WARM WELCOME
The Armenian Church
in Germany introduces itself
As a result of its eventful history, the Armenian Apostolic Church works all over the world, from the Middle East to Europe and America. Today it is represented in over 70 countries. There are Armenian dioceses or bishoprics in over 30 countries (Armenian: Them or Aradschnordutyun).
The Armenian Church in Germany is one of the youngest dioceses in our church. The largest are in the USA and Russia, followed by the dioceses in France and Georgia. They are all subordinate to the mother seat of the Armenian Church in St. Etchmiadzin.
Organs of the Armenian Church in Germany
The Armenian Church in Germany is one of the diaspora dioceses of the Armenian Church. In 1992 Vazgen I, the then Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, also founded a diocese in the Federal Republic of Germany with its seat in Cologne through an official encyclical, which Archbishop Karekin Bekdjian was chairman of until 2018. After his retirement, Archimandrite Serovpe Isakhanyan was elected primate of the diocese.
On May 12, 2019, the one in Surb Etschmiadzin was consecrated bishop by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. 16 parishes and 5 clergy take care of the religious and cultural concerns of the members of the Armenian Church in Germany. We look forward to welcoming you to one of our parishes.
In the understanding of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the bishop is a successor to the apostles in the administration and service of the church. He is responsible for maintaining the worldwide unity of the Church by maintaining the truth and unity of faith and practices in his own diocese.
The diocesan bishop is the official delegate of the Catholicos of All Armenians in Germany. He represents the diocese and its affiliated Armenian communities, together with the secular chairman of the diocesan delegates‘ assembly or with the chairman of the diocesan advisory council, towards the German state, political, ecclesiastical and religious institutions as well as towards the Republic of Armenia and its representatives in the Federal Republic of Germany.
The Diocesan Delegates Assembly (DDV) is the supreme legislative body of the diocese. It meets at least once a year. Members of the DDV are the primate, the diocesan delegates of the parishes, the chairmen of the board of the parishes, the clergy of the diocese. Every member of the diocese can be elected as a DDV delegate after at least one year of membership.
The tasks and powers of the DDV include electing the diocesan bishop, issuing and changing the statutes of the diocese. The DDV decides, for example, the budget of the diocese and regulates the use of membership fees, etc.
The Diocesan Advisory Council (DB) is the executive body of the diocese. Its 9 to 11 secular and spiritual members are elected by the diocese’s assembly of delegates for a 3-year term. The number of spiritual DB members, including primates, must not exceed a third of the total number of DB members. The diocesan ministry supports the primate and acts independently in society.
The church council consists of the clergy who serve in the diocese. The council oversees the undistorted preservation of the teachings and traditions of the Armenian Church within the diocese. He examines questions relating to the spiritual life and its structure and development and takes care of the spiritual development of the diocese in general.
Directions
Take line 16 in the direction of “Niehl / Sebastianstraße” at the “Nesselrodestraße” stop and turn left into Nesselrodestraße at the first street in the direction of travel. After approx. 250 m further turn right into Allensteiner Straße. The diocese is at the end of the street on the left.
Take the 147 bus to the “Weidenpescher Straße” stop. The stop is in the immediate vicinity of the diocese or diocesan church.