| The Catholicos-Patriarch of the House of Cilicia of the Armenian Catholics |
| Just as the Pope of Rome sits on the throne of Saint Peter, the Armenian Catholicos-Patriarch, according to the expression of the ancient historian Saint Movses Khorenats'i, likewise "sits on the throne of Thaddaeus." Thus he is "father and head" of the Armenian Catholic Church. As such, he maintains the Apostolic Faith which was first preached in Armenia by Saints Thaddaeus & Bartholomew. As head of the Armenian Catholic Church, Catholicos Nerses-Bedros XIX, like Saints Thaddaeus, Bartholomew and Gregory the Illuminator, is in full Communion with the Patriarch of the West, Benedict XVI, Pope of Rome -and with the other autonomous Churches of the Catholic Church. Just as Saint Peter held a primacy among the other Holy Apostles so also does the Pope of Rome hold a primacy among the Apostles' successors: the Patriarchs and Bishops. Yet this should not diminish or alter the Patriarchs' own God-given apostolic authority. The Second Vatican Council issued some very important statements about the authority of and honor due the Patriarchs of the Eastern Churches. Thus the Council Fathers of Vatican II stated: "The patriarchate, as an institution, has existed in the Church from the earliest times and was recognized by the first ecumenical councils." "By the name Eastern Patriarch, is meant the bishop to whom belongs jurisdiction over all bishops, not excepting metropolitans, clergy and people of his own territory or rite, in accordance with canon law and without prejudice to the primacy of the Roman Pontiff." "By the most ancient tradition of the Church, the Patriarchs of the Eastern Churches are to be accorded special honor, seeing that each is set over his patriarchate as father and head." "The Patriarchs with their synods are the highest authority for all business of the patriarchate, including the right of establishing new eparchies and of nominating bishops of their rite within the territorial bounds of the patriarchate, without prejudice to the inalienable right of the Roman Pontiff to intervene in individual cases." -Orientalium Ecclesiarum (The Eastern Churches, Vatican II) par. 7-9 |
| "Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." -St. Mt. 18:18 |
| Saints Gregory & Elias Armenian Catholic Church Patriarchal Cathedral |
| Patriarch Nerses Tarmouni is the nineteenth Catholicos to be re-united with the successor of Soorp Bedros, Patriarch of Rome. He is thus titled: Nerses Bedros XIX. |
| The Patriarchal Monastery of Bzommar Home of the Armenian Monks of Saint Anthony of the Desert |
| Links on the Armenian Catholic Church Welcome to the Armenian Catholic Church: Official Website The Armenian Catholic Eparchy of the USA & Canada: Official Website The Armenian Catholic Church: Opus Libani Website Return to Looys Kreesdosee: Website Homepage |
| Armenian Martyrs Monument Armenian Catholic Patriarchate, Beruit, Lebanon |
| His Beatitude Stepan Bedros (Stephen Peter) X Azarian, Catholicos-Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenian Catholics. (1881-1899), surrounded by fellow hierarchs. On His Beatitude's right is the future Catholicos, Boghos Bedros (Paul Peter) XI Emmanuelian, who ascended the Patriarchal throne in 1899. |