Archbishop Mutafian In Mischief

[Siamanto]

ARCHBISHOP MUTAFIAN IN MISCHIEF

 

Azg/arm

5 March 05

 

Ever since exterminating 1.5 million Armenians and depopulating

historic Armenia, successive regimes in Turkey have been hard at work,

in an obsessive determination to wipe out all traces of Armenian

heritage in our ancestral land.

 

However, since Ataturk's Europeanization, the traditional Turkish

scimitar has been replaced by more sophisticated methods with the very

same ultimate goal to drive the original inhabitants of the land into

oblivion.

 

Recognizing fully the role of the Armenian Church in preserving the

Armenian culture and identity, the Turks have turned it into a prime

target of destruction. Thousands of houses of worship have been

reduced to ruins. Additionally, the Turks have resorted to every ruse,

any kind of Byzantine law to emasculate the remaining Armenian

community in Istanbul, especially decapitating its spiritual

leadership.

 

Contrary to Lausanne Treaty (1923) provisions, the Turkish government

has shut down the Holy Cross Armenian Seminary, the only center where

young generations of clergy could be trained. When Armenians resorted

to other creative means to replenish the dwindling pool clergymen by

emoting aspiring clergymen at the Jerusalem Seminary, the Turkish

government acted swiftly to ban that route as wail, accusing Armenians

of training terrorists in that seminary. One of those returning

seminarians, Father Manuel Yergatian, ended up in jail with ludicrous

accusations and he suffered most of his 14 years verdict in the

Turkish dungeons.

 

While denying all venues to train young clergy, the Turkish government

has devised another trap: thus the Turkish law prohibits anyone from

being elected as the Armenian Patriarch who is not born in Turkey.

These restrictions severely curtail the number of potential

candidates, only to eliminate all the candidates in a matter of

several years.

 

Under these devilish Turkish schemes, clergymen of dubious reputation

will ascend the Patriarchal throne default. The current Patriarch,

Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, is the product of that default.

 

His predecessors, Archbishop Karekin Khachadourian, Archbishop Shnork

Kalousdian, and even Archbishop Kazanjian, have served the

Patriarchate with extreme prudence, cognizant of the limitations and

restrictions imposed by the Turkish government. Thanks to their

prudence, wisdom and inspiring personalities, the great traditions of

the Istanbul Armenian community have been preserved, the creative

impulse of the intellectual life has remained productive, and the

institutions have survived.

 

The emergence of Archbishop Mutafian has altered the scene

dramatically. Traditionally united, the Istanbul Armenian community

has been severely divided. He has bullied intellectuals, journalists

and benefactors by his unorthodox behavior; however, thanks to the

wisdom of the injured parties not to react, eccentric behavior of this

young clergyman continues its damage.

 

Since Archbishop Mutafian was easily elected to the Patriarchal

throne, with Turkish government crutches, he was intoxicated with his

instant success and he used the Patriarchal throne as a launching pad

to try his luck as the Supreme head of the Armenian Church - where he

discovered that Turkish tentacles were not long enough to help him in

his outlandish design. He was frustrated and he turned against the

Holy See of Etchmiadzin; used every opportunity to demonstrate his

disrespect and he broke away from the traditional hierarchal

relations, which the former Patriarchs had established and cherished

sacredly.

 

All his predecessors had been coerced by the Turkish government to get

involved politically to promote its dubious agenda to the detriment of

the Armenian cause, but they had wisely shied away from engaging in

any such adventure. Yet Archbishop Mutafian gleefully engaged in that

adventure at the first advance of the Turkish authorities. He allowed

himself to be used as a political tool when he took a tour of Europe

last year to promote Turkey's admission into the European Union, while

the world Armenian political leadership was opposing the move

vehemently.

 

Upon his return to Istanbul he believed that he had earned Brownie

points with the Turkish government. When he approached the Turkish

authorities with problems plaguing the Armenian community, he

discovered that nothing had been changed, and that the same

authorities continued their discrimination policies. They continued

usurping community assets and controlling the Armenian schools to

eradicate any ethnic tradition left there.

 

As the Turkish heavy hand was relentlessly working to disrupt

community life, instead of complaining to the International Court, or

declaring a hunger strike at UN Headquarters to draw attention to the

plight of the Armenian community, he dared to show up at the Turkish

TV to say what the Turks waited to hear and what they wanted the world

to hear - that Armenian community had been living freely and

peacefully and that no other Armenians from abroad had to meddle im

their affairs.

 

When the European Union representatives visited Turkey to contact the

community leaders, Greeks, Kurds and Jews courageously cited their

grievances, yet Archbishop Mutafian disappeared on a Greek island.

 

During President Bush's visit he spoke of humanitarian values and

complained about Abu Ghreib Prison in Iraq, instead of complaining

about Midnight Express style Turkish prisons.

 

As the world Armenian community struggles for the recognition of the

Armenian Genocide, Archbishop Mutafian plays the Turkish tunes: that

history has to be left to the historians, as if there was anything

left to be said about the genocide.

 

The Armenian Mirror Spectator

 

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg104498.html

[Med]

Mutaf the Archbishop was also the one who unashamedly expressed his glee when the previous Catholicos Karekin I died of cancer. When Agos newspaper wrote about this he had them threatened. Mutaf is also in favour of discarding age-old traditions such as celibacy and holding services in Turkish. If that isn't enough Mutaf also has blood on his hands. When he was a sociology student in the US the car he drove was involved in an accident killing his passenger.

