Supreme Spiritual Council is Unfortunately Discredited, Says Mashalyan

The Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople has presented the speech of Patriarch Sahak Mashalyan during a recent episcopal gathering held in Austria. He stated that the Supreme Spiritual Council has lost its credibility and believes that the issues concerning the opposing bishops and the deposed Bishop Gevorg should be discussed not in that council but in an assembly of bishops. He emphasized, "His Holiness the Patriarch needs an authoritative assembly during this period to help maintain composure and wisdom." According to him, "If the Mother See does not implement this administrative reform, I fear that the authority of His Holiness the Patriarch may undesirably weaken with the current composition of the Supreme Spiritual Council."

The Patriarchate has released a statement regarding this issue: "During the opening session of the recent Episcopal Assembly held in Vienna, the presiding bishops participated via video messages, delivering their words of blessing to the assembly's members. As the assembly had already taken on an advisory nature, His Holiness Sahak II, the esteemed Patriarch, transmitted the following message, directing two proposals to the attention of the assembly and His Holiness the Patriarch. The Patriarch has certain indications regarding the current situation and his views on overcoming this crisis. He proposed to create a Synodal body aimed at strengthening the positions of the Mother See and His Holiness the Patriarch and to determine a date for convening a National Ecclesiastical Assembly. The following words were directed to the bishops as internal matters for consultation. To prevent the partial circulation of information on social networks, we publish the complete remarks of His Eminence the Patriarch."

***
His Eminence Sahak II
The Patriarch of the Armenian Churches
To: His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians
To: His Holiness Aram I, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of Cilicia
To: His Eminence Nourhan, Patriarch of the Armenian Holy City of Jerusalem,
Dear Respected Brothers,
On the occasion of the Episcopal Assembly in Vienna, I greet your presence and wish you blessings and success in the upcoming sessions.

"This gathering, held outside the Mother See and overseas, highlights an issue that has disturbed and troubled the Armenian world for nearly a year, beginning from the confrontation between the authorities of Armenia and the Mother See. This assembly, which was intended to be an Assembly of Bishops, naturally transformed into a gathering of bishops, an advisory meeting due to the absence of Armenian bishops, His Holiness the Patriarch and the Patriarchs. However, this does not prevent an authoritative voice from being raised regarding the current circumstances from this gathering as well.

As the Patriarch of Constantinople, from the very beginning, I have viewed this unfortunate situation as a response to the internal political tensions of Armenia and the upcoming political elections. In opposition to this anti-Catholicos political campaign, which is much clearer from the diaspora, along with almost all churches in the diaspora, we also called for ecclesiastical unity and solidarity in support of His Holiness the Patriarch. In such crisis and turbulent situations, we find it most important to ensure ecclesiastical discipline within the ranks of the clergy without succumbing to panic, maintaining composure. Specifically, we defended the position and inviolability of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, until the internal political situation in Armenia becomes clearer following political elections. The only indisputable ecclesiastical structure that can redefine the Catholicos' status is the National Ecclesiastical Assembly. This issue is grave and gradually deepening. Opposing priests and bishops are emerging, and some of them, despite being deposed, continue to hold their positions with state support. We have imprisoned bishops who are actively engaging in politics.

In the face of all these challenges, we, the Armenian diaspora, have largely found ourselves in the position of observers and confused. The two sanctities of the Armenian people, the Church and the State, which are destined to journey together along the paths of Armenian history to provide the best for the nation, are displaying acts that wear each other down and weaken. Reciprocal provocation acts and expressions are expanding the trenches and further exacerbating relations. The Mother See now needs divine wisdom more than ever.

We humbly wish to share our opinion, a median solution, which I hope to hand over to the esteemed assembly and place under the attention of His Holiness the Patriarch. Certainly, similar ideas will be voiced during this gathering. This chaotic period has unfortunately discredited the Supreme Spiritual Council and hastily made decisions contribute to a deepening conflict and a state of impasse. This was the case with the decision on the deposition of Bishop Gevorg. The appropriate move was to wait through the assembly of bishops and address the situation of Gevorg and other opposing bishops there.

His Holiness the Patriarch needs an authoritative assembly that inspires him with tranquility and wisdom during this period, which could be a Synodal Assembly, involving certain opposing brothers. This synodal structure could prepare the ground for finding solutions in seeking an exit with the government. His Holiness has always aimed to establish such a structure; I personally know this, but this idea has never come to fruition. This is an opportunity for this Episcopal Assembly to elect twelve senior bishops to support the governance of the Mother See during this period.

If the Mother See does not undertake this administrative reform, I fear that the authority of His Holiness the Patriarch will be regrettably diminished with the current composition of the Supreme Spiritual Council. For reconciliation with the authorities and the transitional period until the convening of the National Ecclesiastical Assembly, a synodal structure could serve as a temporary solution. My second proposal would be that it would be beneficial for this Assembly of Bishops to determine a date for the long-needed National Ecclesiastical Assembly and set up a coordinating committee. This could serve as a cause for calming certain tensions.

I wish His Holiness patience, tranquility of mind and heart. Whatever benefits our church comes from the collective thoughts expressed in such assemblies is invaluable in terms of analyzing problems and finding solutions. I am confident that this episcopal gathering will also yield such fruitful results. I wish you all success in your good works.