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Hratch Tchilingirian
Dr. Hratch Tchilingirian is an intellectual entrepreneur and an activist sociologist. In recent years he has drawn attention to the plight of minorities and Christian communities in the Middle East, especially in academic and policy-making circles. As a public intellectual, his research, thinking and projects aim to make heritage identity, culture and language a living experience, especially in diasporic life. Following his PhD at the London School of Economics, he was director of research on Eurasia and lecturer at Cambridge University’s business school (2003-2012). Since 2012, he is an Associate of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at University of Oxford. He has lectured internationally and is the author of numerous studies and publications (www.hratch.info). Dr. Tchilingirian has held executive positions in academic institutions and charitable organizations and has served communities in various capacities and leadership positions in the United States and the United Kingdom. He remains deeply engaged in community life and takes active part in civic and professional projects.
None of the fog surrounding this is dispelled by the article repeating the dubious claim about Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan’s health being the reason for his 2009 retirement. On 29th March 2008, on Aghtamar Island, I watched Mutafyan deliver a long speech, and later walked with him up the steep and rocky slopes of the hill overlooking the monastery. He also gave numerous press interviews, and had already been interviewed on CNN-Turk the evening before. How can someone displaying no obvious physical or mental disabilities be “in a vegetative state for some time” just a year later?
Thank you for the insightful summary. It reflects the continued oppression of our people by the Turkish government. How could Turkish ever be considered “EU possible” with the overt interference in the life of Christian churches. After murdering the Christian indigenous population , they continued the assault. The impact of closing the Armenian and Greek seminaries is devastating. This deliberate attempt to suffocate the churches by denying the faithful clergy and limiting future Patriarchal candidates is appalling.
Of course the government has always relied on “friendly” leaders to keep the community divided. Abp. Ateshian is a clear example. His absurd “absurd” apology to the Turkish government after the German recognition of the genocide was “Amot”. Thank God for the principled Abp. Mashalyan taking action to force the issue. Without his “resignation” there would probably have been no “reconciliation” meeting in Holy Etchmiadzin and the delays would have continued. Despite Ateshian’s continued effort to delay the process, it will move forward with the elected locum tenens. Pray for our people in Turkey that they find peace and prosperity in our beloved church.