[Stormig]

Something more relevant than "he bullied, he cooed"...

Mutafian is the person who filed a lawsuit against the AGBU for the MEI affair, when the diaspora was crying and bawling.

[Stormig]

Patriarchate Chancellor Remarks On the Melkonian Grant

 

ISTANBUL (Lraper Bulletin ) - Concerning the press release of

the AGBU Central Board of Directors, on the lawsuit filed by His Beatitude

Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and all Turkey, the Revd. Dr.

Krikor Damadyan, the Chancellor of the Patriarchal See, made the following

statement:

 

"It is difficult to comprehend how the closure of a prestigious school in

the Middle East, and one of the very few Armenian educational institutions

in the European Union could be in the best interests of the Armenian nation.

We believe that this decision, taken by a few executives, is a wrong one.

 

"The AGBU Central Board of Directors claims that it will continue to honour

the vision of its many generous benefactors including the late Garabed

Melkonian, for the benefit of all Armenians worldwide. This is a remarkable

statement since the AGBU is confessing publicly that the Armenians in Turkey

are not considered part of "all Armenians worldwide," since, unlike the

Gulbenkian Foundation and the Apcarian Trust, the AGBU has not taken much

interest in how Armenians in Turkey have wrestled to maintain their

community organisations during the last seventy-five years. However, we do

acknowledge receipt of minor sums sent us by donors through AGBU means.

 

"The only way to honour the vision of the Melkonian Brothers is to keep the

Melkonian Educational Institute in Cyprus open. The AGBU should refrain from

closing down the MEI and selling the property, lest she should declare

herself untrustworthy before all Armenians worldwide. Why should people make

grants to a charity organisation such as the AGBU, if following their demise

a few executives will deal with the grant in a way that will not do justice

to the benefactor's memory?

 

"The AGBU should also publish how she has executed the Melkonian Trust since

1926. As the present successor to Patriarch Zaven of blessed memory, His

Beatitude Patriarch Mesrob takes dutiful interest as to whether the terms of

the grant have been implemented responsibly. Every charity organisation

should be accountable to the public and should not take offense when asked

for accounts. AGBU executives who donate their own family wealth on charity

are appreciated dearly by all Armenians worldwide. Nevertheless, that should

not allow them any right to do as they please with the grants made by other

benefactors.

 

"His Beatitude Patriarch Mesrob has magnanimously made it known to those

Californian Armenians who would like to act as mediators that he would be

willing to receive a delegation in Istanbul in order to discuss a meaningful

settlement of this critically important issue to the Armenians of Europe.

Great justice will be done if the AGBU reverses her decision to close down

the Melkonian Educational Institute. This is our Patriarchate's wish and

prayer, as also expressed by numerous Melkonian alumni worldwide. "

[Nazarian]

Isn't he the only diaspora bigshot with enough balls to challenge AGBU for such a wrong decision?

 

I wonder what his motive is - to get more money out of AGBU for silence?

[Dave]

Why don't the Bolsahyes oust him?

[Stormig]

Isn't he the only diaspora bigshot with enough balls to challenge AGBU for such a wrong decision?

 

I wonder what his motive is - to get more money out of AGBU for silence?

style_images/master/snapback.png

The patriarchate does have donations to it through the AGBU, but I doubt that it could become that ugly - as in him shutting up upon receiving a paycheck or donations ceasing. If he did shut up, it would be a pity for the one party with balls enough to challenge the AGBU regarding the MEI.

[Siamanto]

ARCHBISHOP MUTAFIAN AND COHORTS DISTRAUGHT

 

Azg/arm

18 March 05

 

When certain traditional values are trampled and hierarchical order is

under assault, it is symptomatic that the fabric of a given society

has a breakdown. Unfortunately, a young clergyman on the historical

throne of the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul has signaled this

deterioration, which threatens to infect the Diaspora with the help

and collusion of some cohorts.

 

For a long time the Diaspora Armenians had been watching the

activities of Archbishop Mutafian with deep concern, because those

activities were, at best, characterized with eccentricity. Yet as long

as he had confined his activities to his flock, no one would dare to

criticize the young clergyman, especially in view of the intellectual

elite still active in the community and a leadership cherishing

traditional values and watching unorthodox tendencies to be checked.

 

Diaspora is particularly cognizant of the conditions that Turkish

authorities have created to suffocate and disrupt Armenian community

life in Turkey.

 

For that reason we always considered that meddling in the affairs of

Istanbul Armenian community life from abroad would hamper an already

difficult mission of the leadership in that community.

 

All these considerations intended to help that leadership to perform

its function in daunting circumstances.

 

Archbishop Mutafian disregarded all those sensitive relations and all

of a sudden decided to export his eccentricities to other communities

with unchecked imperial ambitions. As if the Armenian Church did not

have enough problems with the division initiated by Antelias,

Archbishop Mutafian came out with his own brand of division, trying to

undermine the authority of his Holiness Catholicos Karekin II, supreme

spiritual leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Without getting

into details, it suffices to mention his solidarity with the former

Primate of Moscow who had rebelled against the Catholicos. Fortunately

the former Primate, Ghazaros Gureghian, was defrocked and the legal

challenge was resolved in favor of Holy Etchmiadzin.

