The National-Ecclesiastical Assembly is the oldest Assembly Structure of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, which includes all the Dioceses, Pontifical Delegations and Hierarchical Sees of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church.
The National Ecclesiastical Assembly is the supreme body of power of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church. The session of the National Ecclesiastical Assembly is convened by the Catholicos of All Armenians. As needed, the Armenian Pontiff convenes a special session of the National-Ecclesiastical Assembly.
In case of the vacant seat of the Catholicos, the Patriarchal Locum Tenens convenes a special session of the National-Ecclesiastical Assembly within six months, for the election of the Catholicos of All Armenians. In case of insurmountable obstacles of convening the session of the National-Ecclesiastical Assembly, the Supreme Spiritual Council has the right to postpone it. The National-Ecclesiastical Assembly is convened in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The National-Ecclesiastical Assembly has the following rights:
a. to elect the Catholicos of All Armenians,
b. to make decisions related to the national-ecclesiastical issues,
c. to make decisions related to the important theological, ritual, canonical, as well as administrative management,
d. to adopt the Constitution of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, as well as the amendments concerning it,
e. to define the status of the structures of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church concerning the spiritual authority, responsibility, the order and the boundaries of the relations with each other, as well as the procedures for controlling their activities,
f. to define the principles of relations with other Churches, religious communities, states and international organizations,
g. to listen to the reports of the Catholicos of All Armenians; the Church Representative Assembly; the Supreme Spiritual Council; as well as the committees set up by it, and to make decisions as necessary,
h. to set up relevant commissions to monitor the implementation of its decisions, if necessary,
i. to adopt the Regulation of the National Ecclesiastical Assembly,
j. to elect the National-Ecclesiastical Assembly Members.