Archbishop Vicken Aykazian is installed as President of the National Council of Churches

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, a Turkish-born priest who represents the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) in Washington, was installed Thursday (November 9) as the President of the National Council of Churches in the USA.

The installation was a moving and colorful ceremony attended by hierarchs, clergy and laity in St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York. Also installed was the NCC's new general secretary, the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, and other NCC officers. (See related story)

On January 1, 2008, the Archbishop will succeed President Michael Livingston, who has served in the office since January 2006.

His Eminence Archbishop Aykazian is the 24th NCC President since the Council's beginnings in 1950.

He is the third Orthodox president and the first from the Oriental Orthodox tradition. (Other Orthodox presidents were the Very Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, Orthodox Church in America, 1990-91, and Elenie K. Huszagh, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, 2002-03

Vicken Aykazian was born in Siirt, Turkey, in 1951. He studied theology at the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem and was ordained a deacon in 1968 and later a celibate priest in 1971.

In 1992, His Holiness Vasken I, Catholicos of All Armenians at Holy Echmiadzin in Armenia, ordained him a bishop.

Archbishop Aykazian, who holds a Ph.D in history and is working on a second Ph.D in theology at Catholic University in Washington, is an active ecumenist. In addition to his contributions to the NCC as a member of the Governing Board, he has been active in the World Council of Churches as a member of the Mission and Evangelism Unit, the Orthodox Task Force and the Central Committee.

The archbishop is the legate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) in Washington, and ecumenical officer.

He has also served as Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church in Switzerland from 1992 to 1996.

As pastor of the Armenian Church of Switzerland from 1980 to 1992, he established and organized new church communities in Zurich, Bern, Kreazlingen and Lugano.

Archbishop Aykazian is fluent in English, Armenian, French and Turkish.

Since its founding in 1950, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA has been the leading force for ecumenical cooperation among Christians in the United States.

The NCC's member faith groups -- representing a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, historic African American and Living Peace churches – include 45 million persons in more than 100,000 local congregations in communities across the nation.


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Contact Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2228, or Daniel Webster, 212-870-2252

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Boston faith leaders honor Armenian catholicos

10/12/2007
The Pilot, MA
By Neil W. McCabe Pilot Correspondent

Joining leaders of the Massachusetts Council of Churches and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis in Boston, this week Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley welcomed His Holiness Karekin II, the supreme patriarch and catholicos of the Armenian Church and affirmed his recognition of the Armenia Genocide of 1915.

“Certainly, we realize how important the theme of the genocide is to the Armenian people and we want to go on record as supporting your efforts to memorialize this and we hope that this will bring the healing and the strength to your people that is necessary,” the cardinal said is his remarks at the Oct. 8 ecumenical prayer breakfast held in honor of the visit of the catholicos.

Also at the breakfast, Catholicos Karekin was presented a copy of resolution passed by the Massachusetts Council of Churches unequivocally recognizing the reality of the genocide of the Armenian people waged by the Ottoman Turks from 1915 to 1923. The resolution was passed by the council’s board of directors earlier in the week and publicly released to coincide with the catholicos’s visit to Boston, said Rev. Jack Johnson, the council’s executive director.

The resolution has three clauses. The first rebukes and rebuts those who deny the genocide, regardless of their motivation, because denials of the certain truth of the genocide make future instances of genocide more likely. The second clause remembers those who perished, the survivors and prays for the end to all genocides. The third clause calls on all member communions of the council and their faithful to make special prayers for the Armenian people as the first Christian nation in the spirit of Christian fellowship and common witness to human suffering as exemplified by our risen Lord.

Johnson told the patriarch, “We express profound prayers of thanksgiving for you, your Holiness, for your visit among us and your leadership in rebuilding your country and the Armenian Church worldwide.”

In his own remarks, the catholicos thanked the cardinal and Rev. Johnson. “We extend our thanks for this event. We pray that God will keep our churches unified in this matter.”

Unity is an important theme in the Armenian Church, he said. “We believe in unity in the essentials and freedom in the non-essentials.”