 

That eliminated one of Archbishop Mutafian's allies in the church. But

he would not rest nor respect the hierarchy of the Armenian Church. He

seized another opportunity to vent his revolt against Etchmiadzin,

when the Catholicos awarded an Istanbul Armenian couple with a medal

for their contribution to the Church. Archbishop Mutafian

disgracefully returned Vehapar's encyclical requesting a "correction";

that irrational gesture had two main intentions: a) to demonstrate his

disrespect to the spiritual head of the church, to request that a

specific clause be added to the encyclical indicating that the

benefactors were being awarded only for their contributions to

Armenia. That, of course, intended to raise a red flag for Turkish

authorities that Armenians in Istanbul were earning the money in

Turkey and investing it in Armenia, knowing full well the

interpretation of this transaction in Turkish conspiratorial mind.

 

Certainly, the same disrespectful mentality had prompted Archbishop

Mutafian to sue the AGBU, knowing full well that the AGBU leadership

is very supportive of Mother See at Etchmiadzin.

 

It is Archbishop Mutafian's last worry to see an Armenian school (i.e.

Melkonian) closed down in the Diaspora, when he has been complaining

about his own turf, the Turkish-Armenian community, for having too

many schools.

 

The "Opinion Piece" of the ADL, which also appeared on the editorial

page of the Mirror-Spectator, intended to criticize the archbishop for

suing a century-old venerable organization, and not necessarily

discuss the closure of Melkonian Educational Institution.

 

It looks like our criticism has also irritated some of the

archbishop's cohorts. It would have been a shame to keep silent in

front of a disgraceful act. Archbishop Mutafian has issued a rebuttal

on March 5, 2005, under the signature of Istanbul Armenian

Patriarchate.

 

The official opinion of any organization reflects the collective

thinking of its leadership. Here again, in the rebuttal, Archbishop

Mutafian singles out the name of one of the ADL chairmen to point out

to the Turkish authorities who their true enemy is.

 

Although his Beatitude claims that he does not wish to dignify our

criticism with an answer, he answers anyway, by contradicting himself

and characterizes the ADL ideology as "bankrupt". The ADL ideology is

based on the belief in the democratic system, on the recognition of

the Armenian Genocide and the liberation of historic Armenian

homeland. These ideals can only be considered "bankrupt" for people

living under the fearful Turkish military rule.

 

The good Archbishop has found an ardent defender in Ms. Arpi Totoyan

of Paris, who has even pre-empted him by signing an article in the

daily Haratch, issue of March 4. This young writer, who cherishes

tutoring manners to everybody in the Armenian life - sometimes

overtopping her bounds - needs to learn one important thing: to

understand correctly the texts that she reads.

 

Indeed, she claims to have found a mistake in our statement that Sourp

Khach Seminary does not exist. And she insists that Sourp Khach exists

as a high school educating many generations for a half a century. For

all practical purposes, it does not exist, because it was founded to

educate clergy, but the Turkish authorities banned its mission,

allowing it to exist as a secondary school. It does not take a rocket

scientist to understand the true issue in this case.

 

In her fiery defense, Ms. Totoyan states that Archbishop Mesrob does

not need any defense (but she does anyway) and deviating from the main

issue, states that similar opinion pieces cannot absolve the AGBU from

closing the Melkonian, while our point was to take issue with his

Beatitude for suing an Armenian organization and not necessarily

debate the closure of Melkonian, which was already debated ad nauseam

in our press.

 

Should this lawsuit continue, a fair verdict would be rendered,

because the US courts don't operate like Turkish courts. Yet whatever

the verdict, there will be no winners in this case. We will all be

embarrassed as Armenians, especially in this year when we plan to

commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Genocide.

 

We may not rule out the possibility that the main motive behind this

lawsuit was to dampen the impact of the commemoration. The onus of

this deplorable campaign rests on Archbishop Mutafian and his cohorts

for this uncalled for provocation.

 

The outcome will only please the Turks, who may already be watching

with great amusement.

 

Office of the ADL Central Press Committee

 

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg105546.html

[Inquisitor]

ARCHBISHOP MUTAFIAN AND COHORTS DISTRAUGHT

 

Azg/arm

18 March 05

 

When certain traditional values are trampled and hierarchical order is

under assault, it is symptomatic that the fabric of a given society

has a breakdown.  Unfortunately, a young clergyman on the historical

throne of the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul has signaled this

deterioration, which threatens to infect the Diaspora with the help

and collusion of some cohorts.

 

For a long time the Diaspora Armenians had been watching the

activities of Archbishop Mutafian with deep concern, because those

activities were, at best, characterized with eccentricity. Yet as long

as he had confined his activities to his flock, no one would dare to

criticize the young clergyman, especially in view of the intellectual

elite still active in the community and a leadership cherishing

traditional values and watching unorthodox tendencies to be checked.

 

Diaspora is particularly cognizant of the conditions that Turkish

authorities have created to suffocate and disrupt Armenian community

life in Turkey.

 

For that reason we always considered that meddling in the affairs of

Istanbul Armenian community life from abroad would hamper an already

difficult mission of the leadership in that community.

 

All these considerations intended to help that leadership to perform

its function in daunting circumstances.

