The Patriarchal Congregation of Bzommar (french: Institut du Clergé Patriarcal de Bzommar) is an

Armenian Catholic Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...

religious congregation A religious congregation is a type of religious institute in the Catholic Church. They are legally distinguished from religious orders – the other major type of religious institute – in that members take simple vows, whereas members of religio ...

priests A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deity, deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in p ...

which was founded in 1750. They use the initials I.C.P.B. after their names. They were established when the Patriarch of Cilicia, head of the Armenian Catholic Church, established a monastery attached to his cathedral in

Bzommar Bzoummar ( ar, بزمار; also spelled ''Bzommar'' or ''Bzemmar'') is a village in the Keserwan District of the Keserwan-Jbeil Governorate in Lebanon. It is northeast of Beirut, and has an elevation ranging between above sea level. Bzoummar's i ...

, Lebanon. The men who entered formed a religious community dedicated to the service of the Church, providing spiritual support to the Armenian people. They committed themselves to going wherever in the world they might be sent by the ''Catholicos'', who is ''

ex officio An ''ex officio'' member is a member of a body (notably a board, committee, council) who is part of it by virtue of holding another office. The term '' ex officio'' is Latin, meaning literally 'from the office', and the sense intended is 'by right ...

'' the

Superior General A superior general or general superior is the leader or head of a religious institute in the Catholic Church and some other Christian denominations. The superior general usually holds supreme executive authority in the religious community, while t ...

of the congregation. The congregation has provided a number of

bishops A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

to the Church during its history. One example is

Jean Pierre XVIII Kasparian Hovhannes Bedros XVIII Kasparian, I.P.C.B. (in Armenian Յովհաննէս Պետրոս ԺԸ Գասպարեան) English: John Petros XVIII Kasparian, French: Jean Pierre XVIII Kasparian (20 January 1927 – 16 January 2011) was the Armenian ...

, who was a member of the congregation, was Patriarch of Cilicia from 1982–1998.

References

External links

Official Site
1750 establishments in Europe Armenian Catholic Church Eastern Catholic orders and societies Eastern Catholic priests Religious organizations established in 1750 {{ArmenianCatholic-stub