CATHOLICOS OF ALL-ARMENIANS FACES A CHOICE

Lragir.am
12:45:41 – 01/12/2008

The campaign of the mayor of Gyumri against the primate of the Diocese
of Shirak of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Michael Ajapahyan
causes serious worries among the society. The Head of the diocese
had criticized Vardan Ghukasyan on the eve of election of mayor of
Gyumri. And now the "pious" mayor of Gyumri, having the OK of Serge
Sargsyan and Arthur Baghdasaryan as a "godfather", has launched a
campaign aimed to replace the primate of the Diocese.

According to a reliable source, Serge Sargsyan’s staff "has offered"
Catholicos Garegin II to "solve" the question of the primate of the
Diocese of Shirak. In addition, the Catholicos has not only been
instructed but it is also "made clear" to him with different methods
which we do not mention, sparing the readers. We have learned that
the catholicos has met Michael Ajapahyan and discussed the situation
in the Diocese of Shirak, and at the same time scolded the archbishop
why the latter cannot "get on well" with the city authorities.

The situation in the Diocese of Shirak worries the public in
Gyumri. And this worry got an expression. Several dozens of citizens
of Gyumri visited the seat of the archbishop and expressed their
support. These people were best aware of the consequences of the
campaign of the20mayor of Gyumri for whom the only obstacle to
turning the city into his "zone of influence" is the primate of
the Diocese. The citizens of Gyumri no longer rely on the central
government to interfere and ask the mayor to behave himself. On the
contrary, they have become convinced that Vardan Ghukasyan not only
enjoys the support of the central government but also acts upon
their instructions.

And now the Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II has to choose. And
he had to face this choice at once time, since the moment when with the
blessing of Garegin II the Armenian Apostolic Church became engaged
in politics and made a deal with the present government, naturally
comprising part of the quota-zone-racket system established in the
country with all the ensuing "duties". This system does not like jokes,
and acts in accordance with iron logic, and now it has set the demand
of fulfilling the "duty" before Catholicos Garegin II. Either the
image and flower of the Armenian government Vardan Ghukasyan or the
"misled" primate of the Diocese with his pasture.

Recently the Holy Synod of the Armenian Apostolic Church has discussed
the situation in the Georgian Diocese. The Synod criticized the stance
of the Georgian government and church and asserted its determination
for the protection of the Armenian monuments in Georgia.

A few days ago the disagreement between the Armenian and Greek clergy
escalated into a scuffle. The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem is in
a bad state. On the one hand, the governments of Israel and Palestine,
on the other hand, the pressure of other churches, as well as the
behavior of some clergy of the patriarchate, as a result of which it
is getting more and more difficult to protect the immense spiritual
heritage in Jerusalem.

Is the present government of Armenia able to solve these problems and
support the Armenian Apostolic Church? The answer is no. Not only it
cannot but also will no longer want. On the contrary, the government
may make deals with the governments and interested organizations of
those countries for the sake of its interests. On the other hand,
is the Church able to protect itself and its pasture? The answer is
again no. The Church has indicated this in the past few years. The
Church has made a deal with the government, thereby alienating itself
from its pasture and making its tongue shorter. In this connection,
no matter how much they speak about the "special role of the Church in
the history of the Armenian people", presently it is a mere part of
the system established in Armenia, with the ensuing "duties", as it
was mentioned above. And the church loses and will continue to lose,
starting with the spiritual and material heritage finishing with the
faith of the pasture in the Church.

However, th e Armenian Apostolic Church is able to get over this
situation. For this purpose, the Catholicos of All Armenians must
decide to say his "no". Like in May 1918 the apostolic clergy said no
to everyone who tried to handle the fate of the Armenian people – the
leaders of parties, mouserists, criminals, sham heroes – and organized
the self-defense of their people which ended in victory. Since the
Armenian history is in the bad habit of reoccurring, it should not be
ruled out, considering the qualities of the present political system,
that tomorrow it may be necessary to protect the country. And it should
not be ruled out that if a present-day Kazim Karabekir invades Gyumri,
Arthur Baghdasaryan and Vardan Ghukasyan will greet him with salt and
bread to surrender the city to him. At least there should be someone
in Gyumri to ring the church bells.

HAIK ARAMYAN

P.S. The movement in support of the primate of the Diocese of Shirak
which has started in Gyumri is evidence that the Armenian people
are able to protect their dignity. Catholicos Garegin met with the
delegates of the movement on Sunday, which was the request of the
latter, and said they will try to establish "peace", and if it proves
impossible, they will have to replace the primate of the Diocese. The
delegates of the initiative expressed their support for the primate
of the diocese and warned the catholicos not=2 0to take such a step.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress