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An American-Armenian Makes the Journey to Armenia and the Priesthood
[ 2010/07/26 | 16:30 ] Feature Stories society
Inga Martinyan
Father Ktridj - `It is easy to complain but the people must demand
change as well'
`I was born and raised as an American. But I felt like an Armenian
because I attended Armenian school and went to services at the
Armenian Apostolic Church. We spoke Armenian at home. I never thought
that one day I'd be living in Armenia. I believed that since I was
born in America and was a U.S. citizen, I had to spend my entire life
there. Armenia changes all of that. When I came here, I saw that I
indeed had a homeland and that there was a future here, not only for
local Armenians but for diaspora Armenians as well.'
This is how Father Ktridj, who now serves as the personal assistant to
Catholicos Garegin II, describes his journey from America to Armenia.
Father Ktridj, who accompanies Catholicos Garegin II, on all his trips
abroad, was born Armen Devechian in Philadelphia. He first visited
Armenia in 1990 and repatriated in 2001. He is an architect by
profession and is married to Paula, an Armenian from Fresno,
California. They met while he was teaching at the local college.
Born and raised in Philadelphia and now working at Etchmiadzin
Father Ktridj traces his roots back to Arabkir, in western
Armenia. Paula's family hails from Kharpert. He now is in charge of
the foreign correspondence section at the Holy See. His wife,
`Yeretskin' Paula manages the Holy See's website and is
Etchmaidzin's liaison with a number of international organizations.
Father Ktridj tells me that the Armenian community back in the States
was united around the local church parish. He grew up regarding a
priest as usually being elderly, somewhat stern, and someone always
demanding a great deal of respect. The clergy weren't exactly what
you'd call a friend.
The first time Armen visited Armenia he made the acquaintance of a
young, energetic clergyman. They became good friends. Whenever Armen
returned to Armenia, the two would meet over coffee or a meal. That
young clergyman was the future Catholicos of All Armenians, Garegin II
Since Armen and Paula didn't have the finances to invest in Armenia,
they decided to invest their time instead and thus contribute.
When they first moved here, they figured that they'd return. They had
taken a leave of absence, locked the door to the house and came.
`We lived much better there. We had a house and good jobs. But, in
the end, you realize that everything doesn't revolve around money.
Ones quality of life isn't merely measured in material belongings,'
says Father Ktridj.
After spending six months in Armenia, the two found they had gotten
used to life here and were comfortable with their new
surroundings. The problems they faced were simple ones.
With decent work a comfortable life is possible
Father Ktridj likes to point out that in Armenia one can take evening
strolls in relative safety, visit friends or receive guests, without
anyone asking why you didn't call in advance. It's not the same in
America. Friends arrange to meet a week in advance by phone. The time
and place must be agreed to lest anyone is inconvenienced.
Father Ktridj is certain that if one has a job in Armenia that pays
moderately well, according to the level of work, a work environment
where employees are respected by their employers, than it's quite
possible to live well here since expenses are the basic ones - food,
utilities, etc. These are the major concerns one has to deal with.
If there is money left over, it can be spent on entertainment, says
Father Ktridj. If there is nothing left, then nothing is spent. Anyway, the
environment here is a pleasure by itself.
`One can create enjoyment on their own. There are no simple pleasures
in America. I have been to the homes of families here in Armenia that
are quite poor, without a kopek to their name. But they gather
together, eat a simple meal and sing all night long. This is their
enjoyment. Then too, you can always take a walk through the town for
free. Here, people talk to one another.'
`I realize that I can contribute to the building of this country. I
didn't become a clergyman to serve God, but to serve the people. I
feel an obligation to my forefathers. They made many sacrifices so
that I could live comfortably. How correct would it be for me to go
overseas, have a cushy life, and not give back anything to this
people,: says Father Ktridj.
He doesn't regard the nine years living in Armenia as a sacrifice.
He says that if it was a sacrifice, they wouldn't have
stayed. Naturally, the couple misses their relatives back in the
States. `We only have each other here and our friends,' they confess.
Their friends are local and diaspora Armenians they've met through
the church and work. Sometimes they get together and the two groups
mingle.
