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THE ALL ARMENIAN CATHOLICOS OF BLESSED MEMORY
By Ashot Vavyan
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2011/10/06/the-all-armenian-catholicos-of-blessed-memory/
Posted on October 6, 2011 by Editor
The prophets are persons sent by God, transmitting His words, called
to certain mission by the Almighty. They are the men of future,
whose words and actions are not accessible for the surrounding, and
for understanding them certain period of time is needed. This is the
reason for which they are not perceived in their own surrounding,
and even are subjected to persecutions. "A Prophet is without honor
only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own home,"
says Jesus in the Gospel. In the opinion of the Italian writer,
historian and scholar Giovanni Guaita, His Holiness Karekin I is a
person playing a prophetic role in the contemporary history and in
the history of the Armenian Church. The words of praise about Vehapar
were not so abundant in his homeland, while his merit was greatly
appreciated abroad. The greatness of the Catholicos of all Armenians
was noticed by the "poetess of all Armenians," Silva Kaputikian,
who mourned thus when he left us. "It's a great pity that the 131st
Catholicos left us so early, and so tragically was interrupted his
speech, that sounded so beautifully upon his lips demonstrating the
most valuable abilities of the Armenian mind and language. Fortunately,
his deeds remained beneficial for the nation - numerous and various
works which are written testimonies of his extraordinary talent and
his Armenian soul. They have much to do in this money-worshiping and
demoralizing times."
Son of Hagop and Ovsanna Sarkissian, the Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin I, of Blessed Memory, was born in the Syrian town of Kessab,
populated by Armenians. He studied theology in Oxford, where he
defended in English his famous graduation thesis, "The Council
of Chalcedon and the Armenian Church." As the dean of Antelias
Seminary, as the Prelate of Iranian-Indian or Eastern Prelacy of
the North America, everywhere under his leadership was recorded
success in the national-ecclesiastical life. Thanks to his efforts,
the Catholicosate became a member of the World Council of Churches,
where he took leading positions.
His time coincided with some of the most difficult times for the
Great House of Cilicia, namely the Lebanese civil war, but Vehapar,
with is wisdom, managed to safeguard the Armenian community. During
those years, under bombing attacks, many implementations were made
in the religious, national, educational, cultural and constructional
spheres of the community. In the communities everywhere he found warm
reception. He was enjoying a great reputation, sympathy and respect
also among the religious and political figures of other nations,
which was very beneficial for the church and the nation. As a famous
figure of the ecumenical and interreligious movement, his exhortation
to his people was to "keep pace with the world without going astray
from our road."
His Holiness was a man of faith, idea and action, he never sought to
obtain an office or a special position. Eventually he was nominated
for the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia and then as Karekin
II as Catholicos of All Armenians. But there was much to be done,
and unfinished works were left, too. Vehapar was assured that the
people of Armenia needed him and were waiting for him. But Vehapar's
coming to Armenia was the Lord's project, which was testified in
the Mother Cathedral in the sermon devoted to the 10th anniversary
of his passing, when His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, as
if under the Heaven's influence, said: "In historically hard times
His Holiness answered to the God's call, came to shepherd his flock,
he came to serve his people as a Patriarch of All Armenians. The yoke
was heavy, but remembering Moses's commandment to Joshua, telling him,
"be courageous, because the Spirit of God is with you," he came to be
a Brave Shepherd. Inspired by the Holy Spirit he continued to guide
his flock and lead to the Source of the Light."
It was not easy for Vehapar to act among the people who were Christian
only outwardly, where still the Soviet atheism dominated, where
almost the whole society took into account the unwritten norms of the
"goghakan (stealth) ideology." He had to feel, that only a few of the
people meeting him were frank and that everybody sought only personal
interests. And with pain he would confess, that "it is much easier
to build where nothing exists, rather than to restore an atrophied
heritage, such as Armenia."
But despite these unfavorable conditions Vehapar managed to carry the
cross which, in his own words, had become heavier and did much work in
the short period of his being a Catholicos: he undertook the formation
of national Christian consciousness of the population, established
promotional and educational institutions, prepared young clerics,
formed the organizational structure of the Holy See, opened Church
Dioceses, reconstructed and built dozens of churches, published
numerous books, presented the ambitious program for the 1700th
anniversary of Christianity, shepherded entrusted worldwide flock
... . Thanks to the years lasting efforts of the well known ecumenical
figure and his theological, scientific valuable works in the whole
family of the world Christian Churches was recognized the apostolic
origin and nature of the Armenian Church. The isolating disagreements
were resolved, the authority of our Church and it's people increased
significantly. Many undertakings of Vehapar directed towards those
goals faced the resistance of local clergy with limited burial-ritual
outlook, though such will later enjoy the already built bridges.
