Marina Adamyan MISSISSAUGA, CANADA The below was sent to Veharan last night and a confirmation of its recipient was received with a request for a formally signed version, which was also sent this morning. To: Catholicosate of All Armenians,Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin 1101 VAGHARSHAPAT REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA Date: June 5th, 2013 Subject: The Primate Elections in the Canadian Dioceses of Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Dear Renown Vehapar Hajrapet, Today thoughts and prayers of many in Canadian Armenian community are focused around a key decision expected from the Mother See of the Holy Etchmiadzin. A decision with a very difficult responsibility around the fortune of our brothers and sisters in Christ - the Body of The Christ in the Armenian Community of Canada that I am proud to be part of. “Bishop Bagrat was not elected, but a Fr. from Chicago with just one additional vote deciding for it.” This was the news I heard last Sunday morning, the time my family usually gets ready to attend the Divine Liturgy. The comment was about 23/24 votes by 47 people I had no clue about then. It was confusing and hard to grasp then. Now, over a week after those mysterious elections of the Diocesan Primate, the shocking realities of corrupt political power game by vision deprived political party leaders supported by few manipulated clergy and lay electorate continue unfolding. One thing is sure - the peace in this community of Christians is disturbed by the facts around electoral fraud in the church. The petition signed by 2037 supporters at this point in time and the calls for and commitments to justice by those supporters is are mind-blowing! The confident dynamic action people have taken promoting focus on potential lawlessness applied before and during the elections is breathtaking. I remember the cold December afternoon a couple of years ago in Montreal when I first met Bishop Bagrat. As a new Canadian Armenian passing by Montreal for Christmas holidays, I wanted to meet with the leadership of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Canada to offer volunteer assistance that could potentially add value to the Canadian part of the Holy Church I proudly belonged to. After learning about my experience and what I was offering, Bishop Bagrat showed interest for the Church to be using such assistance. It was after the first 20 minutes of our discussion that I confidently affirmed in my mind: “never before I met such a visionary, dynamic, down to earth yet GODLY religious leader”. A rare combination indeed that I have not seen during my 12 years of work with Christian organizations and the Churches of various denominations across the world who the development, relief and advocacy charity I work for partners with in 100 countries globally (including Armenia). That reality check made me overly proud and humbled – “only my beloved Armenian Apostolic Church empowered by the Mother See of the Holy Echmiadzin could have had nurtured such a uniquely bright faith leader”. Over the past 2 years I met many people were mobilized around the Church by Bishop Bagrat - a transforming spiritual leader praised by all of them. Seeing how he was able to smartly tap into those people’s potential and leverage their talents/capacities for the success and strength of the Body of the Christ (not merely a church building or a social club) made me a different kind of a believer. His serving Devine Liturgy, praying for the ill, comforting the depraved, engaging with kids and youth as their peer, leading meetings with technical and business professionals – always poured love, piece and light. The testimonials and heartbreaking life stories contrasted by the witness reports from the lawless elections promise a long term disturbance of peace for the Body of the Christ that I belong to in Canada. Understanding how power and politics decide for people needing spiritual nurturing and leadership does not feel right with what we learn from our beloved Lord Jesus Christ. Knowing that the light, peace and love spread around by Bishop Bagrat may disappear due to lay politicians exercising mediocre power creates a risk of shuttering the trust that the same Bishop Bagrat diligently nurtured towards our Church. May our prayers be directed for our Heavenly Father, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to guide the decision making in the Mother See of the Holy Etchmiadzin for this very difficult responsibility. With gratefulness for your consideration of this email, Marina Adamyan Senior Advisor at World Vision International Based in Canada NOTE: This email does not represent the views and opinions of World Vision, but that of myself as a baptized Christian believer of Armenian Apostolic Church.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Jun 2013 19:39:47 +0000
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