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WCC committee advocates for vulnerable people

Oct. 3, 2007
Worldwide Faith News (press release), NY
A UMNS Report By Linda Bloom*

The location of the recent World Council of Churches executive committee meeting was just as significant as the business conducted there, according to a United Methodist participant.

Meeting Sept. 25-28 in Etchmiadzin, Armenia, the committee experienced the religious influence of the host Armenian Apostolic Church, a WCC member, and the still-significant impact of a genocide that occurred nearly a century ago.

For the Rev. Larry Pickens, an executive committee member who is chief executive of the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, the setting provided striking examples of how a church can survive under extreme conditions, including genocide and years of totalitarian rule by the Soviet Union.

"They have learned how to move forward without hate," he said.

The committee's visit included a trip to the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex near the capital of Yerevan. The council has long advocated for public recognition of the massacre of one-and-a-half million Armenians in Turkey and the deportation of another million between 1915 and 1917.

"In many ways, the ecumenical movement was born out of the forces of World War II," Pickens said. "It's a constant reminder that we have a stake in building humanity and in peacemaking."

With a strong history of Christianity dating to the fourth century, the church in Armenia is thriving, according to Pickens. Churches were open and accessible to the public, and committee members visited a seminary where young people are preparing for ministry.

The Armenian Apostolic Church "is a very vital church," he said. "Everywhere we went, there was construction going on, churches were going up."

Crisis in Darfur and Chad

Armenia's experiences were remembered as the executive committee took action to advocate for vulnerable people. "Meeting in the country of Armenia, where genocide nearly a century ago still casts a deep shadow, we reiterate the international responsibility to protect people at risk in the Darfur region of Sudan and in neighboring Chad," the WCC executive committee said in a "Minute on Darfur," which it approved.

Member churches are encouraged to advocate for the protection of people in Darfur with their governments and ask them to pay special attention to the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1706 on Darfur, the first time the Security Council has referred to the responsibility to protect in a specific country crisis.

Ecumenical delegations should make fact-finding and solidarity visits to the region including Darfur, as well as offer prayer and provide humanitarian aid, according to the executive committee.

Pickens said sending a WCC fact-finding delegation to Sudan "has been the subject of a lot of discussion," but that churches in the region had not deemed the time to be right in the past. He expects the WCC Central Committee will receive a report on a possible delegation visit when it meets next February.

Christians in Iraq

Concern also was raised about Christians in Iraq. The executive committee pointed out that while Christians represent only 4 percent of Iraq's population, they make up 40 percent of its refugees.

"Their fate speaks twice, informing overseas churches about both the general humanitarian needs in Iraq and the urgency of saving Iraq's Christian communities," said a statement on Iraq's humanitarian crisis.

Violent attacks, kidnappings and other traumas that affect Christian communities also impact Iraqi society at large. "The fate of Christians must not be seen in isolation from the fate of Muslims, or of other minorities such as the Yazidees and Mandeans, or used to worsen relations with Muslims or other groups," the statement said.

The statement called for prayers, support through church-related relief organizations and raising awareness about the general suffering of the Iraqi people, including its Christian communities.

"Church-only actions and joint initiatives with Muslims are both needed in order to show support for the people of Iraq and to make clear once again that policies of occupation do not have international church support," the statement said.

WCC member churches also need to advocate with their governments to remind them of obligations to Iraqis under the Geneva Conventions and "the need to break the international silence on the humanitarian crisis in Iraq and provide greater assistance to displaced and refugee Iraqis through organizations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration."

Pickens said it is important to make U.S. church leadership "aware of the impact that (Iraqi) Christians are feeling as a result of the war."

The concern about Christian communities should extend to other Middle Eastern countries as well, he added. "If we're truly a worldwide church, these are the type of issues we are called to speak to."

Tensions over Iran In a statement on Iran and the Middle East crisis, WCC member churches were "urged to impress upon their governments their acute concern that the U.S. and its allies must settle the dispute over Iran's nuclear program through negotiations and not through the use of military force."

