"In accord with Divine Providence it has come about that the various churches, founded by the apostles and their successors in various places have in the course of time formed communions held strong by an organic link. Although the unity of the faith and the unity of the divinely established Universal Church remains intact, these communions have their own ways, their own liturgical rites, and their own theological and spiritual heritage ... This diversity of local churches directed at a unified whole marvelously proves the catholicity of the united Church." (Second Vatican Council, The Dogmatic Constitution ŠOn the churchL, LG, 23)

The Catholic Church, spread throughout the world, is one - all its members are one in their faith, sacraments, and institutions. However, the Catholic Church is at the same time a society consisting of a multiplicity of Churches which enjoy autonomy, and their own particularities, finding their expression in the divine service, the spiritual tradition, theology, and church statutes. In Catholic canon law such churches are called churches "in their own right" (Churches sui juris), that is, churches which have their own laws. The One Catholic Church is the totality of these different sui juris churches which are in communion with one another and with the Bishop of Rome.

These churches are subdivided into two groups: Western and Eastern. At the present time there exists just one Western Church, known also as the Roman or Latin Church, and spread throughout the world. Besides it there exist in the Catholic Church twenty one Eastern Churches, among them the Armenian Catholic Church. This difference first arose as a result of the division of the Byzantine Empire, which had played an enormous role in the spread of Christianity, into eastern and western parts. The churches of the western part of Byzantium were called Western and those of the eastern, Eastern. When Christianity spread beyond the bounds of the Byzantine Empire, specifically to Armenia, Persia, and India, the churches of these countries also became part of the Eastern. Gradually, as a result of religious, political, and historical causes, all the western churches united under the headship of the Roman Church and her Bishop - who, being the successor of the Apostles Peter, was the head of the entire Catholic Church. The development of the Eastern Churches had a more independent character, and in them there arose traditions of their own, which are to be seen today as well. At the head of the hierarchy of each of these churches stood a reigning bishop, called "Patriarch" or "Metropolitan." The Roman Bishop was, besides, the Patriarch of the West.

In this communion of Churches the Bishop of the Roman Church, the successor of Peter, the Roman Pope has a specific role of service: the service as head of the Universal Church. Communion with the Roman Church and its bishop were in ancient times considered as necessary conditions for preserving the fullness of the true faith. Because of various historical circumstances many of the eastern churches broke communion with the See of Rome. Although attempts to reestablish this communion were undertaken, they were as a rule unsuccessful. The churches which found themselves outside this communion called themselves "Orthodox Churches," having the view that they preserved the authentic Christian faith. Those who recognized the headship of the Bishop of Rome were called "catholic," that is, submitted to the Universal Church. Gradually these words became known as they are today as the names of the confessions.

Although these eastern churches as a whole basically did not reestablish a hierarchical communion with the See of Rome, at various periods in their histories various parts did return to communion with the Roman Church and the Bishop of Rome. Therefore there exist today the Eastern Catholic Churches beside the Eastern Churches not in communion with Rome. Catholics believe that they nonetheless exist in a certain communion with these various churches outside communion with Rome, albeit not a full communion. The Armenian Catholic Church, headed by its own Patriarch- Catholicos- and in full communion with the See of Rome, is one of these Eastern Catholic Churches. The theological and spiritual traditions of the Armenian Catholic Church relate it to the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Translated from Russian by Prof. Joseph Lake, OPL

The photo, used here, is taken from The Armenian Heritage web-site