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ARMENIAN PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM NOURHAN MANOUGIAN CRITICIZES H. H. GAREGIN II
[ Part 2.2: "Attached Text" ]
August 5, 2013 Posted by Ara K. Manoogian at 4:18 pm
Arbp. Nourhan Manougian and H.H. Garegin II (courtesy
armenianchurch.org and armenian-patriarchate.com) Arbp. Nourhan
Manougian and H.H. Garegin II (courtesy armenianchurch.org and
armenian-patriarchate.com)
Below is a letter from Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem Nourhan
Manougian to H.H. Garegin II, Catholicos of All Armenians:
August 3, 2013
His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin Armenia
Your Holiness,
By chance, I obtained the news release about yesterday's meeting of
the Supreme Spiritual Council, whose participating members "after
examination have accepted the resignation of Abp. Norvan Zakarian
and [...] they have submitted a petition to Your Holiness to confirm
that." It is under the heavy and unpleasant impression left upon me
as a result of the decision made during that meeting regarding His
Eminence Archbishop Norvan that I am writing this letter - simply
compelled by the benefits of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Mother
See and the person of Your Holiness. The participants of the infamous
July 31 meeting knew Norvan Srpazan as a dedicated clergyman, a kind
and humble personage; therefore, what compelled them to make that
fateful mistake?
I believe, when at the airport - the presence of others is not
important - you demanded that Norvan Srpazan reinstate the so-named
Father Vatche to his position, twice repeating: "If until July 1 you
don't reinstate him to his position, then you have no business with
the Mother See," you had already decided his destiny.
Your Holiness, if you allow it, I would say in a brotherly way, that a
threat is not becoming for a clergyman, especially a high-ranking one,
the "Supreme Patriarch of all Armenians," from whom it is expected as
from a genuine FATHER and forgiving SUPERIOR to relate with love and
forgiving spirit toward his children or toward and in regard to his
subordinates. How is it possible to ignore a church authority for the
benefit of a simple priest; even if he is an individual endowed with
certain merits, it was advisable that he serve the Mother See. Just as
the beautiful nature needs free breath and light, while in closed and
dark places its life becomes unhealthy and consequently suffocating
and confining, the same is also the condition of social life, of
organizations and religious institutions.
If I am not mistaken, the diocesan term of Archbishop Norvan was
coming to an end this coming November, and that is when the members
of the Supreme Spiritual Council could "accept" his resignation.
Perhaps, do You truly want to eradicate your renown as "Constructive
Catholicos" by extending the file of those declared as defrocked?
In any event, what has occurred was an unacceptable and great
injustice coming from Holy Etchmiadzin, from the Armenian people's
Holiness of the Holy, and only the Lord knows how much the file is
going to extend. Your Holiness, if you remember a few years ago, when
with great pride - and justly so - you were showing me the beautiful
buildings You had erected within the enclave of the Mother See, I said
to You, that equal to and more important than physical buildings is
reinforcing the spiritual building; and You reassured me that this
would also happen. Nevertheless, the time has come to prove that it
is the external and the financial that is essential and interesting
to You. And two years ago, when you attempted to convince our ailing
Patriarch Torkom to have a "co-adjutor" elected, and he refused
your proposal; afterwards, You threatened Abp. Aris Shirvanian, who
had said to You: "We did not have such an article in our by-laws,"
and your threat was, "I will strip all of you of your ranks". You
repeated the same to me, and my response was: "Your Holiness, where
are you going? Don't you know anything else?" It is impossible that
healthy generations mature in an environment of fear and threats,
something which will cause our people and Mother Church to suffer,
who more than ever have the need for puritan, civilized and true
clergymen, and not toadies.