The council's concern is for the protection of all citizens, including those in the United States and Israel. "Years of unilateralist military incursions in the Middle East have compromised human security and national well-being across the region and left many people vulnerable," the council said.

A "Statement on the 10th anniversary of the Kyoto Protocol" called on the 174 ratifying states to fully implement its provisions. Countries that have not ratified the treaty, such as the United States and Australia, are urged to meet strict targets to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, which are considered responsible for global warming.

*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York.

News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

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WCC NEWS: WCC executive committee to meet in Armenia

From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org
From "WCC Media"
Date Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:41:45 +0200
Worldwide Faith News (press release), NY

World Council of Churches - News Release

Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org For immediate release - 21/09/2007 12:46:37 PM

WCC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO MEET IN ARMENIA

An exposure visit hosted by the Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy See of Etchmiadzin), which includes a commemoration at the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex near the capital city of Yerevan, will precede the 25-28 September meeting of the World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee taking place in Etchmiadzin, Armenia. The WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia will visit the Etchmiadzin see of the Armenian Apostolic Church from 21-24 September. He will meet the Catholicos of All Armenians, Supreme Patriarch Karekin II, and representatives of partner ecumenical organizations in the country. Visits to St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Yerevan, where he will attend the divine liturgy (worship service), as well as to other churches and monasteries, a seminary and a youth centre are also on the schedule.

The WCC central committee moderator, Rev. Dr Walter Altmann will join the visit on Saturday, 22 September.More members of the WCC executive committee will be joining on Sunday, 23 September. On Tuesday, 25 September the WCC representatives will visit the Tsisernakaberd Genocide Memorial to express solidarity with the victims, churches and people of Armenia. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams - also currently visiting Armenia - has announced his participation at this event, too.

During its meeting, the WCC executive committee will consider public statements regarding the 10th anniversary of the Kyoto protocol, the situation in Iraq as well as the relationships between Iran and the US. The agenda of the upcoming meeting of the WCC central committee - which is to take place in Geneva from 13-20 February 2008 - will be discussed, as well as issues of membership, finances, programmes and an evaluation of the Council's governing bodies work. A report on the ongoing discussions regarding an "expanded assembly" will also be on the committee's agenda, as well as a report on the participation of churches in development and advocacy work.

The WCC has in many opportunities advocated for public recognition of the tragic massacre of one-and-a-half million Armenians in Turkey and the deportation of another million from their homeland between 1915 and 1917. The most recent occasion was in February 2005, when the WCC central committee recommended to the Council member churches to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide in April that year.

In its recommendation, the WCC governing body stressed "the need for public recognition of the Armenian genocide and the necessity of Turkey to deal with this dark part of its history". From a Christian perspective, "the path towards justice and reconciliation requires the recognition of the crime committed as a sine qua noncondition for the healing of memories and the possibility of forgiveness", the committee stated.

Media contact in Armenia:

Father Hovakim +374-91-21-4942 inter@etchmiadzin.am

Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy See of Etchmiadzin): http://www.armenianchurch.org/

Armenian Genocide Museum and Institute: http://www.genocide-museum.am/

Additional information:Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363media@wcc-coe.org

Sign up for WCC press releases at:

http://onlineservices.wcc-coe.org/pressnames.nsf

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 347 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

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Churches Meet to Review Links with European Institutions

Monday, June 18, 2007
ChristianToday, UK

“Churches in Europe and Intercultural Dialogue” is the motto of this year’s plenary meeting of the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches, currently taking place in Armenia.

At the invitation of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church, the 25-member Commission and a number of guests and representatives from CEC associated organisations across 21 European countries have joined together in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, near the capital city of Yerevan.

“We have chosen the main theme of this year’s plenary meeting to reflect the process in the Council of Europe leading to a white paper on intercultural dialogue and because of the churches’ preparations for the 2008 European Year on Intercultural Dialogue,” said Rev Rüdiger Noll, Director of the Church and Society Commission and Associate General Secretary of CEC.

He continued: “We could not have found a better place for our discussions than Armenia, where the church is so much linked to the culture of the country.

