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Armenian Second TV Channel
Armenian Church and Armenian State have much to do. RA president meets
with the Supreme Spiritual Council
27 - February / 2009 : 20:00
February 26 afternoon, President Serge Sargsyan hosted His Holiness
Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and the members of the Supreme
Spiritual Council. President mentioned that the previous similar
meeting took place few days after the Holy Chrism consecration and
said he is happy to host again and ready to continue talks on
state-church cooperation and other issues of interest.
Serge Sargsyan was pleased to mention that the tight cooperation
between the state and Holy Echmiadzin is being reinforced on daily
basis and that he is happy with the fact. He also stated he believes
it should always be like that. 'This is not connected with any
particular period of time', president said, 'it is the mission of the
church and the state. Both the church and the state need to supplement
each other'. In president's words, 'in the process of formation of a
new society - and our society is in the process of formation `
these relations are extremely important'.
Noting that in hardest moments our people's last hope has always been
the faith for God Serge Sargsyan said it is thanks to the prayers and
great merit of our church that we have succeeded in crossing the
routes of the centuries, gaining statehood by the end of the 20th
century and going on.
President also stated his confidence that by having a statehood and
bringing our people to that haven do not diminish the church role,
and, on the contrary, under the conditions of new challenges, new
problems and in the process of solutions of those problems, if our
state and church agree in key issues we may achieve new successes.
In Serge Sargsyan's words 'Armenian Apostolic Church is one the
world's most ancient institutions which has been acting continuously
for more than 1700 years. It is also our most ancient cultural and
educational institution. It is impossible to think for a more
experienced and authoritative ally for the state structures of the
Republic of Armenia.'
President highlighted the mission of the Supreme Spiritual Council in
the deed of regular development of relations between the Armenian
Apostolic and her sister churches, as well as of preservation of unity
of the Armenian Church.
According to Serge Sargsyan today's financial and economic crisis is
not limited to the financial and economic issues and it is quite
possible that it can turn into a spiritual crisis. It is evident that
in the hour of temptation expectations for help increase. People have
seen that both state and the church help and support in the moments of
disaster. In president's words, 'today, the government undertaken
measures inspire hope that we will succeed in bringing the crisis
impacts to the minimum, but we should be able not only to bring them
to a minimum but in parallel with that encourage patriotism and
morale. Only through this we can move forth.'
The head of the country also noted that 'for still more years our
state will be unable at diplomatic and other official levels to have
such representation throughout the world as our church has
today. Therefore, both in the aspect of representation of Armenia's
issues and interests and in the initiatives of collaboration with the
Diaspora the state is going to greatly need the church's support, and
we still have a lot to do to develop more efficient mechanisms for a
joint work in that issues'.
President ascertained once more that in the future as well the
Republic of Armenia is going to continue its support in the
preservation and development of the spiritual culture, education and
humanitarian institutions and monuments under the responsibility of
the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Noting that the Supreme Spiritual Council extended sessions take place
twice a year at the Holy See of Mother Echmiadzin His Holiness Karekin
II said that today was the first session of the year and in the agenda
of the session are included issues both concerning the church inner
life organization and relations with the Dioceses and sister churches
and separate phenomena in the national life.
in Vehapar's words, any priest being educated in the seminary are
brought up with spirit and conscience that his service is purported by
the service to God and the Motherland for the sake of reinforcement of
the Armenian statehood and contribution of his humble mite in that
deed. His Holiness also said that the Armenian Apostolic Church
together with her diocese makes all the efforts to conduct her mission
and support fully for the sake of strengthening and prosperity of the
Homeland and for its bright future.
Afterwards the participants of the meetings discussed a wide scope of
issues interesting the high ranking priests. In particular, the
debates on the National Identity Day inclusion in the list of holidays
by the National Assembly, the issues that the Georgian Diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church faces, as well as the cooperation with the
Armenian communities of other religions and changed beliefs and full
establishment of Armenian identity among them.
Holy fathers greeted republic's president's attention towards the
national issues and readiness to meet the church and issues
interesting the church.
