Church not 'facilities' for Armenian Catholicos, priest says

During today's dispute with Head of the Information Service, Mother See of Echmiadzin, Priest Vahram Melikyan, Head of the Yerevan branch, Research on Armenian Architecture NGO, Samvel Karapetyan insisted that, at his meeting with Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II he heard him say word for word: "I have nothing to do the monasteries in the mountains."

Karapetyan was not the one that raised the problem of Sanahim during the meeting with Garegin II. It was Armen Akhnazaryan. However, the Catholicos did not like Akhnazaryan's question. "He frowned and, stretching his hand out said: 'I have nothing to do the monasteries in the mountains'," Karapetyan said.

Garegin II said that "he would not allow even a little pebble to fall down from Geghard or Khor Virap". He added that he was "busy with the construction of other facilities," Karapetyan said.

"I refute the claims that the Patriarch said such thins, particularly the details Mr. Karapetyan is telling now," Melikyan said. Garegin II could not have used the term "facilities" while speaking of a church construction project, he said.

Melikyan stressed that the priorities that were in question, and the Mother See does not neglect any monastery.

"No doubt, recent statements produced the impression that the Mother See is not concerned with its holy places, and that individuals or young people are more concerned with them," Melikyan said. However, the Mother See has recently sponsored the renovation of 100 monasteries and churches. On the other hand, the Mother See "has not the amount you imagine' to sponsor the renovation of all monasteries and churches. Governmental aid is needed, and Garegin II even looked for sponsors for renovating Sanahin.

"The Mother See welcomes discussions. However, when I see discussions in social networks I can hardly call them discussions. The foul language and insults do not bring honor to the young people, country and church," Melikyan said.