November 1-3, 2012, the fourth Diocesan Representative Assembly was convened at the Mother See of Holy under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, during which a series of church and national issues were discussed.
Representatives from the Armenian Patriarchates of Jerusalem and Constantinople, 32 Diocesan Leaders from the Armenian Dioceses in Armenia and Diaspora, Pontifical Delegations and Diocesan lay representative, and members of the Supreme Spiritual Council were in the attendance as delegates to the Assembly. Our Primate Bishop Bagrat Galstanian and Mr. Shahin Soheili, member of the Diocese Council participated in the assembly.
The delegates were greeted with messages by Serzh Sargsyan, President of the Republic of Armenia; and Tigran Sargsyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, in the opening session.
During the opening session, which was held on November 1, 2012, the delegates discussed reports on relationships between the Mother See and the Hierarchal Sees: the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople.
His Eminence Archbishop Aris Shirvanian; Vicar General of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and His Grace Bishop Sahak Mashalian; a representative of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, presented reports on the current status and issues from their respective patriarchates.
The delegates also noted the primary role of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople in the national-religious life of the Armenian living in Turkey. Expressing their concern over the health condition of His Beatitude Archbishop Mesrop Moutafian; Patriarch of Constantinople; the assembly decided to appeal that His Holiness request the Religious Council of Constantinople to organize Patriarchal elections for the benefit of strengthening the Hierarchal See of Constantinople and for the well-being of Armenians living in Turkey.
Matters discussed by the assembly included commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, guidelines for diocesan bylaws, the draft Constitution of the Armenian Church, and relief efforts to the Armenian community in war-torn Syria.
