Sanahin and "Toyota"

The center of spiritual and religious life of Armenia, Etchmiadzin, seat of the Armenian Patriarch - Catholicos of All Armenians, is at the center of yet another scandal. If earlier attacks on the clergy were symptomatic, associated with clergy’s impious behaviour (for example, the demolition of the Moskva summer cinema or Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan’s  weakness for Bentley cars), now public anger has reached another level. After the recent scandals associated with the Armenian Church, the public started to watch every move of the Catholicos. It seems that the root of the problem lies in the overly-enthusiastic perception of the Church: Armenians believe that her head must be similar to a saint, a model for which was served for many years by Vazgen I, with an irresistible spiritual development. The excessive vitality of Catholicos Karekin II confuses believers and even non-believers.

The Sanahin monastic complex, located near the town of Alaverdi in the north of Armenia, has for a long time been considered one of the main cultural centers of medieval Armenia. But today this unique monument of Armenian culture and architecture is totally neglected. There are trees growing through the dome complex, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On July 16 the Youth Initiative "Do not be silent" organized a journalist trip to Sanahin to give the problem some publicity in order to improve the situation. Immediately after, Armenian media published a statement by the research director of Armenian monuments, historian Samvel Karapetyan, who literally quoted His Holiness Karekin II in conversation with Dr. Armen Karapetyan and Dr. Armen Ahnazaryan in 2006. According to Karapetian, in response to a proposal to redirect some funds designated to the construction of new churches, for the reconstruction of Sanahin, His Holiness Karekin II said that he had nothing to do with churches and monasteries, located in the mountains of Armenia. This statement, reprinted by virtually all Armenian media, gave rise to demands for Karekin II to resign his post. The demand was voiced in the pages of Facebook group "We demand the resignation of the Catholicos."

In response, the head of press office of Echmiadzin, Father Vahram Melikyan, announced that the Catholicos could not have made any statements like that. Melkyan suggested that the words were taken out of context. In general, whenever the flock is overcome by doubts concerning the sanctity of its pastors, Melikyan is readily taken to expel the "demons" from it. In the course of a "justifying" press conference, Melikyan, demonstrating the excellent skills of a public-relations manager, tried very hard to deflect suspicion from his "brothers" and described the allegations against Karekin II as "unfair and ungrounded."

Then another scandal took place among the congregation. Media sources published reports, according to which Echmiadzin had bought 7 Toyota cars for a total of $309,000 only in 2010. The church had acquired cars in the past as well, all of which were not subject to VAT. According to the explanations of Father Vahram Melikyan, these cars were donated to Echmiadzin by a philanthropist and owner of the group of companies "Tashir", Samvel Karapetyan. There is irrefutable proof of Echmiadzin being the purchaser of the Toyotas, but more important is that Melikyan in the past said that the church does not have funds to restore the Sanahin, as the Church fully relies on donations. According to Melikyan, the Church asked for $150 thousand for a restoration project it could not afford.

How does it happen that the Church spends hundreds of thousands of dollars annually on the purchase of expensive cars, but has not got 150 thousand dollars for the restoration of Sanahin, which is considered one of eight Armenian sites of natural, historical and architectural significance? Where, in this case, do the funds for the demolition of the old Moskva cinema and the building of a new church come from? Who will fund the rebuilding of the new luxury residence of Karekin II in the heart of Yerevan? There are no answers to these questions. It is only clear that the Church, which for a long time has been a stronghold of Christianity and has been uniting the Armenian people with strong bonds of unity, is no longer able to fulfil this mission in its present state. The Armenian Church is gradually losing public confidence, which for centuries kept faith in God. Things have reached the point when yesterday's followers of the Church have become members of the Jehovah's Witnesses movement and other dubious sects and religious movements. The reason for this was the incompetence and lack of dignity among its ecclesiastical hierarchy. The story of Sanahin and "Toyota" is just the tip of an iceberg, shaking the foundations of the Church.

P.S.: Recently the Ministry of Culture of Armenia announced its intention to restore Sanahin monastery in the coming years. The renovation will begin in 2012. The Ministry of Culture "remembered" about the instruction of Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan to restore the monastery made on April 15 2010...

David Stepanyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for VK