In abiding gratitude to St. Nshan Armenian School.

Vaհe H Apelian 

Snap shots of bygone days at St. Nshan Armenian School

The other day I came across  on PM Nikol Pashinyan’s Facebook page the following slogan: “ԼՍՎ ՍՈՎՈՐԻՐ, ՈՐ ԼԱՎ ԱՊՐԻՍ - STUDY WELL TO LIVE WELL.” 

The slogan reminded me of my schooling at St. Nshan Armenian School (see the link below). Traditionally Armenian school and Armenian Church have been next to each other, on the same campus. It was not different with the St. Nshan School and St. Nshan Cathedral. The Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church was there as well. During my kindergarten and elementary years, I remember having been the subject of attention to the prelate who would be Catholicos Khoren I.

I even have vague recollection of my first day at school in my brick red school dress, nervous and hesitant but with the assurance that my mother would be in building next to the school watching over me. She had told me so. The school was a walking distance from the second-floor apartment we lived in. Throughout those years, I would pass by Djemaran, later my father’s grocery store, along with many Armenian stores. The neighborhood was a veritable Armenian cocoon.

Our teachers at St. Nshan were not just teachers who taught us the subject matter. They were editors, writers, college students, who taught us how to go on in life as Armenians. 

The following have stayed etched in my memory to this day and surely have shaped me as a Diaspora Armenian.

Royal citizen, we were taught that we are always law abiding, loyal to the government of the country. In our young minds we would argue and try to figure out if Lebanon was at war with another country, if Russia was at war with U.S. and there were Armenian fighting soldiers in the army, would we, out of duty be firing against the enemy soldiers who could be Armenians? But being loyalty and law abiding to the government were paramount. The same became the policy of the Armenian community in Syria and in Lebanon. The Armenian community  always stood in support of the government. 

Disadvantaged, I remember being told that we as Armenians are disadvantaged and that the native have an advantage over us. Therefore, in order to compete we had to work ten times harder than the native. That is the way it was. We were Armenians, we spoke Armenian, we had our own schools and holidays such as St. Vartan Day, Genocide, May 28, when we closed our schools.  I was a student at the American University of Beirut when I first found out that not all Armenian schools closed on May 28!

“You will not see an independent Armenia”, yes, not only us, but that our children, and even our grandchildren may not see a free and independent Armenia, we were told, but it will come one day and in meanwhile, study hard.

Study hard, studying hard, and doing well were what we were supposed to do as students. In those days it was not uncommon that students left school well before graduation and started apprenticing to learn a trade. Many of St. Nshan School students just did that. When I graduated Sourp Nshan school, there remained only two boys in the graduating class of 10, Hovhannes Megerditchian and I. Both of us attended college. The rest of our classmates over the years became jewelers, mechanics, learned a trade, all did well, in fact very well. It turned out to be a remarkable generation.

AEC Logo
"To know wisdom and instruction, to know the words of understanding" (Proverbs 1:2)

I graduated Sour Nshan in1962 and continued my education at the Armenian Evangelical College whose motto was the first phrase tradition maintaians St. Mesrob Mashdots translated after discovering the Armenian alphabet, “"To know wisdom and instruction, to know the words of understanding" (Proverbs 1:2). I graduated high school in 1965, and stepped onto the post semi centennial of the Armenian Genocide era. 

During my years at the American University of Beirut, it was not uncommon to post the grades or to list the names of the students who were on the honor roll. Naturally the Armenian students gravitated to find out who among them were on the academic honor roll. To this day I have retained names of Armenian students who never missed being on the honor roll but were students I never met in person.

The comment next to the slogan posted on PM Nikol Pashinyan’s page reads that the slogan “Study well, to live well” is the charge of the Armenian government to the students. I think it is an appropriate, constructive charge. It was what Saint Nshan Armenian school told us too, as students. To make good Armenians we had to work out harder to do as well.

                                   ***  

Link: Saint - Sourp Nshan Armenian School (Սուրբ Նշան Ազգային Վարժարան): https://www.facebook.com/groups/218948124971346

Study hard and be a loyal citizen

Vahe H Apelian

"STUDY WELL, TO LIVE WELL" 

The other day I came across the attached slogan on PM Nikol Pashinyan’s Facebook page. It reads “ԼՍՎ ՍՈՎՈՐԻՐ, ՈՐ ԼԱՎ ԱՊՐԻՍ - STUDY WELL TO LIVE WELL.” 

The slogan reminded me of my schooling at St. Nshan Armenian School (see the link below). Traditionally Armenian school and Armenian Church have been next to each other, on the same campus. It was not different with the St. Nshan School and St. Nshan Cathedral. The Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church was there as well. During my kindergarten and elementary years, I remember having been the subject of attention to the prelate who would be Catholicos Khoren I.

