Scholars from around the world met in Rome to discuss one of the greatest saints of the Armenian Church, in a gathering titled “Plenitude of Grace, Plenitude of Humanity: St. Nerses Shnorhali at the Juncture of Millennia.”
The conference convening from November 30 to December 1, at the Vatican’s Pontifical Oriental Institute, commemorated the 850th anniversary of Nersess Shnorali’s death by examining various aspects of his life and work: his place in history; his intellectual writings; his poetic and musical works; his role as a leader of the institutional church and as a diplomat anticipating the “ecumenical spirit”; and his distinctive perspective on Christian theology, among other matters.
The impressive roster of scholars representing numerous disciplines and several church traditions included Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Archbishop Boghos Levon Zekiyan, Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vahan Ter-Ghevondyan, Marco Bais, Azat Bozoyan, Valentina Calzolari, Benedetta Contin, Peter Cowe, Riccardo Pane, Sergio La Porta, Haig Utidjian, Armenuhi Drost-Abgaryan, Zarouhi Pogossian, Armine Melkonyan, Edda Vardanyan, Erna Shirinian.
Scholars from the Eastern Diocese were well-represented at the conference, and included Bishop Daniel Findikyan, Abraham Terian, Roberta Ervine, and Jesse Arlen, director of the Diocese’s Zohrab Center.
The proceedings went forward with the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, the Pontifical Legate of Western Europe and Representative of His Holiness Karekin II to the Vatican, conceived the commemoration of Shnorhali in Rome, and led the organizing process in tandem with the Pontifical Oriental Institute and a team of distinguished scholars and Armenian churchmen, with financial support of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
The conference was broadcast live over the Internet, and recordings of the proceedings can be viewed online. Click the following link to find the full roster of speakers and presentations, as well as video links, on the website of the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center.