Have our spiritual leaders lost their moral compass?

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Have our spiritual leaders lost their moral compass?

"Religious security issues"!


Armenia's Security Council to fight migration, harmful sects in 2014
Armenian News - Tert.am
01.02.14


Fight against migration and harmful religious sects will be on the
National Security Council's agenda in 2014, according to its
secretary.

At a news conference on Saturday, Artur Baghdasaryan said those two
problems are at the heart of their new demographic security strategy
which he expects to receive a government approval this year.

"Migration is widely discussed, so it is necessary to clearly outline
the problem in order to prevent it," he said, adding that the document
will address the emigration statistics in Armenia since the 1990's and
propose future steps.

Another important document will address religious security issues,
Baghdasaryan added. "There are different concerns over different
religious movements, so our objective is to respond to them. Knowing
the international experience, it is necessary to develop an
invulnerable document to have a clear vision," he explained.

[londontsi]

Re: Have our spiritual leaders lost their moral compass?

In the ottoman empire Armenian church leaders' role models were Ottoman pashas and sultans

I tend to agree with you.

Members of the church are part of, and therefore a sample of society of the time.

A very good current example is the Anglican Church, where gay Priests and gay Bishops do not raise any eyebrows.

Similarly to satisfy the feminist fundamentalists, decision of women priests is a reflection of the same phenomena.

.

[lampron]

Re: Have our spiritual leaders lost their moral compass?

[SIZE=4]
For millennia, our monasteries would take pride in being the spiritual and intellectual centers of our people. Unfortunately, today they have degenerated into becoming centers of corruption and the hub of scandals.

not today. The degeneration has been in progress for a long time

criminals inside the Armenian church for a long time had the protection of the church hierarchy. Political parties and other Armenian organizations are usually there to defend them too! The problem runs deep

In the ottoman empire Armenian church leaders' role models were Ottoman pashas and sultans

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Have our spiritual leaders lost their moral compass?

The Armenian Church is Held Hostage by Its Hierarchy: Part 5

By Vosgan Mekhitarian
December 3, 2013

http://hetq.am/eng/news/31139/the-armenian-church-is-held-hostage-by-its-hierarchy-part-5.html

The re-evaluation of the spiritual mission of the clergy and the requirement to abstain from involvement in secular business

Unfortunately some do enter the priesthood because they do not have the courage to work and earn a daily living, while others do so in order to nurture their ambitious, greedy, glorified feelings. Our theory is solidly based on the popular proverb, “Could not succeed in business, therefore became a priest.”

As we know, the ranks of priesthood (exceptions are always honorable) are replete with individuals who used to be mediocre teachers, sextons (jamgotch), people with singing ability, and those with connections to different organizations. These are the people who consider priesthood as the best way to earn a living and lead a comfortable life.

Also, there are others who, as some would say, have “street smarts,” and who have entered the priesthood with the anticipation of becoming a prelate of a rich diocese, or becoming a Patriarch or Catholicos, in order to abuse the genteel, spiritual feelings of the faithful for their own personal gain. Unfortunately, the erstwhile truly devoted servants of the faith and Church are very few and pretty much lost among today’s profligate, libertine, and self-serving members of the clergy that fill the ranks of the Church today.

Keeping in mind that our interest is the re-evaluation of the spiritual mission of the clergy and renewal of their vows, it is imperative that the Church revive itself and inspire people of good morals to enter the priesthood and preach the Gospel following the example of our Lord.

To enable the success of the spiritual mission of the clergy, the Church has to revive itself and accept into priesthood only those who are well educated, in good moral standing, ready to teach the Gospel and lead the faithful down the righteous path, thereby shutting the doors to those candidates for clergy who are business and profit-minded.

The world is changing while the power of the Church has waned, and few are attracted to enter the priesthood. There is much turbulence in the Christian faith today. The reasons for this are also evident in the Armenian Apostolic Church. And, clearly, it is not for the want of pursuing spiritual fulfillment –for we see people all around the world who are committed to welcoming faith into their lives– but rather it is due to this incessant hunger for accumulating material wealth which has gripped the imagination and lives of most everyone on this planet.

It is obvious that some clergy are misguided in their understanding of their profession and devotion to their work. Those who entered the priesthood with a clear understanding of their calling will no doubt be successful in their mission, and the glory of their work will follow…

Those, on the other hand, who see the priesthood as a business from which to profit with material wealth, cannot understand the meaning of vow and devotion because their minds are focused on money and temporal glory. The lives of such clergymen are full of temptations and scandals.

