Page 95 - THE ARMENIAN CHURCH_Neat

RICH SPIRITUALITY

The church articulates its very being
and mission through spirituality, which, in a
variety of modes, forms, and ways, aims at
building a living relationship between the
faithful and God. Spirituality embraces and
manifests all aspects and dimensions of the
life of the church, its reflection and action,
its inreach and outreach. The liturgical and
sacramental life of the church is the core
and the most genuine expression of its
spirituality, particularly in the Orthodox
churches. The Armenian Church has a rich
spirituality.

Liturgy
The liturgy (cēs) occupies a central place
in the spirituality of the Armenian Church.
It was compiled originally from the liturgies
of St. Basil and St. Athanasius and was later
elaborated by Armenian church fathers and
divines and reached its present form in the
15th Century. The Armenian liturgy, which
generally bears the characteristics of oriental
rites and traditions, is a coherent combina-
tion of word and action, music and celebra-
tion. Classical Armenian is the language
of the liturgy; in the last few decades, the