“We are grateful for the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church for having invited us. We are eagerly looking forward to learn more about the spiritual life and the role in society of one of the oldest churches in Europe. The context in Armenia will make us look on Europe from beyond the borders of the European Union.”

The main theme of the plenary meeting, an annual event, was to be introduced with a key note address by Ulrich Bunjes from the office of the Coordinator for Intercultural Dialogue of the Council of Europe.

The Church and Society Commission links CEC’s 125 member churches from all over Europe and its 40 associated organisations with the European institutions.

The meeting will review the work of the Commission and its working groups in different areas, such as European integration, family policies, human rights and religious freedom, corporate social responsibility, environment and employment.

The Commission will also adopt its work programme for 2007/08. The new work programme is expected to highlight issues such as the developments toward an EU treaty and a public discussion on the role of religion in the public sphere.

The meeting began last Friday and will conclude this Tuesday.

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Journey of a lifetime

Dec 1, 2006
Solange De Santis
staff writer
Anglican Journal

The latest recipient of the Anglican Foundation’s St. Basil the Great Scholarship, Dean Walter Raymond of the diocese of Quebec, spent four months this year among the Armenian Orthodox of the Middle East in what he called “the pilgrimage of a lifetime.”

Founded by the late Bishop Henry Hill (see related obituary), the scholarship provides for visits to Canada by members of Orthodox churches and visits to Orthodox denominations by Canadians.

Dean Raymond, who had been friends with Bishop Hill, said in an interview that he heard from another scholarship recipient, Canon Philip Hobson, that the foundation was looking for exchange candidates. “I did not already know a great deal about the Armenian Orthodox Church,” he said. However, since he is single (as a member of the celibate Order of the Good Shepherd) and the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Quebec City had a Lutheran curate who could take over for four months, Dean Raymond was able to leave on sabbatical.

He stayed at the Catholicosate, or religious compound, of the Great House of Cilicia in a suburb of Beirut, traveled in the Middle East, and met many Armenian Orthodox. Dean Raymond said one thing Canadian Anglicans could learn from the Armenians is how to keep their culture and traditions alive.

“They are a diaspora people, a minority people. They have lived in a minority situation since the 12th century. They have distinctive cultural traditions that bind them together as a community,” such as ceremonies that involve children, he said.

Located between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea, Armenia has been subject to a number of invasions, starting with the Byzantine Empire in 1045. It came under the control of the Ottoman Empire in the 1500s. More than one million Armenians died from 1915 to 1917 in what they term the Armenian genocide, a term disputed by Turkey, which controlled Armenia at the time. In the 20th century, Armenia was controlled by the Soviet Union. It is now independent.

During his sabbatical from January to May of this year, Dean Raymond attended worship and taught part-time, in English, at the seminary of the Catholicosate. There are two main groups of Armenian Orthodox, he noted, one in Armenia, and one in Lebanon.

Although he was back in Canada by July, when fighting broke out between Israel and Lebanon, he did tour the southern part of Lebanon and wondered whether some of the people he met in the villages survived the battles.

“The atmosphere of modern Lebanon is very conciliatory. There is a real effort to get along. Nobody wants to go back to the days of civil war,” he said. There are at least 100,000 Armenian Orthodox among the four million people of Lebanon, he said.

Many situations he encountered were all-male, since the Orthodox do not ordain women – a contrast to the Canadian church. “Ecumenically, it was not my job to tell them to smarten up and be like us. I was interested in who they were as a community, but they are a clearly patriarchical society,” he said.

The time away from his Canadian duties refreshed his spirit, he said. “The biggest benefit is it was a really good sabbatical leave. I would encourage clergy to take a break. It was very stimulating. I came back with a sense of greater clarity and vision and great affection for the Armenians,” he said.

During his trip, Dean Raymond kept a diary on the Internet and posted photographs to www.epilgrim.org, then published the text and pictures in a 348-page spiral-bound book. While he was traveling, there were about 1,000 visits per week to the site; currently, it logs about 300-400 visits per month, he said.


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