World Youth Union of the Armenian Church (ACYOWorld)

SIGN

Structure, strategy, regions

MOTHER SEE OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN

1.1 Name

  • World Youth Union of the Armenian Church (hereafter: ACYOWorld).

1.2 Mission

  • To unite the world-wide Armenian youth for the perpetuation of the Armenian identity and for the strengthening of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church
  • To organize the utilization of the potential of Armenian youth for their self-development and for the preservation of spiritual and national values.
  • Օf Jesus Christ in the Armenian youth . The message of the Gospel based on the creed of the Apostolic Mother Church
  • Educate Armenian and Christian members of the society endowed with a value system.

1.3 Field of activity

  • ACYOWorld cooperates under the auspices of the Armenian Church with diocesan and non-diocesan youth unions, organizations and movements, party youth wings, social youth groups operating according to the procedures of the Mother See. with organizations, unions, patriotic associations, Armenian, diaspora, inter-church and international institutions with educational, cultural, benevolent and humanitarian goals.
  • Youth aged 15–35 of the Catholicosate of All Armenians, the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople are members of ACYOWorld.
  • ACYOWORLD _ in action is Mother: A chair Holy Etchmiadzin umbrella under: Armenian ecclesiastical rules and regulations of the Holy Apostolic Church according to as having an activity guide hereby the landmark

1.4 Strategic Objectives

  • According to the doctrine of the Armenian Church, to contribute to the spread of Christian faith and values among the youth
  • Support the creation and strengthening of diocesan youth units
  • To support the cooperation of church-loving youth structures of diocesan youth councils by implementing joint programs in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora
  • Taking into account regional and country-specific characteristics: develop and implement effective programs, including a journal, aimed at serving spiritual and national interests and ensuring efficiency.
  • To create methodological and educational materials and programs on the Christian youth work with the diligence of the Central Office of ACYOWORLD, contributing to the recognition of youth work in ACYOWORLD diocesan structures
  • Contribute to the establishment of intrathematic and interthematic cooperative and network work
  • To create educational programs of Christian youth work and train youth work specialists for the structures of the Armenian and Diaspora Christian Youth Work
  • Conduct a needs assessment of diocesan youth and measure the effectiveness of existing programs, contributing to the protection of the best interests of Christian youth
    • In coordination with the Chancellery of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Araratian Patriarchal Vicariate, the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Yerevan, and the Dean’s Office of the Faculty of Theology of Yerevan State University, to organize the spiritual care of university students.

2. ACYOWORLD position

  • The Spiritual Leader of ACYOWorld, the Spiritual Inspector, and the staff of the ACYOWorld Central Office are appointed by the Catholicos of All Armenians.

3. Structure of ACYOWorld

3.1 Central office

  • The central office is the connecting link of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Youth Unions of Temer. CG assesses the needs of Christian youth, generates youth-centered programs, implements them in dioceses, measures effectiveness, monitors and ensures program continuity and contributes to the effectiveness of diocesan youth work
  • According to point 3.1 of this guideline, the Central Office of ACYOWORLD is a consolidating, supporting, researching structure
  • The annual budget of ACYOWORLD CG is generated by donations from diocese benefactors, bequests and foundations
  • The spiritual leader of the ACYOWORLD Central Office submits the annual program estimate and the annual program plan for the approval of His Holiness the Patriarch

3.2 ACYOWorld Congress of Chairpersons (CC)

  • The National Council is an advisory body attended by spiritual and lay representatives responsible for youth affairs in the dioceses. It is convened by invitation of the Central Office once or twice a year, as well as when necessary. The agenda includes details of ongoing and planned programs, organizational matters of pan-Armenian events, the slogan for the year’s activities, issues related to regional congresses, amendments to the ACYOWorld Guidelines, and other matters.
  • Each diocese has one vote in the presiding assembly.

3.3 ACYOWORLD Regions

Gift Chairs
Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople
Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem

a. Armenia

  • Ararat Patriarchal Diocese
  • Diocese of Shirak
  • Diocese of Gugarat
  • Diocese of Armavir
  • Diocese of Syunik
  • Diocese of Vayots Dzor
  • Diocese of Aragatsotn
  • Diocese of Kotayk
  • Diocese of Gegharkunik
  • Diocese of Tavush
  • Diocese of Artik
  • Diocese of Masyatsotn
  • Diocese of Artsakh

b) Russia and the CIS

  • Armenian Diocese of Russia and New Nakhichevan
  • (Northern Russia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus)
  • Armenian Diocese of Krasnodar and the North Caucasus

c. Europe

  • Armenian Diocese of Germany
  • Armenian Diocese of Great Britain and Ireland
  • Armenian Diocese of Greece
  • Armenian Diocese of Romania
  • Armenian Diocese of Bulgaria
  • Armenian Diocese of Switzerland
  • Armenian Diocese of France
  • Armenian Diocese of Ukraine
  • Spiritual shepherding of Polish-Armenians
  • Armenian Diocese of the Baltic States (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia)
  • Patriarchal Delegation of Western Europe (Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands)
  • Patriarchal Delegation of Central Europe and Sweden (Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary)
  • General Prelacy of Samtskhe-Javakhk and Tsalka

d) South America

  • Armenian Diocese of Argentina
  • Armenian Diocese of Brazil
  • Armenian Diocese of Uruguay

e) North America

  • Armenian Diocese of Canada
  • Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America
  • US Eastern Diocese

The Middle East and Africa

  • Armenian Diocese of Egypt
  • Armenian Diocese of Iraq
  • Armenian Diocese of Damascus

f) Australia, the Far East, and India

  • Armenian Diocese of Australia and New Zealand; Patriarchal Delegation of India and the Far East
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • Japan
  • China
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Thailand
  • Burma
  • Singapore
  • Myanmar
  • Bangladesh
  • Philippines

Approved;

Adopted by the Third Delegate Congress of ACYOWorld, 1–5 July 2015, Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, “Vache and Tamar Manukyan” Library.

2019 — Congress of Chairpersons, 2–4 November, ACYOWorld Central Office, Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Yerevan; 2022.

Congress of Chairpersons, 23 April (via Zoom)