 

Archbishop Mutafian disregarded all those sensitive relations and all

of a sudden decided to export his eccentricities to other communities

with unchecked imperial ambitions. As if the Armenian Church did not

have enough problems with the division initiated by Antelias,

Archbishop Mutafian came out with his own brand of division, trying to

undermine the authority of his Holiness Catholicos Karekin II, supreme

spiritual leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church.  Without getting

into details, it suffices to mention his solidarity with the former

Primate of Moscow who had rebelled against the Catholicos. Fortunately

the former Primate, Ghazaros Gureghian, was defrocked and the legal

challenge was resolved in favor of Holy Etchmiadzin.

 

That eliminated one of Archbishop Mutafian's allies in the church. But

he would not rest nor respect the hierarchy of the Armenian Church. He

seized another opportunity to vent his revolt against Etchmiadzin,

when the Catholicos awarded an Istanbul Armenian couple with a medal

for their contribution to the Church. Archbishop Mutafian

disgracefully returned Vehapar's encyclical requesting a "correction";

that irrational gesture had two main intentions: a) to demonstrate his

disrespect to the spiritual head of the church, to request that a

specific clause be added to the encyclical indicating that the

benefactors were being awarded only for their contributions to

Armenia. That, of course, intended to raise a red flag for Turkish

authorities that Armenians in Istanbul were earning the money in

Turkey and investing it in Armenia, knowing full well the

interpretation of this transaction in Turkish conspiratorial mind.

 

Certainly, the same disrespectful mentality had prompted Archbishop

Mutafian to sue the AGBU, knowing full well that the AGBU leadership

is very supportive of Mother See at Etchmiadzin.

 

It is Archbishop Mutafian's last worry to see an Armenian school (i.e.

Melkonian) closed down in the Diaspora, when he has been complaining

about his own turf, the Turkish-Armenian community, for having too

many schools.

 

The "Opinion Piece" of the ADL, which also appeared on the editorial

page of the Mirror-Spectator, intended to criticize the archbishop for

suing a century-old venerable organization, and not necessarily

discuss the closure of Melkonian Educational Institution.

 

It looks like our criticism has also irritated some of the

archbishop's cohorts. It would have been a shame to keep silent in

front of a disgraceful act.  Archbishop Mutafian has issued a rebuttal

on March 5, 2005, under the signature of Istanbul Armenian

Patriarchate.

 

The official opinion of any organization reflects the collective

thinking of its leadership. Here again, in the rebuttal, Archbishop

Mutafian singles out the name of one of the ADL chairmen to point out

to the Turkish authorities who their true enemy is.

 

Although his Beatitude claims that he does not wish to dignify our

criticism with an answer, he answers anyway, by contradicting himself

and characterizes the ADL ideology as "bankrupt". The ADL ideology is

based on the belief in the democratic system, on the recognition of

the Armenian Genocide and the liberation of historic Armenian

homeland. These ideals can only be considered "bankrupt" for people

living under the fearful Turkish military rule.

 

The good Archbishop has found an ardent defender in Ms. Arpi Totoyan

of Paris, who has even pre-empted him by signing an article in the

daily Haratch, issue of March 4. This young writer, who cherishes

tutoring manners to everybody in the Armenian life - sometimes

overtopping her bounds - needs to learn one important thing: to

understand correctly the texts that she reads.

 

Indeed, she claims to have found a mistake in our statement that Sourp

Khach Seminary does not exist. And she insists that Sourp Khach exists

as a high school educating many generations for a half a century. For

all practical purposes, it does not exist, because it was founded to

educate clergy, but the Turkish authorities banned its mission,

allowing it to exist as a secondary school.  It does not take a rocket

scientist to understand the true issue in this case.

 

In her fiery defense, Ms. Totoyan states that Archbishop Mesrob does

not need any defense (but she does anyway) and deviating from the main

issue, states that similar opinion pieces cannot absolve the AGBU from

closing the Melkonian, while our point was to take issue with his

Beatitude for suing an Armenian organization and not necessarily

debate the closure of Melkonian, which was already debated ad nauseam

in our press.

 

Should this lawsuit continue, a fair verdict would be rendered,

because the US courts don't operate like Turkish courts. Yet whatever

the verdict, there will be no winners in this case. We will all be

embarrassed as Armenians, especially in this year when we plan to

commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Genocide.

 

We may not rule out the possibility that the main motive behind this

lawsuit was to dampen the impact of the commemoration. The onus of

this deplorable campaign rests on Archbishop Mutafian and his cohorts

for this uncalled for provocation.

 

The outcome will only please the Turks, who may already be watching

with great amusement.

 

Office of the ADL Central Press Committee

 

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg105546.html

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

The article attacking Archbishop Mutafian appears in the "Ramgavar" paper.

What is their motivation for such an attack? Why haven't they attacked his "conduct" and "suitability" before?

Maybe it's because he is fighting to stop the sale of the Melkonian School.

In the past, it was the "Ramgavar" party that controlled the Melkonian legacy through the AGBU. If it was discovered that some, if not most of the legacy, went "missing" during their watch, they, the leaders of the "Ramgavar" party would be personally liable for the loss (under US law).

I suspect that the closure of the School would let them off the hook. I also suspect that the current AGBU "asset strippers" would welcome the remaining money to cover the losses they made in the great Enron collapse.

 

I don't see the Noyan Tapan interview on this web-site, where Archbishop Mutafian comments on the motivation behind this personal attack. Perhaps someone will be kind enough to post it?

