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  • Father Saw Everything

    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
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