Catholicos Aram I with Armenian Weekly Editor Nanore Barsoumian (left), and Hairenik Weekly Editor Zaven Torikian
WATERTOWN, Mass. (A.W.)—The Armenian Weekly had the opportunity to sit down with His Holiness Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia on June 2 to discuss issues facing the church and Armenian communities worldwide.
Catholicos Aram I with Armenian Weekly Editor Nanore Barsoumian (left), and Hairenik Weekly Editor Zaven Torikian
Nanore Barsoumian is the Investigations Editor at The Armenian Weekly and a Boston-based writer and researcher. She is also a research fellow at New York University’s Global Institute for Advanced Studies, where she works on the Armenian Genocide Denial project, focusing on denial at the United Nations. She previously served as editor of The Armenian Weekly (2014–2016) and assistant editor (2010–2014), reporting from Armenia, Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh, Javakhk and Turkey. Her writing covers politics, books and human rights, and her scholarly work examines genocide memorialization and denial. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and English and a master’s degree in conflict resolution. Her research appears in After the Ottomans: Genocide’s Long Shadow and Armenian Resilience (I.B. Tauris, 2023). She is currently working on her debut novel exploring themes of belonging and self-invention. Find her on social media or at www.nanorebarsoumian.com.
One important question was left out of this interview, the education level of our clergy. The average Armenian priest is mediocre by all means. We need educated priests who not only assist the community spiritually but also intellectually and culturally.
Aram I seems bright and broad-minded person. But unfortunately, he is a “rare specimen” among Armenian clergy… There are many dogmatic, demagogic, illiterate and narrow-minded types…
I also always do not sincerely understand why women are prohibited to ordination into the priesthood.
Maybe for doing justice and compensation – the next 2000 years men will be prohibited to ordination into the priesthood :=)
One important question was left out of this interview, the education level of our clergy. The average Armenian priest is mediocre by all means. We need educated priests who not only assist the community spiritually but also intellectually and culturally.
Aram I seems bright and broad-minded person. But unfortunately, he is a “rare specimen” among Armenian clergy… There are many dogmatic, demagogic, illiterate and narrow-minded types…
I also always do not sincerely understand why women are prohibited to ordination into the priesthood.
Maybe for doing justice and compensation – the next 2000 years men will be prohibited to ordination into the priesthood :=)