Consequently, with this writing I declare to Your Holiness that,
having in mind the present tension within our church life, I have
decided not to participate in the upcoming episcopal meeting to take
place from September 21 to 28. Although Abp. Aris Shirvanian will be
present, he does not represent the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Kissing the consecrated right hand,
Abp. Nourhan Manougian Patriarch of Armenian Jerusalem
http://www.thetruthmustbetold.com/nourhan-letter/
[ Part 2.2: "Attached Text" ]
August 5, 2013 Posted by Ara K. Manoogian at 4:18 pm
Arbp. Nourhan Manougian and H.H. Garegin II (courtesy
armenianchurch.org and armenian-patriarchate.com) Arbp. Nourhan
Manougian and H.H. Garegin II (courtesy armenianchurch.org and
armenian-patriarchate.com)
Below is a letter from Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem Nourhan
Manougian to H.H. Garegin II, Catholicos of All Armenians:
August 3, 2013
His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin Armenia
Your Holiness,
By chance, I obtained the news release about yesterday's meeting of
the Supreme Spiritual Council, whose participating members "after
examination have accepted the resignation of Abp. Norvan Zakarian
and [...] they have submitted a petition to Your Holiness to confirm
that." It is under the heavy and unpleasant impression left upon me
as a result of the decision made during that meeting regarding His
Eminence Archbishop Norvan that I am writing this letter - simply
compelled by the benefits of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Mother
See and the person of Your Holiness. The participants of the infamous
July 31 meeting knew Norvan Srpazan as a dedicated clergyman, a kind
and humble personage; therefore, what compelled them to make that
fateful mistake?
I believe, when at the airport - the presence of others is not
important - you demanded that Norvan Srpazan reinstate the so-named
Father Vatche to his position, twice repeating: "If until July 1 you
don't reinstate him to his position, then you have no business with
the Mother See," you had already decided his destiny.
Your Holiness, if you allow it, I would say in a brotherly way, that a
threat is not becoming for a clergyman, especially a high-ranking one,
the "Supreme Patriarch of all Armenians," from whom it is expected as
from a genuine FATHER and forgiving SUPERIOR to relate with love and
forgiving spirit toward his children or toward and in regard to his
subordinates. How is it possible to ignore a church authority for the
benefit of a simple priest; even if he is an individual endowed with
certain merits, it was advisable that he serve the Mother See. Just as
the beautiful nature needs free breath and light, while in closed and
dark places its life becomes unhealthy and consequently suffocating
and confining, the same is also the condition of social life, of
organizations and religious institutions.
If I am not mistaken, the diocesan term of Archbishop Norvan was
coming to an end this coming November, and that is when the members
of the Supreme Spiritual Council could "accept" his resignation.
Perhaps, do You truly want to eradicate your renown as "Constructive
Catholicos" by extending the file of those declared as defrocked?
In any event, what has occurred was an unacceptable and great
injustice coming from Holy Etchmiadzin, from the Armenian people's
Holiness of the Holy, and only the Lord knows how much the file is
going to extend. Your Holiness, if you remember a few years ago, when
with great pride - and justly so - you were showing me the beautiful
buildings You had erected within the enclave of the Mother See, I said
to You, that equal to and more important than physical buildings is
reinforcing the spiritual building; and You reassured me that this
would also happen. Nevertheless, the time has come to prove that it
is the external and the financial that is essential and interesting
to You. And two years ago, when you attempted to convince our ailing
Patriarch Torkom to have a "co-adjutor" elected, and he refused
your proposal; afterwards, You threatened Abp. Aris Shirvanian, who
had said to You: "We did not have such an article in our by-laws,"
and your threat was, "I will strip all of you of your ranks". You
repeated the same to me, and my response was: "Your Holiness, where
are you going? Don't you know anything else?" It is impossible that
healthy generations mature in an environment of fear and threats,
something which will cause our people and Mother Church to suffer,
who more than ever have the need for puritan, civilized and true
clergymen, and not toadies.
Consequently, with this writing I declare to Your Holiness that,
having in mind the present tension within our church life, I have
decided not to participate in the upcoming episcopal meeting to take
place from September 21 to 28. Although Abp. Aris Shirvanian will be
present, he does not represent the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Kissing the consecrated right hand,
Abp. Nourhan Manougian Patriarch of Armenian Jerusalem
http://www.thetruthmustbetold.com/nourhan-letter/