V.H. Apelian's Blog

V.H. Apelian's Blog

Sunday, November 30, 2025

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

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. 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 momentous occasions, during the last five years, where the bells of Etchmiadzin should have rung in moral defense of the Armenian state waging an existential battle. 


The bells of the Etchmiadzn 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 remained silent,


The bells of the Church of Armenia remained 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”.

But the bells of Etchmiadzin were silent


The Church of Armenia was 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 were 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. 

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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 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 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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