Where are the devoted Princes of the Armenian Apostolic Church...those who shined throughout the ages in our monasteries, dioceses and catholicosates...those who devoted their lives to enrich ours with high morals and values?

For millennia, our monasteries would take pride in being the spiritual and intellectual centers of our people. Unfortunately, today they have degenerated into becoming centers of corruption and the hub of scandals.

If the Armenian clergy is criticized today, it is because prospective priests have no calling, which is nothing other than the harmonious congregation of many abilities to lead the faithful to the glory of God.

It has been historically evident that a priest who has a wavering character poses a danger to the Church and causes moral scandals among the faithful.

A priest can earn respect and inspire trust among his faithful only by virtue of his good conduct and character. Unfortunately, the public is not inspired by the clergy today, because the priests have become robotic performers of church services with an eye for self-aggrandizement and enrichment.

Being aware of the spiritual, psychological and social needs of our public, we ought to scrutinize candidates for the work of the Church very carefully in order to ensure that they have the required moral character and commitment to uphold their vows and remain true to their calling. Also, we must remain vigilant to keep away from those who come to serve with secret agendas and ill intentions.

The Armenian Church today is at a very serious and critical juncture. The standards for religious teachings are loosened and our youth are increasingly distancing themselves from the Church. It is imperative that we start a new movement to awaken the public from its spiritual hibernation.

Who will lead this movement today? I believe it is only the clergy–in its historical construct with selfless tenets of service to its flock–that can have the moral authority and legitimacy to reform the current state of corruption and degeneracy that has engulfed and permeated the entire hierarchy of the Church. It is only those who have the “true calling” and understand fully the implications of devotion to the faith and are rightfully ordained who can affect a meaningful reformation of the Armenian Apostolic Church. All others are mere sycophants and need not apply.

(To be continued)

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Have our spiritual leaders lost their moral compass?

The Armenian Church is Held Hostage by Its Hierarchy: Part 4

By Vosgan Mekhitarian
November 26, 2013

http://hetq.am/eng/news/30962/the-armenian-church-is-held-hostage-by-its-hierarchy-part-4.html

Illegal election of the members of the Supreme Spiritual Council of Holy Etchmiadzin

In order to better understand the nature and composition of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin, we must view it in historical perspective -- how it came to be, and how it evolved throughout the years.

The first reference to the expression “Concerning the Spiritual Consistories And Governing [Bodies] Of Gregorian Armenians” is found in the 1831 Constitution,--commonly referred to as the “Polozhenye,”—which was imposed upon the Catholicosate of Holy Etchmiadzin by the then Russian Tsarist regime. Its original text was written in Russian and subsequently translated into Armenian by Mkrditch Kardashian.

Next, we encounter a reference to the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Church in the “Regulations Concerning the Convening of The National Ecclesiastical Council,” established by his Holiness Catholicos Kevork V on October 22, 1925, and validated on May 28, 1930. In this iteration of the Constitution, it is stated: "The duties of the National Ecclesiastical Council are: (a) To elect a new Catholicos; (b) To elect new members of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin.” It continues by listing four additional duties.

The next citation of the Supreme Spiritual Council is found in the “Regulations Concerning the Convening Of The National Ecclesiastical Council,” as validated by His Holiness Catholicos Kevork VI on June 19, 1945, wherein we read, "The duties of the National Ecclesiastical Council are: (a) To elect a new Catholicos; (b) To elect new members of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin.” It continues by listing three additional duties.

Thereafter, many drafts of the Constitution have been prepared, but, to date, none has been officially validated and put into action.

Without deviating from the topic at hand, it is instructive to note that Chapter One (“Fundamental Principles”), Article 13, of the “Draft Constitution of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church” (prepared in 1958) states: “The administration of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church is formed by democratic principles. The faithful elect their leaders, --Priest, Bishop, Catholicos, -- of their own free will.” Article 14: “The Armenian Apostolic Church is governed by the principle of democratic elections.” These two points will become germane to our discussion in the offing.

