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CHALLENGES AND PRIORITIES

The globalized world, with its growing
pluralism, and its huge advance in science
and the technology of communication, has
transformed human society in all its spheres,
aspects, and manifestations. The churches
have also been strongly affected by these
radical changes and unprecedented deve-
lopments. The Armenian Church is an inte-
gral and inseparable part of the globalized
world, and, therefore, it cannot fulfill its
Christian witness by relying on old symbols
and traditions, norms, and forms. Through-
out its history, renewal has been on the
agenda of all the councils of the Church.
In my book, The Armenian Church Beyond
the 1700th Anniversary, I called for the re-
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newal of the Armenian Church. Today
I repeat my call with new urgency. The
breach between the Church and the youth,
especially, is widening. I understand the
frustration of our youth and share their
expectations and aspirations. Therefore, the
Armenian Church must embark on a compre-
hensive process of renewal, a serious aggior-
namento; otherwise, it will become a museum
of ancient traditions on the margin of our life.
I am not speaking of a renewal that simply