I even have vague recollection of my first day at school in my brick red school dress, nervous and hesitant but with the assurance that my mother would be in building next to the school watching over me. She had told me so. The school was a walking distance from the second-floor apartment we lived in. Throughout those years, I would pass by Djemaran, later my father’s grocery store, along with many Armenian stores. The neighborhood was a veritable Armenian cocoon.

Our teachers at St. Nshan were not just teachers who taught us the subject matter. They were editors, writers, college students, who taught us how to go on in life as Armenians. 

The following have stayed etched in my memory to this day and surely have shaped me as a Diaspora Armenian.

Royal citizen, we were taught that we are always law abiding, loyal to the government of the country. In our young minds we would argue and try to figure out if Lebanon was at war with another country, if Russia was at war with U.S. and there were Armenian fighting soldiers in the army, would we, out of duty be firing against the enemy soldiers who could be Armenians? But being loyalty and law abiding to the government were paramount. The same became the policy of the Armenian community in Syria and in Lebanon. The Armenian community  always stood in support of the government. 

Disadvantaged, I remember being told that we as Armenians are disadvantaged and that the native have an advantage over us. Therefore, in order to compete we had to work ten times harder than the native. That is the way it was. We were Armenians, we spoke Armenian, we had our own schools and holidays such as St. Vartan Day, Genocide, May 28, when we closed our schools.  I was a student at the American University of Beirut when I first found out that not all Armenian schools closed on May 28!

“You will not see an independent Armenia”, yes, not only us, but that our children, and even our grandchildren may not see a free and independent Armenia, we were told, but it will come one day and in meanwhile, ….

Study hard, studying hard, and doing well were what we were supposed to do as students. In those days it was not uncommon that students left school well before graduation and started apprenticing to learn a trade. Many of St. Nshan School students just did that. When I graduated Sourp Nshan school, there remained only two boys in the graduating class of 10, Hovhannes Megerditchian and I. Both of us attended college. The rest of our classmates over the years became jewelers, mechanics, learned a trade, all did well, in fact very well. It turned out to be a remarkable generation.

AEC Logo
"To know wisdom and instruction, to know the words of understanding" (Proverbs 1:2)

I graduated Sour Nshan in1962 and continued my education at the Armenian Evangelical College whose motto was the first phrase tradition maintaians St. Mesrob Mashdots translated after discovering the Armenian alphabet, “"To know wisdom and instruction, to know the words of understanding" (Proverbs 1:2). I graduated high school in 1965, and stepped onto the post semi centennial of the Armenian Genocide era. 

During my years at the American University of Beirut, it was not uncommon to post the grades or to list the names of the students who were on the honor roll. Naturally the Armenian students gravitated to find out who among them were on the academic honor roll. To this day I have retained names of Armenian students who never missed being on the honor roll but were students I never met in person.

The comment next to the slogan posted on PM Nikol Pashinyan’s page reads that “Study well, to live well” is the charge of the Armenian government to the students. I think it is an appropriate, constructive charge in this world, getting more competitive by the day.

                                    ***  

Link: Saint - Sourp Nshan Armenian School (Սուրբ Նշան Ազգային Վարժարան): https://www.facebook.com/groups/218948124971346

 

In response to Kenneth: The saga of backyard home gardening

Vaհe H Apelian

Most home gardening is done in the backyard. I have no recollection of seeing gardening done in the front yard, which is meant to be manicured, green grass carpet like. I will allude to it later.

Kenneth Martin, a fellow home gardener, wrote to me the following: “By the way, I’ve been meaning to write about my garden. I made some raised beds that I used last year and got a lot of tomatoes but this year not so many so far and the plants only produced a few with no more flowers. I wonder what I’m doing wrong? Last year I planted the tomatoes that just keep growing throughout the season but this year I wanted the plants to be shorter so I got the other version. Is that what I did wrong they only.”

Compared to my garden last year, this year same time my garden seems to be not as grown up. There are natural yearly variations, I cannot explain. But there are things I know that affect home, backyard gardening.

Tomato is the most common plant home gardeners use. If you have seen the movie Godfather, I am sure you recall the scene when the aging godfather was playing with his grandson when he had a heart attack and fell dead among the large tomato plants in their backyard. Those tall, season long tomato producing plants appear to be a thing of the past.  Presently in broad terms, there are two types of tomato plants. They are identified as determinate and indeterminate tomato plants. Determinate tomato plants grow to a predetermined size, producing a single, large harvest of fruit over a short period. Indeterminate tomatoes, on the other hand, grow and produce fruit throughout the entire growing season. Commercially grown tomatoes are determinate. They are planted and harvested once for the season. 