In this 1958 Draft Constitution it is clearly stated that the duties of the National Ecclesiastical Council are: “(a) to elect a new Catholicos, (b) to elect the members of the Supreme Spiritual Council.” I this same Draft, under the heading of the Supreme Spiritual Council, it is stated that “The Supreme Spiritual Council is the consulting body of the Catholicos of All Armenians, elected by the National Ecclesiastical Council, for a term of five years. The Supreme Spiritual Council consists of nine to eleven members, of which only four shall be lay people.”

Another draft, dated September 20, 1987, and prepared by Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan, is of particular interest. Under the heading of Supreme Spiritual Council, it states: The Supreme Spiritual Council consists of eight bishops, --if need be, also of celibate priests,-- and four lay people. The members of the Supreme Spiritual Council are appointed by the Catholicos of All Armenians.” This version, granting supreme powers to the Catholicos and deviating from the initial intent of members being democratically elected, was never validated either by the Council of Bishops or the National Ecclesiastical Assembly.

A subsequent Constitutional Draft appeared in September, 1988, written in Western Armenian Dialect and Classical Armenian Orthography. Even though there are no signatories at the end of this draft, it seems to be the work of Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan because it is similar in tone, scope, and nature to the above mentioned 1987 draft, containing analogous language, with new additions and deletions.

The 1991 draft of the Constitution, which bears the seal of the Supreme Spiritual Council and is not validated by the National Ecclesiastical Council or the Catholicos, contains some further changes. Under the heading of Supreme Spiritual Council –which consists of eight articles--, Article Five states: “The Supreme Spiritual Council consists of ten members: two bishops from the Diasporan dioceses; five bishops from the internal [i.e. non-Diasporan] dioceses, three of which are appointed by His Holiness and two are elected by the Council of Bishops; and three laymen from the internal dioceses.”

The last draft of the Constitution is written in Western Armenian and Classical Armenian orthography, prepared in September, 1995, By Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian and Bishop Aris Shirvanian. In this draft, under the heading of Supreme Spiritual Council, we find 18 articles defining the duties and obligations of the members of the Council. Under Articles Four and Five, respectively, it states: “The Supreme Spiritual Council comprises a minimum of 21 members—14 of which should be bishops and, if need be, married and celibate priests, with an additional 7 lay members. The members of the Supreme Spiritual Council are elected by the National Ecclesiastical Council or by the Diocesan Representatives Council for a 4-year term and are eligible to be re-elected for another term.”

These historical facts offer a chronological profile of the evolution of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin as delineated under the articles of the various drafts described above. Since no Constitution has been validated by either the National Ecclesiastical Council or the Catholicos since 1945, every decision and action taken after 1945 by the Supreme Spiritual Council, --many of whose members are/were directly appointed by the Catholicos,-- is clearly without legal standing, with no approved authority, and utterly unacceptable.

The implications and ramifications of the current state in which the Armenian Apostolic Church finds itself are monumental. Its basis for the organizational and governance structures for the Church is constitutionally illegal and illegitimate. Hence, the Church and its hierarchy has no moral or legally justifiable ground upon which to execute its sacred, spiritual charge or carry out its mission to bring the faithful to the Church with full participatory rights. The absence of credibility, accountability, and transparency in the Armenian Church, and the absence of a devoted clergy places the Armenian Church on a precarious legal and moral perch, and possibly, on the brink of dissolution.

The indifference of our political leaders, educational and benevolent institutions, intellectuals and media has, unwittingly or otherwise, conspired to bring about an oligarchic dictatorship within the Armenian Church—a clear violation of self-proclaimed democratic principles and human values.

We should never allow "privileged" clergy to hijack the Hierarchy of the Armenian Church and limit the participation of the faithful. The 1995 draft of the Constitution, which, if ratified and validated by the National Ecclesiastical Council, would place this entire religious institution, recognized around the world as the first national Christian Church, in jeopardy of devolving into a religious body with no moral credibility and authority to carry out its spiritual edicts.

It is incumbent upon every individual of faith and avowed Christian Armenian to express their outrage at the current state of affairs in the Church, shed light upon the unacceptable behavior of the Catholicos and his obsequious henchmen, and demand the restoration of a validated Constitution that obligates the Supreme Spiritual Council to act in accordance with its stated democratic principles and adherence to its founding mission.

The Armenian Apostolic Church must transcend this limited interpretation of its institutional mission if it is to survive and, indeed, thrive in the modern world. Moreover, it must embrace not only its spiritual commission, but become a beacon for the educational and cultural institutions of the Armenian people, thereby ensuring the continual existence of this proud and faithful nation.

