COMMUNIQUE FRA :RESIGNATION OF ARCHBISHOP ZAKARIAN NORVAN
[ Part 2.2: "Attached Text" ]
FRA Dachnaktsoutioun wishes to express its deepest concern following
the resignation of Norvan Bishop Zakarian, Primate of the Armenian
Church of France. The resignation of Bishop is an exceptional fact,
major, serious, serious consequences.
Unprecedented in France.
Unquestioned moral authority, Bishop Zakarian Norvan fulfills its
mission in France for 45 years. It was the most legitimate successor
to Bishop Kude Naccachian and 7 years in which he accomplished his
mission showed he had the stature, legitimacy, the spirit of gathering,
but also the concern of the action for the Armenian cause.
The relationship between Church and Armenian associations in France
were very good. He had the respect of all and each. Norvan Bishop
Zakarian was unanimous. It is rare enough to emphasize.
FRA Dachnaktsoutioun wished to understand the real reasons for this
resignation. It is why we react as two weeks after the resignation of
the head of the Church Armenian France. We studied all the documents
that allow us to better understand the underlying motivations of
resignation that will affect the Armenian community of France. We
also read the explanations by the Diocesan Council as well as those
who hold in the hierarchy the Church.
Today, we have become convinced to refuse any waffling on this matter
before the gravity is still widely underestimated. It now seems clear
that the real detonator of the resignation of Bishop Norvan Zakarian
is the mode of governance imposed by Catholicos of Echmiadzin, the
Armenian Church of France. A very centralized management that based
on an authoritarian approach hinging on numerous abuses of power.
Interventionism and authoritarianism of Catholicos Karekin II are out
with the way legal and traditional functioning of the Armenian Church
and are unacceptable for the head of Armenian Church of France. And
it took these authoritarian practices of Etchmiadzin accompanied by
humiliation of Catholicos Karekin II against Monsignor Norvan Zakarian.
Today the situation is very critical! The succession begins to organize
and risk is larger than the next Primate is, in fact, imposed by
the Catholicos to impose the Armenian community of France direct
governance of Echmiadzin. This hypothesis would totally unacceptable
to the Armenian community in France and could revive the divisions
a past. However, any election of a complete fabrication by the
Catholicos, will encounter, inexorably, to the opposition of a large
part of the Armenian community of France.
This is why the FRA Dachnaktsoutioun advocates appeasement and
appeals to all stakeholders for the future is preserved. One solution
is needed today as an act of reason: even though he announced his
resignation was irrevocable, it must convince Bishop Zakarian Norvan
to reconsider his resignation to start on a new mandate and at the
same time, begin a dialogue with the Catholicos to accept, in turn,
respect the Diocese of France with his leadership and spiritual leader.
FRA Dachnaktsoutioun - Western Europe Paris, 17
July 2013 Dachnaktsoutioun FRA-17 Blue Street 75009
[email protected]
[ Part 2.2: "Attached Text" ]
FRA Dachnaktsoutioun wishes to express its deepest concern following
the resignation of Norvan Bishop Zakarian, Primate of the Armenian
Church of France. The resignation of Bishop is an exceptional fact,
major, serious, serious consequences.
Unprecedented in France.
Unquestioned moral authority, Bishop Zakarian Norvan fulfills its
mission in France for 45 years. It was the most legitimate successor
to Bishop Kude Naccachian and 7 years in which he accomplished his
mission showed he had the stature, legitimacy, the spirit of gathering,
but also the concern of the action for the Armenian cause.
The relationship between Church and Armenian associations in France
were very good. He had the respect of all and each. Norvan Bishop
Zakarian was unanimous. It is rare enough to emphasize.
FRA Dachnaktsoutioun wished to understand the real reasons for this
resignation. It is why we react as two weeks after the resignation of
the head of the Church Armenian France. We studied all the documents
that allow us to better understand the underlying motivations of
resignation that will affect the Armenian community of France. We
also read the explanations by the Diocesan Council as well as those
who hold in the hierarchy the Church.
Today, we have become convinced to refuse any waffling on this matter
before the gravity is still widely underestimated. It now seems clear
that the real detonator of the resignation of Bishop Norvan Zakarian
is the mode of governance imposed by Catholicos of Echmiadzin, the
Armenian Church of France. A very centralized management that based
on an authoritarian approach hinging on numerous abuses of power.
Interventionism and authoritarianism of Catholicos Karekin II are out
with the way legal and traditional functioning of the Armenian Church
and are unacceptable for the head of Armenian Church of France. And
it took these authoritarian practices of Etchmiadzin accompanied by
humiliation of Catholicos Karekin II against Monsignor Norvan Zakarian.
Today the situation is very critical! The succession begins to organize
and risk is larger than the next Primate is, in fact, imposed by
the Catholicos to impose the Armenian community of France direct
governance of Echmiadzin. This hypothesis would totally unacceptable
to the Armenian community in France and could revive the divisions
a past. However, any election of a complete fabrication by the
Catholicos, will encounter, inexorably, to the opposition of a large
part of the Armenian community of France.
This is why the FRA Dachnaktsoutioun advocates appeasement and
appeals to all stakeholders for the future is preserved. One solution
is needed today as an act of reason: even though he announced his
resignation was irrevocable, it must convince Bishop Zakarian Norvan
to reconsider his resignation to start on a new mandate and at the
same time, begin a dialogue with the Catholicos to accept, in turn,
respect the Diocese of France with his leadership and spiritual leader.
FRA Dachnaktsoutioun - Western Europe Paris, 17
July 2013 Dachnaktsoutioun FRA-17 Blue Street 75009
[email protected]