For home gardeners both types are sold. There is no identification for what type they are. As a general rule, I quote, “size is the biggest clue. If the plant says it is a bush variety, it is determinate. If the information states the plant is vining or will grow to over 6 feet, you have an indeterminate variety.” Keneth wrote, “this year I wanted the plants to be shorter so I got the other version”, implies that he bought determinate tomato plant, which means it will be flowering for a short, determined period of time.  

But why Keneth is getting a few tomatoes?

It is my experience that home backyard gardening is not as productive simply because our yards are killing fields. As a matter of fact, I dare say that the green lawns of the United State constitute one large green grass desert, where no flowers grow, and were insects, worms and other living creatures are indiscriminately killed. I quote, “Soil contains a wide variety of living organisms, including bacteria, fungi, archaea, algae, protozoa, nematodes, and various invertebrates like earthworms, mites, and insects. These organisms play crucial roles in soil health and ecosystem function.” Our lawns are not part of natural ecosystem. I wonder if the term “insecticides” apply to the chemicals or to us, people. If guns do not kill, but people do.  Chemicals also do not kill when stored properly but people kill by spraying them.

I have planted pumpkin, winter squash in my backyard along with zucchini. Pumpkin and winter squash vines spread up to eight feet and even longer. Zucchini plants can grow quite large, typically reaching 2-3 feet tall and 2-6 feet wide. These plants occupy a lot of space. Consequently, I planted them in my backyard and not in my Berlin community garden to make more room there for the different type of tomatoes, egg plants, hot and sweet, bell and banana type peppers, and a lot of onions, this year.

My pumpkin and winter squash plants are growing healthily but they are not productive. In the mornings I see them with wide yellow attractive flowers but there are no bees. Even though I spared our backyard from any kind of spraying, but our larger front yard, as well as our neighbors’ yards are killing fields that bees, butterflies and I imagine even birds avoid. Without bees, these beautiful, large, yellow pumpkin, squash and zucchini flowers wither away without producing a fruit. 

It may be that Keneth’s tomato plant/s is/are not as productive because there are not enough bees around to pollinate. There is an art and a science in home gardening too, let alone when it comes to feeding the insatiable earthlings, us. 

 

 

Our grandfather Stepan Apelian

The picture of my grandfather’s tasbih I posted recently, evoked memories of bygone days. He passed away on July 26, 1984. The attached is my translation Rev. Ardashes Kerbabian’s eulogy. It was dated August 27, 1984, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, where Rev.  Ardashes pastored for a number of years. Our grandfather Stepan, as well as grandmother Sara, like most of his generation, were orphaned survivors of the Armenian Genocide 

Among the serendipitous happenings in life, the birth of Mr. Stepan Apelian coincided with the foundation of our village’s - Keurkune’s – Church in 1897. It became his good fortune to grow with and in the church. Thus the young Stepan had his character shaped within a church loving family in the Armenian Evangelical community. It is not a secret that I reveal that he became not only a true child of the church but also its faithful and active member as an elder, a treasurer, its keeper and guardian from his adulthood well into his old age without tiring and without complaining.

I have known Mr. Stepan Apelian for forty-five (45) years and I have closely followed his life and his work for thirty-seven years (37). He would be the first to attend Sunday services, mid week prayer meetings and at the trustee meetings, always with a smile on his face, joyful and content.  He bestowed a special deference towards the church’s ministers. He loved and cared for the church, its congregation, the school and the students as he cared for the pupils of his eyes, wishing for them  love, wellbeing and harmony. 

After a hard day’s work and before going to sleep he devoted a special time for scripture reading and prayer. He was a personification of Jesus’ reference of Nathanael “ Here truly is a man in whom there is no deceit”. Truly Mr. Stepan Apelian was a true embodiment of goodness and the exemplary man of the village. Everyone liked him. He was the rosy cheeked, calm and composed ‘baboug’ (grandpa) of the village. He was meek as much he was good willed. He was impartial in his service to church. He was caring, hospitable, and his table was open to visitors as well as to strangers.

As an outcome of the life he led, he enjoyed the love and the respect of his immediate community and the community at large. Spiritually he was one of the richest and most content persons. God in turn rewarded him with two sons and four university graduate grandchildren (see the note below), who are also known for their well manners. According to the news reaching us, the Armenian community of Syria and Lebanon are grateful for the services of his two grandchildren Steve and Ara who are rendering service to the Chanits (Armenian Evangelical Endeavor Association), the Armenian Evangelical community and the Armenian community at large. It is also fair to acknowledge the spouses of his children for their services to the church and to the evangelical schools.

For his more than 50 to 60 years of service he rendered to the Armenian Evangelical Church of Keurkune, Mr. Stepan is deserving of our Lord’s blessing who said “‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’.”

