Council of Hromkla

The Council of Hromkla (or Hromgla) (Armenian: Հռոմկլայի ժողով, romanized: Hṙomklayi žoġov) was a council of the Armenian Apostolic Church held in Hromkla in April 1178 or at Easter 1179, with the purpose of finalizing the union with the Eastern Orthodox Church. The council was convened by the Armenian Catholicos Nerses IV the Gracious, but since he had passed away, it was presided over by his nephew and successor, Gregory IV the Young. Its aim was to have the Armenian Apostolic Church adopt the outcome of the discussions between Nerses IV the Gracious and the Eastern Orthodox Church, including the recognition of dyophysitism, the belief that Jesus Christ would have two natures.

Despite the opposition from certain monks and an Armenian bishop, the council adopted the propositions of Gregory IV the Young and Nerses IV the Gracious, and signed the union with the Eastern Orthodox Church. However, despite these developments, the Eastern Orthodox Church turned away from the matter and did not follow through with the council, considering the two Churches not to be in union by its conclusion, notably due to the death of Manuel I Comnenus in 1180.

The council is still recognized by the Armenian Apostolic Church. In January 1999, Catholicos Karekin I wrote an article revisiting the Council of Hromkla and its contribution to the history and theology of the Armenian Apostolic Church.^[1] Additionally, Catholicos Aram I dedicated a book to the topic in 2011.^[2]