Taulum/Udzatsum

[sen_Vahan]

MJ,

 

the site gives a wrong information about the title - Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church. it is simple not orthodox. The first reason why the orthodox and catholic churches are different is theological.The first reason why the arm church is not orthodox or catholic is also the same - theological differencies. (whether it was done for some political reasons is another problem). have you ever heard in Armenia the phrase haykakan ugapar ekegezi??

 

I guess you should read about monophysits and their heresy in the 5th century. (I think you may know all these things)And how armenians became monophysits and what was the attitude of the Orthodox Church toward monophysits.

 

And just to remind you that there are only several so-called apostolic churches with monophysit theology.(two other in africa)

 

My best,

Vahan

[sen_Vahan]

By the way, look at this - something about monophysits (historical though not theological)

http://www.osa.ceu.hu/galeria/sites/com200.../kosminski.html

[sen_Vahan]

A better source - http://mb-soft.com/believe/txc/monophys.htm

 

there is something about oriental orthodoxy too.

 

talk to you later,

Vahan

[MosJan]

haw do you know if some one is ASSIMILATED or not??

what makles one a ASSIMILATED Armenian -

 

Thanks / Movses

[MJ]

Vahan,

 

With all due respect, I don't think you have studied the subject sufficiently.

 

The Armenian Church is Orthodox and it is Catholic. There are no serious theological differences between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. The differences are of ritualistic, traditionalistic,cultural and polemic character.

 

Additionally, while the Armenian Church has been qualified monohysitic, it has practically never been monoohysitic effectice the Nicean Councile, prior to which pretty much all Christian Chruces have been monopysitic, especially the first Century Christian Churches, which have predominantly been of Adoptionistic orientation.

 

But if you have information that there are serious theological differences between the Orthodox and Christian Churches, I would appreciate if you could inform us - perhaps in the Theology forum.

 

Additionally, indeed the Armenian Church is called "Hay Ughghapar Arakelakan Ekeghetsi." If someone has decided to from the "Ughghapar" term from circulation for whatever reasons, it doesn't change the situation.

[nairi]

To set the record straight once and for all, I asked two Armenian fathers, and one Armenian deacon and here's what each wrote:

 

The official name is THE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH. We'd rather be called "APOSTOLIC" because the two apostles, Thaddeus and Bartholomew were the first who (before the Gregory the Enlightner) preached the Gospel to our

nation. The mission of the church is identical with the mission of the

Apostles. Also we accept that the Church was founded by the two Apostles

rather than St. Gregory. Through St, Gregory THE NATION adopted Christianity

as a national Religion. In one sentence, by the term Apostolic Secession is

meant that the mission conferred by our Lord Jesus Christ upon the apostles

passed from them to their legitimate successors, in an unbroken line, "until

the end of the world."

 

We are also called "Gregorian," mainly by the Anglican church, labeling us

that through the Gregory the Illuminator we accepted Christianity,

therefore we are not the oldest church. We are also called "Orthodox" which,

as you know, means doctrinally sound, agree, "Ooghapar" to the Scripture.

Have in mind that the Armenian Church is the oldest church, and the Armenian

Nation was the first to accept the Christianity as her national Religion.

The Roman Church came twenty years later.

 

Father Aram Stepanian

 

*************************************************

 

The name of the Church is "The Apostolic, Catholic, Orthodox, Holy Church of

Armenia."

 

It IS Orthodox, Apostolic. The first bishop was St. Gregory the

Illuminator. People have called it Gregorian, but that generally is a

"put-down." Is is one of the Non-Calcedonian Orthodox churches. These

include the Indian Orhtodox Chuch, the Coptic (Egyptian) Orhtodox Church,

the Ethiopian Orhtodox Church, the Eritrean Orthodox Church and the Syrian

Orhtodox Church. These churches have also been called "Oriental Orthdox"

churches and also "Lesser Orthodox" churches.

 

There also is a Armenian Catholic church which is in communion with the

Roman Catholic Pope of Rome and the West.

 

There also is a larger body of Orhtodox Churches known as the Eastern

Orthodox Church. These include Greek, Russian, Ukranian, Georgian, Serbian,

Rumanian, Antiochian, Bulgarian and others.

 

Garabed A. Sarkessian

The Apostolic, Catholic, Orthodox, Holy Church of Armenia

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

USA

 

*************************************************

 

Yes, we are "arakelagan" or apostolic. And yes, we are "ooghapar" or orthodox. We are NOT "Lusavorchagan" or Gregorian, although it is a common way for others to refer to us. It is incorrect. That implies that St. Gregory the Illuminator founded our Church in 301 A.D., and denies the fact that we were founded by Christ himself during the Last Supper. The Church which Christ establised on earth came to Armenia through the aposltes St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew.

 

You can claim that the Armenian Church is both Apostolic and Orthodox, and you would be correct. Also remember that we are not Gregorian. However, keep in mind that we are more than that as well.

 

We are ONE in that Christ founded one church. There can be only one church, and not many, and as such, the Church is indivisible.

 

We are HOLY, and the holiness comes from God. We are holy to the extent that the members of the Church live in communion with God. The Church has two parts: The earthly, "militant" or "fighting" church and the heavenly "triumphant" church. The heavenly church is purely holy, the earthly church suffers from sin and error, which separates us from this diving holiness.

 

We are UNIVERSAL in that the Church is understood to be the same throughout time and space. The church is always present.

 

We are APOSTOLIC because we were founded by two of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, Thaddeus and Bartholomew. It also describes the mission of the Church. We have "been sent" to accomplish a task, and this should not be overlooked. "As Christ was sent by God, so Christ Himself chose and sent His apostles."

 

We are ORTHODOX because our doctrines and practices are held to be true by the dominant section of the worldwide Christian Church (not only Armenians). The word ORTHODOX comes from the Greek, meaning "right or correct way".

 

And finally, we are ARMENIAN, because our Church is an autocephalous, national church. It is the Christian Church of the Armenian People.

 

The Official name in English (Long form):

 

The One Holy Universal Apostolic Orthodox Armenian Church

 

The Official Name in English (Short form):

 

The Armenian Church

 

The Official Name in Armenian (Long form):

 

Hayastanyayts Mi Soorp Gatoghikeh Arakelagan Ooghapar Yegeghetzi

 

The Official Name in Armenian (Short form):

 

Hayastanyayts Yegeghetzi

 

Deacon Armen Devejian

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

 

*************************************************

 

I hope this helps.

 

Nairi

 

[ August 15, 2002, 01:43 AM: Message edited by: nairi ]