Mr. Stepan Apelian left this world on July 26, 1984 bearing on his chest the pin for loving service. I believe that according to John 10:25 (“I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me”) he lives with the beloved Lord. Apostle Paul’s words fit Mr. Stepan Apelian’s person and life, when he said: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

My dear nephew*, on the occasion of the fortieth day your death I convey to you my sincere impressions of you, quoting bible verses and dedicate it to your good memory as a bouquet of flowers to be placed on the holy ground of your grave at our village’s cemetery we call “keghetseg” (a small church), wishing that the Lord will bless your fatherly and human loving memories and for your more than half a century of service to the church for the glory of God and for the enlightenment of the Christ’s church.

With the grace of God, I remain with the hope and the faith of joining you in the everlasting life. Amen.

Rev. Ardashes S. Kerbabian

67 Norfold Ave.

Cambridge, ON N1R3TB

August 27,1984

* Mr. Stepan Apelian was my nephew through my father’s first marriage.

                                                        *** 

Note: Our grandfather had four grandchildren, two from each of his two sons, all boys, in seniority listing:  Vahe H Apelian, pharmacist (AUB), PhD (St. John’s University); Stepan Apelian agriculturalist, M.S. (AUB); Garo Apelian business (Haigazian University), deceased; Ara Apelian MD (AUB).

 

Russia’s spectacular failure in the Caucasus

Vaհe H Apelian

Today, on Saturday July 19, 2025, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev speaking to the participants of the Third Shusha Global Media Forum in the city of Khankendi (the Turkified name of Stepanakert), said “We created a new reality in 44 days in 2020, and they were forced to accept it.”

The “they”, Aliyev alluded, is the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Minsk Group.  He said that the group, founded in 1992 and was co-chaired by France, Russia, and the US, with the stated aim of facilitating the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. But Aliyev alleged, the group was instead telling Azerbaijan to accept the situation, but that Baku rejected them, said Aliyev. The new reality Azerbaijan created, boasted Aliyev, was the complete depopulation of Nagorno-Karabakh of its native Armenian inhabitants. There are no Armenians as an entity in Azerbaijan to have an issue to resolve. Why the (OSCE) Minsk Group? Sounds familiar, does it not?

I was reminded of Antranig Chalabian, who on Armenia and Russia relationship wrote in 1988 (see note): “As long as Turks are Turks and they are living in Turkey, Armenians inhabiting the southern boarders of the Soviet Union have no choice but to seek Russian protection, irrespective of the kind of government which rules that country. This is a political affinity and has nothing to do with ideologies.”

But he also qualified that relationship and wrote that a strong and a greater Armenia is Russia’s best security asset in the South Caucasus. Russia, Antranig elaborated further, is vulnerable at its southern border and Armenia is Russia’s natural and most reliable ally and the best guarantor of its southern border. But he also cautioned reflecting on history and said that: “The Byzantine emperors made mistakes and they paid dearly for them. Russia’s tsars, in their turn, were incapable of seeing their southern borders were inhabited not by White Russians but by potentially dangerous Turkish peoples. In the face of that danger, instead of creating a great and autonomous Armenian state to divide and weaken those peoples, they aspired for an Armenia without Armenians, thus strengthening and uniting their own enemies! It is not unconceivable that world leaders often lack foresight and political farsightedness, as well as the ability to comprehend the facts or anticipate the future."

Since Armenia regained its independence, it became apparent that Russia, did not see “the important role a greater and a stronger Armenia can play” as a buffer for Mother Russia in its southern border. On the contrary Russia tilted away from its natural ally Armenia cozying with toward Azerbaijan. But that rapprochement, at the cost of depopulation of Artsakh of its native inhabitant is now strained almost to the breaking point. 

Antranig Chalabian asked in 1988, wondering: “Will the present-day Soviet rulers of glasnost and perestroika (openness and restructuring) be able to see the important role a greater and stronger Armenia can play in the political network of religious minded peoples on the southern borders of their empire?"

 "It remains to be seen,” Antranig Chalabian wrote. (Read The Commissars in the attached link below.)

The new rulers of glasnost and perestroika (openness and restructuring), apparently were blinded by their lingering imperial ambitions of the past. They did not see the importance of a greater and stronger Armenia in the South Caucasus. Instead of empowering Armenia, Russia armed Azerbaijan and sided with it. But, an emboldened Azerbaijan, having achieved its goals of absorbing the Soviet Nagorno-Karabakh Oblast, and in cahoots with Israel and the West, in support of Ukraine and against Iran, is challenging Russia as manifested through public criticism of Russia, cancellation of cultural events and high-level visits, and arresting of Russian nationals in Baku. “South Caucasus is slipping from Russia’s grasp” wrote Al Jazeera. Russia's “Unipolar Moment” in the South Caucasus is ending, wrote another report. 