[Inquisitor]

LRAPER Church Bulletin 19/03/2005

Armenian Patriarchate

TR-34130 Kumkapi, Ýstanbul

Licensee: The Revd. Fr. Drtad Uzunyan

Editors: The Revd.Dr.Krikor Damatyan, Deacon Vagharshag Seropyan

Press Spokesperson: Attorney Luiz Bakar

T: +90 (212) 517-0970

F: +90 (212) 516-4833

E-mail: lraper@lraper.org

 

 

REGARDING ADL PARTY'S PRESS RELEASE

 

In the course of history, our people have had incumbents

on hierarchical and royal thrones who have been worthy of

their vocations. Also we have had honorable religious and

lay pioneers, benefactors and intellectuals who, even in

times of great duress, have laboured to contribute to the

spiritual and cultural heritage of our people. Unfortunately,

besides them, there have also been the unworthy ones who

have always hidden behind their thrones, embellished titles,

status or fortune in order to be able to continue their dark

dealings. May the Lord God protect our people from such

religious and lay evil doers.

 

The Central Committee of the ADL Party, with its well

known president who is the personally employed secretary

of the chairwoman of the AGBU Central Board of Directors,

has published a second press release aimed at the incumbent

of our Patriarchal See - a press release full of

falsification and ill-natured deceitfullness. To see the

ADL Party and the AGBU stoop to such a level is a pity

indeed.

 

The issue here is not international relations, nor has it

anything to do with the relations between our patriarchal

sees, or the preparation of future clergy - matters with

which the ADLP/AGBU group attempts to cloud the issue.

 

Who in the whole world has not yet clearly understood that

the ADLP/AGBU's main reason to be in such an unseemly

commotion is simply this: These people seem unable to

present an account of the Melkonian Will which they had

received from our Patriarchal See in 1925. What occurred

to the Melkonian fortune which was worth about 3,5 million

US dollars in the 1920s? If it has been properly invested

hitherto, then why is that the AGBU has taken a decision

to close down the only Armenian senior high school within

the borders of the European Union and sell all its lands

and buildings? Do our people not reserve the right to

inquire, especially when, according to the members of the

Cypriot Armenian community, the land and the properties

of the Melkonian Educational Institute are worth not less

than 120 million US dollars?

 

The ADLP/AGBU group uses an old and cunning method when

it attempts to transfer a simple national education issue

into the realm of international and ecclesiastic affairs.

When any group that pursues vain and bankrupt policies or

that defies, despises or condescends to people - the very

people who are the sole reason for its existence - such a

group's pitiful state is simply self-inflicted.

 

No distraction is needed: With regard to the AGBU and

all those ADL members involved, in the name and memory

of the magnanimous benefactor Garabed Melkonian and on

behalf of Patriarch Zaven of blessed memory and the

supporters of the Melkonian Educational Institute around

the world, for the second time we say publicly, `give an

account of thy stewardship.' (Luke 16:2).

 

May the Lord bless the memory of his servants, the

great benefactors of our nation, Garabed and Krikor

Melkonian brothers. May the love of Christ permeate

the hearts, and minds, and souls of all those who

have been tempted to misuse these benefactors' good

memory and wealth, especially in these days when we

contemplate the selfless passion of our Lord and

Saviour. May they all turn from their questionable

ways to the compassionate and forgiving bosom our

Heavenly Father.

 

DIVAN OF THE ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE

19 March 2005, Istanbul

[Stormig]

Indeed, Inquisitor. Perhaps it is time the true enemy is recognised before a lawsuit is attacked - the corruption, embezzlement, and who benefits from such. Therein is what sparks the curiosity as to who has what interests in such. Pity this is turning into a war when it should have united factions ("faction" for lack of a better word).

 

“NO NEED TO CLOSE MELKONIAN” EMPHASIZES PATRIARCH

 

ISTANBUL, March 13 (LRAPER Church Bulletin). His Beatitude Mesrob II,

Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey, answered questions posed

by

the Noyan Tapan information agency. The following is the authorized

translation from Western Armenian to English.

 

Q. – Your Beatitude, Armenians worldwide are concerned with the dispute

concerning the Melkonian Educational Institute that is evolving between

the

Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul and the Armenian General Benevolent

Union

(AGBU). Please, present the background of this issue briefly.

 

A. – Let me summarize. In 1921, Karapet Melkonian transferred to the

Patriarchate of Istanbul a donation of 400,000 Egyptian pounds which was

worth at the time 3,5 million dollars. In 1924, Patriarch Zaven Der

Yeghiayan of blessed memory, established a school and an orphanage in

the

city of Nicosia, Cyprus, with the income from this donation. He named it

the

Melkonian Educational Institute. In 1925, Patriarch Zaven transferred

the

Cyprus MEI and the entire Melkonian fund to the AGBU. It is to be noted

that

the AGBU received everything from the Istanbul Patriarchate. In 1926,

with a

court decision an agreement was signed between Karapet Melkonian,

Patriarch

Zaven and the AGBU. According to this agreement, the AGBU must keep the

Melkonian Educational Institute open, provide it with necessary funds,

pay

1,000 Egyptian pounds per annum to the Jerusalem Patriarchate, 1,500

Egyptian pounds per annum to the Istanbul Patriarchate, as well as open

a

kindergarten for Armenians living in Alexandria. In 2004, however, the

AGBU

announced its decision to close down the Melkonian Educational

Institute,

which is the only 12-year Armenian school within the European Union.

