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"THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: BREAKING THE SILENCE". BISHOP BAGRAT: GENOCIDE RECOGNITION IS STARTING WITH STRENGTHENING OUR INNER LIFE
Ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Aysor.am
presents a special project within which we shall consider cultural,
scientific and social projects implementing these days.
On April 23, Canonization Service of the victims of the Armenian
genocide will be held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Today
we talked to Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan who is the head of Armenian
Church Social Doctrine Department at Mother See.
-Father Bishop, how does the Canonization take place? Does our church
have a special procedure for this service?
- The Church has adopted the same Canonization of the Saints which is
accepted in Universal Church. The Armenian Church being a general,
complete and integral part of Universal Church gave a special place
to saints in its worship, as light poles, faith leaders and sample
prayer-gifts for believers.
Even though the source of holiness is God Himself, but the people
who have declared to be holy, are included into the church calendar
as celebrative and commemorative saints.
The Armenian Church has accepted and recognized spiritual heroism of
those who has died for the confession of faith testimony, who has
had magic in his lifetime or after death, who has been outstanding
preachers of God's word, widespread faith and orthodox religious
protection.
The specific process or method of the Canonization or Saints'
canonicity of Armenian Church is not preserved. According to studies
it is classified into three important classes, first: holy ones were
those who have been well known people while living or dead, whose
relics have been honored, graves have become places of pilgrimage,
and their death or martyrdom have been celebrated as the anniversary
of Joy. Second: holy persons were those who as bishops have been
recognized saints by the Church through people's piety and respect.
And third: who have been involved into the church calendar by Church
Higher power order.
Speaking about Canonization Service I must say, that it is drawn by
the Canonization Commission, validated in Episcopal congregations
and then blessed by His Holiness Catholicos of Cilicia.
It contains psalm written, evidence of saints, icon anoints,
exposition of relics, consecration of respect and most pivotal is
the declaration of saints, by which Church proclaims their spiritual
courage, classifies them among the saints and includes in its calendar.
- Collective canonization of Genocide victims will be held. What is
the feature of it and are there other cases similar to canonization?
- The principle of Canonization in Armenian Church has made "For the
sake of Jesus and for the Motherland" formula expression established
in the 5th century. Being an indivisible union of faith and ideas
of Christian homeland up to these days plays a key role in shaping
spiritual thinking and savoir mission of the Church.
The Church's canonization procedure is recovered and becomes a
continuous process with Armenian genocide victims' canonization Service
as the supreme example of spiritual heroism and loyalty to Christ.
Naturally, in case of the continuation of this process, the names of
specific individuals will be also classified as saints after several
studies and facts synthesis. And the common or collective canonization
has always been a pillar of spiritual life with the help of which
events such as Vardanants 1036 witnesses, Sts. Leontius (Ghevondiants)
priest class, Holy Children of Bethlehem, Forty children of Sebastian
are celebrated.
- What will give us Armenian genocide victims' canonization and whether
it can somehow influence on the recognition and condemnation process?
- First of all I would like to mention that the canonization itself
does not contain political orientation or elements and it has and
should have spiritual meaning and understanding.
Thereby the church proclaims the knowingly martyrdom, self-devotion
and self-sacrifice of a person or persons who do not renounce their
faith and are martyred. The church calls it spiritual heroism.
I can't say what it will give in outside world, but for me Genocide
recognition begins with the strengthening of our inner life.
This is the evidenced of being "God's own people", which invites us
to collective heroism, to analyze the lessons of past and accidents,
to assess the present and the signs of our time.
It calls us to shape our collective, public thinking, state, national
strategies and policies, our people's spiritual and physical security
and protection, our reclamation of a fair trial, the need to create
a common platform for national security and finally the upbringing
and education of future generations appropriate to our spiritual
awareness for the Lord himself chose us.
23.04.15, 16:38
http://www.aysor.am/en/news/2015/04/23/%E2%80%9CThe-Armenian-Genocide-Breaking-the-Silence%E2%80%9D-Bishop-Bagrat-Genocide-recognition-is-starting-with-strengthening-our-inner-life/940454
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Aysor.am
presents a special project within which we shall consider cultural,
scientific and social projects implementing these days.
