Page 60 - THE ARMENIAN CHURCH_Neat

Hierarchy and Decision-making
61
blies elect the lay delegates, whose numbers
are fixed according to the numerical size of
each diocese. Celibate priests are elected
by the Assembly of Monastic Order, while
married priests are chosen by the Religious
Council or the Diocesan Assembly of Clergy.
The diocesan primates are ex-officio de-
legates. The National Representative Assem-
bly is convened only for the election of a
catholicos. A similar assembly, the National
Ecclesiastical Assembly, is constituted at the
Holy See of St. Etchmiadzin for the election
of a catholicos.
– The National General Assembly is the
supreme legislative body of the Church.
The delegates of the Assembly are elected
by the Diocesan National Representative
Assemblies, with a ratio of one member of
the clergy to six lay delegates. The numbers
of delegates are determined by the numeri-
cal size of each diocese; primates are ex-
officio delegates. The Monastic Order par-
ticipates with two delegates. The clergy de-
legates are elected by the dioceses that they
represent. The National General Assembly
normally meets once every four years to
review the overall work of the dioceses and
the Catholicosate and to set the priorities
and guidelines for the next period. A similar
conciliar body, the Ecclesiastical Represen-
tative Assembly, meets at the Holy See of
St. Etchmiadzin when necessary.