With

regret, I followed the conflicting opinions on this matter published in

the

Armenian media. However, on December 26, 2004, I personally saw, for the

first time, the official copy of the 1926 agreement. It was now clear

that

the lawful successors to Patriarch Zaven had the right to intervene in

the

issue. Therefore, in January, we took legal action against the AGBU in

the

California supreme court to withdraw the decision to close down the

Melkonian Educational Institute.

 

Q. - How do you assess the AGBU announcement of their wish to establish

a

similar institution in Armenia, instead of keeping the Melkonian

Educational

Institute open?

 

A. - What does "similar" institution mean? How can the only Armenian

senior

high school operating in the European Union be replaced with a new

school in

Armenia? Opening a new school in Armenia will cost, with the most

exaggerated estimate, 2-3 million US dollars. The AGBU elite or their

flatterers can easily afford such a school in Armenia, so the closure of

yet

another school operating in Europe is not necessary at all. One ponders:

if

the land and buildings of the Melkonian Educational Institute are sold,

the

AGBU would earn, according to Cypriot Armenians, perhaps more than 120

million US dollars. There is also the Melkonian fund itself, which,

according to experts, would comprise no less than 20 million US dollars

if

it has been reasonably managed. What are they going to do with this sum?

Our

people have a right to know. Karapet Melkonian was an ethnophile and he

left

his wealth to the children of his nation through this Patriarchal See.

Thus,

in the words of the Gospel, today we can all say to the AGBU "Give an

account of thy stewardship."

 

Q. - So, may we conclude that the primary goal of the Patriarchate is to

maintain the Melkonian Educational Institute, rather than getting funds

from

the will of patron Melkonian?

 

A. - Naturally. Already, the Patriarchate receives annually a certain

allocation. In 2004, I wouldn’t know the figures by heart, but I suppose

we

received something like 1,600 US dollars. A little more or less will not

create a significant change in our annual budget. What is important is

this:

Like every charitable institution, the AGBU, also, must be accountable

to

our people. What happened to the 3,5 million US dollars of the 1920s?

How

much money is left in the Melkonian fund today? Let them inform the

nation.

 

Q. - In the critical observations addressed to you, among others, there

was

an accusation that you have not attempted to settle the dispute with the

AGBU by way of negotiations prior to taking legal action. Please comment

on

this.

 

A. - We would be pleased if they were satisfied only with critical

observations. Also prior to the Catholicosal Elections in 1999, when

they

supposed that I would declare my candidacy - then proposed by certain

clergymen presently occupying primatial sees - they began to try to

stick

mud on me, and to defame me with false accusations and slanderous

expressions via hired pens in the Armenian media. Other potential

candidates, too, were treated in the same way. It is bad and immoral

people

who resort to such methods when they fear that their interests are

endangered. Today, too, the same circles resort to the same murky

methods,

due to their lack of moral and intellectual probity. A pity! As for the

negotiations: the current successor of Patriarch Zaven is the guarantor

of

the Melkonian will. Why has the AGBU not applied to the Patriarchate to

this

day? Let me say why. Because it does not wish to negotiate. It must not

be

forgotten that no reply has been given to the letters and criticisms

directed at the AGBU, to this day. In other words, the accusation should

be

reversed and directed to the AGBU.

 

Q. - Do you see any prospect today of avoiding the judicial act and

achieve

an agreement with the AGBU?

 

A. - In response to Californian mediators, we already expressed

willingness,

two months ago, to receive an AGBU delegation in Istanbul. Therefore, it

is

difficult to comprehend the purpose of the heinous announcement of the

Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, as well as other media assaults. It

is

possible that they think it more opportune to negotiate after having

dealt

blows. They are mistaken.

 

 

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

LRAPER Church Bulletin 13/03/2004

Armenian Patriarchate

TR-34130 Kumkapi, Istanbul

Licensee: The Revd. Fr. Drtad Uzunyan

Editors: The Revd.Dr.Krikor Damatyan,

Deacon Vagharshag Seropyan

Press Spokesperson: Attorney Luiz Bakar

T: +90 (212) 517-0970

F: +90 (533) 942-7019

E-mail: lraper@lraper.org

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

[Stormig]

Inquisitor, would that be what you were asking for?

[Inquisitor]

Inquisitor, would that be what you were asking for?

style_images/master/snapback.png

I watched too much Monty Python when I was young. Hence the phrase "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisitor" stayed in my mind. One of my other call-signs is "The Fool", because I continue to believe.

[Arpa]

Speaking of positive, here is one from a year or so ago.

=======.

 

Armenian Patriarch Of Turkey Issues Bold Message On Genocide

 

Over the years, as various Armenian Church leaders in Turkey, under pressure from Turkish officials, made disparaging remarks about the Diaspora’s efforts for the recognition for the Armenian Genocide, I never hesitated to criticize them. Therefore, it is only fair that these Church leaders are to be commended whenever they bravely speak out on the Armenian Genocide, jeopardizing their own position and personal safety.

