Page 200 - THE ARMENIAN CHURCH_Neat

People's Church 201

Today, in the face of constantly changing
historical conditions and emerging realities,
the Armenian Church is working tirelessly
to preserve national unity. The Republic of
Armenia is still in a process of transfor-
mation following the long period of Soviet
rule and is facing tremendous challenges.
The diaspora displays a picture of frag-
mented and diverse communities, exposed
to a multitude of problems. Furthermore,
Armenians from the Middle East and from
Armenia and the former Soviet countries are
leaving for the west in droves. Hence, the
Church is, more than ever, regarded as the
symbol of the nation's unity and the point
around which the whole life of the com-
munity revolves and converges, particularly
in the diaspora. The Armenian Church is
called to safeguard the internal coherence of
the nation and to act as a bridge between
Armenia and the diaspora, and between the
communities in diaspora.

The leadership role of the Church
The Armenian Church's missionary self-
understanding and involvement was strongly
affected by the history of its people. After a
short period of missionary outreach at the
very beginning of Armenia's conversion to
Christianity, the Church focused its mission
mainly on the internal national life of the