Ecumenical Trends in the Armenian Church

Ecumenical Review, The, Jan, 1999

Ter-Mkrtchian went on to write about how the fundamental principles of Christian faith related to the various aspects of human life as seen in the Armenian context. The titles of his articles attest eloquently to the scope of his effort: "The Gospel and the World", "The Gospel and Poverty", "The Gospel and Authority", "The Gospel and Civilization" and the like.

In 1947 Karekin Hovsepian published a collection of his theological and hermeneutical writings, homilies and public utterances in a volume entitled Towards Light and Life. The selections taken from the early years of his ministry (between 1897 and 1916) address similar issues, using a similar scientific approach. Again, the titles are revealing: "Christianity: The Way to Perfection", "The Key to Life", "Science and Church", "The Ideal for the Christian", "The Calling of the Church under the Light of History".

It is interesting that scholars studying the lives and works of these two eminent figures have generally focused on their more secular fields of enquiry, such as historiography and philology, scarcely ever addressing the religious, theological and ethical aspects of their literary legacy. Yet I believe it is warranted to say that the German-educated Armenian clergy, among whom Karapet Ter-Mkrtchian and Karekin Hovsepian were the two most outstanding, inaugurated a new kind of spiritual reawakening in their church, what we would today call a theological and ecclesiastical renewal movement. Unfortunately, it was short-lived. Its pioneers (to use the words of Psalm 23) walked neither "in green pastures" nor "beside still waters"; father, they encountered opposition and indifference, especially from the traditionalist sectors. They were generally accused of having been so deeply influenced by German Protestant theological thinking that they had betrayed their own fathers' legacy and the orthodox Armenian tradition.

Nevertheless, their impact was lasting. Today, in these years of freedom for Armenia and at this crucial moment of recovery for the Armenian church, their work has become a source of inspiration to the new generation of clergy being trained at Holy Etchmiadzin.

The challenge of secularism

World Christianity today faces a new situation, whose effects can also be seen in Armenia. New trends of theological thinking and spiritual life have arisen. Innovations in science and technology have affected not only the material but also the spiritual, ethical and social realms. Under an orientation of extreme secularism, novel codes of moral behaviour and quests of the spirit have emerged, setting a new agenda before us, both in our own churches and in our ecumenical encounters. The churches are once more being challenged to look afresh at their own self-understanding, not only in the context of various contemporary cultural trends, but also (and more importantly) in light of the gospel and the authentic tradition of the church.

The ecumenical movement is also passing through some challenging and difficult times. But in spite of the inherent difficulties, we have been commissioned by our Lord to pursue fellowship: not merely to exchange ideas, but to share our respective traditions and experiences. After more than forty years of personal involvement, I can testify to the beneficial effects of realizing a common calling among the churches, cultivating a sense of openness to one another and converging our efforts to meet the challenges of the day. For me as for many others, the ecumenical movement has been a source of theological and spiritual enrichment. The realities at the close of this second millennium -- the collapse of the Soviet Union, the revival throughout Eastern Europe of the freedom to pursue the spiritual life, the challenge posed by the encounter with other living religions -- have only served to underscore the need to strengthen and deepen our ecumenical commitment. The time for polemics is over; the new imperative is the call to sincere and committed dialogue.