FATHER SAW EVERYTHING

Lragir.am
1 July 06

The Turkish visit of the Armenian Catholicos had a positive effect on
the society-church relationship. The Armenian society witnessed the
activity of the Catholicos, and if the Catholicos is active, the
Armenian Apostolic Church is active too, consequently there is a
possibility to restore the society-church relationship. There is a
nuance, however. The society learned about the existence of the
church, whereas I very much doubt that the church knows that the
society exists. In fact, it is not important why the Catholicos of All
Armenians decided to go to Turkey, knowing about the inner tension in
Armenian and Turkish relations.

In the course of time it may become known what political effect the
visit of the Catholicos had on these relations, which caused this
tension to go bang.

Perhaps, it is also unnecessary to discuss why the Catholicos, who
honors Diasporans with frequent visits, seldom visits the regions of
Armenia, where people would also be happy to get spiritual charge and
support.

It appeared that the Turkish visit of the Catholicos, despite being
disputable, would become an opportunity of mutual awareness of
existences (of the society and the church), but the society did not
react to the visit. Even when certain sets of the Turkish society met
the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church reluctantly, the Armenian
society did not try to defend their spiritual leader. Of course, the
Ararat Diocese arrived at the airport to defend the` honor of the
uniform’ and meet the Catholicos, as if he had captured Istanbul.

Besides, the young Dashnaks used the opportunity to criticize Turks,
and what happened encouraged them rather than made them angry. And if
we separate the Ararat Diocese and Nikol Aghbalyan Students Union from
the society, it will become apparent that the Turkish visit of Garegin
II did not disturb the Armenian society, even after the unpleasant
incident, when it seemed that the Armenian gene would wake up to
defend the Catholicos of All Armenians.

Now Garegin II has the right to tell that there is no society in
Armenia if it did not make an effort to defend their spiritual
leader. However, the Catholicos had better not say anything, of
course, and he will not do.

Complaining of the passivity of the Society is directly against the
interests of the church. Hence, he will lift the inner, moral bar
established to protect the church from possible criticism. In that
case, the church would need forgiveness, even if it would not raise
its head and shout, `Forgive them, Father, for they do not know what
they are doing.’ Father knows that they are aware of what they are
doing. Father saw the church remain silent when the public was denied
the right to vote. Father saw the church remain silent when the
secular power violated all the spiritual categories along with the
legal ones. Father saw the church follow silently the secular
government beating, demoralizing, consistently demolishing
spirituality in the flock. Father saw the Armenian Apostolic Church
declare friends those who serve the Caesar’s and hide the God’ s. In
order to rely on society’s protection the church should fulfill its
function of a spiritual protector. Especially now, when rhetoric about
history and historical mission is causing indigestion among the
nation, endangering not only the spiritual but also the physical
existence of the nation.

HAKOB BADALYAN