Holy Etchmiadzin

When people of faith recognize that we have much in common and that we can learn from each other, hearts connect and friendships are established.  Focusing on what we share rather than on what divides makes for productive conversations. It would be nice if the politicians in Washington could figure this out, but that is for another day!   What a pleasure to make new friends in my meetings in Etchmiadzin with the representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church’s ecumenical office.   Bishop Hovakim, who leads their ecumenical delegation, welcomed me warmly and has connected me with the right people to talk about their growing and vibrant church.  At first, I think, he seemed a bit suspicious—I think he might have thought I came to teach rather than learn!  At 35, he is the youngest bishop in their church.  He is a forward thinking conservative and was excited to hear about Sewanee and hopes that I can connect him with the School of Theology for them to send a seminarian!

With Deacon Tsloak in front of Mayr Tacher

 Bishop Hovakim’s administrative assistant, Vardwhi, couldn’t have been more welcoming from the beginning.  She kept opening doors for me when at first they seemed to be closing.  Deacon Tsolak, another one of Bishop Hovakim’s assistants, led Case and me on a tour of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin, the Armenian Church’s “Vatican” where the head of their faith, the Catholikos resides and presides in Mayr Tacher Cathedral.  Deacon Tsolak is young---23 years old.  Their seminaries are growing and more and more young men (they do not ordain women) are answering calls to ordained vocations in the church.  Ideally, you will enter seminary at 18 after high school and spend four years getting your bachelor’s degree and another two getting your masters of divinity.  After that, you are ordained a transitional deacon and you serve in this capacity for three years.  Unlike our transitional deaconate in the Episcopal Church in which we typically only serve as a Deacon for six months (not usually longer than a year), this diaconal period is another period of discernment.  At this time, the deacon must decide if he will marry or remain celibate, entering the monastic orders.  Their bishops, like bishops in the other Oriental and  Eastern Orthodox tradition, can only be called from the monastic, celibate order of priests.  So Tsolak says he has some serious decisions to make in the next six months! 

Their mother church, Mayr Tacher, was built over the site of a pagan temple soon after the nation became Christian in 301.  The Christian faith was brought to Armenia by two of the Apostles, Thaddeus and Bartholomew, within a decade of Christ’s death and resurrection.  Politically at this time, Armenia was a vassal state of the Roman Empire.  Near the end of the 3^rd century, a beautiful virgin, Hripsime, fled from Rome to Armenia to escape the advances of the Roman Emperor Diocletian.  Diocletian sent word to King Trdat III of Armenia that he must acquire this beauty for his own.  Hripsime refused his advances and she, along with 40 other virgins who came to Armenia with her from Rome, were martyred. After this, King Trdat acquired a terrible skin disease that left his face disfigured and his body in chronic pain.  He had a dream that a Christian Bishop, Gregory the Illuminator, whom he had imprisoned in a well 12 years before, could heal him.  He sent for Gregory who prayed for him and healing occurred.  Gregory convinced Trdat to be baptized and take up the Christian faith, which he did.  The two of them decided that the whole nation should become Christian which proved to have both spiritual and political dimesnions.  The Armenian Faith takes Jesus’ words “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” seriously.  Their Bishop’s staffs have at least two serpents on them acknowledging their wisdom in both spiritually and politically.

Standing in the ruins of 6th century Zvartnots Cathedral
Considered by Hellenistic Historians to be the most beautiful
buildingin the world at the time and an architectural feat, it was
destroyed by an earthquake in the 10th century.

My Church History professor, Don Armentrout, always said it is only by the grace and will of God that the Episcopal Church exists, considering that a bishop never set foot on American soil during colonial days as well as other mitigating factors.   The Holy Spirit is alive and working in the Episcopal Church.  Likewise, I believe that the Armenian Apostolic Church and Armenia exist through the grace and will of God fueled by the Holy Spirit.  Since the year 301, Armenia has clung to her Oriental Orthodox faith as it was received in spite of great odds against this happening.   Like the people of Israel, their numerous political defeats, including the Turkish genocide of 1918, did not lead to their assimilation into other faiths.  Their oppressors finally gave up and let them worship God as they chose. 

Amazing detail of an eagle on the capital on a surviving
column at Zvartnots. These massive columns still standing
supported the tallest barrel rotunda dome in the world
when the Cathedral was built.

Throughout the centuries, they continued to build churches and to worship the Trinitarian God.   I am struck by a theological premise they have claimed.  All of their churches have several altars, but the main altar is always dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God (Theotokas—the God Bearer).  They often include an image of St. Mary holding the Christchild.  They believe and expect that at the celebration of Communion, Christ is born again in the people’s lives and that we are all meant, as the mystic Meister Eckhart wrote, “to be mothers of God in our own time and place.”  Christ is being born anew in the hearts and lives of the Armenian people through their passion and commitment to the Gospel through their church. We are co-creators with God in building the Kingom of God's justice and peace in our own time.  Wisely, they are focusing on their children and youth and have powerful youth programs.  They are taking care of the poor of Armenia, whose numbers can be overwhelming, through soup kitchens and other assistance.  I am amazed at their tenacity and their vibrant faith. 

Icon of The Mother of God, typically over the main
altars in Armenian Apostolic Churches.
We are all meant to be Mothers of God in our own time and day!

Deacon Tsolak standing next to the silver urn in which
the Catholikos blesses holy muir (oil) every 7 years.
This oil is the only holy oil used sacramentally in Chrismation
extreme unction by Armenian Christians all over the world.
(Icon of St. George slaying the dragon---important Saint for Armenians)

Pax