(To be continued)

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Have our spiritual leaders lost their moral compass?

The Armenian Church is Held Hostage by Its Hierarchy: Part 3

By Vosgan Mekhitarian
November 5, 2013

http://hetq.am/eng/news/30469/the-armenian-church-is-held-hostage-by-its-hierarchy-part-3.html

The continuing culture of corruption and abuse of power at the Catholicosate level of the Armenian church becomes more than evident when we consider the impact the resignation letter of the Primate of France, His Eminence Archbishop NorvanZakarian, has been having on the psyche of the current and future generations of the clergy.

Let us begin our analysis of the present state of affairs of the Armenian Church by introducing Archbishop NorvanZakarian, in order to provide a context for understanding the unjust victimization and severity of penal threats levied by CatholicosKarekin II against this devoted and humble servant of God.

Archbishop NorvanZakarian was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1940. After graduating from the local parochial elementary school, he attended the seminary of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia. Thereafter, he pursued his higher education at the St. James’ Brotherhood Seminary in Jerusalem. In 1967, he went to France to continue his theological studies. Archbishop SerovpeManoukian, the former Primate of France, recognized the exceptional character of this young seminarian and ordained him as celibate priest in 1968.

In appreciation of his many years of service in the Church, His Holiness CatholicosVazken I ordained him a bishop in 1982. Bishop Zakarian has had a long and distinguished track record of selfless and obedient service to his parish and church. Moreover, he played an instrumental role in creating and establishing the Armenian Church Diocese of France. He was the force behind the movement that transformed that dream into reality.

In 2007, by a majority of the votes of the Diocesan Assembly he was elected as the first Primate of the newly-created Diocese of France, followed by his nomination as a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin and appointment as Pontifical Legate to the Armenian communities of Western Europe.

Those who have come to know Archbishop Zakarian have consistently regarded him as a model clergyman, always willing and able to serve the needs of his parishioners, who possesses the intellectual integrity of the highest caliber—predicating any number of important achievements. This is truly a dedicated man of the cloth, who has become the pride of the Church and has won the hearts and minds of the faithful.

Archbishop NorvanZakarian is currently being targeted for ostracization and vilified by vengeful wrath and subsequent shunning by the Catholicos for not supporting the priest VatcheHairabedian, a known convicted criminal. Archbishop Zakarian summarizes his disappointment at Karekin II’s behavior and verbal invectives in his letter, stating, “For a while now, I have come to realize that insulting me and hurting my feelings somehow gives you pleasure. Your accusations addressed to me, indeed, surprise me. You probably do not realize you are squashing the moral integrity of a human being beneath your feet.”

The phrase, “for a while now” leads one to believe that this volley of threats is not singular in nature, but just the latest attempt to humiliate and defrock him by a disgruntled and vindictive head of the church. In fact, the Archbishop iterates in his four-page letter addressed to the members of the Supreme Spiritual Council many other instances of his public chastisement by the Catholicos. We must ask ourselves if this is the just and proper show of appreciation for his 45 years of dutiful service to the Church and nation. Granted, as Christians we can only expect recognition for our good deeds from the Almighty. However, is it not only reasonable to expect not to be persecuted and undermined for such deeds? How can such indefensible behavior by the highest authority of the Church be justified and what message does it send to the new, aspiring generation of seminarians vowed to serve the Church?

A specific incident in a public location, disclosed by Archbishop NorvanZakarian, attests to the extent of the injury inflicted on him by His Holiness Karekin II, who, upon visiting the Diocese in France, launched into a tirade, declaring, “I will take away your hood…I will take away your cloak…I will make you stand before your parishioners and have them witness your punishment. You will not be able to perform conduct any ceremonies such as baptisms, matrimony or funeral.”

Archbishop Zakarian has expressed his frustrations with the leadership of the Church by reiterating that the Armenian Church has long stood for love, grace, and compassion, whereas the current powers have instilled a culture of fear and intimidation.

