The catholicos and the bells of Etchmiadzin remained silent

Vaհe H Apelian

The title of this blog is a quote from Raffy Aldhaldjian’s post on September 30, 2023. The sentence reads as follows: “We are alone and must rely only on our own strength. Let the church bells ring.” I have attached a screenshot of his text below, in my blog.

September 20, 2023, is a deeply significant and somber date for Armenians, marking the day the self-declared Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) agreed to a ceasefire brokered by Russia that effectively led to its military defeat and dissolution.

Five years ago, on September 27, 2020, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale blitzkrieg attack on Armenia supported Artskah, marking the start of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Throughout those five years, Catholicos Karekin II remained silent and did not have the bells of Etchmiadzin ring. He remained silent throughout the conflict to this day. Simply said, Baruyr Sevag’s “Un-silence-able Belfry” (Անլռելի Զանգակատուն), have been silent under Catholicos Karekin II, when the nation needed it most. I am not speaking figuratively but in actuality. 

The silence of the Catholicos seating in Etchmiadzin and not come in defense of the government the people of Armenia have elected to lead them with their consent, is simply inexcusable.

To make my point I cite the following momentous events during the last five years, when the bells of Etchmiadzin should have rung in moral support of the Armenian state waging an existential battle, but did not.  

Catholicos Karekin II and the bells of Etchmiadzin remained were silent on October 29, 2020.

Five weeks into the war, on October 29, 2020, Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan addressed the nation from the Ghazanchetsots Church in Shushi, declaring that Shushi, the "beating heart of all Armenians" is waging an existential battle.  In his address, he emphasized that, the enemy's main goal was to occupy Shushi. Loosing Shushi meant loosing Artsakh.  the Armenian people needed to unite and directly participate in the city's defense. The address was delivered at a critical period. The fact that the address was delivered from the Ghazanchetsots Church, made it evident that the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, had entered a very critical phase. 

The bells of Etchmiadzin and the catholicos Karekin II remained silent.

                                                    ***

Catholicos Karekin II and the bells of Etchmiadzin remained were silent on on September 20, 2023

Raffy Aldahaldjian's post on September 20, 2023

                  September 20, 2023, is a deeply significant and somber date for Armenians, marking the day the self-declared Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) agreed to a ceasefire brokered by Russia that effectively led to its dissolution and eraser of thousands of years of Armenian presence in the region. “We are alone and we should rely only on our strength. Le the bells of the church ring”.

The bells of Etchmiadzin and the catholicos Karekin II remained silent.

                                                    ***

The catholicos and the bells of Etchmiadzin were silent on June 3, 2023

On June 3, 2023, the PM of Armenia flew to Ankara to attend the celebration of Erdogan’s election. When I saw his picture of the PM in the enemy’s den, I could not bring myself to remain silent, and posted  on my Facebook page, “May God help the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and give me him fortitude, courage in pain and in adversity, as he deals with powerful, arrogant, SOBs. Asdouatz hedt varchabed - Աստուած հետդ վարչապետ”.

The bells of Etchmiadzin and the catholicos Karekin II remained silent.

                                              ***

The catholicos and the bells of Etchmiadzin were silent on June 20, 2025

On June 20, 2025, the PM of Armenia paid an official visit to Türkiye at the official invitation of the president Erdogan. I expected if not only the bells of the Armenian Church ring, but surely the church would render prayer services for a safe trip and successful conclusion of that historic meeting.

Catholicos Karekin II and the bells of Etchmiadzin remained silent.

The Catholicos had the Bells of Etchmiadzin rang against the Armenian State!

But I would like to note the following exception. The bells of Etchmiadzin did ring under Catholicos Karekin II, but AGAINST the Armenian state

On June 27, 2025, Etchmiadzin, surely at the request of Catholicos Karekin II, Etchmiadzin rang its bells against the State of Armenia. It happened, when masked officers from National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia gathered at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to detain Archbishop Mikael Achabahian, who is the Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Church of Armenia. The archbishop surrendered to the authorities without incident. 

                                                ***

. We have been running our own state since September 21, 1991. It is expected that the emerging nascent state of Armenia, will have its trials and tribulations that we need to overcome.

 Catholicos Karekin II does not have the temperament, the character, to have the Armenian Apostolic Church toil hand in hand with the Armenian State to secure for posterity, a free, independent, and a democratic republic. Apparently, the interests of Catholicos Karekin II and the influential segment of high-ranking clergy in Etchmiadzin, lie elsewhere; to secure for themselves unconstitutional power, be it with the  collusion of foreign powers.  

