Liturgical Committee of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church Convenes in Antelias

Etchmiadzin, 31 January, 2014: On January 29 and 30, under the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, the Liturgical Committee of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church was convened in Antelias.
Present at the meeting were His Eminence Archbishop Komitas Ohanyan (Co-chairman); His Grace Bishop Arshak Khatchatrian (Co-chairman); His Eminence Archbishop Varujan Herkelyan; His Eminence Archbishop Sepuh Sargsyan; His Eminence Archbishop
Gegham Khacheyan; His Grace Bishop Mikael Ajapahian; His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhannisyan and Rev. Fr. Zakaria Baghumyan.
Taking into consideration the decisions made by the Bishops Synod that was convened in 2013, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the committee discussed and summed up the uniform text of the Sacrament of Holy Baptism and canonical guideline. During the meeting they also analyzed the issue of the language of the Armenian Church services.
The committee decided to further carry on their works on the moral-instructive guidelines of Holy Baptism, which will be completed in May. The next meeting of the Liturgical Committee will be convened from May 19 through 23, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Source: Information Service of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

The Commission on the Baptismal Rite of the Bishops Conference meets

Antelias, 03 February 2014:

29-30 January 2014. The members of the Commission jointly appointed by Holinesses Karekin II and Aram I met to study the recommendations and comments of the last Bishops Conference and finalize the draft on the Canon of Baptismal Rite. Under the leadership of the Co-moderators, Archbishop Komitas Mehanian (Cilicia) and Bishop Arshak Khatchadurian, (Etchmiadzin), the commission discussed language policy regarding the text of the Baptismal Rite and guidelines for teaching the Canon.
The Canon and all other documents will be finalized during the next meeting 19-23 May in Holy Etchmiadzin.
Source: The Great House of Cilicia


The Commission on the Classification of Saints of the Bishops Conference meets in Antelias
03 February 2014

27 -29 January 2013. The members of the Commission first met with His Holiness Aram I who gave them his blessings and thanked them for their work. The membership includes representatives appointed by His Holiness Karekin II of Holy Etchmiadzin and His Holiness Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia.

The Commission began its work with the Lord’s Prayer, followed by a memorial service for the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The co-moderators, Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian (Cilicia) and Bishop Arshak Khatchadurian (Etchmiadzin), opened the meeting. The members of the Commission discussed the classification process and rites for the victims of the Genocide: the canons, hymns, ordering of Saints according to dates, preparation of relics and Holy Pictures (icons of the Armenian Church) and the timetable for 2015 commemorations.

The next meeting of the Commission will be held 25-30 April in Saint Etchmiadzin.
Source: The Great House of Cilicia