THE BIG SPLIT OF THE 20TH CENTURY (Conclusion)
SYNTHESIS
By Ara K. Yeretsian, M.D.
1. The 20th-century split of the Armenian nation came about because of conceptual conflicts over Sovietism, statehood, nationhood and Church. Political feud dating back to the First Republic of Armenia was transplanted onto the arena of the Church in the Diaspora. Armenians were divided into two camps: pro-ARF and anti-ARF. The anti-ARF camp consisted of a virtual orchestra of political elements, which I have named the "Anti-ARF Symphony Orchestra" (AASO).
2. The Diocese of America followed policies that paralleled Soviet-sponsored directives from Etchmiadzin. Soviets wanted to muzzle all or any form of nationalism, especially ARF-type nationalism. The Diocese complied by imposing a ban on harmless symbols of national expression. Restraining freedom of expression was predictably not possible in a free, democratic country like America. The Diocese gave itself the image of agency for Sovietism. It took its mission so seriously that it risked disenfranchising a portion of the community - and that's what happened.
3. The split in the Church actually started on September 2, 1933, after an unparliamentary street fight between the primate's AASO followers and the ARF's supporters. Before then, there was one diocese. Two days later, there were two entities, each claiming to be the legitimate representative of the Mother See.
4. On September 2, 1933, Primate Tourian's supporters used irregular parliamentary maneuvers to circumvent legal proceedings to depose the primate. Tashnag sympathizers were intent on pulling no stops, and probably engaged in anarchism. In assigning degrees of responsibility, one must decide if an institution of the Church should or should not be held to a higher standard of conduct than a group accused of anarchism. Another question is whether the Diocese had any business taking on even the appearance of an arm of the Soviet government of Armenia.
5. The politicization of the Diocese of America was the starting point of a worldwide split in the Armenian community. Mistrust became so deep that the separated communities insisted on separate church administrations. In 1956, the Catholicate of Cilicia became politicized to the opposite ideology.
6. The infamous assassination of Primate Tourian was not the cause of the split, but its aftermath. It occurred three months after the split started. It empowered the Anti-ARF Symphony Orchestra as permanent boss of the Diocese. The orchestra exploited passions created by the egregious nature of murder and groomed the perception that the ARF was entirely responsible for the split. Yet, the orchestra deserved just as much blame.
7. Seventy years since the split began, reality has changed. Armenia is free and independent. Sovietism is gone. The ideological causes for division and separation are thin. The atmosphere is relatively relaxed, and people are friendly with each other, especially the newer generations. Everybody is active in Hye Tahd under different names, and there is cooperation at levels other than the Church. Everyone respects the Tricolor, and the Diocese of America permanently and proudly displays it. Everybody sings "Mer Hayrenik." However, habits, old animosities, ignorance and impatience now drive the divide.
8. The Diocese remains the concert hall of the Anti-ARF Symphony Orchestra, even though it is convinced that it is de-politicized. Faces have changed, Bolsheviks and Hunchags are gone, Ramgavars are almost gone, but indirectly, through actions and words, the constituency of the Diocese still learn myths and mistruths that are never corrected. In effect, these myths and mistruths constitute a convenient, effective and cheap anti-ARF strategy. The average churchgoer of the Diocese is likely to believe that:
(a) The split in the Church was caused by the ARF, and the Diocese was merely a faultless victim.
(b) The split was caused by Primate Tourian's assassination.
(c) The Prelacy is an impostor. The Diocese is the only legitimate agent of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
(d) The ARF is a bunch of killers and thugs because "they" killed Primate Tourian.
(e) The ARF created the Catholicate of Cilicia.
(f) The Catholicate is "schismatic" and not worth respecting.
(g) The Catholicate is a tool in the hands of the ARF. By contrast, the Diocese of America is not politicized, and is not a tool of any particular political current.
(h) The Catholicate of Cilicia is "against Etchmiadzin" and is a threat to the Church of Armenia.
(i) The Catholicos of All Armenians is "supreme" boss, but the Catholicos of Cilicia disobeys him and is rebellious.
9. The Prelacy is controlled by the ARF. As in the Diocese, followers learn mistruths that serve as convenient tools of propaganda for the ARF. They learn that the other side is not really patriotic, that the Diocese does not run proper church services, and, oh! terrible thing, it uses English during church services.
10. The Eastern Diocese has plenty of religious depth and soul-warming spirituality. Great people, great minds and wealth are at work. Church (and choir) services at St. Vartan can measure up with the best of the best worldwide. St. Nersess Seminary brings very high quality and sophistication to religious education and assures a secure future in America. The level of scholarship is so high, it will soon be unmatched. The Diocese is involved in national affairs just at the right dose. It knows how to imprint positive impressions on politicians friendly to Armenians. It is vigilant on Genocide recognition and Armenia's land-lock by Azerbaijan. Best of all, the Diocese may no longer be under the spell of the Ramgavar party or the government of Armenia. In 1999, the Diocese took a stand on principle and protested about governmental interference in the election of the catholicos!