 

 

 

 

 

The vengeful brave fedaye will never mistreat women.

Vaհe H Apelian

Կանանց երբէք ձեռք տալու չէ վրէժխնդիր քաջ ֆէտան

The vengeful brave fedaye will never mistreat women.

The quoted passage is from a well known song, at least in ARF circles, about Khanasor Expedition. In my youth as a member of ARF affiliated youth organizations, I too have joined in singing that song. It appears that Khanasor Expedition was also celebrated on the East Coast United States. I was pleasantly surprised when I read the following about Armenian picnics: «For many years, the Providence ARF has held a picnic to honor the memory of the “Khanasor Expedition,” a retribution led by ARF fedayees against the marauding Mazrik Kurdish tribe in 1897.» ( Stepan Piligian, Weekly, July 17, 2025).

But I am astounded to read the ARF press make room for deragotary remarks hurled at Anna Hakobyan, prime minister Nikol Pashinyan's significant other. I used that term purposely, not to make room for comments about her or his marital status. "Significant other" was a commonly used term during my  employment, for social get together, as co-workers or colleagues do and did. I am particularly disturbed when I come across derogatory comments in the Weekly, or for that matter in Hairenik as well, simply because Weekly's experience runs deep on the East Coast U.S., where more than any other Armenian communities I know, there are second, third generation or even forth generation Armenian Americans whose education and experience, I expected would have shaped the Weekly to be more in tune with the current social norms and set standard for verbiage in the ARF press worldwide. I will be amazed to learn that there are Weekly readers who do not have in their larger family social circles, young men and women cohabiting. The all knowing AI tells me that approximately 40% of births in the United States are to unmarried women. Of course it varies from region to region. 

I happened to be watching the prime minister Nikol Pashinya explain  about his marital status. Some news outlets reportedit it as well. I quote from such reports because they reflect what I heard. The prime minister said,  “Back in the 1990s, when I was engaged in opposition political activities, I fully expected to be arrested, prosecuted, and have my assets confiscated.” “The only reason I chose not to marry was to protect my family.” He continued on elaborating and said: “I knew what could happen to me. I wanted my children to at least have a home. That’s the only reason we’re not officially married.» Anna Hakobyan commented too and said they have been together since she was 17 years old. Let us face it, had the people of Armenia not stood by Nikol Pashinyan during the Velvet Revolution, he would have been languishing in jail now. He was imprisoned for 1 year and 11 months for his role in the 2008 post-election protests and was released in May 2011.

The fact of the matter is that Nikol Pashinyan and Anna Hakobyan have been together long enough to claim that they have a sold family. I quote and let the reader update their ages: «Nikol Pashinyan has four children: a son, Ashot, who was 18 in March 2018, and three daughters. The youngest daughter, Arpi, was celebrated on her 5th birthday on August 2020, meaning she was 5 at that time.» 

When it comes to legal marriage, my maternal grandmother was also not legally wed.

My paternal and maternal grandparnts were orphaned survivors of the genocide. My maternal grandmother did not legally marry. She was socially married in their make shift camp near a town in Syria called Deir Atiyah. Some of the Kessabtsis were lucky enough to be driven there and to surrounding towns, instead of to Deir ez-Zor, in Syria. 

My grandmother Karoun was hardly 15 years old when she was driven for extermination with her father Hanna Apelian, mother Anna (nee Boymoushakian), her sister-in-law Anna Apelian (nee Tititizian), and Anna's surviving son James Apelian (see note). When the rest of her immediate family died due to exhaustion and disease, her relatives arranged her to mary the eligble bachelor Khacher Chelebian, from keurkune, Kessab as well. Her brother-in-law to be, who was known for his piety, married them.

They,  along with the remaining survivors managed to return to Kessab in 1918. She may have been married in that year as well.  At that time, Syria was a French protectorate, altough for the first two years Kessabtsis ran their own independent mini republic. When the French left, Kessab was incorporated back to Turkey, as it was always part of the Ottoman Empire. But later on, upon the appeals of the  survivors to the European occupation focres, Kessab was included in Syria. 

Their marriage did not last long in that convoluted period of history. Their eldest,  my late uncle Antranig Chalabian was eight years old when his father, my grandmother's husband died on February 1, 1930, due to «pneumonia», if not,malnutrition. I am not sure at what point did she have her marriage registered or if they did. Her children, my mother and her two brothers were Syrian nationals in their adult lives.

