Page 71 - THE ARMENIAN CHURCH_Neat

72 The Armenian Church

denouncing the hardships imposed by the
state authorities on Armenians. The Patriar-
chate became the national center of Armenian
life, particularly after the creation of the Na-
tional Constitution. Following the Armenian
Genocide, the Patriarchate lost much of its
ancient vitality; its seminary was closed,
church properties were confiscated, and
heavy restrictions were imposed on church
and community-related institutions and ac-
tivities. In spite of this difficult history, the
Patriarchate continues its pastoral mission
towards the Armenians in Turkey. The
present Patriarch, Mesrob Mutafian is the
84th Armenian patriarch of Constantinople.
In the course of history, for political
reasons or out of personal rivalries and
ambitions, a few short-lived catholicosates
were established, and catholicoi with local
authority were either appointed by Armenian
and non-Armenian rulers or elected by the
local clergy. Among such catholicosates only
the Catholicosate of Aghtamar, established
in the 12th Century, lasted, though only on
the periphery of the Armenian Church, until
the death of its last catholicos in 1895.
The Catholicosates and Patriarchates of
the Armenian Church are not merely admi-
nistrative centers. Within these centers a
great deal of activity goes on. They contain
the residence of the catholicoi or patriarchs
and their offices, churches, and chapels, as