`The government can surely do more if it was only more tolerant; if it
helped rather than hindered, and if it wasn't afraid of the
people. The country will never prosper if the government continues to
view the people as a threat,' says Father Ktridj.
70 years of Soviet rule more destructive spiritually than 600 years of
Turkish rule He says that Armenia faces many challenges that must be
overcome. In the nine years living here, he is certain of one
thing. `...During its 70 year rule, the Soviet regime would up playing
greater havoc on the people's moral and spiritual life than the Turks
in over 600 years.
I say this because the church in Turkey was freer in a sense, it
wasn't cut off from the community, and the local priest was always
around to visit homes, conduct marriages, baptisms, bless homes twice
a year. He was a recognizable individual who knew all in the
community. The local priest could knock on any door and walk in,
offering advice and counsel. There were no psychologists or
psychiatrists. The clergy did it all. In the span of 70 years, all our
churches were destroyed and the clergy killed off. The church
structure was demolished.'
Father Ktridj believe that the number one problem facing Armenia today
is the rebuilding of the country's moral system based on the teaching
and implementation of Christian values.
There are no atheists in Armenia, he says, just indifferent people who
proudly claim to be Christians but who don't understand what that
signifies. `The people comprise the church. We must teach the people
that being Christian entails a certain obligation. One cannot be a
Christian in words alone; one must live the faith. What is the sense
for a person to attend church on Sunday, alone to fib and lie on
Monday?'
New churches needed to spread Christian teaching
Father Ktridj proposes that new churches be built to make Christian
teaching more accessible. As an example, he points to a document
written by Patriarch Maghakia Ormanian in 1911, in Constantinople,
documenting that Yerevan had 250,000 inhabitants at the time with 245
churches; one church for every 1,000 residents. Today, there are just
ten churches in Yerevan with a population of over one million; a ratio
of one church to each 100,000 residents.
`Faith without practical work is a dead faith. This is the situation
we are in today. It is possible that this people now have great faith
but it is sleeping; not yet dead. Perhaps the level of faith is
sufficient for me but I have yet to see its result,' says Father
Ktridj.
To achieve some tangible result, it is not enough just to complain,
one must also demand.
`If we consider ourselves to be a democratic nation, this first and
foremost means that not only does the government have certain
responsibilities but that the people do as well. It is very easy for
the people to state that the government is bad, that it doesn't do
this or that, but isn't it also true that the people aren't fulfilling
their responsibilities? The people aren't out there making
demands. Who ever said that these demands will not be met once made?
The United States didn't become the country it has just due to the
actions of a president or certain individual. It was because the
people made certain demands. Here, the people do not.'
Father Ktridj has observed that here in Armenia, the birth of a child
is a source of joy rather than a burden for the family. `This is
mine. I feel at home here.'
More clergy should speak out on issues of the day
What displeases Father Ktridj is that many serious issues facing
Armenia go neglected - family violence, bribery, etc. He thinks that
the church could take a much more aggressive stance on these issues
and that the common folk could demand more.
When we asked why the clergy, in general, do not raise such issues,
Father Ktridj answered, `You should ask them. Perhaps, they don't
regard such matters as vital, but I do.'
Father Ktridj also finds that the method of instruction in the high
schools is unacceptable, given that it's a continuation of a 50
year-old system that cannot possible prepare a new generation to meet
the challenges of the 21st century. `My main fear is that we are not
teaching our children how to think for themselves. We are not properly
educating a new generation and I fear this more than Turk or
Azerbaijani. In Armenia, you will be hard-pressed to find one teacher
that ever asks their children what they actually think.'
Armenia has made Father Ktridj more impatient. Back in America, his
patience cut-off point was much higher. He says it takes much longer
to get something done in Armenia than overseas.
In his spare time, Father Ktridj likes to watch films, read and
write. He never watches Armenian TV nor does he read the local
papers. He says that the press in Armenia is more interested in
presenting opinion than actual news.