 

Patriarch Mesrob II, in his New Year message to the Armenian community of Turkey, made such a bold statement last week. Surprisingly, a portion of his lengthy message is devoted to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. That segment of the statement, issued in three languages, is entitled "The Great Disaster," in English, "Medz Yegherni Hishadage," in Armenian; and "Buyuk Felaket," in Turkish. The Patriarch’s statement appeared on the Patriarchate’s web site and in the Armenian press of Istanbul. It is understandable that under the repressive conditions in Turkey, the Patriarch is forced to use substitutes for the word genocide. For the benefit of non-Armenian speaking readers, we should point out that "Medz Yeghern" was used by Armenians to describe the Armenian Genocide before the word genocide existed. "Medz Yeghern" could be translated alternatively as " Great Disaster," "Great Calamity," or "Great Cataclysm." Armenians sometimes still refer to the Armenian Genocide as "Medz Yeghern," just as the xxxs use the Hebrew word "Shoah" for the Holocaust.

 

Here is the English version of that segment of the Patriarch’s Message:

 

"Beloved Church members: one of the painful historical events ... has become known in Armenian literature as Medz Yeghern (The Great Disaster). The Ottoman government of that time of the Committee for Union and Progress, citing security reasons in the circumstances of the First World War, exiled Armenian citizens living in the Ottoman Empire to the deserts of Syria. However, because the necessary precautions were not taken, hundreds of thousands of Armenian citizens lost their lives either near their own homes, or on the journey, or in the desert, or were the victims of inhuman attacks by opportunists. Of the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire, only a small proportion was saved from annihilation. Whatever the given justification, this great unconscionable disaster has passed into history as a human drama that took place at the beginning of the 20th century. Wherever on the globe, every Armenian still feels the imprint of this Great Disaster in his or her identity and still lives with the trauma, in some way or another.

 

Throughout the year 2005, on the 90th anniversary of this event, Armenians will offer to God their prayers and incense for the souls of their martyrs."

 

While the Patriarch is careful not to use the word "Genocide," – it is a crime to do so in Turkey -- his statement makes it amply clear that the government of the Ottoman Empire was the organizer of the deportations that led to the deaths of "hundreds of thousands" of Armenians. In addition to outright murder, the United Nations defines as genocide the act of "deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part."

 

We should point out that the Patriarch, in his statement, uses the term "annihilation," meaning extermination or total destruction, which is another way of saying genocide.

 

The Patriarch Mesrob II who is fluent in Armenian, Turkish and English, has probably written the statement himself in all three languages. A careful comparison of the three versions reveals subtle differences in the words used to describe the Armenian Genocide. Even though it is practically impossible to translate verbatim a text from one language to another, it is noteworthy that the Armenian version contains the strongest words.

 

Finally, it is significant that the Patriarch made his bold remarks on the Genocide less than a week after the Prime Minister of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, announced that the Turkish government would do everything in its power to counter the Armenian efforts, particularly in view of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

 

For the first time, and on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Patriarch is properly and bravely suggesting that Armenians in Turkey would be joining their compatriots around the globe in remembering the "annihilation" of their ancestors. While Armenians might not be able to hold any public commemorative events in Turkey on that date, the Patriarch is certain that they carry in their souls the trauma of the Genocide and the memory of their martyrs!

[Arpa]

And as we speak of Armenian clergy in Turkey, here is another one of Blessed Mamory. From California Courrier on Line, April 15, 2004;

 

- In Memoriam - Vartabed Manuel Yergatian (1954-2004)

By Jackie Abramian

During the tumultuous period of the early 1980's when the killings of

Turkish officials by Armenian groups made worldwide headlines, the Turkish

government arrested an Armenian priest by the name of Fr. Manuel Yergatian

at the Istanbul airport and accused him of treason. The 26 year-old native

of Istanbul was detained in 1980 for the alleged possession of maps that

indicated Armenian territory within modern day Turkey. At the time of his

arrest, Fr. Yergatian was accompanying a group of Turkish-Armenian students

to the Armenian Patriarchate's Seminary in Jerusalem for the summer. He was

the deputy director of the Patriarchate's Theological School.

Fr. Yergatian, called Hayko Manuel Eldemir (Turkish equivalent of

Yergatian), was charged under articles 140 and 242 of Turkish law with

"having participated in activities against the state and damaging the

interests of the country by utilizing his priesthood." He was sentenced by

Istanbul's Martial law Command Military Court to 14 years in prison, to be

followed by four years and eight months of internal exile. Amnesty

International (AI), on the insistence of various Armenians (including Harut

Sassounian), adopted him as a prisoner of conscience, after concluding that

the evidence against him was baseless.

I obtained Fr. Yergatian's prison address from AI and wasted no time to

write my first letter - attempting to cheer him up by assuring him that he

was not forgotten. I was delightfully surprised to receive a reply to my

letter in a week. The airmail envelope was from "Fr. H. Manuel Eldemir"

with small script and addressed to "Dear J. Abramian". The letter was in

Turkish:

"Sireli Jackline. My eyes could hardly believe your letter. It is the first

letter I have received. I am glad to know that I am not forgotten! These

are hard times. I'm writing in Turkish hoping that you can read my words.

My letters are controlled so I don't want to entertain any difficulty. My

heart and conscience is clean. I have not done anything wrong. I love

Turkey and wanted to return to Turkey. But at the airport I was arrested

and soon found myself in 4 walls."

That was the beginning of our correspondence that continued until his

release in 1986 and his subsequent internal exile at the Istanbul

Patriarchate. Every letter that arrived was stained with black markers

across lines indicating censored parts. I read each letter many times over

and deciphered the Turkish with my mother's help, reading between the

lines. Fr. Yergatian often spoke of the weather -- rainy, snowy, or cloudy.