Russia’s or maybe Putin’s blinded ambitions resulted in a spectacular policy failure in South Caucasus, but also resulted in the loss of the historical Armenian Artsakh.

                                           *** 

Note; Those interested may read Antranig Chalabianbs "Emperors, Tsars and Commissars" booklet : http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2023/08/antranig-chalabian-emperors-tsars-and.html 

In appreciation of Frederic and Ara: The Best House of All.

Hovhannes Toumanian is said to be the “All Armenian Poet”.  “The Best House of All - Ամենից Լաւ Տունը” is the title of a poem he wrote. My mother used to recite that poem superbly. Frederic Apelian is an avid master photographer. Today I came across the attached photograph Frederic Apelian took during one of his photography excursions. It  reminded me Toumanian’s poem and Ara Mekhsian’s superb translation of the poem. It also reminded me  reading that a part of adulthood is that we, adults, strangely are homesick for a place and a time that no longer exists and that we can never revisit but wonder maybe, how would it be if we only could be a child again in this dreary world. Vaհe H Apelian

Courtesy Frederic Apelian

 

The Finest House

 

Where the winds frolic and toy,

And the waters roar and froth,

Lived a very restless boy

With his mother, kind and fond,

In a drab hovel,

In an old hovel,

By the river,

Under the trees.

 

One day, said the restless boy:

“My kind, loving mother, dear,

This place affords me no joy,

I must go away from here -

This drab hovel,

This old hovel,

By the river,

Under the trees.

 

Let me traverse many a road,

In search of the best abode,

When I’ve found it, I will come

And take you far away from

This drab hovel,

This old hovel,

By the river,

Under the trees.

 

In his travels far and wide,

He saw houses fair and bright,

But alas! something was amiss,

He returned, as per his promise,

To the drab hovel,

To the old hovel,

By the river,

Under the trees.

 

“Did you find it, my son?” asked the mother,

Beholding her son with ardor.

“I saw myriad gracious houses,

But the finest house yet remains

This drab hovel,

This old hovel,

By the river,

Under the trees.

 

  

Ամենից Լաւ Տունը

Յովհաննէս Թումանեան

 

Էնտեղ, ուր հովը խաղում է ազատ

Ու ջուրն աղմըկում, անվերջ փըրփըրում,

Էնտեղ իր բարի, իր սիրող մօր հետ

Մի շատ անհանգիստ տղայ էր ապրում,

Մի գորշ խըրճիթում,

Մի հին խըրճիթում,

Գետի եզերքին,

Ծառերի ակին։

 

Մի օր էլ եկաւ անհանգիստ տըղան,

Կանգնեց իր բարի, իր սիրող մօր դէմ.

«Մայրիկ, էստեղից պէտք է հեռանամ.

Միակ ձանձրալի տեղը, որ գիտեմ,

Էս գորշ խըրճիթն է,

Էս հին խըրճիթն է,

Գետի եզերքին,

Ծառերի տակին։

Թո՛ղ գընամ շըրջեմ աշխարհից աշխարհ,

Ճամբորդեմ լաւ-լաւ տըներ տեսնելու,

Ամենից լաւը ընտրեմ մեզ համար,՚

Գամ քեզ էլ առնեմ ու փախչենք հեռու

Էս գորշ խըրճիթից,

Էս հին խըրճիթից,

Գետի եզերքին,

Ծառերի տակին»։

 

Ու գնաց, երկար թափառեց տըղան,

Մեծ ու հոյակապ շատ տըներ տեսաւ,

Բայց միշտ, ամէն տեղ պակաս Էր մի բան...

Ու հառաչելով ետ վերադարձաւ

Էն գորշ խըրճիթը

Էն հին խըրճիթը,

Գետի եզերքին,

Ծառերի տակին։

«Գըտա՞ր, զաւա՛կըս», հարցըրեց մայրը,

Ուրախ, նայելով իր տըղի վըրայ։

«Ման եկայ, մայրի՛կ, աշխարհից աշխարհ,

Ամենից սիրուն, լաւ տունը, որ կայ,

Էս գորշ խըրճիթն է,

Էս հին խըրճիթն Է,

Գետի եզերքին,

Ծառերի տակին»։

Hagop comments (3) : “Post hoc, ergo propter hoc”

This is the third comment Hagop made in the Armenian Weekly I post because they have stood apart from the rest of the comments made in the Armenian Weekly. This was made to the article Hoory Minoyan posted on July 2, 2025.  The Latin quote "Post hoc, ergo propter hoc"means, “After this, because of this”. I copied it from  ARF founding ideologue Kristapor Mikaelian’s writing titled “Ամբոխային Տրամաբանութիւն - Crowd Mentality.”  Vaհe H Apelian

 

 

The polemic presented against Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is a highly emotional, misleading, and deeply biased narrative that deliberately omits context, misrepresents complex national developments, and dangerously undermines Armenia’s fragile democracy. It weaponizes religion, national trauma, and diaspora sentiment in service of political score-settling.