The couple dream of owning a house and adopting a child, even
two. This transplanted American-Armenian husband and wife only see
Armenia as the stage on which to build their future life together.
http://hetq.am/en/society/ter-ktrij/comment-page-1/
From: A. Papazian
[ 2010/07/26 | 16:30 ] Feature Stories society
Inga Martinyan
Father Ktridj - `It is easy to complain but the people must demand
change as well'
`I was born and raised as an American. But I felt like an Armenian
because I attended Armenian school and went to services at the
Armenian Apostolic Church. We spoke Armenian at home. I never thought
that one day I'd be living in Armenia. I believed that since I was
born in America and was a U.S. citizen, I had to spend my entire life
there. Armenia changes all of that. When I came here, I saw that I
indeed had a homeland and that there was a future here, not only for
local Armenians but for diaspora Armenians as well.'
This is how Father Ktridj, who now serves as the personal assistant to
Catholicos Garegin II, describes his journey from America to Armenia.
Father Ktridj, who accompanies Catholicos Garegin II, on all his trips
abroad, was born Armen Devechian in Philadelphia. He first visited
Armenia in 1990 and repatriated in 2001. He is an architect by
profession and is married to Paula, an Armenian from Fresno,
California. They met while he was teaching at the local college.
Born and raised in Philadelphia and now working at Etchmiadzin
Father Ktridj traces his roots back to Arabkir, in western
Armenia. Paula's family hails from Kharpert. He now is in charge of
the foreign correspondence section at the Holy See. His wife,
`Yeretskin' Paula manages the Holy See's website and is
Etchmaidzin's liaison with a number of international organizations.
Father Ktridj tells me that the Armenian community back in the States
was united around the local church parish. He grew up regarding a
priest as usually being elderly, somewhat stern, and someone always
demanding a great deal of respect. The clergy weren't exactly what
you'd call a friend.
The first time Armen visited Armenia he made the acquaintance of a
young, energetic clergyman. They became good friends. Whenever Armen
returned to Armenia, the two would meet over coffee or a meal. That
young clergyman was the future Catholicos of All Armenians, Garegin II
Since Armen and Paula didn't have the finances to invest in Armenia,
they decided to invest their time instead and thus contribute.
When they first moved here, they figured that they'd return. They had
taken a leave of absence, locked the door to the house and came.
`We lived much better there. We had a house and good jobs. But, in
the end, you realize that everything doesn't revolve around money.
Ones quality of life isn't merely measured in material belongings,'
says Father Ktridj.
After spending six months in Armenia, the two found they had gotten
used to life here and were comfortable with their new
surroundings. The problems they faced were simple ones.
With decent work a comfortable life is possible
Father Ktridj likes to point out that in Armenia one can take evening
strolls in relative safety, visit friends or receive guests, without
anyone asking why you didn't call in advance. It's not the same in
America. Friends arrange to meet a week in advance by phone. The time
and place must be agreed to lest anyone is inconvenienced.
Father Ktridj is certain that if one has a job in Armenia that pays
moderately well, according to the level of work, a work environment
where employees are respected by their employers, than it's quite
possible to live well here since expenses are the basic ones - food,
utilities, etc. These are the major concerns one has to deal with.
If there is money left over, it can be spent on entertainment, says
Father Ktridj. If there is nothing left, then nothing is spent. Anyway, the
environment here is a pleasure by itself.
`One can create enjoyment on their own. There are no simple pleasures
in America. I have been to the homes of families here in Armenia that
are quite poor, without a kopek to their name. But they gather
together, eat a simple meal and sing all night long. This is their
enjoyment. Then too, you can always take a walk through the town for
free. Here, people talk to one another.'
`I realize that I can contribute to the building of this country. I
didn't become a clergyman to serve God, but to serve the people. I
feel an obligation to my forefathers. They made many sacrifices so
that I could live comfortably. How correct would it be for me to go
overseas, have a cushy life, and not give back anything to this
people,: says Father Ktridj.
He doesn't regard the nine years living in Armenia as a sacrifice.
He says that if it was a sacrifice, they wouldn't have
stayed. Naturally, the couple misses their relatives back in the
States. `We only have each other here and our friends,' they confess.
Their friends are local and diaspora Armenians they've met through
the church and work. Sometimes they get together and the two groups
mingle.
