Armenian Catholicos has nothing to do with churches in mountains

Samvel Karapetian, an Armenian historian, researcher, author, and expert of medieval architecture, Head of the Yerevan branch of the Research on Armenian Architecture (RAA) NGO, has raised the problem of the Sanahin monastery at his meeting with Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II. He proposed that part of the funds allocated for construction of new churches be directed to resolve the problem of Sanahin. Garegin II stated that he has nothing to do with churches and monasteries located in the mountains, reported the No Silence youth initiative.

"It is logical that places of worship should be major concern for the Church, to say nothing of government agencies," Karapetyan said.
"The No Silence initiative feel more regret not for the deplorable state of the Sanahin monastery, but over whom we once placed their hopes on in the matter of preserving the holy place," says a statement issued by the initiative.

"Indeed, what does the Catholicos have to do with churches that have been located in the mountains for a thousand year and are recognized as world cultural heritage by UNESCO? He only has to do with his future residence being constructed in the center of Yerevan. So do not let clergymen be surprised at their leader's disgracefully low public rating. Nor should they complain about sects, as it is the clergy that created favorable conditions for them. The response to the problem of Sanahin striking evidence thereof,' says the statement.

The recently released pictures and video records telling about the present state of the Sanahin monastery (10th century AD), which was included in the UNESCO world heritage list in 1996, caused a wave of discontent on Facebook.