 

Let’s break this down:

 

1. The Loss of Artsakh: History, Not Betrayal

Yes, the loss of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) was devastating. But blaming Pashinyan alone is intellectually dishonest. Armenia had been militarily and diplomatically isolated for years before he came to power. Corruption and cronyism flourished under previous regimes, weakening Armenia’s military preparedness while empowering oligarchs.

• The 2020 war was initiated by Azerbaijan, heavily backed by Turkey and Israeli military technology. Armenia stood virtually alone.

• Pashinyan inherited a broken system—corrupt defense procurement, inflated army rosters, and no international recognition of Artsakh.

• Russia, the supposed ally and “protector,” abandoned its role when Azerbaijan launched its final offensive in 2023, betraying both Armenia and Artsakh Armenians.

To say Pashinyan “devised ways to destroy the country” is not only factually baseless, it’s morally reprehensible.

2. Armenian Identity and the Genocide

The claim that Pashinyan wants to erase the Armenian Genocide or forget Mount Ararat is an outright lie.

• His government has repeatedly spoken about the Genocide on the international stage, including through diplomatic channels and commemorative events.

• The shift in rhetoric is about focusing on a viable future, not living in the past. Armenia cannot afford to be a hostage to symbolic politics while surrounded by aggressive neighbors.

Pashinyan has advocated for a realist approach to sovereignty, security, and statehood. That may not appeal to ultranationalists or some diaspora factions, but it aligns with modern statecraft, not self-destruction.

3. Church and State: Accountability, Not Persecutio

The hysteria about a supposed “persecution” of the Armenian Church stems from accountability measures, not religious oppression.

• Several high-ranking clergy and church-adjacent oligarchs have faced investigation due to allegations of corruption, not because of their religious roles.

• The Armenian Apostolic Church is not above the law. Public trust in the Church has declined in recent years precisely because of its close ties with discredited oligarchs.

• Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, who is now leading political protests, is engaging in explicit partisan activism. When clergy enter the political arena, they must abide by the same legal and civic expectations as any other citizen.

The Church’s statement about “hatred and hostility” is inflammatory rhetoric designed to shield it from scrutiny, not a credible reflection of government policy.

4. Samvel Karapetyan: A “Philanthropist” or a Powerbroker?

Let’s not canonize Samvel Karapetyan so quickly:

• He is a Russian-Armenian billionaire whose fortune was built during Russia’s oligarchic privatization era. His ties to Russian financial and political elites are well-documented.

• The nationalization of the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) is not “vengeance”—it’s a response to long-standing concerns about monopolistic pricing, infrastructure neglect, and lack of transparency.

• Armenia’s parliament voted on this, not Pashinyan alone. Calling this a “dictatorship” is absurd when the legal process was followed, including the right to appeal.

Moreover, the diaspora outcry over Karapetyan’s arrest conveniently ignores that legal action does not equate to guilt, and wealth does not guarantee innocence.

5. The Myth of One-Man Rule

Pashinyan was elected democratically—twice—after the 2018 Velvet Revolution, which ended decades of authoritarian rule and crony governance.

• The opposition calling for an uprising does not represent all Armenians. Protests exist—but so does broad public support for anti-corruption efforts and economic reform.

• The judiciary remains functionally independent, with multiple high-profile cases decided against the government in recent years.

• The Armenian diaspora should support strong institutions, not return to the days of oligarchic impunity.

6. Investors, Institutions, and the Future

The alarmism about scaring off investors is unfounded.

• Foreign investment in Armenia has increased steadily since 2018, particularly in the tech and renewable energy sectors.

• International observers, including the IMF and World Bank, have commended Armenia for its fiscal discipline and anti-corruption measures.

If anything, reclaiming critical infrastructure is a signal that the Armenian government is serious about protecting public interest, not enriching foreign-based elites.

Final Thoughts

This piece is a masterclass in fearmongering, distortion, and weaponized nostalgia. It seeks to reestablish the nexus between Church, oligarchs, and former elites who ran Armenia into the ground.

Nikol Pashinyan is not perfect. His communication missteps and crisis management flaws are legitimate concerns. But to portray him as a dictator destroying Armenia is a gross and dangerous lie. Armenia needs reform, rule of law, and sovereignty—not a return to a feudal state run by clerics and tycoons.

Let the facts speak louder than fear.

