Անմոռանալի Խաչակիրը

 Վահէ Յ Աբէլեան

Շաբաթ 18 Հոկտեմբեր 2008: Աբէլեաններուն տոհմիկ գիւղէն  - Քէորքիւնայէն - շատ շատ հեռու, զոյգ քաղաքներ (Twin Cities) կոչուած քաղաքին  օդակայանին մէջն էի, երբ հեռաձայնով մայրս գուժեց ՃորՃ Աբէլէանին վաղաժամ մահուան գոյժը: Մահը պատահած էր այդ Շաբաթ օրուան վաղ առաւօտեան ժամերուն եւ մարմինը ամփոփուած էր Քէորքիւնայի պապենական գերեզմանատան մէջ նոյն օրը, կէսօրէ ետք՝ յետ արարողութեան Քէորքիւնայի պատմական Հայ Աւետարանական եկեղեցւոյ մէջ: Չէի կրնար պատկերացնել աւելի պատշաճ եւ Ճորճը ամբողջացնող հանգստեան վերջին կայան մը անողոք հիւանդութեան մէջ մաշած իր մարմինին համար: Կարծես ինքն ալ անոր համար կատարած էր իր վերջին ուղեւորութիւնը դէպի իր արմատները: Խաբուսիկ բայց հանգստացնող բան մը ունի Ճորճի թաղման այս իրողութիւնը:

Ձախէն աջ՝ Ճորճ  Ա Աբէլեան, Վահէ Յ Աբէլիան

Սպասման սրահին մէջն եմ դէպի Լոս Անճէլոս ուղեւորութեան համար, ուր այնպայմանօրէն կը հանդիպէի իրեն: Բնականաբար կը պրպտեմ յիշողութիւնս եւ հոն կը գտնեմ զինք ոչ որպէս առօրեայ ներկայութիւն, այլ մեր կեանքին հանգրուաններուն շարանին մէջ: Քէորքիւնայի մէջն է ան, երբ մենք տակաւին պատանիներ կը խաղայինք իրենց ընտանիքին պատկանող Նոֆերենց հռչակաւոր մանկանային – ձիթհանին - շուրջ: Աւելի ուշ, Հալէպի մէջ, երբ ես որպէս սկաուտ Պէյրութէն կը մասնակցէի ՀՄԸՄ մարզական խաղերու տողանցքին, կը հանդիպէի Ճորճին: Տարիներ վերջ Պէյրութ ենք ուսանողական մեր տարիներուն, ուր արդէն ցոյց կու տար կուտակուած ազգասիրութեան մը իւրայատուկ եռանդ: Եւ վերջապէս  Լոս Անճելոս է եւ տակաւին պատնէշի վրայ՝ իբր հեռատեսելի “Գիրքերու Հետ” շաբաթական յայտագիրով, որ վարեց տասնամեակ մը՝ պատգամելով իր եղէգնեայ գրիչովը:

Կային, չկան՝ –  Ա. Կարգ՝Վէրոնիկք (Շամմաս) Աբէլեան, Ճուլիա (Պոյատճեան) Շամմաս,, Նոֆէր Աբէլեան։

Կային, չկան՝ - Բ. Կարգ՝ Վարդուհի (Hamstra), Արաքսի (Jeanbart), Աշոտ, Ճորճ, Հրաչ Աբէլեաններ։

Բ. կարգ՝ վերջինը աջին՝ Յասմիկ (Աբէլեան) Քիլաղպեան

Այսպէս Ճորճը բնակեցաւ Քեսապ, Հալէպ, Պէյրութ, Լոս Անճելոս. բայց միշտ ապրեցաւ բիւրեղացած իր հայ ներաշխարհէն ներս: Չեմ գիտէր բնութեան ո՞ր դասաւորումը այսքան հայրինասիրութիւն կուտակած էր այս տղուն հոգիէն ներս, չըսելու համար  հայրենապաշտութեամբ բեռնաւորած էր զինք, որպէս խաչ մը, որ տառացիօրէն ուսամբարձ շալկեց Ապրիլ 24-ին, 1972-ի հաւաքական հետիոտն ուխտագնացութեան ընթացքին, Անթիլիասի վանքէն դէպի Պիքֆայայի բարձունքին վրայ գտնուող Մեծ Եղեռնի յուշարձանը: Հայաստանի անկախութենէն ետք կրկին անգամ կատարեց խաչակրութիւն մը դէպի Գարիգին Նժդեհի շիրիմը որպէս ուխտագրացութիւն:

