THE GRACIOUS ACT OF ABDICATION
Posted on July. 26. 2019
Z. S. Andrew Demirdjian
JULY 26, 2019
EXCLUSIVE TO
USA ARMENIAN LIFE MAGAZINE
Oddly, the most freeing thing we can
ever do is to abdicate the throne of
our miniature kingdoms.
Beth Moore
Surrounded by a sea of pagans, Armenians took a leap of faith in 301 A.D. to become the first nation to adopt Christianity as their state religion —about a quarter of a century before the Roman Emperor Constantine had dared to institute such a cultural change. As a result, the Armenian Apostolic Church, the unifying centripetal force, the kinetic energy that permeates the life of its scattered people, has become the treasure and the pride of the nation and its vast Diaspora.
Mankind has never ceased finding explanations for the creation of the Earth and the emergence of man. Many of these explanations are exceedingly interesting and compelling, but much of their detail is no longer regarded strictly factual after the dawn of Darwinism. Instead, they are more properly interpreted as reflections of man’s past yearning to fathom mysteries he could not possibly understand. In this article, we shall trace the beginning of religion and show how Armenians have been imbued with the teaching of their present religion and how they are always determined to keep their church free of degradation by getting rid of their misfit clergymen either by deposing them or by voluntary resignation.
Armenia’s deep involvement with religion goes back further in time than 301 A.D. In fact, there is unequivocal evidence to support this claim. Based on several post-Ottoman era archeological excavations in Western Armenia (e.g., Nevali Cori, Chayonu, Tille Hoyuk, Samsat, etc.), proto-Armenians had given birth to an early civilization partly based on religion. Unfortunately, these sites are given Turkish names. Notwithstanding, they are nothing but sites located on the Armenian Highlands; therefore, the findings pertain to Armenians long before the Turks had usurped their land.
The vast territory between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers was once covered with forests of mainly Armenian Oak trees, which had created a rich habitat for plants and animals. This place proved to be a paradise for the early man for being a hunter-gatherer to meet his survival needs. Later on, this rich environment became a productive land to grow grains and raise animals for food. Bustling settlements in the form of villages and towns sprung up along the two proverbial rivers, which gave rise to sedentary life which, in turn, led to the formation of civilization that included the creation of an organized religion.
For example, Nevali Cori excavations have served as an “entry to a time machine.” Nevali Cori is one of the oldest permanent settlements of early man ever excavated. It is located on the east side of the Euphrates River. This site dates back 10,000 years. The two-phased excavation was undertaken in the 1980s and 1990s by a German-Turkish team. The group’s leader, Harald Hauptmann, considered the project as providing “direct entry to a time machine.”
Among the important discoveries at Novali Cori site were 27 houses. It was discovered that these house were devoted primarily to food storage, as revealed by the presence of grain and bones of gazelles and other wild animals. Of all the discoveries, the most exciting find was a temple made of stone.
The temple, a room that measured 45×45 feet, was laid with a terrazzo floor. In the center of this room, several limestone figures were uncovered. A cult statue may once have occupied a rather small niche. Hauptmann espoused that Nevali Cori’s religion-minded inhabitants were first drawn to the area and also motivated to settle there, and began to farm the surrounding area only much later.
At the center of Nevali Cori’s stone-walled temple, a tall pillar still stands, displaying what appear to be two arms and hands. The pillar seems to represent a highly stylized human form. A plausible theory explains that “Nevali Cori served as a religious center for a tribe already organized into a hierarchy of chieftains, priests, hunters, farmers, and trades people.” Thus, proto-Armenian interest in religion dates back to 10,000 years. One can also safely postulate that Armenians are the first nation to have come up with an organized religion.
As you well know, unlike ephemeral cults, most religions of the world are not new. The world’s main religions have existed for thousands of years. During this time, they have tried to explain the world and the meaning of life to their believers. It is thought that over 75 percent of the world’s people follow an organized religion now as pioneered by the proto-Armenians.