 

 

 

Առանց հրաւէրի այցելութիւն չըլլար

Վահէ Յ Աբէլեան

էջմիածին կղերական համագումար, Սուր Փրկիչ (էջմիածին թեմ), 
Սուրբ Երրորդութիւն  (Կիլիկեան թեմ) Եկեղեցիներ, Worcester, MA

Պատեհութիւնը ունեցած եմ Անթիլիասի Կիլիկիոյ Սիսի Կաթողիկոսութեան արժանաւոր գահակալներուն աջը համբուրել՝ Զարէհ, Խորէն եւ Գարեգին Բ Կաթողիկոսներունը ծնողքիս ընկերակցութեամբ, Լիբանան։ Իսկ Արամ Կաթողիկոսինը, Ուսթըր քաղաքին եկեղեցիին հովուական այցելութեան ընթացքին, այս տարի։ Կիլիկիոյ Սիսի՝ կամ այժմու Անթիլիասի կաթողիկոութեան այդ գահակալները եղան օրինակելի եկեղեցական հայրեր։

Արամ կաթողիկոսը ուշագրաւ յայտարարութիւններ ըրաւ անցնող հինգ-վեց տարիներուն ընթացքին, Հայաստանի 44-Օրուան անփառունակ պարտութիւնէն ետք։ իր վերջին յայտարարութիւնէն կը մէջբերեմ հետեւալը։ 

 «Արդարեւ, որեւէ ազգի, եկեղեցւոյ կամ կազմակերպութեան կեանքին մէջ սխալներ, բացթողումներ, բեւեռացումներ, առճակատումներ կրնան ըլլալ. սակայն անոնք հարկ է որ քննարկուին յատուկ գործընթացքներու ճամբով եւ հանդարտ մթնոլորտի մէջ, որպէսզի կարելի ըլլայ համապատասխան լուծումներու յանիլ։

Շուրջ վեց տարիներէ ի վեր, դժբախտաբար, Հայրենիք չեմ այցելած։ Վերջին օրերուն մտածեցի, շա՜տ մտածեցի, Հայաստան գալու մասին, որպէսզի կարենամ օժանդակել ստեղծուած փոթորիկը նուազագոյնը հանդարտեցնելու ուղղութեամբ։ Սակայն, Ազգային Ժողովէն ու ընկերային ցանցերու ճամբով եւ այլապէս կատարուած ու շարունակուող անմակարդակ, մեր բարոյական, հոգեւոր ու ազգային արժէքներուն խոտոր համեմատող արտայայտութիւնները, ինչպէս նաեւ կատարուող ձերբակալութիւնները չեն քաջալերեր զիս քայլերս ուղղելու դէպի Հայրենիք։»

Արամ վեահափառին յայտարարութիւններէն ամենէն անկողմնակալը եւ հետեւաբար ամենէն դրականը եւ շինիչը յայտարարոթիւնն էր։ Բայց այդ յայտարարութեան մէջ Արամ վեհաբառը չ՚ակնարկեր Հայաստանէն որեւէ հրաւէրի մը որուն ընդառաջած չըլլար։  Իմ ենթադրութեանս համաձայն Արամ Վեհափառը Հայաստան այցելելութեան հրաւէր չէ ստացած այդ ժամանակամիջոցին։ Բնականաբար այդ հրաւէրը պիտի գար Գարեգին Բ Ամենայն Հայոց կաթողիկոսէն եւ ոչ թէ պետութիւնէն։ 

Նմանապէս կը կասկածիմ որ Արամ Վեհափառը Հայաստան այցելութեան հրաւէր պիտի ստանայ մեծամիտ Գարեգին Բ Կաթողիկոսէն, մանաւանդ որպէսզի օժանդակէ «ստեղծուած փոթորիկը նուազագոյնը հանդարտեցնելու ուղղութեամբ։» Արամ վեհափառը կը գտնուի մուրճի եւ սալի միջեւ։ 

Պետութիւն-Էջմիածինի տարակարծութիւնը կրօնական չէ, այլ քաղաքական պայքար մըն է, չ՚ըսելու համար «սրբազան պայքար» մը, քանի մը բարձրաստիճան կղերականներու առաջմորդբւթեամբ, որոնք քաղաքական որեւէ առաջնորդութիւն պիտի չստանցնէին առանց Գարեգին Բ. կաթողիկոսին արտօնութեանը։

Գարեգին Բ. կաթողիկոսը կը վայելէ բացառձակ աջակցութիւնը Ռուսական Դաշնակցութեան կառավարութեան եւ Ռուս Ուղղափառ եկեղեցիին, ինչպէս նաեւ Հայաստանի մէջ Թաւշեայ Յեղափոխութեան առաջնորդ Նիկոլ Փաշինյանի կառաւարութեան ընդիմադիր ճակատի աջակցութիւնը, մասնաւորաբար երկու նախքին նախագահներունը՝ Քոչարեան-Սարգյան, որոնք իրենց իշխանութեան քսան տարիներուն ընթացքին թալանեցին երկիրը եւ կամ ժողովուրդը։