11. It is an anomaly that there are two representatives of the Church in the same region. But when taken in the context of all the calamities that afflicted the nation during the 20th century, this is peanuts. There are six indisputable facts: (a) The Prelacy more than adequately lives up to its mission of faith. (b) The Prelacy is a legally valid entity. (c) The whole world accepts that it is a bona fide diocese of the See of Cilicia. (d) There are no separated brethren or prodigal sons waiting backstage to beg for forgiveness and reintegration into the Diocese. (e) People on both sides of the divide are content with the status quo - or tolerate it. (f) There is no great love between the two sides, because neither side cultivates love.
12. It is an anomaly that there are two catholicates rather than just one. However, when viewed against the backdrop of geographic, cultural, social, economic and political diversity, it is peanuts. For over 1400 years, Church and Nation were assaulted by Arabs, Byzantines, Turanians, Persians, Russians and Soviets. The Armenian Church could have broken into myriad pieces; instead, she came out duplicated. That's reason to celebrate.
13. The Catholicate of Cilicia is not "schismatic." There are no doctrinal differences between Cilicia and Etchmiadzin. She is superbly functional, and as long as Etchmiadzin is not fully functional, she will continue to be the premium anchor for the Church in the Diaspora.
14. Institutions of the Church will remain politicized or controlled by powerful individuals, groups or political entities for the foreseeable future. That should not impugn the worth, legitimacy or historical base of these precious institutions.
15. In the 20th century, political parties had positive and complementary roles in the Diaspora, but they also caused a lot of grief. Except in Lebanon and Iran, where confessional systems of government provide Armenians with dedicated parliamentary seats, the term "political party" no longer makes sense. Instead, the nation needs more community-weaving, cultural-benevolent undertakings and politically active organizations like the Armenian National Committee (ANC) and the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA).
ON INTELLECTUAL HONESTY
The institutions of the Church do not feel secure enough to nurture intellectual honesty. Scholars of the Church don't engage in introspection on behalf of their institutions. Well-written, informative works like "Documents on the Schism in the Armenian Church" or "The Armenian Church In America" or "The Torch Was Passed" persuade readers that their institution is right and the other completely wrong. There is no soul-searching or anything close to an apology.
The people who started the split of the 20th century felt bad, but not enough to give up an inch from their positions. Their progeny now perpetuate the split, because they are inculcated with the belief that their side is 100% a victim of the other side. Nobody owns up to any wrong, mistake or error of judgment. It's always the other side who's wrong.
A laborious search for saints comes up with none. There is no 100% villain nor 100% victim. Rather, there are great humans who abhor the fact that they are fallible - and who insist that they are above being wrong or making mistakes. People in the business of grooming the Church are afraid of introspection and intellectual honesty. They view change - an ingredient of growth - as failure. They never say "We were wrong" in order to avoid the possibility of shame. They may actually not know the difference between humility and humiliation.
It is absurd to propagate the notion that there can only be one vision for the glory of the Church. It is absurd to imply that Antelias has anything less than the highest reverence towards the Mother See. It is absurd to imply that people who dream about Etchmiadzin and stay surrounded with her pictures and churches of Armenia would want to hurt her. Antelias actually provided Etchmiadzin with her most brilliant catholicos since Catholicos Khrimian.
DOES THE POLITICS OF NON-COOPERATION LEAD ANYWHERE?
The notion that the Prelacy or the Catholicate of Cilicia is, was or can be harmful to the Church or Etchmiadzin is absurd. There is more church life than ever worldwide, and especially in North America. There are two strong communities with unique strengths with hard-earned identities of their own. Denigration is based on the notion that isolating the enemy will make him shrink down to the size of a crushable ant. It stimulates partisanship and keeps people apart. It is dated Byzantium, not 21st century.
The astounding record of 102 years of tumult in the America mandates the rejection of exclusionary politics worldwide.
WHEN WILL THE CHURCH BE REUNIFIED UNDER ONE LEADERSHIP?
It's simple: the Armenian Church is made up of (1) the Catholicate of all Armenians AND (2) the Catholicate of Cilicia. They are of unequal size and significance, but it is not possible to have a complete Armenian Church without both. Their destiny is to fuse into one entity, not compete or establish supremacy of one over the other. This will undoubtedly happen if and when:
1. The wealthy and powerful Eastern Diocese of America becomes peaceful and accommodating.
2. The Mother See is finished recovering from the setbacks of Sovietism.
3. The two catholicates reach their zenith and they are both strong.
That's when the duplication of the Church will come to an end and the Catholicos of All Armenians will be the uncontested, universally accepted supreme patriarch of the Church of Armenia. By that time, the catholicates will have declared independence from political control, the concept of "national church" will have been clearly defined; political "parties" of the Diaspora will have come to terms with the new realities of the 21st century.
The reunification of the Diocese of America will then be a piece of cake.
Munster, IN
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