Broadcasting the New Year message of the Catholicos of All Armenians on Public TV H1 was a tradition that has existed since His Holiness Vazgen the First. Abandoning that tradition is an expression of the narrow-mindedness of the current authorities. When the level of thinking is limited to small, provincial revenge does not rise to the state and, even more so, international level; it is undoubtedly a sad phenomenon.
In authoritarian countries, all state decisions are taken, if not by the instructions of the first person, then consider his preferences and whims. Moreover, in today’s Armenia, I think it is quite real that the Prime Minister personally orders measures to be taken against the speech or press publication he does not like and against the author of a Facebook “status,” comment, or “like.”
Therefore, it can be assumed where the instruction comes from, that the speech of a clergyman that Pashinyan does not like should not appear next to the Prime Minister’s New Year’s address and not have the same television audience.
But there is also a fundamental problem there. In general, the hostility of the authorities with the Mother See of the Armenian Apostolic Church is the most imprudent thing that could be done in this situation. It does not consider the role our church plays in the Diaspora.
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The “Vache and Tamar Manukyan” library has already responded to the government’s demarche. Only with nationwide efforts is it possible to strengthen the foundations of our statehood, which have been undermined during these 3-5 years.
I am sure that the Armenian Apostolic Church should play a unifying role within Armenia as well, in terms of public solidarity – something that, I confess, I did not understand a few years ago. Politics, economic activity, legal system, education, culture, and all other spheres must be put on “ethos,” ethical foundations.
First, the 1700-year-old tradition, starting with Grigor Lusavorich and Mesrop Mashtots, gives us that basis. There’s no need to invent a bicycle here.
Of course, our church must also change and meet the modern requirements; the thinking of the clergy also needs to be raised. The problem, as they say, is an institutional one.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