The abilities of the great intellectual were Godgiven, the speech
pronounced by the great orator in different languages was inspiring
even for the leading figures of churches and countries. The Ecumenical
Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church would consider fortunate the
nation who has a son like him. It was a luck to be his interlocutor,
who was the author of these words: "Think for a while, that your
uttered words will be like a thing, that will return to you with the
joy of happiness caused to another."
The mind was so mighty, that his mother tongue was not enough to
verbalize them and new words were born on spot. It's noteworthy to
mention the existence of the dictionary comprising nearly 1,700 words
which enriched the Armenian language. To the incredible intellectual
potential of Vehapar was added the surprising industriousness, power
of faith, love toward nation and humanity, his sacred mode of life
and inimitable kindness.
It's obvious the involvement of Armenians in spreading Christianity,
i.e. the key to the happiness of humanity: the first Christian state,
lasting presence in Jerusalem, the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia,
centuries of participation in the reign of Byzantium... . God has
chosen our nation just for the mission of spreading and conservation
of this Abrahamic religion and Vehapar was exhorting to continue
that mission.
"The church is called apostolic not only for the works done by
Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew: the spirit of Apostles must live
inside ourselves and we must demonstrate it today," he taught.
The man named Nishan Sarkissian at birth, entered Armenia at such a
difficult time, that the scars of it are still there. By coincidence,
this period marks the turning point: the country discerns business
and liveliness, emerges hope, and were moments when some thought
that the ground has appeared for sowing God's justice and law. But
alas, the health of Vehapar became worse. Incomprehensible are the
Lord's deeds: why He took away His Holiness from us so soon. Maybe
Vehapar had already carried out God's project, leaving his influence,
his thoughts of great potential, his lines, though clearly written,
but time is required for decoding them. And still the followers must
come to build the Armenian House on the unshakeable foundation laid
by Vehapar.
His Holiness's farewell to this world was also characteristic of
those of prophets: the torments were hard, but he bore them with the
steadfastness of Christ: "The deceased Vehapar was a personality
of an extraordinary will. While others suffering with his disease
are in bad mood and are often subject to psychic collapse, during
his stay in New York Catholics Karekin was never depressed and never
lost his mental peace, even when he was in terrible pains. Before his
second surgery every day he was coming to the Prelacy where he stayed
for hours and with the pain inside he was having appointments with
Armenian or foreign important figures, was writing kondaks (orders)
and letters or was busy with literary activity. The same was doing
in his apartment trying to overcome his pains, relying on his pen,"
says the archbishop who was with Vehapar in those last days.
August 27 was the birthday of His Holiness. And next year will mark
the 80th anniversary of the birth of this Great Armenian.
From: Baghdasarian
By Ashot Vavyan
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2011/10/06/the-all-armenian-catholicos-of-blessed-memory/
Posted on October 6, 2011 by Editor
The prophets are persons sent by God, transmitting His words, called
to certain mission by the Almighty. They are the men of future,
whose words and actions are not accessible for the surrounding, and
for understanding them certain period of time is needed. This is the
reason for which they are not perceived in their own surrounding,
and even are subjected to persecutions. "A Prophet is without honor
only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own home,"
says Jesus in the Gospel. In the opinion of the Italian writer,
historian and scholar Giovanni Guaita, His Holiness Karekin I is a
person playing a prophetic role in the contemporary history and in
the history of the Armenian Church. The words of praise about Vehapar
were not so abundant in his homeland, while his merit was greatly
appreciated abroad. The greatness of the Catholicos of all Armenians
was noticed by the "poetess of all Armenians," Silva Kaputikian,
who mourned thus when he left us. "It's a great pity that the 131st
Catholicos left us so early, and so tragically was interrupted his
speech, that sounded so beautifully upon his lips demonstrating the
most valuable abilities of the Armenian mind and language. Fortunately,
his deeds remained beneficial for the nation - numerous and various
works which are written testimonies of his extraordinary talent and
his Armenian soul. They have much to do in this money-worshiping and
demoralizing times."
Son of Hagop and Ovsanna Sarkissian, the Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin I, of Blessed Memory, was born in the Syrian town of Kessab,
populated by Armenians. He studied theology in Oxford, where he
defended in English his famous graduation thesis, "The Council
of Chalcedon and the Armenian Church." As the dean of Antelias
Seminary, as the Prelate of Iranian-Indian or Eastern Prelacy of
the North America, everywhere under his leadership was recorded
success in the national-ecclesiastical life. Thanks to his efforts,
the Catholicosate became a member of the World Council of Churches,
where he took leading positions.
His time coincided with some of the most difficult times for the
Great House of Cilicia, namely the Lebanese civil war, but Vehapar,
with is wisdom, managed to safeguard the Armenian community. During
those years, under bombing attacks, many implementations were made
in the religious, national, educational, cultural and constructional
spheres of the community. In the communities everywhere he found warm
reception. He was enjoying a great reputation, sympathy and respect
also among the religious and political figures of other nations,
which was very beneficial for the church and the nation. As a famous
figure of the ecumenical and interreligious movement, his exhortation
to his people was to "keep pace with the world without going astray
from our road."