Ինչպէս նշեցի՝ Վեհաբառ Արամը կը գտնուի սալին եւ այդ մուրճին միջեւ։  Տակաւին չեմ կրցած պատկերացնել տրամաբանութեան հիմքը որ կը մղէ սփիւռքի ՀՅԴ-ի ղեկաւարութիւնը նեցուկ կենալ Գարեգին Բ կաթողիկոսին եւ ընդիմանալ ազգընտիր կառաւարութեան։ Անհաւանական չէ որ՝ Քոչարյան-Սարգսյան-Գարեգին Բ. կաթողիկոս հատուածը տիրապետէ Հայաստաանի քաղաքականութեան եւ Հայաստանի ընթացքը առաջնորդէ դէպի Ռուսաստանի Դաշնակցութիւն եւ Ռուս Ուղղափառ Եկեղեցին։ Հայաստանը չի կրնար Ռուսասդանի եւ հետեւաբար Ռուս Ուղղափառ Եկեղեցիին մերձանալ եւ պահել իր ինքնիշխանութիւնը։ Բայց Հայաստանը կրնայ քաղաքականօրէն մերձանալ արեւմուտքին եւ պահել իր ինքնիշխանութիւնը։

Ռուսաստանով եւ Ռուս Ուղղափառ եկեղեցիով գօտապնդուած Էջմիածնի կաթողիկոսութեան առաջնահերթութիւնը պիտի ըլլայ վէրջ տալ Կիլիկեան Թեմին Հիւսիսային Ամերիկայի մէջ։ Թերեւս նոյնիսկ Միջին Արեւելքի մէջ եթէ կարնեայ։

 Էջմիածինին համար, Կիլիկիոյ Սիսի Կաթողիկոսութիւնը անկոչ հիւր է Հիւսիսային Ամերիկայի մէջ ուր Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցին հիմնուեցաւ Խրիմեան Հայրիկին կոնդակով։  Առաջին Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցին Հիւսիսային Ամերիկայի մէջ – ինչպէս նաեւ Արեւմտեան Աշարհին մէջ – Էջմիածնայ թեմին պատկան Սուրբ Փրկիչ (Saint Savior) եկեղեցին է որ հիմնուած է 1891 թուականին, Worcester քաղաքին մէջ, որուն արուարձաններէն մէկուն մէջ բնակութիւն հաստատած ենք։  Այդ եկեղեցիին հիմնադրութիւնէր 43 տարիներ ետք, երկբեւեռացած Պաղ Պատերազմի օրերուն, Սուրբ Փրկիչ եկեղեցիէն քանի մղոն հեռու, հիմնուեցաւ Կիլիկեան Թեմին Սուրբ Երրորդութիւն (Holy Trinity), եկեղեցին որուն ինիսուն ամեակը տօնուեցաւ անցեալ տարի։

Ռուսաստանով եւ Ռուս Ուղղափառ Եկեղեցիով գօտեպնդուած  Գարեգին Բ - ի էջմիածինի կաթողիկոսութիւն նեցուկ պիտի չմնայ Հիւսիսային Ամերիկայի Կիլիկեան Թեմին՝ այժմու Անթիլիասի Կաթողիկոսութեանը՝ Արեւմտահայերէնին վերջին պատսապարանը եւ Արեւմտահայստանէն մնացած միակ հաստատութիւնը։

 Ինչպէս նշած էի՝ չեմ կրցած պատկերացնել պատմական տրամբաութեան հիմնաւորումը որ կը մղէ սփիւռքի ՀՅԴ-ը նեցուկ կենալ Գարեգին Բ կաթողիկոսին եւ ընդիմանալ ազգընտիր ներկայ պետութեան, փոխանակ նեցուկ մնացած ըլլար Արամ Վեհափառին վերջին, թէեւ ուշատցած, բայց շինիչ եւ դրական յայտարարութեանը։ 

 Հարցը հայ պետականութեան եւ Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցիին գերիշխանութիւններն են որոնք խնդայարուց են։ Կ՚ունենաք ազատ, անկախ, ժողովրդավարական Հայաստանի Հանրապետութիւն մը, եւ Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցին որպէս գերիշխան, իրար ամբողջացնող հաստատութիւններ։ Կամ ալ կունենանք Պէլարուսի նման պետութիւն մը որուն ընկերային, կրօնական կարք ու սարքը համառատու են Ռուսական Դաշնակցութեան եւ անոր Ռուս Ուղղափառ եկեղեցիին։