 Ճորճը չկրցաւ տեսնել ազգային տոհմիկ արժէքներով բիւրեղացած հայախմբումի իրողութիւնը իր պատմական հողերուն վրայ: Սակայն բախտաւորութիւնը ունեցաւ ապրիլ անոր անհատական եւ մտերմիկ իրողութիւնը, յանձին Հալէպի մէջ ծնած, հայկական տոհմիկ ընտանիքի մէջ հասակ առած, Շաքէ անունով հայ աղջկայ մը մօտ, որ դարձաւ Ճորճի կեանքին հարազատ եւ անձնուռաց ընկերակիցը մինչեւ վերջ:

 Այսպէս,  Ճորճի բովանդակ կեանքը ազգային հաւաքական իտէալին որոնումը եղաւ, հեռատեսիլին վրայ իր պատկերացումովը, որպէս տաճար մը կառուցուած անխարդախ արժէքներու վրայ, ուր կմախքացած հայորդիներ պիտի հաղորդուէին այդ իտէալներով, վերակենդանանալու համար: Հաւատալ կ՚ուզեմ որ այդ ձգտումին գնահատանքը ապրեցաւ իր  վերջին տարին: Կը հաւատամ այդ եղաւ այն պահուն, երբ, հեռատեսիլի կայանի վրայ, հայ երիտասարդ եւ երիտասարդուհի մը զինք հրաւիրեցին ըլլալ, հայ երիտասարդութեան պատգամաբերը 2008-ի Ապրիլ 24-ի առթիւ քաղաքական հաւաքին, իրեն յանձնելով գնահատագրի տախտակ մը:

 Ես մեր իրողութեան մէջ չեմ հանդիպած նման ինքնաբուխ գնահատանքի, այդ ալ հայ երիտասարդութեան կողմէ, մէկու մը, որ ո՛չ ուսուցիչ է, ո՛չ կրօնական կամ կուսակցական, եւ հետեւաբար չի պատկանիր որեւէ միութեան մը՝ ըլլայ այդ կրթական, մշակութային, կրօնական կամ քաղաքական: ԱՆ ինքնատիպ անձ մըն է իր ուրոյն համոզումներով, անսակարկ ազգասիրութեամբ մը տոգորուած եւ բացարձակապէս խիզախ:

Մահուընէ քանի մը ամիսներ առաջ, իր շրջապատը զուարթացնելու տրամադրութեամբ, այսպէս արտահայտուեցաւ. «Ես արդէն անդի աշխարհին հետ կապի մէջ եմ, ամէնքն ալ հոն են: Հետեւաբար այս ագգին մազին անգամ դպչողը թող չկարծէ որ ինձմէ ազատած է»:

Կեանքին եւ գործին կառչած այս տղուն հրամայականը ազգասիրութիւնն էր ամէն բանէ առաջ եւ ամէն բանէ վեր: Այդպէս ալ տառացիօրէն մնաց մինչեւ իր մահուան սեմին, ինչպէս կը վկայէն իր կինը Շաքէն եւ եղբայրը Աշոտը: Երբ ան մահուան սեմին էր եւ ուժասպառ, գերմարդկային ճիգով մը Քէսապէն շուրջ 100 քիլոմեթր անդին, արաբացած եւ իսլամացած գիւղ մը գնաց զգաստութեան բերելու համար գիւղացիները իրենց հայ տոհմիկ ժառանգութեանը:

