The Mekhitarists: Aspects, Foundation, History and Achievements

Abstract

To understand more completely the significance of the Mekhitarist Congregation and the difficulties faced by its founder and his spiritual descendants, as well as their considerable achievements, it is necessary to highlight certain events in the Armenian nation's Christian history. Special attention is paid to that nation's relations with the Catholic Church. It is remarkable that despite so many tensions in that relationship, the Mekhitarists, for almost three centuries, have generally maintained the esteem of the Apostolic Church of Armenia with which it is not in communion, the latter willingly recognising the valuable contributions the Congregation has made to the cultural and political articulation of the Armenian people.