Note: As to young James Apelian, he was the father of the late Kevork George Apelian, who is the author of «Anna the Bride» and «Martyrdom for Life» books that have been translated in several languages (https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2022/01/anna-bride-and-her-grandson.html)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Points to Ponder: Building the Armenian state, Levon Shirinian - 2 -

 

“A normal person shivers when he remembers that the country, which was in a state of war and semi-blockade, was handed over for decades to a huge horde of vampires, as president-prime minister-general-bishop and I don't know what other poisonous officialdom.

Indeed, the Armenian revolution stopped the creeping march of death.

However, the problem lies in leading real processes of transformation in new times.”

***

“The rule of the bandit for nearly 30 years, can be viewed as years of the vampires feasting and banditry.”

Levon Shirinyan

Christian Democratic Rebirth Party

November 30, 2025

 

 

Բնագիրը՝

Նորմալ մարդու մարմնով սարսուռ է անցնում, երբ հիշում է ,որ պատերազմական վիճակում գտնված ու կիսաշրջափակված երկիրը տասնամյակներով հանձնված է եղել   գ ա ն ձ ա գ ո ղ-վ ա մ պ ի ր ն ե ր ի   ահռելի մի ոհմակի, որպես նախագահ-վարչապետ-գեներալ-եպիսկոպոս և չգիտեմ էլ ինչ  զահրումար պաշտոնեության։

Հիրավի, հայկական հեղափոխությունը կասեցրեց սողացող մահվան երթը։

 Սակայն խնդիրը նոր ժամանակներում վերափոխումների իրական գործընթացներով առաջնորդելու մեջ է։

***

Գողապետության շուրջ 30 տարին կարելի է դիտել  գ ա ն ձ ա գ ո ղ   վ ա մ պ ի ր ն ե ր ի խրախճանքի տարիներ։

Լևոն Շիրինյան

Qatmabour/Katmabour/Գաթմապուր

Vaհe H Apelian

Qatmabout with and without mint

Qatmabour is a favorite Kessab dish. I have my fast-food version of qatmabour, which I find equally tasty. If interested continue on reading.

Qatmabour is also one of my favorite Kessab dishes. Whenever I visited my mother, she made qatmabour for me and kept it in the refrigerator. It is an everyday Kessab simple dish. It can be savored at any season.

The Armenian word Գաթմապուրը  may be phonetically spelled and transliterated as qatmabour or katmabour. 

The other day I asked my cousin Stepan J Apelian the recipe of qatmabour. He sent me the following: ““Boil the bulgur (preferably No.4) well, until the grains open. Sprinkle with salt and let it cool. Then beat the yogurt well, and slowly add cold water according to taste. Light or thick, as you like.

Add to the cooled bulgur, while stirring at the same time. Very simple.” 

Stepan also noted the following. “The people of Kessap say "Jajukh with a lot of water, and the qatmabour with a lot of water are for the rich. The thick and solid ones are for the poor. You choose.”

It occurred to me to also check the Kessab recipe cookbook I have: “KESSAB, recipes from my childhood” by Zevart Keshishian. It is a beautiful, hard cover book, almost 200 pages long and has the recipes of all Kessab food I know. I checked there too. I found the recipe presented as Kakmabor. The recipe called for 1 cup of bulgur #4, 3 cups of water, 2 cups of buttermilk, salt and pepper and dry mint. The preparation is simple, much like Stepan had described: “Add bulgur to boiling water, cover, and simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until well cooked. Set aside. Combine cooked bulgur with buttermilk, sprinkle with dry mint, and serve cold.”. Buttermilk she noted is made by mixing equal amounts of yogurt and water, and a pinch of salt. She calls Kakmabor, “Bulgur with Buttermilk.”

Let us be reminded that taste is acquired. Not all foods taste equally appetizing to all. I have my version of qatmabour Instead of using bulgur, which takes 20 to 30 minutes to prepare, I use old fashioned quaker oat and resort to microwave as directed, which takes a little over 2 minutes. I set the microwaved oat aside, as I prepare the yogurt, and then combine the two, and at time, I sprinkle powdered mint I have prepared from my garden mint.

Voila, oat qatmabour, or instant qatmabour, see the picture above.

By all accounts qatmabour, with bulgur or  with oat, such as regular Quaker oat, is a healthy dish. Try it. More likely than not, you will like it too.

The bells of the Etchmiadzn were silent.

Five years ago, on September 27. 2020, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale blitzkrieg attack on Artskah supported by Armenia, marking the start of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. The bells of Etchmiadzin remained silent throughout the conflict to this day. Simply said, Baruyr Sevag’s “Un-silence-able Belfry” (Անլռելի Զանգակատուն), have been silent under Catholicos Karekin II, when the nation needed it most. I am not speaking figuratively but in actuality. To make my point I cite the following events, during the last five years, where the bells of Etchmiadzin should have rung in moral support of the Armenian state waging an existential battle. 