A glance at man’s past would indicate that religion has been a powerful force in shaping world history, and has inspired many fine buildings, paintings, and music. Likewise in Armenia, religion has immensely contributed to the rich culture of the people for nearly 2,000 years. Suffice it to say, religion has produced a unique style of Armenian architecture in building their holy sites. While some religions had gone through reforms and transformations in their underlying canons, the Armenian Apostolic Church has always stood like the Rock of Gibraltar without any change over the years.
During its rather long history, some 132 catolicoi reigned the Armenian Apostolic Church. Since we are dealing with humans, some of them proved to be spiritual leaders and some others were distracted by the devil, so to speak, to engage in materialistic pursuits.
Over its long history, the Armenian Church had its ups and downs due to some of its unfit, selfish, downright corrupt catolicoi in every sense of the word under the category of evil deeds. The spectrum of misconduct ran the gamut from mismanagement of the church affairs to engaging in immoral acts. Unfortunately, some had to be deposed; others, had to resign, stamped on them “Good Riddance” by the Armenian people around the world.
As you well know, our current catholicos is Karakin II, the Supreme Head of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Unfortunately, he is embroiled in controversial issues allegedly pertaining to his management of the church properties and for the conduct of his personal life.
Since the adoption of Christianity, Armenia had problems with 15 catolicoi. Five of them were deposed; and the rest 10 had to resign. The first catholicos (i.e., Kristapor II Apahooni) resigned in 630 A.D. and the last one (Yeprem I of Tsoragegh) resigned in 1830. As for those who were deposed, the first catholicos (i.e., Vahan I Suni) was deposed in 969; and the last one (i.e., David V Ghorghanian) was deposed in 1807. Let us hope none will be deposed for the time being, but would choose to resign in dignity of the sacred office.
Man cannot get along without faith, and the highest ornament of any great civilization is the ethical system by which it lives. The strength of any such system lies in its ability to continue to serve as a moral force while adjusting itself to changes in man’s knowledge about the universe and is place in it.
The Armenian Apostolic Church is a fine case in point. It is seldom taken lightly by the faithful. Whether the allegations of misconduct against some of our clergymen are true or false, we should show compassion and understanding toward them. After all, they are human just like us with frailties and God will judge them for their trespasses. For instance, our current pontiff has divided the faithful into two groups. Those who want him to retire or resign and those who want him to stay. We must remember that while it is proper to ask a leader to step down, it is woefully wrong to insult the person especially in public as it is ruefully being done by some who are acting in the streets as mere thugs. We need to solve our internal problems with tact and consideration for the process would have geopolitical implications and it may somehow denigrate the profile of Armenia and Armenians worldwide.
As is evident, man had to invent religion for the sake of faith. Faith is the fountain of hope for the past, present, and the future. Faith has been the salvation of man from natural calamities such as wild fires and from manmade crises such as wars. Many questions shout themselves at the curious and loyal faithful. Is it true about the allegations against some of our clergymen of a secrete account of a large amount of money? How about their secular life or how is it that while preaching the separation of state and religion and yet they became part of the Armenian ruling class, the oligarchs? Was there evidence for these infractions?
As of 301 A.D., most Armenians remained devout Christians and are members of Armenia’s own church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, which is the main and one of the oldest Christian churches. It was founded in the 1st century A.D, and in 301 A.D. became the first branch of Christianity to become a state religion. According to a Pew Research publication in December 2018, Armenia is the 2nd (1st being Romania and Estonia being last) most religious country among 34 European nations surveyed. Seventy-nine (79) percent of the adult Armenian respondents reported that they believed in God with absolute certainty. This commitment is amazing when you consider the Genocide of 1915 when many of the survivors had thought the European nations and God had forsaken them to be butchered mercilessly for living in their own ancestral lands.