Indeed, this is a very sad state of affairs, but these revelations are nothing new. Other high and low ranking priests have been targeted as well, yet the turmoil and abuse of power continues. His Holiness Aram I, of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, suffers from the same megalomaniacal psychopathy, who has declared on several occasions to his young priests, “…anyone who does not listen and obey my orders, I will smash him and cast aside like a dirty rag and will humiliate him, and will make him suffer”. Young priests, the world over, are attesting to this kind of humiliation today. How is it feasible to attract young people to come and serve the Church under such dreadful conditions? Indeed, it is not!

Let us make it clear: our concerns are not so much with particular individuals, --although the actions of the current leadership is at best deplorable,-- but with the lack of brotherly love among all priests and absence of the manifestations of love that was taught to us by Jesus Christ. Concomitantly, we should be distressed by the lawlessness within the hierarchy of Church because at the heart of the matter is a representative institution, for, of, and by the people. Where there is no law, there is infamy and the law of jungle, and hence one loses the ability to listen to public opinion and the ability to conquer conflict or bridge differences, especially among ensuing generations, who are now privy to the turmoil in and moral turpitude of the Church.

The Church can once again become a beacon of moral and constructive behavior, but only when the ranks of the concerned faithful servants of God abide by His Word and begin acting accordingly. Alas, I am not referring the cowards or those who have sold their souls to please the authorities and gain temporal, worldly awards and decorations.

Adding insult to injury, non-elected members of the Supreme Spiritual Council of Etchmiadzin have rendered decisions which exemplify their obsequious nature and servile obedience to the morally bankrupt authority of the Church.

His Holiness Karekin II, in his letter to Archbishop Zakarian, states, “ We were surprised to read your letter and the accusations that you make. It is your duty to prove to the Supreme Spiritual Council in session that your accusations are founded and that you have evidence to prove your allegations”. At prima facie, it seems utterly ridiculous to demand substantiation for something that occurred at a public location and was witnessed by dozens of officials, but there we are at an absurd point of having to prove that the rant of CatholicosKarekin II at the Orly airport of Paris, France, actually took place. Isn’t this latest demand a clear case of the abuse of power and rule with impunity by the head of the Church?

Who among us is going to have the courage to stand up and declare the truth? For, as the Bible says, “there is nothing hidden that shall not be revealed” (Matt. 10:26).

(To be continued)

[jgk3]

Re: Have our spiritual leaders lost their moral compass?

Stop with the personal attacks.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Have our spiritual leaders lost their moral compass?

Do you mean that modern European values have roots in Christian (read: Western Christianity) culture? Even so, very few of these values are shared by people in or from Armenia -- in fact people on here often argue against the applicability of such values in Armenia.

Those values would include individual freedom and responsibility, the rule of law impartially enforced and available to all, and a rigid separation of the Church from the State. In Western Europe, really only Islamists would argue against such values. Islamists and, it seems , quite a few Armenians. Hence my "as backward as your Muslim neighbours" comment. Except that the Three Stooges [nb: I am refering here to 3 forum members whose posts here were, after I made this posting, deleted as personal atacks] dont have Muslim neighbours: like all the vocal apologists here for the corrupt and immoral in Armenia, they don't actually live in Armenia.

In Armenia, it's still mostly silent apathy:

http://www.rferl.org/content/golbal-corruption-survey/25040514.html

Nearly 90 percent of global respondents said they were ready to fight graft, from signing petitions to protesting to spreading the word through social media.

The only country surveyed in which less than half of respondents said they would be prepared to do anything was Armenia. Less than one-third of people in the Caucasian state said they would even be willing to sign a petition.

And the same apologists here of the corrupt and immoral are also always vocal attackers of those who are no longer silent and apathetic in Armenia.

[TomServo]

Re: Have our spiritual leaders lost their moral compass?

and you are so advanced putting down Christianity while you live your life in Christian values.....hypocrite always think they know it all.

I severely doubt he lives his life in Christian values.

Do you mean that modern European values have roots in Christian (read: Western Christianity) culture? Even so, very few of these values are shared by people in or from Armenia -- in fact people on here often argue against the applicability of such values in Armenia.

[TomServo]

Re: Have our spiritual leaders lost their moral compass?

Typical; it was funded and constructed by oligarchs for oligarchs and their families. I do wonder how many of them are pious Christians.

It might be the biggest Armenian church in that country but it also has the dubious distinction of being the ugliest.

The churches in the Russian North Caucasus (Rostov, Vladikavkaz, Derbent, etc.) might not be behemoths but at least they're pleasant to look at and not eyesores.