The bells of the Etchmiadzn were silent on October 29, 2020.

Four weeks into the war, on October 29, 2020, Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan addressed the nation from the Ghazanchetsots Church in Shushi, declaring that Shushi, the "beating heart of all Armenians" is waging an existential battle.  In his address, he emphasized that, the enemy's main goal was to occupy Shushi. Loosing Shushi meant loosing Artsakh. The fact that the address was delivered from  the Ghazanchetsots Church, made it evident that the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War had entered a very critical phase. 

The bells of Etchmiadzin remained silent,

The bells of the Etchmiadzn were silent on June 3, 2023

On June 3, 2023, the PM of Armenia flew to Ankara to attend the celebration of Erdogan’s election. When I saw his picture of the PM in the enemy’s den, I could not bring myself to remain indeferent, and posted  on my Facebook page, “May God help the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and give me him fortitude, courage in pain and in adversity, as he deals with powerful, arrogant, SOBs. Asdouatz hedt varchabed - Աստուած հետդ վարչապետ”.

But the bells of Etchmiadzin remained silent

The bells of the Etchmiadzn were silent on June 20, 2025

On June 20, 2025, the PM of Armenia paid an official visit to Türkiye at the official invitation of the president Erdogan. I expected if not only the bells of the Armenian Church ring, but surely the church would render prayer services for a safe trip and successful conclusion of that historic meeting.

But the bells of Etchmiazin remained silent.

Etchmiadzin did not offer prayer service either 

The Bells of Etchmiadzin rang against the Armenian State.

But I would like to note the following exception. The bells of Etchmiadzin did ring under Catholicos Karekin II, but AGAINST the Armenian state

On June 27, 2025, Etchmiadzin, surely at the request of Catholicos Karekin II, Etchmiadzin rang its bells against the State of Armenia. It happened, when masked officers from National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia gathered at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to detain Archbishop Mikael Achabahian, who is the Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Church of Armenia. The Archbishop surrendered to the authorities without incident. 

                                                   ***

 Armenia declared independence on September 21, 1991. We have been running our own state for the past 34 years, 2 months, and 9 days, to this day. It is expected that a new state such as ours, will have its trials and tribulations that we need to overcome.

 Catholicos Karekin II not only does not have the temperament, the character, to have the Armenian Apostolic Church toil hand in hand with the Armenian State, the Catholicos in fact hinders the founding for posterity  a secure,  free, independent, and a democratic republic for Armenians. I find him an anomaly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Points to Ponder: Building the Armenian state, Levon Shirinian - 1 -

“During the turbulent years of Abdul Hamid and the disaster of the Genocide, there was literally not a single state or influential people who would stand with full force alongside the Armenians and condemn the Turkish state.

“Now, when the Republic of Armenia, realizing its national interests, is trying to move forward in extremely difficult conditions along the path of state-building and independence, within the framework of which is the removal of the immoral anti-state element from the Mother See, there was "not a single thief, not a single stray dog" left that would not support Garegin the Usurper in his anti-Christian and anti-state stance.

How to understand?”

Levon Shirinyan

Christian Democratic Rebirth Party

November 30, 2025

 

 

Ի լուր, համաշխարհային քաղաքականություն վերադարձող մեր ժողովրդին.

Աբդուլ Համիդի դժնդակ տարիներին ու Ցեղասպանության արհավիրքի շրջանում բառացիորեն  չգտնվեց գեթ մի պետություն ու դերակատար ժողովուրդ, որ լիաթոք կանգներ հայության կողքին և  դատապարտեր թուրքական պետությանը։

Հիմա, երբ ՀՀ-ն գիտակցելով իր ազգային շահերը`ծայրագույն պայմաններում փորձում է առաջ շարժվել պետականաշինության ու անկախության ճանապարհով, որի շրջագծի մեջ է բարոյազուրկ հակապետական տարրի հեռացումը Մայր աթոռից,   չմնաց "ոչ մի գող փիսո, ոչ մի  քաչալ շուն", որ  թիկունք չկանգներ Գարեգին Ուզուրպատորին իր հակաքրիստոնյա և հակապետական կեցվածքի մեջ։

Ինչպես հասկանալ?

Լևոն Շիրինյան

30.11.2025

Splendor in the Grass: Մարգամիջի պերճանք

Vaհe H Apelian

 

Our house in Cincinnati, painted by Arin Ch Artwork  in Lebanon.

