Supreme Spiritual Council Has Lost Its Credibility: Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople Makes Proposal to Catholicos Karekin II

ISTANBUL — The Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople has published the address delivered by Patriarch Sahak Mashalian during the recent Episcopal Assembly held in Austria.

He stated that the Supreme Spiritual Council has lost its credibility and suggested that the issue of the dissenting bishops and the defrocked Bishop Kevork should have been discussed not within that council, but at a full Episcopal Assembly.

“At this time, His Holiness needs an authoritative collegial body that will help him maintain composure and prudence,” he said.

According to him, “If the Mother See does not implement this administrative reform, I fear that, with the current composition of the Supreme Spiritual Council, the authority of His Holiness may undesirably weaken.”

Below is the full statement released by the Patriarchate :

At the opening session of the recent Episcopal Assembly convened in Vienna, the heads of the hierarchical sees participated via video messages and offered their words of blessing to the assembled bishops. As the gathering had effectively taken on the character of a consultative meeting, His Beatitude Patriarch Sahak II of the Armenians of Turkey also delivered a message, presenting two proposals for the consideration of the assembled fathers and His Holiness the Catholicos. The Patriarch expressed certain concerns regarding the current difficult situation and offered his views on how to overcome the crisis: to establish a synodal structure to strengthen the positions of the Mother See and His Holiness, and to set a date for convening a National Ecclesiastical Assembly.

The following remarks were addressed to the bishops as an internal matter for deliberation. In order to prevent partial circulation on social media, we are publishing the Patriarch’s full address.

On the occasion of the Episcopal Assembly in Vienna, I greet your presence and wish you blessings and success in the sessions ahead.

The fact that this assembly has been convened outside the Mother See, abroad, points in itself to an issue that has unsettled and disturbed the Armenian world for nearly a year, stemming from the confrontation between the authorities of Armenia and the Mother See. Although this gathering was intended as an Episcopal Assembly, the absence of the bishops of Armenia, His Holiness the Catholicos, and the Patriarchs has naturally transformed it into a consultative meeting of bishops. Nevertheless, this does not prevent a respected and authoritative voice from being raised here regarding the present situation.

From the very first day, we, the Patriarchate of Constantinople, viewed this undesirable situation as a reflection of Armenia’s internal political tensions and the approaching political elections. From the Diaspora, this anti-Catholicos political campaign was perhaps even more clearly visible. Along with nearly all Diaspora churches, we called for ecclesiastical unity and support for His Holiness. In such a turbulent and crisis-filled period, we considered it most important to maintain church discipline within the hierarchical ranks, without succumbing to panic and while preserving calmness. In particular, we defended the position and inviolability of His Holiness Garegin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, until Armenia’s internal political situation becomes clearer following the elections. We also pointed to the National Ecclesiastical Assembly as the only unquestionable pan-church structure capable of addressing the status of the Catholicos.

The issue is serious and continues to deepen. Opposing priests and bishops are speaking out, and some, despite being defrocked, continue their activities with state backing. We also have imprisoned bishops accused of engaging in active political activity. In the face of all this, we in the Diaspora have largely been reduced to observers and are confused. The two sacred pillars of the Armenian nation — the Church and the State — which are called to walk together throughout our history for the good of the nation, are today displaying actions that weaken and exhaust one another. Provocative actions and statements on both sides widen the trenches and push relations into an even more intractable situation. The Mother See, more than ever, needs heavenly wisdom in these days.

We have a modest opinion, a middle-ground solution, which I wish to share with this esteemed assembly and submit to the attention of His Holiness. Undoubtedly, similar ideas will be voiced during this gathering.

In this period of confusion, the Supreme Spiritual Council has unfortunately lost its credibility, and decisions taken hastily and with agitation have further deepened the conflict and complicated matters. Such was the decision to defrock Bishop Gevorg. It would have been more appropriate to wait for this Episcopal Assembly and address the cases of Bishop Gevorg and the other dissenting bishops here. At this time, His Holiness needs an authoritative collegial body capable of inspiring calmness and prudence — namely, a synodal structure that would also include certain opposing brethren within its composition. Such a synodal arrangement could lay the groundwork for seeking and finding solutions with the government. His Holiness has long intended to establish such a structure — I personally know this — but this idea has never been realized.

This is an opportunity for this Episcopal Assembly to elect twelve senior bishops to stand in support of the Mother See’s governance during this period.

If the Mother See does not undertake this administrative reform, I fear that, with the current composition of the Supreme Spiritual Council, the authority of His Holiness will undesirably weaken. For reconciliation with the authorities and for managing the transitional period until the convening of the National Ecclesiastical Assembly, a synodal structure could serve as an interim solution.

My second proposal is that this Assembly of Bishops determine a date for the urgently needed National Ecclesiastical Assembly and establish an organizing committee. This could help calm certain passions.

I wish His Holiness patience and peace of mind and heart. The collective voice expressed in such assemblies is invaluable for analyzing problems and finding solutions that benefit our Church. I am confident that this Episcopal gathering will also bear such blessed results.

With best wishes for the success of good works, I wish you all fruitful deliberations.