archiepiscopal sees, nine bishops' sees, one abbey "nullius," and three districts under vardapets (p. 431) in Russia, also two archbishoprics (Ispahan and Tabriz), and two vardapets' districts (Teheran and Hamadan) in Persia, bishoprics of Calcutta, "Europe," "America," a vardapet's district for Java, and one at Suczava (for Hungary and Bukovina).[1] Outside this patriarchate, notably in Turkey, he seems to exercise little real authority (p. 422). But a concerted action of the whole Armenian Church, a national synod or such like, could only be undertaken by him. The title of this venerable Pontiff is, "the Servant of God N.N., Supreme Patriarch[2] and Katholikos of all the Armenians." Formerly he was elected freely by his synod of auxiliary bishops Since 1878 the Russian Government has forced on the Armenians a new system, by which a body consisting of the synod, the monks of Etshmiadzin, one priest, and one layman from each Armenian see in Russia, Turkey and Persia elect two candidates, of whom the Czar appoints one.[3] The Katholikos is always already a bishop. Nevertheless, he is solemnly ordained Katholikos[4] in a service in which the holy Atsh (p. 416) is laid upon his head; there is also a real imposition of hands and anointing with chrism by twelve bishops. His Holiness lives in the large and splendid monastery at Etshmiadzin;[5] he is assisted by a synod of seven auxiliary bishops,[6] and by many committees and secre-
- ↑ See the complete list in Ormanian, 187-189.
- ↑ "Patriarch" in Armenian is "Hayrapet." They call him familiarly "Hayrik (little father)."
- ↑ Silbernagl: Verfassung, u.s.w. 218-219.
- ↑ But see p. 440, n. 4. Ormanian is rather proud of this astonishing reordination (op. cit. 131).
- ↑ An exact description of the four churches and many other buildings at Etshmiadzin will be found in Lynch: Armenia, i. 229-276. The churches are: 1, the Cathedral (see fig. and plan, pp. 429 and 433). Its central altar marks the place where the Only-begotten struck the earth with a golden hammer (p. 398). 2, St. Hripsime (see frontispiece); 3, St. Gaiane; 4, Shoghakath ("Effusion of Light").
- ↑ The Russian Government names these and keeps a spy at Etshmiadzin to control what they do. The Patriarch cannot do anything to the members of his synod without the Czar's consent. All synodical acts must begin: "By order of the Czar" (Lynch, loc. cit.). The old rule was that the Katholikos had twelve bishops around him (see p. 402, and Faustus, vi. 5, in Langlois, i. 308). Gelzer says there are now only five (Die Anfänge, u.s.w. 146); Lynch says seven (loc. cit).
