WHAT IS ECUMENISM? WHAT IS ECUMENISM?- Western Diocese of the Armenian Church

Contact Us: 818-558-7474

NEXT EVENT
08 February 2025
WHAT IS ECUMENISM?
Published - 24 January 2025

WHAT IS ECUMENISM?

The word “ecumenical” is derived from the Greek language and means “those living in the inhabited world.” More precisely for Christians, the word ecumenical describes people(s) of one and the same household who may be found living in many places in the inhabited world. Actually, the Greek word for house eekos is part of the ecumenical. In the Armenian there are two words which are used for ecumenical; [deeyehzeragan] or [unthanragan] both meaning ‘universal.’

WHAT ARE THE ECUMENICAL COUNCILS?

Councils of the Universal Church were convened as early as A.D. 49. The very first one took place in Jerusalem. Since then, meetings were conducted to discuss grave questions of faith, church order or erroneous doctrinal teachings that threatened the unity of the Church and the Christian world. By the fourth century it became the initiative of the emperor of the imperial city of Byzantium (later called Constantinople) to call such meetings of church leaders from different regions of the then ‘inhabited world’. These councils were comprised of all the bishops of the Church who shared a common faith, no matter where they may have come from. This is the exact origin of the adjective ecumenical, meaning “of universal character.” What characterized councils to be ecumenical was the general consensus reached by its participating bishops. They believed that the power of the Holy Spirit brought forth the wisdom that led their discussions and deliberations; and their fi nal decisions remained faithful to the Apostolic and Holy Tradition and the understanding of the Scriptures. This principle fundamentally characterized a council as ecumenical. THE ARMENIAN CHURCH IN THE WORLD TODAY 35 There were other councils of churches throughout the inhabited world that are called local councils. They dealt with the Church in the particular cultural context where it existed. The Armenian Church has taken part in both types of Councils but accepts only three as truly ecumenical in character and content. They are the Councils of Nicea [A.D. 325], Constantinople [A.D. 381] and Ephesus [A.D. 431].

Bibliographical Note: "Welcome to the Armenian Church: Essentials About the Armenian Church Faith, Religious Culture and Traditions from Ancient Times to Present" - Second Edition – page 34

Editor: Michael Kermian
General Editor: Arpie Nakashian McQueen

Print