For a generation the movie Splendor in the Grass remains unforgettable. I was fifteen years old when I saw the movie in Beirut.  Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood remain imprinted in that generation's mind, as the actors who played the teenage lovers that circumstances and youthful follies kept them apart. I do not think they outgrew the roles they played or could change that perception.

A comment on the Youtube about the film read: “I guess I have never grown up yet as I am always looking for SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS. God, please forgive me!” Every now and then I watch glimpses of it on Youtube too. I have friends who have told that they do the same, including Ara Mekhsian who translated the segment of the William Wordsworth’s poem that was central to the movie. 

But I have another reason to continue to relate to the movie.  After her recovery, Deanie saw Bud for the last time. He was married and was doing farm work. His family had lost the fortune they had. She asked him if he is happy. He said, he does not ask that question any longer. What is the point? He said, you got to take things as they come along. She said she iis get married in Cincinnati. She too, she said, does not ask that question. Both were from a small Kansas town. Cincinnati may have looked for them a world apart.

It so happened that twists and turns of our lives would have me and Marie move to Cincinnati, where my job took me. We lived in Loveland, a suburb of Cincinnati for almost a quarter of century and created a life there. I look back with tender memories of wonderful friends we never thought we would have, and for a way of life we never thought we would create.  It became the last station for us together as a family. 

That was what Williiam Wordsworth's poem was all about. That “nothing can bring back the hour, the splendor in the grass.” But, we need not grieve ” but “rather find strength in what remains behind.”

I attached  Ara Mekhsian’s translation and segments of the movie that pertained to the poem and the final scene. 

 

Etchmiadzin hierarchy breached the constitution.

Vaհe H Apelian 

Much has been said about the turmoil between the State of Armenia and the Armenian Apostolic Church. We all know by now that the chasm transcends the principal individuals. Although naturally, the prime minister Nikol Pashinyan and his government, and Catholicos Karekin II and his clerical administration play decisive roles in the matter, which, more than anything else, is a breach of Armenia’s constitution.

The latest amended constitution of Armenia in 2015, which ushered the country from presidential to parliamentary form of governance, specify that the “religious organizations shall be separate from the State.” That provision is specified in the Article 17 and it reads as follows:

Article 17. The State and Religious Organizations

1. The freedom of activities of religious organizations shall be guaranteed in the Republic of Armenia.

2. Religious organizations shall be separate from the State.

The constitution also recognizes the special status of the Armenian Apostolic Church and calls it a holy church and a national church. The constitution places on the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church an extraordinary trust for the preservation of national Armenian identity. Those provisions are spelled out in Article 18 of the Armenian Constitution which reads as follows:

Article 18. The Armenian Apostolic Holy Church

1. The Republic of Armenia shall recognize the exclusive mission of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, as a national church, in the spiritual life of the Armenian people, in the development of their national culture and preservation of their national identity.

2. The relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church may be regulated by law.

A serious breach has come about between the State and the Church relations as prescribed in the Armenian Constitution. Who brought about that breach of the constitutional contract? Was it the church? Or was it the State? I am sure each has its own opinion. 

As far as I am concerned, it was the Etchmiadzin church hierarchy that breached its constitutional contract. It started with Catholicos Karekin II. After Armenia was defeated and capitulated in the disastrous second Artsakh war, or the catastrophic 44-Day War, Catholicos called for the resignation of the prime minister Nikol Pashinyan, whom the citizens of Armenia had elected in December 2019.  The prime minister resigned but remained a candidate, The citizens of Armenia reelected him in June 2021 general election. The catholicos did not rescind his call for the PM’s resignation, even after December 2021 general election in which the citizens of Armenia, with an overwhelming majority (54%),  voted for Nikol Pashinyan over its combined opposition forces that hardly mustered half of the winning party’s votes. On the contrary. Catholicos Karekin II qualified his call pontifical – Hayrabedagan. That is to say open ended and remains in force until the PM’s resignation is brought about. Not only the Catholicos did not rescind his call, he gave approval to his high-ranking church officials, Archbishops Achabahyan and Galstanyan, to wage an outright insurrection against the democratically elected government calling it a holy struggle, Srpazan Baykar,– Սրբազան Պայքար. Archbishop Galstanyan in turn, during the insurection, gave a two day ultimatum to the PM Nikol Pashinyan to resign, under the force of his holy strife.  But that is a breach of the constitution.

 It is also becoming evident that an endemic corruption has taken hold in the Etchmiadzin hierarchy. It does not surprise me. An institution, be it a church, that disregards established order and takes matters into its own hand,  is bound for corruption. 

