ASIA/LEBANON – The Armenian Catholic Bishops: May Saint Nerses “the gracious” be recognized as the Patron saint of unity among the Churches

ASIA/LEBANON- The Armenian Catholic bishops: May Saint Nerses “the gracious”, be honored as the Patron saint of unity between the Churches

Bzommar (Agenzia Fides). Considering the historical events that pit peoples against one another and endangering unity among Christians in Christendom, the proposal of Catholic Armenian Bishops deserves particular attention. It is to be used on the anniversary of Saint Nerses Schnorhali’s death (the Gracious), to retrace prophetic paths paved with the humility of this 12th century saint towards the restoration of sacramental, doctrinal unity of the Church of Rome, Church of Armenia, Church of Constantinople, Church of Constantinople
The Armenian Catholic Bishops defined and relaunched their proposal on the occasion of their annual synod, held from 17 to 22 August in Lebanon, at the Patriarchal Monastery of Our Lady of Bzommar under the presidency of Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian. The Synod saw the Armenian Catholic Bishops make the commitment to work with the Armenian Apostolic Church hierarchies in conferences, seminars, and editorial works on Saint Nerses. They also requested that Pope Francis celebrate a solemn Pontifical Liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica in the hope of a possible and common proclamation of the Armenian saint, the Patron saint of unity between the Churches.
Nerses (1102-1173) was part of the Pahlavuni family and was “Catholicos to the Armenians”, based in Hromkla. He was also the most important Armenian poet and theologian of his day. He received his monastic name (after St. Nerses I Parthev) and his education at the Red Monastery (Karmir Vank) at Kessoun (today Çakırhüyük, Besni, Adıyaman Province). Nerses Schnorhali received his priesthood in 1120, and that of a bishop in 1125.
His insights continue to be a source of inspiration for those who see the ecumenical proces in jeopardy. It was enthusiastically and promisingly initiated after Vatican II. (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 24/8/2022)

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