Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople Archbishop Sahak Mashalian has proposed establishing a synodal structure as a way out of the crisis in relations between the authorities and the Church. He made the statement at the opening session of the Bishops’ Assembly held in Vienna, the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople reported.
According to him, such a body would strengthen the positions of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Catholicos of All Armenians. He also proposed setting a specific date for convening the National Ecclesiastical Assembly.
Mashalian noted that it would be appropriate for the Bishops’ Assembly to elect 12 senior bishops to support the Catholicos in the governance of the Mother See during this period.
The Patriarch of Constantinople emphasized that some actions and statements have deepened the current situation.
He expressed the view that the Supreme Spiritual Council has lost authority and suggested that certain opposition clergy could also be involved in the synodal structure, which could help find solutions during a transitional period.
“This synodal arrangement could prepare the ground for seeking and finding solutions in relations with the government. The Supreme Patriarch has always considered establishing such a structure — I personally know this — but the idea has never been implemented.
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 the Supreme Patriarch will be undesirably weakened,” he said.
A synodal structure is regarded as the highest governing body in church administration, composed of senior clergy.
Participants of the Bishops’ Assembly in Austria reaffirmed in a statement their loyalty to Etchmiadzin and the Catholicos. They called on the Armenian authorities to cease persecution of the Church and to respect its centuries-old autonomy. The participants also expressed hope that the issues would be resolved through dialogue.
On February 14, it became known that Armenia’s Prosecutor’s Office had initiated criminal proceedings against Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II over alleged failure to enforce a court ruling in the case of the former head of the Masis Diocese, and had imposed a travel ban preventing him from leaving Armenia.