But I look at it in this context as well. After the fall of the Armenian Cilician Kingdom in 1375, Armenia declared independence on September 21, 1991. We have been running our own state for the past 34 years, 2 months, and 7 days, to this day. It is expected that a new state such as ours, will have its trials and tribulations that we need to overcome. I am confident that we will. The collective wisdom of the citizens of Armenia will see that the constitution is observed, as long as the democratic process is maintained. 

 The Armenian Apostolic Holy Church in Armenia, may follow the esamples of its two progenies, the Armenian Catholic Church and the Armenian Evangelical Church that, in relation to their demographies, render inordinately much service to the Armenian nation  and stand by the government the people of Armenia have elected.

we also should also refrain from a false narrative that is being postulated and circulated.

That false narrative is an out of context narrative that goes this way. I quote from Horizon weekly, “At a moment when Armenia is still reeling from historic losses, forced concessions, and a humiliating erosion of state sovereignty, the government of Nikol Pashinyan is intensifying its attack on the one national institution that has carried the Armenian nation through statelessness, genocide, dispersion, and exile.” 

 It is a false narrative because sovereignty of a state cannot be upheld without observing the principles, the law and order spelled out in its constitution. At his moment, Armenian statehood is threatened no less, if not more, from internal hegemony, than external. 

And finally, what of an Armenian state, if it does not uphold the principles of democratic order it prophesies and does not observe  its constitution?

Բայց ո՞րոնք են օրինակելիները

Վահէ Հ Աբէլեան 

Որո՞նք են օրինակելիները

Զանց կ՚առնեմ անունները։ Կցած նկարս, ինծի ծանօթ մը զետեղած էր դիմատետրի էջին վրայ, բայց ենթականերուն հանրածանօթ դէմքերովը եւ բնութագրած էր զանոնք որպէս՝  «նոր սերունդի այլասերման պատասխանատունները։» Անբնական երեւոյթ մը չէ որ անձ մը ժամամակ տրամադրէ  եւ պատրաստէ ծանօթ դէմքերու՝ նման հաւաքածոյ մը եւ այդպէս բնութագրէ զանոնք։ Ամէնքս ենդադրուած չենք նմնանօրինակ աշխարհայեացք ունենալ հարցերու եւ մարդոց նկատմամբ։ Իսկ  նկարին ընկերացող տեղադրութեան ոճն ալ՝ այդ ալ հասկնալի է։ Ամէնքս նոյն ոճը չունինք։  Կը մէջբերեմ անկէ՝ 

 «Այսօր հայ ըսես, իմ աչքին կը պատկերանայ սա աղբակոյտը։ Բայց եւ կը ներկայանան, ցաւ ի սիրտ իմ շատ մը անմիջական ծանօթներս, չըսելու ընկերներս--- Որոնց շատին մօտ--  Սա աղբակոյտին բերումով թէ անկախ ՍԱ ԱՂԲԱԿՈՅՏԻՆ ՆԵՐԿԱՅՈՒԹԵԱՄԲ ԹԷ ԱՆԿԱԽ ՍԱ ԱՂԲԱԿՈՅՏԻՆ ՆԶՈՎԵԱԼ ԱԶԴԵՑՈՒԹԵԱՄԲ ԹԷ ՆՈՒԱԶ, Հազիւ թէ մնացած է հայութիւն:  Հազիւ թէ նկատելին է հայրենասիրութիւն....։» Եւ այսպէս......։

Յստակացնելու համար կը  տեղադրեմ «նոր սերունդի այլասերման պատասխանատու աղբակոյտը։»

Հասկնալի է որ ծանոթիս արարքը պոռթկում մը կրնայ ըլլալ։ Սակայն, տարօրինակը այն էր որ առօրեայ Ֆէյսպուքեան  իրենց հաւանութիւնը տուողներուն կողքին եղաւ նաեւ հետեւեալ զօրակցական ակնարկը։ Կ՚արտադրեմ ամբողջութեամբ՝ 

 «Ուրկէ՞ կը գտնես Արարատը ուրացող, հայրենասիրութիւնը վտանգաւոր համարող ու սեփական ազգի պատմութենէն ամչցող այս սմսեղուկներու հաւաքածոյին պատկերը։»

Շփոթ մը ծագեցաւ միտքիս մէջ եւ հարց տուի այդ զօրակցական ակնարկը ընողին՝ որո՞նք են որ իրենց կենցաղով եւ վարած առօրեայով, քաղաքականութեան հեռանկարով օրինակելի հայաստանի քաղաքացիները որոնք պիտի առաջնորդեն Հայաստանի Հանրապետութիւնը այնպէս մը որ անոր ներկայ ղեկաւարները  չեն առաջնորդէր զայն։ Այո,  ո՞րոնք են անոնք։

