The diaspora is a vital part of our church
Last week, this column focused on the divisive thinking that pervades our communal life. We can deny it because it is uncomfortable, but it has been a major factor throughout our long journey. When one considers our attraction to other Armenians in random encounters, it is ironic that we manage to generate so much negativity among ourselves.
This past week my wife and I traveled to Florida for her birthday. One evening, after a quiet dinner, we strolled through a commercial area filled with children laughing and families building memories. Just ahead of us were three individuals enjoying the mild evening. When we came within earshot, we heard the unmistakable beauty of the Armenian language. Our immediate instinct, of course, was to greet them with something like, “You’re Armenian!”— as if we were the only families of this ethnicity on Earth. Instead, we chose a more organic approach and greeted them in Armenian.
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So beautifully expressed, Stepan Piligian. Thank you for it.
Thank you Stephan jan for the wonderful article.
Micheal Stephen
Former Caretaker Armenian Church Madras India
Former Asst Manager Armenian College Kolkata India
Mr. Piligian your recepie of addressing present conflict between Armenian government and cotholicos by Christian love and mutual respect not meaningful, when is Catholicos order it’s subordinates priest to take their families to protests against Armenian ligitimate government organised by opposition parties , here Christian love has no role to play here it is the rule of law which is needed, when a bishop starts an uprising against government and demands resignation of government within 90 minutes and he declares his action has the blessing of Catholicos Christian love has unable to address the issues. The Catholicos has no authority to demand the resignation of Armenian government elected exclusively by Armenian citizens.
We have to be realistic and accept the solution is the removal of Catholicos by Charch hierarchy. Stathood and institutional Church can not be compared as equal institutions. Armenian statehood is supreme
It may be his nature. It could be his nurture. He was born and raised in a different era. It may be both. The main cause for the deterioration of the Armenia state and church relation is he, Catholicos Karekin II, exacerbated by the inability of the ecclesiastical hierarchy to deal with him and the turmoil he has created.