Page 76 - THE ARMENIAN CHURCH_Neat

Essentials of Faith 77

and articulating the church's theology and
doctrine, namely its faith.
The constant endeavor of the Armenian
Church to preserve intact, in faithfulness
to the Holy Tradition of the early church,
the essential truths and orthodoxy of the
Christian faith, in the midst of the upheavals
of history and the encroachment of heresies,
has strongly affected its theological thinking
and doctrinal attitude. The faith of the Ar-
menian Church ought to be seen in the
context of this historical background. What
are the original sources of the faith of the
Armenian Church?
– The Bible. It contains God's revelation
in history. It is the main source of the
Church's faith. Any thought or statement
concerning the esse of Christian faith that is
not rooted in the teachings of the Bible is
neither credible nor orthodox.
– Ecumenical councils. The decisions of
the first three ecumenical councils, Nicea
(325), Constantinople (381), and Ephesus
(431), are major points of reference for the
Armenian Church's doctrinal position and
theological teachings.
– Local councils. These are councils of
the Armenian Church. Their findings and
decisions display the Church's attitude in
respect to doctrinal, pastoral, moral, and
canonical issues.