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FIRST CONCRETE STEP, SECOND RUBBERY STEP
http://asbarez.com/119614/first-concrete-step-second-rubbery-step/
Friday, February 14th, 2014
BY GAREN YEGPARIAN
With all this talk and microscopic (on an atomic scale, if not
sub-atomic) progress on our Turkish front, it seems to me we ought
to be thinking about, discussing, and putting forth actual steps that
can be taken.
Since a lot of what has been talked up (and even acted on, though on
a wholly insufficient scale) is regarding Armenian church properties
being restored, I propose that negotiations be commenced to have the
See of Cilicia returned to its home in Sis.
Beyond the obvious benefit of its being a concrete step of slowly
recreating an institutional Armenian presence in our homeland, it would
also foster more interaction with our lands. Some might journey to Sis
as a pilgrimage, others on church business, and others simply to visit
their ancestral hometowns, heartened by the restored Armenian presence.
The visits by Armenians would obviously benefit the local economy
(and this has its problematic aspect--supporting the economy of our
enemy), thus making the Armenian presence more tolerable to Turks
who would benefit from it. Slow, baby steps towards restoration,
such as these relationship-building ones, are perhaps the only way.
But, what of jurisdictional conflict with the Patriarchate of
Istanbul? Wouldn't turf wars ensue? While this should not be a
problem since the Catholicosate of Cilicia had its zone of churches
over which it had jurisdiction (and the two patriarchates, Istanbul
and Jerusalem, are Ottoman impositions on our church's structure),
it could, at least for the time being, for simplicity in dealing with
the return of properties, allow the patriarchate to handle issues
within Turkey. The Cilician Catholicosate could then declare itself
the "Diasporan See."
Next, if the church leadership is enlightened enough, Islamized
Armenians could be assisted to organize themselves as such and
explicitly "come out of the closet" of crypto-Armenianhood. If the
church, as a fellow religious institution, doesn't do this, then
others must and will.
Why is organizing Islamized Armenians important? Because:
- They are our compatriots - Organization is strength - It creates a
common ground for these folks to reestablish and develop their Armenian
identity (through language as a starting point, for instance) - It has
important political ramifications, not only within Turkey's borders
and its politics, but also, such a group could participate in Islamic
fora. Currently, Azerbaijan goes to international Islamic gatherings
and easily passes anti-Armenian resolutions and spews its hatred;
imagine having a delegation of Muslim Armenians present to advocate the
opposite; or better still, imagine that same delegation successfully
passing a Genocide resolution at such an international gathering!
I describe this second step as rubbery because it will take a lot of
work and time to get there, and how to do it is not as clear-cut as
moving the offices of an institution.
But let's get busy. Let the See of Cilicia know, through your church,
or by some other communication, that you support and advocate its
return home. Then get busy finding the relatives that got left behind
post-Genocide, so we can start organizing them.
http://asbarez.com/119614/first-concrete-step-second-rubbery-step/
Friday, February 14th, 2014
BY GAREN YEGPARIAN
With all this talk and microscopic (on an atomic scale, if not
sub-atomic) progress on our Turkish front, it seems to me we ought
to be thinking about, discussing, and putting forth actual steps that
can be taken.
Since a lot of what has been talked up (and even acted on, though on
a wholly insufficient scale) is regarding Armenian church properties
being restored, I propose that negotiations be commenced to have the
See of Cilicia returned to its home in Sis.
Beyond the obvious benefit of its being a concrete step of slowly
recreating an institutional Armenian presence in our homeland, it would
also foster more interaction with our lands. Some might journey to Sis
as a pilgrimage, others on church business, and others simply to visit
their ancestral hometowns, heartened by the restored Armenian presence.
The visits by Armenians would obviously benefit the local economy
(and this has its problematic aspect--supporting the economy of our
enemy), thus making the Armenian presence more tolerable to Turks
who would benefit from it. Slow, baby steps towards restoration,
such as these relationship-building ones, are perhaps the only way.
But, what of jurisdictional conflict with the Patriarchate of
Istanbul? Wouldn't turf wars ensue? While this should not be a
problem since the Catholicosate of Cilicia had its zone of churches
over which it had jurisdiction (and the two patriarchates, Istanbul
and Jerusalem, are Ottoman impositions on our church's structure),
it could, at least for the time being, for simplicity in dealing with
the return of properties, allow the patriarchate to handle issues
within Turkey. The Cilician Catholicosate could then declare itself
the "Diasporan See."
Next, if the church leadership is enlightened enough, Islamized
Armenians could be assisted to organize themselves as such and
explicitly "come out of the closet" of crypto-Armenianhood. If the
church, as a fellow religious institution, doesn't do this, then
others must and will.
Why is organizing Islamized Armenians important? Because:
- They are our compatriots - Organization is strength - It creates a
common ground for these folks to reestablish and develop their Armenian
identity (through language as a starting point, for instance) - It has
important political ramifications, not only within Turkey's borders
and its politics, but also, such a group could participate in Islamic
fora. Currently, Azerbaijan goes to international Islamic gatherings
and easily passes anti-Armenian resolutions and spews its hatred;
imagine having a delegation of Muslim Armenians present to advocate the
opposite; or better still, imagine that same delegation successfully
passing a Genocide resolution at such an international gathering!
I describe this second step as rubbery because it will take a lot of
work and time to get there, and how to do it is not as clear-cut as
moving the offices of an institution.
But let's get busy. Let the See of Cilicia know, through your church,
or by some other communication, that you support and advocate its
return home. Then get busy finding the relatives that got left behind
post-Genocide, so we can start organizing them.