Paris, May 27, 2020
PRESS RELEASE by the Diocesan
Council of the Armenian Apostolic
Church Diocese of France
Dispute between the Diocese of France of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Cultural Association of the Armenian Church of Saint Mary of Nice.
Released by: Anouche Seropyan President of Armenian Apostolic Church of Alpes Maritimes, Var and Monaco
Translated from French into English By APPO JABARIAN
Editor’s note: The below May 27 press release by the Diocesan Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church Diocese of France was originally published in NOYAN TAPAN Magazine French edition issue No. 21 (1296) May 29, 2020. The France Diocese press release instructed by Karekin II is designed to present the latest developments France. Appo Jabarian Managing Editor of USA Armenian Life has detected the same pattern used by the Western Diocese (Los Angeles) in their press releases to CREATE CONFUSION in the mind of the readers. The convoluted style utilized in this particular press release issued by the Diocese of France is reminiscent of the press release issued by Western Diocese in Los Angeles on March 11, 2019 by. The text of the press release aims to plant confusion in the mind of the reader. (More to come.)
Since 2010, our Christian Community of Nice has been experiencing a crisis that is seriously detrimental to our Church in France.
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The Diocesan Council wishes to share some information to foster a better understanding of the current situation in Nice. Litigation continues to pit the Diocese of France of the Armenian Apostolic Church against the Cultural Association of the Armenian Church of St. Mary of Nice (ACEASMN).
From the beginning of 2019, on several occasions, during successive negotiations, the leaders of the (Nice) Church Parish have indicated that they are committed to adopt the (new) Diocesan By-Laws (The new By-Laws that were recently dictated by Karekin II eliminating the original 2006 democratic By-Laws — Editor) that are valid and therefore, by default current the By-Laws of the parishes which would convince the Diocesan authorities that there is considerable progress in the process of reintegration of this association into the Diocese.
Thus, on April 14, 2019, His Eminence Vahan Hovhanessyan proceeded to the re-consecration of the altar of the Armenian Church of Saint Mary, under the Blessing of His Holiness Karekin II. (A FEW YEARS AGO, IN RETALIATION OF NICE, FRANCE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY’S STRONG OPPOSITION TO HIS DICTATORIAL DEMANDS, KAREKIN II HAD UNILATERALLY DECIDED THAT THE NICE ARMENIAN CHURCH “NO LONGER IS ALLOWED TO PRACTICE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN RELIGION.” IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THAT, REPORTEDLY KAREKIN II HAD USED PRES. SERZH SARGSYAN REGIME’S STATE AND DIPLOMATIC RESOURCES IN FRANCE — Editor).
Shortly thereafter, the Reverend Father Komitas Hovnanyan (a protégé of Karekin II —Editor) was appointed in July 2019. Holy See of Etchmiadzin and the Diocese showed great leniency. Unfortunately, without reciprocation.
These strong acts of goodwill by the Holy See of Etchmiadzin and the Diocese of France to resolve the Nice crisis in a spirit of reconciliation and confidence, were misdirected by these same officials of the Cultural Association of the Armenian Church of Saint Mary who have maintained discord in our community of Nice for more than 10 long years.
Failure to honor their commitments seriously damages today the trust granted by His Holiness KAREKINE II, by the Supreme Spiritual Council, by the Primate and the Diocesan Council.
Regarding these commitments, it should be reminded:
- The October 8, 2017 and April 7, 2019 Extraordinary Parish General Assemblies of ACEASMN (Nice) adopted the unanimous decision of particularly relating to question N° II: “Membership of our Cultural Association of Saint Mary ACEASMN, that is located at 281, Boulevard de la Madeleine 06000 Nice into the Diocesan Cultural Association Armenian Apostolic Church of France, which is located at St Jean Baptiste Cathedral, 15, Rue Jean Goujon, 75008-Paris, as well as the statutes (By-Laws) governing the latter,”
- their formal agreement, confirmed:
- in their letter dated October 12, 2018,
- and subsequent to the signing of Memorandum dated April 14, 2019 between the Primate and MM. Richard Takvorian President and Garen Ajderhanyan Vice-President.
This signing took place before the Holy Mass of Palm Sunday and the re-consecration ceremony of the altar of the Church of St. Mary.
On May 25, 2019 in Paris, a delegation from the Diocesan Council met with ACEASMN (Nice) officials during a meeting where they reaffirmed this commitment.
Given the absence of any constructive intention and the public declarations of some of its officials affirming that their religious association would never sign the statutes (By-Laws) of the Parishes included in the existing Diocesan statutes (By-Laws), the Diocesan Council sent a letter dated December 6, 2019 urging this (Nice) Association to execute the agreement to which its officers and members had committed, fixing a deadline of January 24, 2020.
Having received no response from them on this (new deadline) date, the Diocesan Council again sent them a letter February 5, fixing a deadline of March 1, reminding the urgent nature of their compliance.
On February 5, 2020, Mr. Richard Takvorian President and Garen Ajderhanyan Vice-President of ACEASMN (Nice) were expected to sign the Current Diocesan Statutes (By-Laws).
A letter from them dated the same day, however, announced their decision to adopt their Parish Statutes (By-Laws) of 2006, also informing the Diocesan Council of the convening of an Extraordinary General Assembly for this purpose on March 1.
In response to this letter, the Diocesan Council indicated in a February 26 letter that only the adoption of the Parish Statutes (By-Laws) included in the Diocesan Statutes (By-Laws) in force could facilitate their reintegration, and that without this essential step, the process of reinpress release initiated by the Diocesan authorities would be jeopardized.
No action having been taken as per this letter, the Diocesan Council decided to re-expulse this Cultural Association of St. Mary of Nice by a letter of May 7, 2020, stating that, without the legal compliance of ACEASMN (Nice) as specified above before the 1st August, coercive measures consisting in recalling Reverend Father Komitas Hovnanyan and launching a legal procedure aimed at enforcing the terms of the judgment of September 25, 2014 by the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Nice concerning the use of the qualification “Apostolic”, would be applied.