Մխթումէս ետք, պատասխանը եկաւ։  կը տեղադրեմ իր ամբողջութեանբ ՝ - «Վահէ, քու քաղաքական տրամաբանութեանդ ու կողմնորոշումիդ համաձայն չըլլալով հանդերձ կը պատասխանեմ գլխաւոր հարցումիդ, յարգելով հայրենիքի հանդէպ ունեցած մտատանջութիւնդ, տագնապդ: Հայրենասէր անձեր փնտռելու ճապաղումդ քեզի պահէ: Գլխսւոր հարցումդ այն է, թէ իմ պատկերացումով ո՞ վ է հայրենասէրը: Ահա պատասխսնս. սեփական հայրենիքի մէջ հայրենասէր է այն քաղաքացին, որ հաւատարիմ կը մնայ երկրի սահմանադրութեան եւ ամէն կերպ կը ջանայ ենթարկուիլ անոր հրահսնգներուն ու ոգիին ու կը գործադրէ զանոնք: Այս պահսնջքը աւելի ծանրակշիռ կը դառնայ իշխանաւորներու համար, որոնք հաւատարմութեան երդում ալ կու տան: Հիմա, դուն մտածէ եւ պատասխան տուր ինքղինքիդ, թէ ներկայ իշխանաւորները կը գործե՞ ն արդեօք  երկրի սահմանադրութեան տսռինու ոգիին հաւատարմուփեամբ: Ես պատսսխան սպասողը չեմ, դուն ինքզինքիդ պատասխանէ միայն:»

Բայց այդ իմ հարցումիս պատասխանը չէր, այլ խուսափողական ակնարկ մըմ էր,  Ազնաւուրին «Կը սպասեմ» երգին նման, ուր գծագրիչ մը կը գծէ կնոջ մը նկարը եւ կը սպասէ անոր։  Եգը  կ՚աւարտէ, Google-ի, թարգմանութեամբ, այսպէս՝   «Ես սպասում եմ քեզ, Իմ անհայտ երազանք. Ի՞նչ է քո անունը, Ի՞նչ է քո նպատակը։ Իմը Սերն է։»  Պատասխանն ալ յար եւ նմամ էր անոր։ Քանի մը որ անծանօթ բացակայի մտապատկերը կար հոն, որ կեանք պիտի առնէ եւ պիտի ըլլայ, նոր սերունդը այլասերումէ փրկողներէն ։ 

Այո, կար ժամանակ իմ պատանեկութեանս, Արարատի կիրճին մէջ շղթայուած Արտաւազդ-ն էր որ կաղապարած էր միտքս, որ օր մը ան դուրս պիտի ելլէր կալանքէն եւ ազատագրէր Հայաստանը։ Բայց ես այն ատեն, Սուրբ Գիրգին ըսածով՝ «տղայ էի, տղայի պէս կը խորհէի, տղայի պէս համարում ունէի։ Բայց երբ այր եղայ տղայութեան բաները մէկդի ձգեցի,։» եւ հիմայ, իրական շնչող մարդոց հետ կուզեմ առընչուիլ, իրական Հայաստանին մէջ եւ անոր համար։

Լաւ կըլլայ որ մեր բանիմացները, ներկայացնեն, անոնց որոնց կը դատեն Հայաստանի Հանրապետութիւնը կառավարելու դժուարին գործը ընող  օրինակելի հայաստանի քաղաքացիները։ Գէթ, շինիչ գործ մը ըրած կըլլան։ 

Հետեւաբար, այո, որո՞նք են օրինակելիները։

Republic of Armenia: First official visit to Turkey From June 13 to November 1, 1918

 The attached is my AI aided translation of Tatul Hakobyan's post on his facebook page today, titled: Ահարոնյանը իր՝ Թալեաթի, Էնվերի և Պոլսի մյուս հանդիպումների մասին․ 1918-ի նոյեմբերի 23, Երևան - Aharonian on his meetings with Talaat, Enver, and other people in Constantinople: November 23, 1918, Yerevan. The post was a report that appeared in the ZANK newspaper, ARF organ, No. 75, Sunday, December 1, 1918 Vaհe H Apelian

 

«On the 23rd of this month [November 1918], unger Avedis Aharonian, the chairman of the delegation to Bolis (Constantinople), gave to a small group of friends, a very interesting report, the brief content of which we present here.

