hierarchal Sees; Primates of the Dioceses of Armenia and Diaspora; Locum Tenens; Pontifical Delegations; members of the Supreme Spiritual Council; elected clergy and lay representatives from the Hierarchal Sees, Pontifical Delegations and Dioceses around the world.

Led by the Catholicos of All Armenians, the 150 delegates attended the Sunrise Service in the Mother Cathedral prior to the meeting. The 6th Armenian Church Representative Assembly was opened with the Lord’s Prayer in the Events  Auditorium of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary. His Eminence Archbishop Yeznik Petrosyan, a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council and Executive Secretary of the Bible Society of Armenia gave opening remarks, following which he invited His Holiness Karekin II to convey his blessings and message to the participants.

Following the Pontifical message, His Eminence Archbishop Karekin Bekchian, Locum Tenens of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, made remarks. The Locum Tenens expressed his joy on the occasion of convening of the Church Representative Assembly, which is aimed at regulating and benefitting the church life and efficiency of the Church mission. He also reflected on the progress and achievements by the church over the recent years.
The official opening of the Assembly was followed by nomination and election of officers and committees. The Assembly elected Archbishop Khajag Barsamian (Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America) and Mr. Levon Sargsyan (Araratian Pontifical Diocese), to serve as Co-Chairman, and Bishop Abraham Mkrtchyan (Diocese of Vayots Dzor) and Dr. Varoujan Altebarmakyan (US Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America) to serve as Vice-Co-Chairman.

During the first session the election of the secretaries, audit and rules committee was held. His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, and Mr. Levon Sargsyan (Araratyan Pontifical Diocese), were elected as co-chairman of the Assembly. The positions of co-Vice Chairman was assumed by His Eminence Archbishop Abraham Mkrtchyan, Primate of the Diocese of Vayots Dzor, and Dr. Varoujan Altebarmakian, member of the Supreme Spirital Council (Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America). (Quelle: www.armenianchurch.org, 6. Juni 2017)