WE CONFESS

catechesis –
the transmission of faith

By faith may Christ dwell in your hearts,
rooted in and founded on love.
Ephesians 3:17

From century to century to the present day, the faith of the Church has been handed down in writing and orally. The common belief in the triune God, who strengthens us, makes us alive and gives us hope, is the basis of our community. This faith revealed to us through Christ and proclaimed through the Holy Apostles (Romans 2:18; 1 Cor 14:19; Gal 6:6; Luke 1:4), we must preserve it unadulterated and pass it on to our descendants. For this reason, preparation before baptism was provided for from the beginning of Christianity. The candidates were taught principles of faith. This instruction is called catechesis.

When preparing for our own baptism or the baptism of our children, when accepting a godparenthood or at a certain stage of life - we always question our own faith. How important is my belief in God to me? Why am I or will I become an Armenian Apostolic Christian? What is the faith of my church? These and other questions of faith are discussed in catechesis.

On this page we have put together some important information and tips for you. But our clergy are always at your disposal if you need help or have questions about your faith.

Basics for teaching
of the Armenian Apostolic Church:

  • The Old and the New Testament

  • The decisions of the three ecumenical councils

  • The decisions of the local councils of the Armenian Church

  • The Traditions of the Church Fathers

The Holy Mysteries of the Church

MYSTERIES

MYSTERIES

MYSTERIES

MYSTERIES

MYSTERIES

MYSTERIES

MYSTERIES

MYSTERIES

OUR BELIEF IN A FEW SENTENCES

Before we talk about what we believe, we would like to point out the word BELIEVE... We believe. St. Paul the Apostle explains it beautifully in these words: “Faith is the foundation of that which is hoped for: in trust, what is not yet seen is revealed. Our ancestors lived this belief. That is why God set them up as examples for us. Through our faith we understand that the whole world was created by God's Word; that everything visible arose from the invisible.” (Hebrew 11, 1-3). So it is also trust and love for God that is higher than human understanding. To believe in God is to recognize that one's small mind cannot fully comprehend the Absolute of God... We believe, and this belief shows us that He, the one God, is Triune. One God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father is the Creator, the Almighty. He created both the visible and the invisible. It is the father of the son who is born of the father. And this process is not unique, but something that is outside of time. And the Same Father is the source from which the Holy Spirit emanates, and this is also an extra-temporal process. The Father then, the source of life and love: we believe in Him, in the First Person of the Holy Trinity, in the Father...

Jesus Christ is the Incarnate Logos, the only begotten Son. Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer, the Messiah. The second divine person unites his perfect divine nature with our human nature in an unspeakable way. He is fully God and fully human. God himself comes into the world in the birth of Christ. The closest relationship between creator and creation develops. A relationship that proves again and again the great and unlimited love of God for his creation and especially for human beings. It is true that God repeatedly intervened in history in the Old Testament - but the climax of his healing work was only reached with the incarnation. All meaning is preserved in his name: Jesus Christ. Jesus the Savior, the Anointed of God, who is a gift of God's love for our salvation's sake. Whoever believes in him and praises him as the Lord is redeemed. We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son who is our Lord.

Maria was a young and humble woman from Nazareth. Her life was to be turned upside down in one fell swoop. When the Archangel Gabriel announced to her that she would give birth to the Son of God, things aren't the same as they used to be. The "Mother of God" obeys God humbly and full of trust. Mary becomes pregnant, but felt not by a man but by the Holy Spirit. We believe that the Virgin Mary was and remained a virgin forever. Thus, Jesus assumed all human nature without sin. The Catholic Church claims that Mary was also born without sin. This claim is heresy from the point of view of the Ancient Near Eastern and Orthodox Churches. Why? If She were born without sin, we wouldn't need Jesus Christ, She would save us all. This does not change the fact that we worship the Holy Theotokos Virgin Mary as the purest of men and have her intercede for us in our prayers.

Jesus eliminates death and rises from the dead! 33 years Christ lived among us. With his sermons and performances, the man from Nazareth is a thorn in the side of the mighty of Israel. Jesus is accused of high treason and blasphemy by the leaders of the Jews. The Roman governor Pontius Pilate initially refused to sentence Jesus to death. But the people who cheered him just a few days ago wanted his death. Finally, Pilate bows to public pressure – Jesus dies an agonizing death on the cross on Good Friday. The disfigured body is placed in a grave. But on the third day he rose from the dead. We celebrate this day at Easter. Jesus appears to his disciples and encourages them to follow him. All this happens for the salvation of man. The prophecies of the Old Testament are fulfilled in the life work of Christ. Death is defeated. Christ is alive and giving life to all mankind through his resurrection!

So, after Jesus has completed his mission on earth, he returns to heaven. He sits at the right hand of the Father, that is, he partakes in the glory of God. But Christ will come again: Then the “World Judgment” will begin. that sounds threatening... But in reality we Christians can wait with confidence for the coming of Jesus and since we don't know when that is supposed to take place, we can always prepare ourselves. On the last day, our salvation will be completed through Jesus' resurrection. only then will justice be restored. That's why we pray: "Thy kingdom come". With the coming of Christ the new era begins...

The Holy Spirit is pure love. The third person of the Holy Trinity is the Comforter promised by Christ to mankind. He renews creation from within, making everything new. Whoever believes in the power of this spirit and asks for his coming calls forth the divine abundance of grace.

The Nicean Creed, which we use during the Holy Liturgy in our church, says: We believe in the Holy Spirit, the uncreated and the perfect, who spoke in the laws, through the prophets and the gospels. He descended into the Jordan, preached to the apostles and dwelt in the saints. He fills us and comforts and gives strength on the way to Christ, and through him to the Holy Trinity.

The catholicity of the Church does not point to the Catholic denomination, but to the communion of saints, of believers, throughout the world.

CONFESSIONS OF FAITH OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH

The Armenian Apostolic Church uses the Armenian translation of the Creed of Nicea and Constantinople, a lengthy Creed of Saint Grigor of Tatev, and a short Baptismal Creed.

The creed has several functions. On the one hand, it is an acknowledgment and expression of the community that is given by faith. On the other hand, a creed summarizes the essential points of our church's faith. If the creed is read publicly at a service, e.g. B. at a priestly ordination, baptism or wedding, it means, among other things, a self-commitment to live according to this faith. In this respect it is important that the Armenian Apostolic Christians know the creed of their church by heart.

The Armenian Apostolic Church uses the Armenian translation of the Creed of Nicea and Constantinople, a lengthy Creed of Saint Grigor of Tatev, and a short Baptismal Creed.

The creed has several functions. On the one hand, it is an acknowledgment and expression of the community that is given by faith. On the other hand, a creed summarizes the essential points of our church's faith. If the creed is read publicly at a service, e.g. B. at a priestly ordination, baptism or wedding, it means, among other things, a self-commitment to live according to this faith. In this respect it is important that the Armenian Apostolic Christians know the creed of their church by heart.

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