Under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, more than a dozen Armenian bishops and lay leaders from around the world gathered this week for a meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council: the ecclesiastical governing body of the Armenian Church.
In an unprecedented turn, the meeting convened in New York city, at the headquarters of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America: the first time the body has met away from Armenia.
Attending were bishops from diocesan jurisdictions throughout the world, including the primates of Artsakh, the Eastern and Western U.S., Canada, France, Australia, Russia, Siunik, Georgia, and Armenia’s Araratian region. The patriarchates of Jerusalem and Constantinople also sent representatives.
Armenian General Benevolent Union president Berge Setrakian, fresh from the celebration of the AGBU’s 110th anniversary, was also an integral part of the meetings and gatherings of the week.
On October 31 and November 1, His Holiness and the 17 members of the Council convened a joint meeting with the executive bodies of the Eastern, Western, and Canadian dioceses and the AGBU, under the theme, “Bringing the Church to the People: Reaching Out to the Armenians of North America.”
In an opening overview of the joint meeting, Eastern Diocesan Council chair James Kalustian outlined three broad guiding statements for the proceedings: “Our faith is more than 2,000 years old; our church thinking is not”; “We are an innovative, transparent, and embracing church”; and “We care about our flock and are coming to the people.”
The 36 participating dignitaries discussed the emerging realities within the Armenian-American community, and the prospects for expanding the church’s ministry. The three primates of the North American dioceses-Archbishop Khajag Barsamian (Eastern U.S.), Archbishop Hovnan Derderian (Western U.S.), and Bishop Abgar Hovakimian (Canada)-answered questions and offered insight throughout the proceedings.
Presentations on specific topics were also heard. Etchmiadzin Chancellor Bishop Arshak Khachatryan gave an overview of the Supreme Spiritual Council; the Eastern Diocese’s communications director Christopher Zakian spoke on the history of the Armenian Church in America, its composition and demography; Dr. Rachel Goshgarian of Lafayette College spoke on the interplay of faith and culture in the church, through the lens of a sociological study on church life; and Western Diocesan Council chair Joseph Kanimanian spoke on ways to attract greater numbers into active church participation.
Panel discussions on issues involving youth and clergy were led by Dr. Nicole Vartanian, Arda Nazarian, and Supreme Spiritual Council members Dr. Varoujan Altebarmakian and James Kalustian. The gathering also heard of a proposed multi-million-dollar project to build housing for military families in Artsakh, to be undertaken by the Mother See.
After the joint meeting adjourned, a regular session of the Supreme Spiritual Council went forward on November 2-3, addressing ongoing matters of governance and ministry in the worldwide Armenian Church.
A number of Armenian Church leaders generously hosted dinners and social gatherings for the visiting dignitaries throughout their time in New York. A listing of the participants in the Supreme Spiritual Council gatherings appears below.
Participants in the Joint Meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council & Executive Committees: Eastern, Western & Canadian Diocesan Councils & AGBU
Presiding:
His Holiness Karekin II
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians
Supreme Spiritual Council:
Archbishop Barkev Martirossyan, Primate of Artsakh
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of Eastern Diocese
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of Western Diocese
Archbishop Eznik Petrosyan, Gen. Sec. of Armenian Bible Society
Archbishop Navasard Ktshoyan, Primate of Araratian Diocese
Archbishop Abraham Mkrtchian, Primate of Syunik
Archbishop Aram Ateshian, Patriarchal Vicar of Constantinople Patriarchate
Archbishop Yezras Nersisyan, Primate of Russia
Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, Primate of Georgia
Bishop Arshak Khachatryan, Chancellor of Holy Etchmiadzin
Bishop Haigazoun Najarian, Primate of Australia and New Zealand
Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate of France
Viulen Hakobyan, SSC member
Ruben Vardanyan, SSC member
Gevorg Danielyan, SSC participant
James Kalustian, Chair, Diocesan Council
Dr. Varoujan Altebarmakian, SSC member
Eastern Diocese:
Rev. Fr. Krikor Sabounjian, Vice-chair, Diocesan Council
Richard Norsigian, Secretary, Diocesan Council
Roseann M. Attar, Treasurer, Diocesan Council
Western Diocese:
Joseph Kanimanian, Chair, Diocesan Council
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Ash, Member, Diocesan Council
Harout Markarian, Executive Director
Derik Gookasian, Secretary, Diocesan Council
Canadian Diocese:
Bishop Abgar Hovagimyan, Primate of Canada
Apet Alpay, Chair, Diocesan Council
Ohan Ohanessian, Vice-chair, Diocesan Council
Jirair Dolar, Secretary, Diocesan Council
Antranig Sirinyan, Treasurer, Diocesan Council
AGBU:
Berge Setrakian, President
Sinan, Sinanian, Vice-President
Nazareth Festekjian
Vasken Yacoubian
Sarkis Jebejian
Arda Haratunian
Additional Staff from Holy Etchmiadzin:
Very Rev. Fr. Partev Barseghyan, Secretary of the SSC
Very Rev. Fr. Aghan Yernjakyan, Staff Bearer of His Holiness
Rev. Fr. Vahram Melikyan, Communication Department
Manya Sardishvili, Director of Shoghagat TV
Suren Ter Grigoryan, Shoghagat TV, cameraman