The members of the delegation were Aharonian, Alexander Khatisian and Mikayel Papajanian. On the 13th of June [1918], the delegation left Tiflis and on the 19th of the same month arrived in Constantinople, where it remained until November 1, that is, approximately 4 and a half months.

In the port of Constantinople, while still on the ship, the delegation was met by  the  makhmandar, the government representative acting as the host, Mukhtar Bey, who welcomed the arrival of the delegation “on behalf of the Ottoman imperial government.” To which the delegation responded that they thank the Sublime Port “on behalf of the Armenian government.”

From the seaport, our delegation was driven to the city in government cars and accommodated in the Tokatlian Hotel, while the Georgian and Azerbaijani delegations were accommodated in the Pera Palace. The delegation was provided with all kinds of amenities, as befits a representation of a state.

The arrival of the Armenian delegation in Constantinople made a stunning impression both on Turks and Armenians alike. The news of the delegation's arrival was published in the newspapers as a sensational news, because it was completely unexpected for all of Constantinople, for all of Turkey.

The Turkish public was simply stunned upon learning of the arrival of the Armenian delegation, because until then, the Turkish public was accustomed to reading that the Armenians had been exterminated in the Caucasus, that the entire Caucasus had been subjugated by Turkey. But now, it suddenly saw that the Armenians have not only not been exterminated, but, on the contrary, have found a separate state, whose representatives have come to Constantinople.

Sunday June 23, 1918

The Armenians of Constantinople were also stunned and completely astonished. They also thought that the Armenian element no longer existed in the Caucasus, that it had been exterminated as a nation, because the Turkish government and Turkish newspapers had convinced them so; and yet they suddenly heard that the Armenians not only exist, but on the contrary, have also founded a state and sent their delegation to Constantinople. At night, Armenians secretly went from house to house, whispering this, apparently unbelievable news to each other, to  convince themselves of its accuracy.

On the second or third day, the same makhmandar came to the delegation and presented a list of institutions and officials that the delegation was to visit. The strange thing was that there was no Armenian institution on the list, not even the patriarchate.

The first visit was to the Grand Vizier, Talaat Pasha. Of course it is understandable the difficult mental state that our delegation must have experienced at that moment.

After official introductions, the chairman of the delegation addressed the Grand Vizier with approximately the following words: “Your Highness, we are glad that we have come here under the auspices of your imperial government to work out the conditions of a good-neighborly alliance. Our people and country need to expand, and if you show us that goodwill, our friendship with you will improve even more. The problem must also be addressed here in the shortest possible time, because the situation is unbearable. Here, the positive solution of these problems must form the basis of our friendship.”

Turkey was first to recognize the 11,000 square km  Republic of Armenia, which made
the Armenin republic untenable.  

The issue of emigration interested the Grand Vizier. He asked, “How many emigrants do you have?” Approximately 800 thousand, the head of the delegation replied, of which 3-4 hundred thousand are Turkish-Armenians.” “That many Turkish-Armenians?” asked the Grand Vizier, and then  mysteriously fell silent.

“Very well,” replied the Grand Vizier, “these issues will be discussed at the conference.”

The next visit was given to the Minister of War, Enver Pasha. The outward impression was extremely favorable: with a pleasant look, well-mannered, modest, not  a deceit on his face. Here also, the delegation said approximately the same thing as it had said to Talaat Pasha.

Enver said, “I knew you would come. Armenians are good opponents and good fighters. from that point of view, we give them a very high place among the Caucasian nationalities.”

The President replied: “Armenians are not only good opponents, but also good friends.”

“Why not good allies?”, Enver suddenly asked. And here he touched on the issue of the military alliance between Armenia and Turkey, hastening to immediately add that this statement is not made by the government, but only by himself, that it was his plan

Enver also pointed out the conditions on which his supposed military alliance should be based. “Of course,” he said, “we, having become conscious, cannot demand from you that you fight in our ranks, together with us, against the British. We know that you will not do that. But we want to be safe at the rear of our army. When it moves towards the English, towards Persia, it cannot be endangered by you.” The delegation reported that this is a matter on which it had no instructions from its government, and therefore did not consider itself entitled to show any position towards the matter.

A number of other visits were also made, which were more  polite in nature thanpolitical nature. Among the other visits, notable was the visit to Khalil Bey will be reported next time.

 

Courtesy of Tatul Hakobyan
According to the Turkish ultimatum, the Armenian territory comprises 11,000 square verst, (1.07 km), 580,000 Armenians and approximately 100,000 Turkish. This territory falls west of Sevan Lake, south and south east"
Source: Horizon newspaper, May 31, 1918.