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Ecumenical Engagement 195

became increasingly involved, particularly
after the 50th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide in 1965, in the total life of the
Armenian nation.
In Armenia today, following the resto-
ration of its independence, as these churches
continue to reorganize and reactivate their
life, it is hoped that they will avoid creating
any needless misunderstandings with the Ar-
menian Church. In the diaspora, the collabo-
ration between the three Armenian churches
should be given a renewed emphasis and
broader scope. Such an effort would con-
tribute powerfully to the internal unity of the
Armenian nation.

In spite of the enormous vicissitudes
and upheavals that buffeted the Armenian
Church throughout its history, the spirit
of openness and tolerance, undergirded by
mutual love and respect towards the other
churches, has remained a salient charac-
teristic of its life, thought, and witness.
Rather than endangering its identity or
altering its doctrinal position and theologi-
cal teachings, the Armenian Church’s ecu-
menical openness has reaffirmed its eccle-
siological self-understanding and deepened
its concern for Christian unity. In fact, the
following ecumenical motto became the
driving force and guiding principle of
Armenian ecumenism: "in necessariis unitas,