His Holiness was a man of faith, idea and action, he never sought to
obtain an office or a special position. Eventually he was nominated
for the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia and then as Karekin
II as Catholicos of All Armenians. But there was much to be done,
and unfinished works were left, too. Vehapar was assured that the
people of Armenia needed him and were waiting for him. But Vehapar's
coming to Armenia was the Lord's project, which was testified in
the Mother Cathedral in the sermon devoted to the 10th anniversary
of his passing, when His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, as
if under the Heaven's influence, said: "In historically hard times
His Holiness answered to the God's call, came to shepherd his flock,
he came to serve his people as a Patriarch of All Armenians. The yoke
was heavy, but remembering Moses's commandment to Joshua, telling him,
"be courageous, because the Spirit of God is with you," he came to be
a Brave Shepherd. Inspired by the Holy Spirit he continued to guide
his flock and lead to the Source of the Light."
It was not easy for Vehapar to act among the people who were Christian
only outwardly, where still the Soviet atheism dominated, where
almost the whole society took into account the unwritten norms of the
"goghakan (stealth) ideology." He had to feel, that only a few of the
people meeting him were frank and that everybody sought only personal
interests. And with pain he would confess, that "it is much easier
to build where nothing exists, rather than to restore an atrophied
heritage, such as Armenia."
But despite these unfavorable conditions Vehapar managed to carry the
cross which, in his own words, had become heavier and did much work in
the short period of his being a Catholicos: he undertook the formation
of national Christian consciousness of the population, established
promotional and educational institutions, prepared young clerics,
formed the organizational structure of the Holy See, opened Church
Dioceses, reconstructed and built dozens of churches, published
numerous books, presented the ambitious program for the 1700th
anniversary of Christianity, shepherded entrusted worldwide flock
... . Thanks to the years lasting efforts of the well known ecumenical
figure and his theological, scientific valuable works in the whole
family of the world Christian Churches was recognized the apostolic
origin and nature of the Armenian Church. The isolating disagreements
were resolved, the authority of our Church and it's people increased
significantly. Many undertakings of Vehapar directed towards those
goals faced the resistance of local clergy with limited burial-ritual
outlook, though such will later enjoy the already built bridges.
The abilities of the great intellectual were Godgiven, the speech
pronounced by the great orator in different languages was inspiring
even for the leading figures of churches and countries. The Ecumenical
Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church would consider fortunate the
nation who has a son like him. It was a luck to be his interlocutor,
who was the author of these words: "Think for a while, that your
uttered words will be like a thing, that will return to you with the
joy of happiness caused to another."
The mind was so mighty, that his mother tongue was not enough to
verbalize them and new words were born on spot. It's noteworthy to
mention the existence of the dictionary comprising nearly 1,700 words
which enriched the Armenian language. To the incredible intellectual
potential of Vehapar was added the surprising industriousness, power
of faith, love toward nation and humanity, his sacred mode of life
and inimitable kindness.
It's obvious the involvement of Armenians in spreading Christianity,
i.e. the key to the happiness of humanity: the first Christian state,
lasting presence in Jerusalem, the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia,
centuries of participation in the reign of Byzantium... . God has
chosen our nation just for the mission of spreading and conservation
of this Abrahamic religion and Vehapar was exhorting to continue
that mission.
"The church is called apostolic not only for the works done by
Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew: the spirit of Apostles must live
inside ourselves and we must demonstrate it today," he taught.
The man named Nishan Sarkissian at birth, entered Armenia at such a
difficult time, that the scars of it are still there. By coincidence,
this period marks the turning point: the country discerns business
and liveliness, emerges hope, and were moments when some thought
that the ground has appeared for sowing God's justice and law. But
alas, the health of Vehapar became worse. Incomprehensible are the
Lord's deeds: why He took away His Holiness from us so soon. Maybe
Vehapar had already carried out God's project, leaving his influence,
his thoughts of great potential, his lines, though clearly written,
but time is required for decoding them. And still the followers must
come to build the Armenian House on the unshakeable foundation laid
by Vehapar.
His Holiness's farewell to this world was also characteristic of
those of prophets: the torments were hard, but he bore them with the
steadfastness of Christ: "The deceased Vehapar was a personality
of an extraordinary will. While others suffering with his disease
are in bad mood and are often subject to psychic collapse, during
his stay in New York Catholics Karekin was never depressed and never
lost his mental peace, even when he was in terrible pains. Before his
second surgery every day he was coming to the Prelacy where he stayed
for hours and with the pain inside he was having appointments with
Armenian or foreign important figures, was writing kondaks (orders)
and letters or was busy with literary activity. The same was doing
in his apartment trying to overcome his pains, relying on his pen,"
says the archbishop who was with Vehapar in those last days.
August 27 was the birthday of His Holiness. And next year will mark
the 80th anniversary of the birth of this Great Armenian.
From: Baghdasarian