EASTERN CHURCHES AND ROME SEEK TO BRIDGE THEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES
The Holy See of the Great House of Cilicia and the Catholicosate of All Armenians represented the Armenian Church at the most recent ecumenical meeting in Rome on January 22-26, which sought to overcome theological differences that have grown deeper over the centuries leading to divisions in the Christian family.
On behalf of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Archbishops Anoushavan and Nareg attended the 20th plenary meeting of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, hosted by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. The Catholicosate of All Armenians was represented by Archbishop Khajag and Very Reverend Father Shahe.
The meeting was chaired jointly by His Eminence Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, and by His Grace Bishop Kyrillos, Coptic Orthodox Auxiliary Bishop in the Diocese of Los Angeles, California.
Following consultative meetings among the participants, three Eastern Orthodox theologians and four Catholic ones delivered presentations mostly centered on the dogmas of the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of the Holy Virgin. While the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption have been declared dogmas by the Catholic Church in 1854 and 1950, respectively, the Eastern and Greek Orthodox do not consider them so, even though they share a common stance on vital mariological aspects regarding the mystery of Salvation.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, hosted a dinner for the participants on the evening of Wednesday, January 24, followed by a closing ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday and an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis I on Friday.
