On Monday, September 30, 2013, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, returned from Armenia after participating in the Bishops’ Synod in Etchmiadzin from September 24 – 27. The Synod, which brought together 62 Archbishops and Bishops from the Armenian Apostolic Church around the world, convened with the blessings and presence of H.H. Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and H.H. Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.
Over four days of meetings, the Synod studied issues and challenges facing the church and nation, and the question of reforms in the canons and liturgical practices of the Armenian Church. The two main subjects on the agenda were canonization of the victims of the Armenian Genocide and the Baptismal ceremonial rite.
On Friday, September 27, the Synod concluded with the following decisions:
1. Revive the ancient tradition of making saints of the Armenian Church, and apply it to the Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.
2. Approve the report of the Committee on the Sacraments of Baptism and Chrismation.
3. Continue discussing the current challenges to the Armenian Church
4. Establish an Endowment fund with an initial capital of US $2,000,000.- (two million US dollars) to help all those in need in Armenia, Artsakh and Syria.
The Canonization Committee, of which the Prelate is a member, presented a report on its three-year review of this issue. The Prelate took on the responsibility of preparing the ceremonial rite for the canonization process. The Prelate was also appointed to the Endowment Fund Committee.
The Bishops will meet again in Fall of 2014.