Armenian Church and Armenian State have much to do. RA president meets
with the Supreme Spiritual Council
27 - February / 2009 : 20:00
February 26 afternoon, President Serge Sargsyan hosted His Holiness
Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and the members of the Supreme
Spiritual Council. President mentioned that the previous similar
meeting took place few days after the Holy Chrism consecration and
said he is happy to host again and ready to continue talks on
state-church cooperation and other issues of interest.
Serge Sargsyan was pleased to mention that the tight cooperation
between the state and Holy Echmiadzin is being reinforced on daily
basis and that he is happy with the fact. He also stated he believes
it should always be like that. 'This is not connected with any
particular period of time', president said, 'it is the mission of the
church and the state. Both the church and the state need to supplement
each other'. In president's words, 'in the process of formation of a
new society - and our society is in the process of formation `
these relations are extremely important'.
Noting that in hardest moments our people's last hope has always been
the faith for God Serge Sargsyan said it is thanks to the prayers and
great merit of our church that we have succeeded in crossing the
routes of the centuries, gaining statehood by the end of the 20th
century and going on.
President also stated his confidence that by having a statehood and
bringing our people to that haven do not diminish the church role,
and, on the contrary, under the conditions of new challenges, new
problems and in the process of solutions of those problems, if our
state and church agree in key issues we may achieve new successes.
In Serge Sargsyan's words 'Armenian Apostolic Church is one the
world's most ancient institutions which has been acting continuously
for more than 1700 years. It is also our most ancient cultural and
educational institution. It is impossible to think for a more
experienced and authoritative ally for the state structures of the
Republic of Armenia.'
President highlighted the mission of the Supreme Spiritual Council in
the deed of regular development of relations between the Armenian
Apostolic and her sister churches, as well as of preservation of unity
of the Armenian Church.
According to Serge Sargsyan today's financial and economic crisis is
not limited to the financial and economic issues and it is quite
possible that it can turn into a spiritual crisis. It is evident that
in the hour of temptation expectations for help increase. People have
seen that both state and the church help and support in the moments of
disaster. In president's words, 'today, the government undertaken
measures inspire hope that we will succeed in bringing the crisis
impacts to the minimum, but we should be able not only to bring them
to a minimum but in parallel with that encourage patriotism and
morale. Only through this we can move forth.'
The head of the country also noted that 'for still more years our
state will be unable at diplomatic and other official levels to have
such representation throughout the world as our church has
today. Therefore, both in the aspect of representation of Armenia's
issues and interests and in the initiatives of collaboration with the
Diaspora the state is going to greatly need the church's support, and
we still have a lot to do to develop more efficient mechanisms for a
joint work in that issues'.
President ascertained once more that in the future as well the
Republic of Armenia is going to continue its support in the
preservation and development of the spiritual culture, education and
humanitarian institutions and monuments under the responsibility of
the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Noting that the Supreme Spiritual Council extended sessions take place
twice a year at the Holy See of Mother Echmiadzin His Holiness Karekin
II said that today was the first session of the year and in the agenda
of the session are included issues both concerning the church inner
life organization and relations with the Dioceses and sister churches
and separate phenomena in the national life.
in Vehapar's words, any priest being educated in the seminary are
brought up with spirit and conscience that his service is purported by
the service to God and the Motherland for the sake of reinforcement of
the Armenian statehood and contribution of his humble mite in that
deed. His Holiness also said that the Armenian Apostolic Church
together with her diocese makes all the efforts to conduct her mission
and support fully for the sake of strengthening and prosperity of the
Homeland and for its bright future.
Afterwards the participants of the meetings discussed a wide scope of
issues interesting the high ranking priests. In particular, the
debates on the National Identity Day inclusion in the list of holidays
by the National Assembly, the issues that the Georgian Diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church faces, as well as the cooperation with the
Armenian communities of other religions and changed beliefs and full
establishment of Armenian identity among them.
Holy fathers greeted republic's president's attention towards the
national issues and readiness to meet the church and issues
interesting the church.