杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

杏MAP导航 Francis on Sunday praised the Armenian Mekhitarist Congregation for their tradition of theological humanism and prophetic ecumenical openness and urged them to continue to provide precious witness.

Mekhitarist Congregation 

The Congregation of Benedictine monks is widely recognized for its contribution to the renaissance of Armenian philology, literature, and culture early in the 19th century and for the publication of old Armenian Christian manuscripts, a tradition that 杏MAP导航 Francis described as a 鈥渂eneficial gift for the ecumenical journey, which increasingly reveals itself as a sign of the times鈥� in our effort to meet the Lord鈥檚 request to his disciples 鈥渢o be one鈥�.

In a letter addressed to Archbishop Boghos Levon Zekiyan, apostolic administrator of the Armenian Mekhitarist Congregation, the 杏MAP导航 said the congregation 鈥渋s called to preserve and deepen its charism for the good of all Armenian people."

Francis鈥� message was read in the presence of Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches during celebrations of the Divine Liturgy on the Island of San Lazzaro in Venice.

300th anniversary  

The ceremony took place on Sunday evening to the mark the third centenary of the foundation of the Armenian Mekhitarist Congregation.

He said that together with the Mekhitarist Monastery of Vienna, the island of San Lazzaro where the Congregation is based, has become its beating heart.

鈥淒espite a general reduction in numbers, each monk is called, there and everywhere, to keep his horizons open and wide and the bond of communion strong鈥� he said.

The Mekhitarist identity, the 杏MAP导航 continued, consists above all in being entirely consecrated to God.

Strength in the face of current trials 

鈥淵our vocation, he said in conclusion to the monks, cannot be realized without real communion with your brother monks and without a total and joyful respect for your vows of poverty, chastity and obedience鈥� which are an evangelical source of true renewal and strength in the face of the trials we face today.