At the moment, there are two Catholicosats built according to the canonical structure of Armenian Apostolic Church – Catholicosate of All Armenians, with the center in Echmiadzin and Cilicia (Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia) with the center (since 1930) in Antiliasian, Lebanon. With the administrative independence of the Catholicos of Cilicia, primacy honour is given to the Catholicos of All Armenians, who has the title of Supreme Patriarch of the AAC.
Since the “Catholicos” is not synonymous with “patriarch”, as it is not considered to be a higher hierarchical position, but a higher spiritual level, the existence of several independent Catholicosates (in the history of AAC there are cases of simultaneous coexistence of five catholicoses) is not a sign of a schism of a united church, but it is historically conditioned canonical structure. Under conditions of heterodox enslavement and the territorial division of Armenia, the presence of a separate Catholicosate capable of providing independent existence for a part of the church in an isolated area, was justified. The unity of the Armenian Church is embodied in the Catholicos of All Armenians, as the successor of St. Gregory the Illuminator.
All dioceses in Armenia, as well as most foreign dioceses around the world, particularly in Russia, Ukraine and other former Soviet countries are under the authority of the Catholicos of All Armenians. Dioceses located in Lebanon, Syria and Cyprus are under the authority of the Catholicos of Cilicia.
There are also two autonomous patriarchates in the AAC – Constantinople and Jerusalem, canonically subordinate to the Catholicos of All Armenians. Patriarchs of Jerusalem and Constantinople have the spiritual power of the archbishops. Armenian churches in Israel and Jordan are under the authority of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Armenian churches in Turkey and in the island of Crete (Greece)are administered by the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Spiritual powers in the AAC
In contrast to the Greek three-part (the bishop, priest, deacon) system of the spiritual powers of hierarchy, there are five spiritual powers in the Armenian church.
Catholicos (has the absolute authority of Sacraments, including the consecration of all the spiritual powers of the hierarchy, including bishops and Catholicises. Ordination and of bishops takes place along with two bishops. Sacring of Catholicos is performed along with twelve bishops).
Bishop, Archbishop (differs from the Catholicos with some limited powers. Bishop can ordain priests, but can not ordain bishops, but only render the Catholicos of Episcopal consecration. In the election of a new Catholicos, the twelve bishops elect him, raising to the spiritual level).
The priest performs all the Sacraments except Ordination.
Deacon serves in the Sacraments.
Dpir (the lowest spiritual degree, received in episcopal ordination) in contrast to the deacon does not read the Gospel at the liturgy and does not bring the liturgical cup).
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