Ճորճ Ա Աբէլեանին շիրիմնաքարը՝ Քէօրքիւնա
Աշօտ եղբորը յղացումը

Սիրելի եւ անմոռանալի Ճորճ: Ահաւասիկ տարիներ      անցան վաղաժամ մահուանէդ ի վեր: Այժմ դուն շրջապատուած ես քու հարազատներովդ եւ պատսպառուած Քէորքիւնայի դարաւոր կաղնիին հովանիին տակ որպէս յիշատակ եւ որպէս օրինակ որ կարելի է, թէեւ ալեւորած եւ ալեհեր, կառչած մնալ ազգային իտէալներուն ինչպէս դուն ըրիր քու բովանդակ կեանքիդ ընթացքին:

Ճորճ Աբէլեան ուխտացնացութեան Գարեգին Նժդէհի շիրիմը
խուստուփ լեռ, Հայաստան

Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's

Vaհe H Apelian 

 

Armenians celebrating Independence Day on September 21, 2018. 
Pictures courtesy J. Urban

I quote the following from an article Stepan Piligian recently shared: “It is disingenuous to support Karekin II simply because of dislike of the prime minister, especially when concerns about the Catholicos’ leadership have been voiced for decades. While this does not justify government interference in the elections, the church’s failure to address internal issues has contributed to this confrontation. We cannot afford to let this conflict devolve into a national debate over who is correct.” (Weekly December 4, 2025 - Searching for solutions to the church-government crisis requires transparency).

Indeed so, but as far as I am concerned, it was catholicos Karekin It who breached the constitution causing the constitutionqal crisis. He cast the stone first.

We must also accept that the state is not against the Armenian Church and not even against the Armenian Apostolic church. We must accept that the Armenian church is also Armenian Catholic and Armenian Evangelical Churches; and furthermore, that the Armenian Apostolic Church rests on four independent administrative pillars. The Armenian government is in conflict with Catholicos Karekin II and the Etchmiadzin ecclesiastical hierarchy and not with catholicos of the Cilician See seated in Antelias and not with the two patriarchs, one seated in Jerusalem and the other in Istanbul.

Of course, this is not a matter of a personal conflict between the prime minister Nikol Pashinyan and catholicos Karekin II, although and surely, their personalities play a definite role in the conflict, but the real issue is a constitutional matter. 

As far as I am concerned, it was the Etchmiadzin church hierarchy that breached its constitutional contract and hence triggered the ensuing crisis. To substantiate and bolster my claim I cite the following political posturings of Etchmiadzin hierarchy.

 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 overwhelmingly elected in December 2019.  

Nikol Pashinyan resigned as Prime Minister of Armenia on April 25, 2021, to trigger early parliamentary elections to resolve the political crisis, though he continued as acting PM until the new government was formed after the June 2021 elections.  But, the citizens of Armenia reelected him in June 2021.  However, the catholicos did not rescind his call for the PM’s resignation. On the contrary, the 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 tacitly approval Archbishops Galstanyan, to wage an insurrection against the democratically elected government, calling it a holy struggle, Srpazan Baykar,– Սրբազան Պայքար. During the insurrection. in May 2024, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan issued a deadline for the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign, giving Pashinyan a short ultimatum, initially one hour, then extended it.  In the same breath, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan became a candidate for Prime Minister of Armenia backed by the opposition and naturally supported by catholicos Karekin II.

It such actions do not constitute a breach of constitutional contract, what would it take to breach the constitution? 

I believe, catholicos Karekin II and the Etchmiadzin ecclesiastical hierarchy forfeited the  the Article 17 of the Constitution, that spells out that “The freedom of activities of religious organizations shall be guaranteed in the Republic of Armenia.. Religious organizations shall be separate from the State.” 

It is the duty of the government of Armenia to see that the constitution is upheld. And it also is the right of the citizens of Armenia to see that the catholicos seating in Etchmiadzin upholds the constitution and acts according the well-known biblical command, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's"(Romans 13:7).

The Caesar is the Constitutional Armenian State, to which both the church and state should conform.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Let the church bells ring

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 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 war, but did not and remained silent; and when Catholicos Karekin II should have stepped out in support of the State of Armenia in  existential war, Catholicos Karekin II 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.

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Catholicos Karekin II and the bells of Etchmiadzin remained were silent 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.

                                                                    ***

BUT, the Catholicos had the Bells of Etchmiadzin ring 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 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.  

Let the church bells ring for Armenia.

 

 

 

 

 

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.