No other picture embodies what it is all about

Vaհe H Apelian

 

Dr. Yervant Terzian and Catholicos Aram

First and foremost, let me expand on the title of this blog. I used the word picture. In fact, it is more than a mere picture. It is a snapshot because it captures a moment taken without formal setup or professional lighting by a professional photographer in a studio. But I will continue on referring to it as a picture and I would like to note that no other picture I know portrays what the Catholicos Karekin II conflict with the PM Nikol Pashinyan is all about. I know that some, who may happen to read this blog may jump to their guns claiming that the conflict between Yerevan, the seat of the Armenian state, and Etchmiadzin, the seat of the Armenian Apostolic church, is political at its core, not moral. I disagree. It is moral at its core, not political.

I admit that to catch the attention of readers, I used the picture depicting the moment Dr. Yervant Zorian is kissing the right hand of Catholicos Aram, while the Catholicos Aram appears to be withdrawing his hand also out of reverence. Mrs. Yervant Zorian was showing the same reverence to the Catholicos. These snap shots capture the moral authority the Catholicos projects, for people such as Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Yervant Zorian to bow in front of the Catholicos, with Dr. Yervant Zorian kissing the Catholicos’ right hand and placing it on his forehead as a testament of his obedience to Catholicos's moral authority.

 AGBU magazine depicted the occasion and wrote the following: 

“At a recent special ceremony in Silicon Valley, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia conferred the “Saint Mesrob Mashdots” Insignia on Dr. Yervant Zorian, AGBU Vice President and Founding President of the Armenian Virtual College - AGBU, in recognition of his lifelong pioneering contributions to the fields of technology and education and his unwavering dedication to the Armenian nation. In his remarks, His Holiness highlighted Dr. Zorian’s remarkable scientific and educational legacy, noting that his distinguished career and enduring service to both Armenia and the Diaspora embody the very principles for which the Insignia was established. Upon accepting the Insignia, Dr. Zorian expressed his profound gratitude to His Holiness and reaffirmed his continued dedication to serving the nation and the homeland.”

Catholicos Karekin II is not the Catholicos Armenia needed and needs at this historic junction. His persona is the issue and it is not something that surfaced lately. It was there all along, long ago. Yes, the PM Nikol Pashinyan brought the issue of Catholikcos Karekin II’s persona to the forefront. It is regrettable that the opposition takes to Armenian Apostolic Church for a sanctuary, or a refuge in an attempt to shelter the Catholicos in that centuries old venerable institution. 

Recently had posted the following letter to Harach Daily in France, regarding Catholicos Karekin II. This is how the letter read in translation. 

“Esteemed Editorial Staff,

The so-called Supreme Spiritual Council of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin seems to be in permanent session for the purpose of opposing the authorities of the Republic of Armenia. In recent months, not a week goes by without it convening a meeting and issuing yet another statement. “Nor Harach” also reports on both, these meetings and statements, thereby fulfilling its duty as a media outlet. Very well.

However, I wish to clarify that it is necessary to place the words "Supreme Spiritual Council"- SSC- in quotation marks—or, as you see at the beginning of my text, i prefaced those three words with the phrase "so-called"—because the composition of the SSC has been ILLEGAL for two past decades, based on at least three legally vulnerable aspects:

1. The Patriarchs of Jerusalem and Constantinople serve as ex-officio co-chairs of the Supreme Spiritual Council. From the very first day of his enthronement to the present, Patriarch Nourhan has NOT ONCE participated in the Council's meetings, whereas Patriarch Sahak attends them only occasionally. And it is strange that NO ONE ASKS why Patriarch Nourhan consistently refuses to attend the meetings of this so-called Supreme Spiritual Council.

2. ONLY the National-Ecclesiastical Assembly holds the exclusive right to elect members of the Supreme Spiritual Council; yet, the "bold one" has changed—and continues to change—its composition at will, removing whomever he pleases and appointing whomever he pleases. The Supreme Spiritual Council is the supervisory body of the Mother See. Just imagine: its members are supposed to oversee the actions—or lack thereof—of the very Catholicos who appointed them... Furthermore, no one asks why, in the nearly 27 years since the day of his "election," the Patriarch has not convened the General Religious Assembly (GRA). Even during the days of the Soviet atheistic regime, there was never such a long hiatus.

3. Even setting aside the illegality mentioned in point 2, the sessions of the General Religious Assembly (GRA) are unlawful in yet another respect. Only members residing in Armenia participate in its sessions, with members from abroad participating only sporadically. In short, it has been transformed into yet another unlawful instrument of the Patriarch. As for this latest session, the participation of Bishops Aram Ateshyan and Theodoros is entirely unlawful, as they are not members of the GHKh. The same applies to the participation of lawyer Ara Zohrabyan in the recent session; the GRA bylaws make no provision for the status of substitute members. Therefore, esteemed editorial staff, when referring to the GRA, it is necessary to use the phrase "so-called" or to place the body's name in quotation marks. Otherwise, it would appear that “Nor Harach” is legitimizing such blatant illegalities.

With warm regards,

Gevorg Natali

Yerevan, Republic Day, September 21, 2026, morning