St. Gregory the Illuminator

St. Gregory the Illuminator, Founder of the Armenian Apostolic Church

The above picture shows the image of St. Gregory the Illuminator as displayed in the Vatican. St. Gregory is considered to be the founder of the Armenian Apostolic Church, a very ancient church. St. Gregory is venerated in the Church as Doctor and Theologian, recognized by both the Latin and Eastern Orthodox. St. Gregory the Illuminator founded and established Christianity in Armenia by way of conversion. Today Christianity is every inch a part of Armenian cultural and national identity. Armenia was the first nation to declare Christianity as state religion. This helped in the spread of Christianity and the evangelization of Armenia. It is interesting also to note that today Karekin II, the Catholicos of all Armenia is on a visit to Rome. Here is a quote from zenit : "Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, attended the Pope's general audience today, and both leaders exchanged formal greetings. The Holy Father told the patriarch, "Your Holiness, I pray that the light of the Holy Spirit will illumine your pilgrimage to the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the important meetings you will have here, and particularly our personal conversations. I ask all who are present today to pray for God's blessing upon this visit.' " You can read more of this story from zenit.org. The Armenian Church separated from Rome after the Council of Chalcedon in 451 A.D. In recent years however there is a growing friendship between the Catolicos of All Armenia and the See of Rome. The visits, exchanges, and meetings are pointing positively towards closer ties.

This is my opinion: I believe that the Holy Father is working very hard to promote Christian Unity. Indeed one of the most important ministry of St. Peter is to feed the sheep. This mandate was expressed and declared by Christ as narrated in the last chapter of the Gospel according to St. John. Let us pray very hard for Pope Benedict XVI as he fulfills this Petrine Ministry. "That they may be one". So that the will of Christ be observed - It is the will of God that all Christians should be united under one shepherded and one Lord. But the way to unity is a tortuous road to follow. Difficult and calls for personal sacrifices. But this is the Humanity of the Church. Human as she is, she has to struggle, bu since she is Divine in origin she has the destiny of achieving the will of God. For Christ and the Church are one! We pray that all of us will meet in that Great banquet in Heaven. The Marriage of the Lamb.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, you have sent St. Gregory the illuminator as an example of patience, faith and perseverance. Grant us these virtues as we pursue unity in the Church. May we all come to the unity of faith, and in recognition of the One Church you founded on earth under the loving guidance of St. Peter and his successors. So that we will always be conscious of the unity that we have in the "communion of the Saints". We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. Pray for us.