Latest news with #AramI
OC Media
09-07-2025
- Politics
- OC Media
Armenian Catholicos of Cilicia offers to mediate in ‘shameful' feud between church and Yerevan
Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member Armenian Catholicos Aram I of Cilicia has offered to mediate between the Armenian Church and the government in their ongoing conflict. Aram I's statement was published by the Armenian Orthodox Church's website on Wednesday. 'It is a shame, a thousand shames! The current unhealthy and anti-national atmosphere created in the life of our beloved Homeland, Armenia', said the Catholicos of Cilicia. 'Unfortunately, the words of the Armenian language are not enough to describe my pain'. Aram I is the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon, the see responsible for Armenian communities in the Middle Eastern diaspora, functioning autonomously from the Mother See of Etchmiadzin in Armenia. 'The atmosphere that has recently emerged within the two nation-building and patriot-building structures of our nation, Holy Etchmiadzin and the National Assembly, is deeply shameful and condemnable to me', he said. Aram I goes on to say that 'mistakes, omissions, polarisations, and confrontations […] need to be discussed through specific processes and in a calm atmosphere, so that appropriate solutions can be reached'. He noted that he has not visited Armenia for about six years, and that he had 'thought a lot' about visiting to help 'calm the storm that has been created', but decided against it due to 'unfounded and ongoing statements' made in parliament that 'distort our moral, spiritual, and national values, as well as the arrests that are taking place'. Advertisement 'However, I remain committed to coming to the Homeland at any time and consulting with Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, and other responsible officials, so that we can seek viable solutions to get Armenia out of the difficult situation it has created.' Tensions between the Armenian Church's Holy See in Etchmiadzin and the government have been at an all-time high for months, with the two exchanging insults and accusations since late May, when Pashinyan claimed that churches in Armenia were being turned into 'storerooms'. The accusations further escalated, with Pashinyan, his wife, Anna Hakobyan, and senior members of the ruling Civil Contract party regularly accusing high-ranking clergy, including Catholicos Karekin II, of breaking their celibacy vows. Pashinyan has since regularly demanded that Karekin II admit that fathered a child. In June, at least 15 were detained as part of an alleged coup plot against the government, including two high-ranking clergymen — Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan. The authorities claim that Galstanyan's anti-government movement, Holy Struggle, spearheaded the plot to overthrow the government. He was arrested on 25 June for allegedly plotting 'terrorist attacks and a coup d'état'. Ajapahyan, who was wanted for making public calls for usurping powers, surrendered himself to the authorities on 27 June, after police attempted and failed to apprehend him at Etchmiadzin Cathedral as supporters of the church prevented them from reaching the archbishop.
New Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Oriental Orthodox Churches intervene to mediate Malankara Church dispute
KOTTAYAM: In a major development in the efforts to resolve the disputes between Jacobite and Orthodox groups within the Malankara Church, the Oriental Orthodox Churches have stepped forward to facilitate peace negotiations. The 15th meeting of the heads of the three Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East, which concluded at St Bishoy's Monastery in Wadi El Natrun, Egypt, on Sunday, decided to invite Mor Baselios Joseph, Catholicos of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church and Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, to Cairo for discussions and help restore peace and unity in Malankara Church. As per the decision, which was taken to strengthen the internal unity and integrity of the Oriental Orthodox Family, Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St Mark, and Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Orthodox Church of the Great House of Cilicia will lead the discussions in the presence of Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church. The date and further details will be released in accordance with the responses from both factions. Jacobite Church welcomes decision At the same time, in a major setback for the Orthodox Church, the common declaration of the Oriental Church heads' meeting noted that 'Pope Tawadros II and Catholicos Aram I also expressed their solidarity and support regarding the decision of the Universal Holy Synod of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch not to participate in any liturgical celebration and formal theological dialogues in the presence of the representatives of the separated faction of the Church in India.' Although the Orthodox faction reserved its official response for the time being, the decision has ignited significant protests among Church leaders. Orthodox Church sources said they won't accept the decisions made by only three members of the Oriental Churches as the decision of the entire Oriental Orthodox Churches.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Three Oriental Orthodox Churches seek to resolve dispute in Malankara Church
The efforts to resolve the dispute within the Malankara Church have received a boost with three Oriental Orthodox Churches stepping in to facilitate peace negotiations. According to sources, the 15th meeting of the heads of three Oriental Orthodox Churches in West Asia at St. Bishoy's Monastery in Wadi El Natrun, Egypt, the other day decided to invite Catholicos Baselios Joseph, head of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, and Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews III, Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Orthodox Church, to Cairo for discussions As per the decision, Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark; and Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Orthodox Church of the Great House of Cilicia; will lead the discussions in the presence of Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and head of the Syriac Orthodox Church. The date and further details will be released in accordance with the responses of both factions. Common declaration At the same time, a common declaration of the heads of the three Churches stated that 'Pope Tawadros II and Catholicos Aram I expressed their solidarity and support regarding the decision'' of the universal synod of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch not to participate in any liturgical celebration and formal theological dialogues in the presence of the representatives of the separated faction of the Church in India. Orthodox Church sources said they would not accept the decisions taken by only three Oriental Orthodox Churches. 'There are seven Oriental Orthodox Churches, including the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The decisions were taken in the absence of the Orthodox Churches of Ethiopia, Eretria, and Armenian Apostolic Church, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. They have no right to take such a decision,' they said. The Orthodox Church raised questions about the legitimacy of the universal synod of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch. 'To date, the Oriental Orthodox Churches have not taken any decisions regarding the participation of liturgical celebrations and theological dialogues,' said a priest. The Jacobite faction, on its part, welcomed the decisions taken by the Oriental Orthodox Churches, noting that the call from the leaders of the Oriental Orthodox Churches should be embraced with an open mind. The Oriental Orthodox Churches reject the dogmatic definitions of the Council of Chalcedon in AD 451 AD and recognise only the first three ecumenical councils of Nicaea (325), Constantinople (381), and Ephesus (431) whereas the Eastern Orthodox Churches recognise seven ecumenical councils including the first three. The Armenian Apostolic Church has two Catholicosates: the Catholicosate of All Armenians (headquartered in Etchmiadzin) and the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia (headquartered in Antelias, Lebanon).
