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Archbishop Unrepentant About Gun, Luxury Car Possession

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  • Archbishop Unrepentant About Gun, Luxury Car Possession

    ARCHBISHOP UNREPENTANT ABOUT GUN, LUXURY CAR POSSESSION
    Sargis Harutyunyan

    http://www.armenialiberty.org/content/article/3549149.html
    06.04.2011

    A high-ranking cleric of the Armenian Apostolic Church on Wednesday
    defended his ownership of a handgun and luxury car which was revealed
    by the Armenian press recently.

    Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan, head of the church's largest diocese
    encompassing Yerevan and the southern Ararat province, shrugged off
    the resulting outcry in some media and online social networks. "I
    don't take that seriously," he told RFE/RL's Armenian service.

    The Yerevan newspaper "168 Zham" reported last month that Kchoyan
    has been seen riding in a Bentley car. It quoted him as saying that
    he received it recently as a gift from one of his godsons.

    The celibate priest refused to go into details, reportedly telling
    the paper not to meddle in his "private life."

    It is still not clear how old his luxury car is. Brand new Bentleys
    currently cost between $180,000 and $280,000.

    Later in March, another newspaper, "Hetq," revealed that Kchoyan
    received in 2007 a pistol from then Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian.

    The paper said his spokeswoman initially denied the information but
    then confirmed it after being shown documentary evidence of the gift.

    She was quoted as saying that Kchoyan does not carry the weapon and
    keeps it in his office safe.

    "In all countries, weapons are presented to all those who are
    appreciated," Kchoyan told RFE/RL. "A weapon is [given as] an
    appreciation, not for some other purpose."

    The archbishop also had no qualms about using a very expensive car in
    a country where the official poverty rate exceeds 34 percent. "Should
    I have renounced the gift?" he said.

    Kchoyan has for years faced criticism from local media for his behavior
    and lifestyle which they consider too earthly.

    He has also sparked controversy by participating and even speaking
    at political gatherings organized by Sarkisian and his Republican
    Party of Armenia. Kchoyan personally blessed the current Armenian
    president at a February 2008 campaign rally held in Yerevan in the
    run-up to a dispute presidential election.

    The office of Catholicos Garegin II, the supreme head of the Armenian
    Church, has not commented on the latest controversy surrounding
    the archbishop.




    From: A. Papazian
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