`The government can surely do more if it was only more tolerant; if it
helped rather than hindered, and if it wasn't afraid of the
people. The country will never prosper if the government continues to
view the people as a threat,' says Father Ktridj.
70 years of Soviet rule more destructive spiritually than 600 years of
Turkish rule He says that Armenia faces many challenges that must be
overcome. In the nine years living here, he is certain of one
thing. `...During its 70 year rule, the Soviet regime would up playing
greater havoc on the people's moral and spiritual life than the Turks
in over 600 years.
I say this because the church in Turkey was freer in a sense, it
wasn't cut off from the community, and the local priest was always
around to visit homes, conduct marriages, baptisms, bless homes twice
a year. He was a recognizable individual who knew all in the
community. The local priest could knock on any door and walk in,
offering advice and counsel. There were no psychologists or
psychiatrists. The clergy did it all. In the span of 70 years, all our
churches were destroyed and the clergy killed off. The church
structure was demolished.'
Father Ktridj believe that the number one problem facing Armenia today
is the rebuilding of the country's moral system based on the teaching
and implementation of Christian values.
There are no atheists in Armenia, he says, just indifferent people who
proudly claim to be Christians but who don't understand what that
signifies. `The people comprise the church. We must teach the people
that being Christian entails a certain obligation. One cannot be a
Christian in words alone; one must live the faith. What is the sense
for a person to attend church on Sunday, alone to fib and lie on
Monday?'
New churches needed to spread Christian teaching
Father Ktridj proposes that new churches be built to make Christian
teaching more accessible. As an example, he points to a document
written by Patriarch Maghakia Ormanian in 1911, in Constantinople,
documenting that Yerevan had 250,000 inhabitants at the time with 245
churches; one church for every 1,000 residents. Today, there are just
ten churches in Yerevan with a population of over one million; a ratio
of one church to each 100,000 residents.
`Faith without practical work is a dead faith. This is the situation
we are in today. It is possible that this people now have great faith
but it is sleeping; not yet dead. Perhaps the level of faith is
sufficient for me but I have yet to see its result,' says Father
Ktridj.
To achieve some tangible result, it is not enough just to complain,
one must also demand.
`If we consider ourselves to be a democratic nation, this first and
foremost means that not only does the government have certain
responsibilities but that the people do as well. It is very easy for
the people to state that the government is bad, that it doesn't do
this or that, but isn't it also true that the people aren't fulfilling
their responsibilities? The people aren't out there making
demands. Who ever said that these demands will not be met once made?
The United States didn't become the country it has just due to the
actions of a president or certain individual. It was because the
people made certain demands. Here, the people do not.'
Father Ktridj has observed that here in Armenia, the birth of a child
is a source of joy rather than a burden for the family. `This is
mine. I feel at home here.'
More clergy should speak out on issues of the day
What displeases Father Ktridj is that many serious issues facing
Armenia go neglected - family violence, bribery, etc. He thinks that
the church could take a much more aggressive stance on these issues
and that the common folk could demand more.
When we asked why the clergy, in general, do not raise such issues,
Father Ktridj answered, `You should ask them. Perhaps, they don't
regard such matters as vital, but I do.'
Father Ktridj also finds that the method of instruction in the high
schools is unacceptable, given that it's a continuation of a 50
year-old system that cannot possible prepare a new generation to meet
the challenges of the 21st century. `My main fear is that we are not
teaching our children how to think for themselves. We are not properly
educating a new generation and I fear this more than Turk or
Azerbaijani. In Armenia, you will be hard-pressed to find one teacher
that ever asks their children what they actually think.'
Armenia has made Father Ktridj more impatient. Back in America, his
patience cut-off point was much higher. He says it takes much longer
to get something done in Armenia than overseas.
In his spare time, Father Ktridj likes to watch films, read and
write. He never watches Armenian TV nor does he read the local
papers. He says that the press in Armenia is more interested in
presenting opinion than actual news.
The couple dream of owning a house and adopting a child, even
two. This transplanted American-Armenian husband and wife only see
Armenia as the stage on which to build their future life together.
http://hetq.am/en/society/ter-ktrij/comment-page-1/
From: A. Papazian