He was tired and not well. In the spring, he relayed his hopes for renewal,

always underlining words of wisdom from the Bible and his devotion to

Christ and Christianity. I would grow anxious when his letters were

delayed. Being frequently tortured, he was often exhausted and could not

write. Fr. Yergatian never mentioned his tortures, but simply spoke of the

"hardships" of prison and of his "friends" - his cellmates. He spoke of his

weak eyes, the time he spent "at the hospital" and how he had new glasses.

Although he was young, his eyes were quite weak, he said. He spoke of being

born in Istanbul in September 11, 1954, spending his early years in Turkey,

his theological training in Jerusalem, his return to Turkey to serve in the

army, and then being an ordained priest. He wrote of how he had "cried the

day of" his ordination as he wanted nothing but to serve God and to love

all mankind. His letters always ended with "love and peace" written in

English, and in Armenian "Aghotkov yev sirov."

Fr. Yergatian was an avid painter and used his art as meditation. His

request to receive painting materials was actually granted by the prison

guards. When he painted, he was able to relax and not "suffer," he said. He

even sent me photos taken by the guards of his paintings - and his own

photo, dressed in a sweater standing against an outdoor prison wall. I

remember staring at his paintings and wondering about his inspiration for

the serene natural setting with a river, mountains and trees, while another

painting reflected a sail ship caught up in stormy waters and high waves.

When his December 1985 Christmas letter ended with the words "pray for me,"

I knew he was losing hope. We had been corresponding for years and he had

never asked for my prayer. My contacts with the AI provided me with legal

updates on Fr. Yergatian's case and news of his continued tortures. AI did

not encourage further publicity of his case, fearing that it would

undermine and damage the legal process. It was difficult to abide by AI's

request.

As the years passed, other more pressing matters distracted my attention

from Fr. Yergatian's case. Then his March 1986 letter arrived with a small

dried flower attached to its margin, bursting with happiness. He had

received word of his release date under a Turkish amnesty law.

"I am told that I will be released on May 18, 1986 - in the day of

Pentecost. It is really miraculous." Fr. Yergatian wrote of his "six

friends" and how they had all applied for an early release. In April of

1986, a Congressional delegation visiting Turkey was pressed by the

Armenian Assembly to discuss his case with Turkish officials. The

delegation returned with assurances his scheduled release in May.

Fr. Yergatian wrote that after his release his "main trouble would start

with four years of exile in Eastern Turkey." He was anxious about this,

the lack of Christian community in the East, and his unfamiliarity with the

countryside. But he wrote: "Remember our Savior's words…go into all the

world, even to the ends of the earth and I will be with you to the end." He

considered this a "great commission and a wonderful promise…that is enough

for me."

I received his next letter, on May 10, 1986, from the Istanbul

Patriarchate. I was so relieved that he had survived the "hardships" of

Turkish prison. His letter was in English. It was full of good thoughts and

joy but with an underlining anxiety still about his internal exile.

"God will work wonders in the heart of men, for with God nothing is

impossible," he said as though assuring himself. Then there was a long

period of silence with no letters from him. I grew anxious and sent an

urgent letter to Patriarch Kaloustian inquiring about Fr. Yergatian's

safety, health and whereabouts. I received a kind, hand written letter from

the Patriarchate assuring me that Fr. his health was improving, that he was

busy with his new church duties and doing well.

Fr. Yergatian's December 1986 Christmas card was a beautiful handmade card

with dried flower designs. For the first time, his letter was typed and in

Armenian. His internal exile to the Eastern Anatolia was lifted. He was

placed under house arrest at the Patriarchate under Abp. Kaloustian's

supervision and given a studio space to paint while conducting his priestly

duties. He was prohibited from traveling abroad until 1994. He signed his

letters, Manuel Vartabed Yergatian. He requested paintbrushes to be sent to

him as he continued with his painting meditation. Even though his health

began to fail, he never said anything about it. In his Sept. 10, 1987

letter, he indicated that he had received the brushes. He said that his

health was fine and that he was about to age yet another year as the next

day he would celebrate his birthday.

Our letters became few and far between as the years passed and as he was

further entrenched in his religious life and duties. We promised each other

to someday meet. Then in 2000, I learned after having been to Amsterdam

that Fr. Yergatian was the parish priest of the local Armenian Church in a

nearby suburb.

My attempts to find Fr. Yergatian, his telephone number or email address

were unsuccessful. I was unable to carry through due to my own lack of

diligence and other preoccupations. I was, however, in peace. I knew he

was well enough to have his own parish and was living far away from the

tortures of his prison days.

I received news of Fr. Yergatian's death from Harut Sassounian and was

deeply saddened. I regret my failed promise to meet Fr. Yergatian in

person. More importantly, I was angered by his untimely death because it

was a direct result of the tortures that weakened and aged him prematurely.

I was relieved, however, knowing that the devout Vartabed was now with his

creator resting in a place free of all abuse. It was time for me to pray

for Vartabed Yergatian -- he had traveled "to the end of the world to keep"

our Christianity and had given his life for the mission.

Yeghitzi Looys Vartabed Yergatian. May you rest in peace and may God

forgive and enlighten your torturers.

Edited November 28, 2006 by Arpa