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  • Church 'Outpost'?

    CHURCH 'OUTPOST'?
    Hovhannes Hovhannisyan

    http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments -lrahos17237.html
    11:41:01 - 22/03/2010

    One of the most noteworthy events taken place in Armenia in the
    recent period is perhaps the visit of the Russian Patriarch Kirill
    to Armenia. A thorough analysis of his visit is a job requiring much
    time so we will focus on a few statements only.

    Russia's history shows that the religious power has always supported
    the Russian political government and has always been one of the
    fulfillers of its political directions. Being the cultural and
    religious inheritor of the Constantinople Church, the Russian Orthodox
    Church headed by its new Patriarch, continues emperor-worshiping
    aspirations of the church becoming the inheritor of Constantinople
    politically too.

    On the other hand, it is well known to all that under strong political
    power, the church has always been under someone's influence or in some
    political vector, and in case of contradicting it, it has been strictly
    punished- persecutions and physical vendetta. We have to note that
    under current situation of the Russian political power, only through
    cooperation, it was possible to become Russian Patriarch. We have to
    add also Kirill Patriarch's appeals and orders directed to the power
    to resist local and global challenges, after which we will find out
    that the appeals and the persuasions made in Armenia by the Patriarch
    Kirill are to be perceived in the political context. In particular,
    we do not have to overlook his statements about the Armenian and
    Turkish relations, and invitation of Garegin II to Baku to take part
    in the CIS inter-religious conference.

    At the State University, Russian Patriarch Kirill noted that anyone,
    before holding a speech, is to think about their audience, its
    mental abilities, and to build their speech in accordance with this
    circumstance. Right from this point, the speeches of the Patriarch
    in St. Grigor Lusavorich Church and in the university are to be viewed.

    The point is especially about the fact that the Patriarch called the
    Armenian Apostolic Church Armenian Orthodox Church. If the Patriarch
    used the expression "Armenian Orthodox Church" only once in the
    university (the same expression used one of the students when asking
    him a question) so in the church, the Patriarch used this phrase more
    than once.

    The Armenian Church is understandable to belong to the family of
    Eastern Orthodox Churches, and it is usually called Orthodox by
    foreigners. On the other hand, the Armenian Church is Orthodox from
    the point of its belief too. In other words, the terms Apostolic,
    Orthodox, Catholic can be applied to nearly all the churches of the
    world, but they are used only in professional literature.

    Consequently, Patriarch Kirill could not but realize this reality
    as well as the fact that his calling the Armenian Apostolic Church,
    Armenian Orthodox Church could create grounds for misunderstanding
    within Armenian believers.

    >>From this point, I am sure that his expressions were result of
    purposely use: the "outpost" logic of state and public circles cannot
    but apply churches too. By the way, we have to remember about the
    fusion of the Russian state system and the Orthodox Church and its
    projection in the Armenian reality, the best proof of which is the
    scandalous events regarding the open-air hall of Cinema Moscow.

    In fact, we have to presume from all this that the Russian
    emperor-worshiping aspirations apply not only to the Armenian economy,
    political field, energy and other resources, but also the Armenian
    church, because according to patriarch Kirill himself, the Armenian and
    Russian Churches are in the same axiological field. Though, I am almost
    sure that this axiological identity will not be commented in favor
    of the Armenian church, which I think, is full of serious dangers not
    only for the Armenian Church but first of all for the Armenian society.
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