| The Catholicos-Patriarch of the House of Cilicia of the Armenian Catholics |
| I. On the Title Catholicos: The word ‘Catholicos’ means “the general head” or “general bishop” of a Church. It can be considered as equivalent to “universal Bishop.” This title and rank is much more ancient than the title ‘Patriarch’ in the Church. By the end of the third century or by the beginning of the fourth, certain bishops of important cities or provincial capitals in the Roman empire gained preeminence above other bishops and they came to be known as Metropolitans. The Ecumenical Councils of the fourth century recognized the authority of these Metropolitans. By the fifth century the Bishops of the major cities of Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, and Antioch gained jurisdiction over the churches of their surrounding cities. Gradually they became the heads of each independent regional Church and were called 'Patriarch' which means ‘common father.’ The same rank in the Churches outside the Roman Empire was called 'Catholicos.' Thus, there were three ancient Catholicates in the Church before the fifth century. They were the Catholicate of the East (Persia), the Catholicate of Armenia and the Catholicate of Georgia. -adapted from: http://malankaraorthodoxchurch II. On the Role and Authority of Patriarchs: Just as the Pope of Rome sits on the throne of Saint Peter, the Armenian Catholicos- Patriarch, according to the expression of the ancient historian Saint Movses Khorenats'i, likewise "sits on the throne of Thaddaeus." Thus he is "father and head" of the Armenian Catholic Church. As such, he maintains the Apostolic Faith which was first preached in Armenia by Saints Thaddaeus & Bartholomew. As head of the Armenian Catholic Church, Catholicos Nerses-Bedros XIX, is in full Communion with the Patriarch of the West, Francis, Pope of Rome -as well as with the Patriarchs and Bishops of the autonomous Catholic Churches. Just as Sts. Thaddaeus and Bartholomew (who went to Armenia) were in communion with Sts. Peter and Paul (who went to Rome) and Gregory the Illuminator was in communion with St. Sylvester of Rome, so today the Catholicos-Patriarch Nerses Bedros maintains communion with the ecumenical and Catholic Church. As Saint Peter held a primacy among the other Holy Apostles so also the Pope of Rome holds a primacy among the Apostles' successors: the Patriarchs and Bishops. Yet this should not diminish or alter the Patriarchs' own God-given apostolic authority. -Rev. Sub-Dn Lazarus W. Der-Ghazarian, M.A. III. Vatican II Statements on Patriarchs: The Second Vatican Council Fathers made some very important statements about the authority of and honor due to the Patriarchs of the Eastern Churches. Thus the Second Vatican Council Fathers stated: The patriarchate, as an institution, has existed in the Church from the earliest times and was recognized by the first ecumenical councils. By the name Eastern Patriarch, is meant the bishop to whom belongs jurisdiction over all bishops, not excepting metropolitans, clergy and people of his own territory or rite, in accordance with canon law and without prejudice to the primacy of the Roman Pontiff. By the most ancient tradition of the Church, the Patriarchs of the Eastern Churches are to be accorded special honor, seeing that each is set over his patriarchate as father and head. The Patriarchs with their synods are the highest authority for all business of the patriarchate, including the right of establishing new eparchies and of nominating bishops of their rite within the territorial bounds of the patriarchate, without prejudice to the inalienable right of the Roman Pontiff to intervene in individual cases. -from: Orientalium Ecclesiarum (The Eastern Churches, par. 7-9) |
| "Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." -St. Mt. 18:18 |
| Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator & St. Elias the Prophet |
| Catholicos Nerses Tarmouni is the nineteenth Armenian Patirarch to be re-united with the successor of Soorp Bedros, Patriarch of Rome. He is thus titled: Nerses Bedros XIX. |
| The Patriarchal Monastery of Bzommar Home of the Armenian Monks of Saint Anthony of the Desert |
| Armenian Martyrs Monument Armenian Catholic Patriarchate, Beruit, Lebanon |
| His Beatitude Stepan Bedros (Stephen Peter) X Azarian, Catholicos-Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenian Catholics. (1881-1899), surrounded by fellow hierarchs. On His Beatitude's right is the future Catholicos, Boghos Bedros (Paul Peter) XI Emmanuelian, who ascended the Patriarchal throne in 1899. |
| This painting, from the St. Gregory Chapel, depicts the meeting in Rome between Pope St. Sylvester and St. Gregory the Illuminator. The Roman Emperor, St. Constantine, and the Armenian King, St. Tiridates, look on in approval. The rainbow in the background symbolizes unity between the Armenian and Roman Churches. |
| The Venerable Vartabed Abbot Mekhitar of Sebastia Founder of the Mekhitarist Order |