This recent Pew Research survey result corroborates the contention that Armenia has been immersed in religion since the beginning of civilized life on Earth. As a result, they have zero tolerance when it comes to scandals in their revered churches. Compared to the daily scandals of the Catholic Church though, Armenia’s rate of similar problems pale in comparison.
The allegations of misconduct could very well be false. The burden of proof lies on the shoulders of the accused to refute them; otherwise, silence would be construed as being guilty as charged. The attempt at exoneration should be focused on the allegations and not trying to discredit the journalists, the activists such as Mr. Appo Jabarian, The Executive Publisher and Managing Editor of the USA Armenian Life Magazine, who has been doing his professional duty to report the news, be they good or bad. Democracy in a civil society supports the freedom of speech and the press. And Mr. Jabarian happens to exercise that freedom for the enlightenment of his readers. Displaced aggression against the voice of the community is not only wrong, but also it is criminal punishable to the full extent of the law.
Armenian Apostolic Church’s top of the hierarchy is at a crossroads. Either continue the road to scandal or simply show the grace to resign. After all, the resignation or abdication of an allegedly guilty person has a mysterious power to kill a controversy engulfing a case.
On June 23, 2019, during the Feast of Holy Etchmiadzin celebration at St. Leon Cathedral in Burbank, California, the who-is-who in Armenian Church dignitaries, initiated the official launch of a global campaign to raise funds for the renovation of the Holy Etchmiadzin Cathedral. The objective was to safeguard it as a sacred site and as the supreme head of the Armenian Church.
Selected by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of all Armenians, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian was charged with the challenge of leading the worldwide fundraising plans to raise funds from the Armenian Dioceses throughout the Diaspora for the renovation of the aging Etchmiadzin Cathedral.
Now, please read the following carefully: “Etchmiadzin is God’s house and it is the home of our prayers today and for upcoming generations,” declared Archbishop Derderian while delivering the liturgy of the day. “It brings the children of our nation together from all four corners of the world.”
Archbishop Derderian went on to pontificate that “If every Armenian makes a contribution, we will succeed in this effort and the light will remain in Etchmiadzin,” He further stated cogently: “It is in the church that we feel the breath of our homeland and our holy faith and where we instill in our children the Armenian language, religion and culture.” (Underscore added).
To “To instill in our children the Armenian language, religion and culture,” don’t we need positive role models in our Armenian Church to foster and represent transparency, honesty, accountability and above all spirituality as opposed to materialism?! It seems that it is easy to preach than to practice these valued qualities of character.
Wishful thinking of those involved in the controversy may dub the whole thing as being “a grand witch hunt.” The discontent of the faithful is real; it won’t go away unless reforms are made in the near future. The division in the faithful could very well present an opportunity for defection from the Armenian Apostolic Church. Jehovah Witness and the Mormon Church (Church of the Latter Day Saints) recent invasion into Armenia are two good examples. Aggressive Mormon evangelism is making inroads in Armenia. Of all the Christian denominations in the world, this is one of the richest and the fastest growing church. Therefore, we need to counter the loss by making our church again a bastion of ethicality and morality.
Against the backdrop of increasing demand by the faithful for the resignation of those clergymen perceived to be unfit to serve the religious needs of the Armenian nation, the gracious act would be abdication. As an example, our pontiff’s or our archbishop’s legacy for stepping down would be that they resigned for the sake of keeping the unity of the faithful.
It is incumbent upon every believer to strive to protect the dignity of the Armenian Apostolic Church when it falls into the hands of misguided, self-centered so-called spiritual leaders. Our children should have inspirational role models to emulate their righteous behavior. In sum, it would be a gracious act to abdicate for the well-deserved interest of the Armenian nation rather than be deposed in disgrace if the allegations were true. And, in so doing, abdication would make the Patron Saint of Armenia and the first Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Saint Gregory the Illuminator, happy in Heaven to see his world-famous signature cathedral and its dioceses gone through a thorough spiritual cleansing of sin from the soul of some clergymen who had gone wrong.