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The academic community, civil society organisations and all Armenian society, especially in the social media, have recently been discussing the latest scandal around the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), caused by an open letter allegedly signed by the head of the Armenian Patricarchate of Jerusalem, Archibishop Nurhan Manukyan.

The background story is that few Armenian media outlets published an open letter on August 3, allegedly authored by the head of the Armenian Patricarchate of Jerusalem, Archibishop Nurhan Manukyan and addressed to the Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin the Second. In the said letter the Archibishop laid down his bewilderment about the recent resignation of the head of the French diocese of AAC – the Archibishop Norvan Zakarian, as well as opined about the AAC Supreme Spritual Council's support of «the so-called priest Vache», according to the alleged text of the letter, disseminated by the media.

Moreover, the letter, later on denied to be fraudulent, also blamed Garegin the Second for «being interested in the look and the material», causing great deal of controversy in the Armenian society. According to the media publications, Archibishop Manukian also wrote: «It is impossible to bring up healthy generations in the atmosphere of fear and threats. That will damage our nation and our church, which in any time needs genuinely religious and true representatives of the clergy, and not those licking boots». In conclusion, «given the present tensions inside the church» Archibishop Manukian reported a disclaimer to participate in the Episcopal Council, scheduled on September 21-28 in Armenia.

To get sense of these developments, Panorama.am talked to the Head of Chair of Armenian History at the Yerevan State University, Professor Petros Hovhannisyan.

- Professor, could you, please, comment on the recent developments?
- In the first place, I would note that these talks about the Catholicos – from A to Z – I think, is just a bawdry. I know the Catholicos quite well, have been observing him for the past several years, have seen him both in troublous times or excited or full of anxiety, but he never breached the norms of verbal correctness. The claims that he allegedly allowed himself low level, jargon talks, moreover in the presence of other dignitaries, I think are merely cheap tricks. I am sure, he would never allow that. That is simply impossible.
On the other hand, it strikes me to see the position of Patriarch Nurhan Manukyan. What aims does he have? To protect the head of AAC French diocese, Archbishop Norvan Zakarian, his rights? It is known that Norvan Zakarian himself expressed his willingness to resign. It has always been possible in our church. The only lifelong position is the one of Catholicos of All Armenians. The latter can only abdicate in case of grave canon violation, when the Church Council may deprive him of the title. The move of Archbishop Norvan Zakarian is allowed from the standpoint of the standing orders, and I would not like to go deep into its motives.

I disliked the comment of Patriarch Manukyan regarding the construction activities of Catholicos Garegin the Second, where the Patriarch claimed souls should be built before building up churches. Instead, I think, the Patriarch should himself have built at least one church, school or something, for example, in Spitak city (in Armenia). He has the material resources for that, and there are places in Armenia in need of those facilities. Let him build at least a chapel, and we will see whether or not that is easy to accomplish. Moreover, Catholicos Garegin the Second has ensured the church will have highly qualified personnel, hasn't he?

Let you not have the impression that my official capacities affect my thinking, or that I don't have other things to do (the YSU Head of Chair has many duties indeed). I will merely point out, that the Catholicos does not need any protection, his accomplishments stand in his protection indeed. The churches, active performance of the seminaries, girls' schools, kindergardens, charity canteens and hospitals… The church is a state within a state.

The message of Patriarch Nurhan Manukian is more than strange and does not credit his high title. Maybe after his election to that high post, he began having dizziness, and maybe he does not actually realize who he has become. The title of the head of Jerusalem Patriarchate is one among the highest in the Armenian Apostolic Church. And I think he realizes quite well, that the Catholicos is the head of Armenian Apostolic Church, all the structures of the Armenian Church, all dioceses and Patriarchates. The style of address to the upper person in the hierarchy does not speak of his understanding of the subordination. If he liked to give fraternal advice to the Catholicos, he could have chosen many other means. Moreover, I don’t think he has a problem of coming to the Catholicos in Armenia from Jerusalem.

This is simply a pharisaism. I suppose this is a conspiracy, which has its roots in some other place. In all this I see some moves not only against the Catholicos Garegin the Second, but against the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin…

– Is this some unique, unprecedented thing in the history, or we had similar periods ever before?
- Unfortunately, the history of our church has seen periods which resulted in earmarks onto some people. Individualizing the Catholicos of All Armenians they actually insult the whole idea. That is a religious son, spiritual brother, and that kind of things shall not leave the limits of brotherhood and fraternity, and become public. Before coming to Echmiadzin, the message was disseminated online in the Internet. I think there is a conspiracy against the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Catholicos. Our nations must understand who they deal with. Dont defame our church, its leader and the holy presence of the Catholicos!