On April 23, Canonization Service of the victims of the Armenian
genocide will be held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Today
we talked to Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan who is the head of Armenian
Church Social Doctrine Department at Mother See.
-Father Bishop, how does the Canonization take place? Does our church
have a special procedure for this service?
- The Church has adopted the same Canonization of the Saints which is
accepted in Universal Church. The Armenian Church being a general,
complete and integral part of Universal Church gave a special place
to saints in its worship, as light poles, faith leaders and sample
prayer-gifts for believers.
Even though the source of holiness is God Himself, but the people
who have declared to be holy, are included into the church calendar
as celebrative and commemorative saints.
The Armenian Church has accepted and recognized spiritual heroism of
those who has died for the confession of faith testimony, who has
had magic in his lifetime or after death, who has been outstanding
preachers of God's word, widespread faith and orthodox religious
protection.
The specific process or method of the Canonization or Saints'
canonicity of Armenian Church is not preserved. According to studies
it is classified into three important classes, first: holy ones were
those who have been well known people while living or dead, whose
relics have been honored, graves have become places of pilgrimage,
and their death or martyrdom have been celebrated as the anniversary
of Joy. Second: holy persons were those who as bishops have been
recognized saints by the Church through people's piety and respect.
And third: who have been involved into the church calendar by Church
Higher power order.
Speaking about Canonization Service I must say, that it is drawn by
the Canonization Commission, validated in Episcopal congregations
and then blessed by His Holiness Catholicos of Cilicia.
It contains psalm written, evidence of saints, icon anoints,
exposition of relics, consecration of respect and most pivotal is
the declaration of saints, by which Church proclaims their spiritual
courage, classifies them among the saints and includes in its calendar.
- Collective canonization of Genocide victims will be held. What is
the feature of it and are there other cases similar to canonization?
- The principle of Canonization in Armenian Church has made "For the
sake of Jesus and for the Motherland" formula expression established
in the 5th century. Being an indivisible union of faith and ideas
of Christian homeland up to these days plays a key role in shaping
spiritual thinking and savoir mission of the Church.
The Church's canonization procedure is recovered and becomes a
continuous process with Armenian genocide victims' canonization Service
as the supreme example of spiritual heroism and loyalty to Christ.
Naturally, in case of the continuation of this process, the names of
specific individuals will be also classified as saints after several
studies and facts synthesis. And the common or collective canonization
has always been a pillar of spiritual life with the help of which
events such as Vardanants 1036 witnesses, Sts. Leontius (Ghevondiants)
priest class, Holy Children of Bethlehem, Forty children of Sebastian
are celebrated.
- What will give us Armenian genocide victims' canonization and whether
it can somehow influence on the recognition and condemnation process?
- First of all I would like to mention that the canonization itself
does not contain political orientation or elements and it has and
should have spiritual meaning and understanding.
Thereby the church proclaims the knowingly martyrdom, self-devotion
and self-sacrifice of a person or persons who do not renounce their
faith and are martyred. The church calls it spiritual heroism.
I can't say what it will give in outside world, but for me Genocide
recognition begins with the strengthening of our inner life.
This is the evidenced of being "God's own people", which invites us
to collective heroism, to analyze the lessons of past and accidents,
to assess the present and the signs of our time.
It calls us to shape our collective, public thinking, state, national
strategies and policies, our people's spiritual and physical security
and protection, our reclamation of a fair trial, the need to create
a common platform for national security and finally the upbringing
and education of future generations appropriate to our spiritual
awareness for the Lord himself chose us.
23.04.15, 16:38
http://www.aysor.am/en/news/2015/04/23/%E2%80%9CThe-Armenian-Genocide-Breaking-the-Silence%E2%80%9D-Bishop-Bagrat-Genocide-recognition-is-starting-with-strengthening-our-inner-life/940454
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress