Արթնցէ՛ք Եւ Տէր Կանգնեցէ՛ք Ձեր Իրաւունքներուն

11 comments

1. About Apahayr Yeghia

   I am a 1987 Moorat Raphael College graduate. I have known Hayr Appahayr Yeghia since then, when he was my history teacher. He was one of my best teachers and a model of humility and intelligence, a highly educated elder father and brother to me. There is a belief that people rarely change. When I knew Father Yeghia, he was in his late thirties. Now he is in his late fifties or early sixties.

   Dear readers of Keghart, Father Appahayr Yeghia is the same person and with the same character that I knew him in the ’80s. I do not believe Osgan, the so-called outspoken critic of  the Armenian clergy. Father Yeghia is a valuable member of the Armenian Mekhitarist congregation. I understand the democracy of Keghart, but dear Keghart editor, before you publish such a report, consider that it has has no basis in fact and divides a valuable Armenian congregation and injures its reputation–specially the reputation of such a big vartabed, who is now Appahayr and who prepared generations of Armenian intellectuals in Diaspora and has dedicated his life to Jesus and to Armenian communities in Diaspora.

   Dear Editor of Keghart, ask what Mr. Osgan gave to Armenian life other than his divisive article and his planting of hatred and suspicion for a great and humble man such as Appahayr Hayr Yehghia. When I read the hatred-filled article, I had to write about the real Hayr Yeghia. God bless his soul and his work. May Jesus protect him from jealous and selfish people, and hidden agenda holders such as Mr. Osgan.

   Dear Editor of Keghart, now you have the responsibility to clarify and give the same opportunity to Hayr Appahayr Yeghia, and specially to his surp congregation of Mekhitarians and others like me who believe you are not an unwilling partner to people like Mr. Osgan, who mess with the reputation of a 300-year-old Armenian congregation.

   Hayr Yehghia represents that congregation. Most of the congregation members voted for him. He is not a dictator. He is an honest and intelligent clergyman, who united the Vienna and Venice Mekhiitarist congregations. It is a big accomplishment. Now people like Osgan are writing false information about Appahayr Yeghia. I and thousand other Mekhitarist representatives refuse such untrue accusations by Mr. Osgan. If I had been a lawyer in LA, I would have sued people like Mr. Osgan for their false accusations against the Armenian clergyman.

   We need to remember what the Mekhitarist congregation has given to the Armenian nation. Let us respect Hayr Ghevont Alishan, the great Armenian historian; Taniel Varujan; and Mgrdich Beshigtashlian. Mr Osgan has the nerve to speak about the present head of that remarkable Armenian congregation. Although the character of a Mekhitarist father cannot be judged by the great fathers of the past, knowing Hayr Yeghia, the great teacher and brother, I will not allow anyone to malign him because Hayr Yeghia deserves respect from every Armenian in Diaspora and in Mayr Hayasdan.

   God bless you Hayr Yeghia. I know you are above all this undignified talk. May God protect you and our congregation.

2. Sireli Boghos

   Sireli Boghos, 

   Yete ays nyuti masin ches kider, avelort e kaghaparner dalet. Amen inch vor kervadz e appahor masin  djisht eh. Gerna ellal tsezi shad lav mart ge tever payts grnam esel vor yergeresani ants men eh. Baron Vosgan-e inkn al zoh katsadz e sireli appahoret kathcakordzoutyounneroun.

   Shenorhagalutyun

3. An Admission for Being Uninformed

   I am baptized in Armenian Orthodox Church and have married in Armenian Evangelical Church. We have baptized our elder son in Armenian Orthodox Church and our younger and last child in Armenian Evangelical Church. However, I had never set foot in an Armenian Catholic Church until this past December 24 Christmas Eve when for the very first time, I attended Mass in the Armenian Catholic Church in Glendale, California because I happened to be in LA.

   I admit that I had remained uninformed all my life about the Armenian Catholic Church. Attending Mass in the Armenian Catholic Church for the very first time became an eye-opening education to me. Hearing the Mass in Armenian and the sermon in an impeccable Armenian, seeing the carvings on the walls of the church of our great religious leaders, the exquisite sanctuary and the impressive complex will forever remain etched in my memory as first impressions are lasting impressions. Henceforth, whenever there is an Armenian Catholic Church I will head there on December 24 to celebrate Christmas and I urge all Armenians to do so along with the January 6 Armenian Christmas Celebration.

   I have never met Appahayr Yeghia but I have remained so impressed by him because of the short presentation I read about him for the very first time in Kessabtsis Yearbook and Directory. I admit I am biased in favor of Kessabsis. I took the liberty and wrote the following about Appahayr Yeghia in the article titled Kessab Ousoumnasirats Celebrates Centennial that Keghart graciously published on January 8 of this year. In that article I wrote the following about Appahayr Yeghia “Father Yeghia Kilaghbian left Kesssab at the age 13 to attend the Mkhitarian monastic order on San Lazaro Island in Venice, and is now the Abbot of the Mkhitarian order famed for its Armenian scholarship.” I regard his quest for life long celebrates priesthood in service to God and people a vivid testimonial of a devoted man.

   Lately I have been reading controversial assessments about Appahayr Yeghia. It is a common knowledge that “motive” is the primary driver when investigating a misdeed. I believe the Keghart readers will be better informed if the motives behind this controversy are discussed and not the controversy per se.

   Reading these articles and letters, naturally I wonder, what could possibly the motives of Appahayr Yeghia be? It does not seem plausible that a life long celibate priest of the order not to have the best intentions for the order in his own way. He is the Appahayr, which I assume is the highest authority of the order. All may not share Appahayr’s actions and decisions. However, it is his prerogative to make such decisions in his best judgment. Therefore the reader will be better informed if the perceived ill intended motives of the Appahayr are discussed rather than the decisions of the Appahayr that may not sit well with some or many.

4. Let me repeat again

   Dear All supporters of Vosgan writings about Appahayr Yeghia,

   We should learn from the civilized world that we are not allowed to overpass our freedom of writing and insult people and degrade their personalities because of personal or public affair issues. 

   Let us be intelligent enough to respect "Hankamanks" and only discuss the subject in  objective and scientific way . What will I benefit or other Armenian reader benefit when Mr. Vosgan shamelessly insults a famous Armenian figure like Hayr Yeghia Appahayr. Mr. Vosgan has no right to insult anybody but has the right to express his opinion about any matter related to Armenian life.

   I would have respected him more if he would have not agressively attacked Appahayr’s person. It is not his job or right.  Who does he think of himself,  the angel of Mekhitarists without any personal faults? We all have mistakes but nobody will accept  Mr. Vosgan’s way of insulting articles on an important and respected Armenian Mekhitarist congregation leader.

   I never forget my Moorat Raphael years and their high influence on my education. I am grateful first to my saviour Jesus Christ and then to my Mekhitarist teachers like Hayr Levon Zekian, Hayr Raphael Andonian, Hayr Yeghia (Now Appahayr), Hayr Mikael (Mkho) and Hayr Vertanes (God bless their both souls), Hayr Ghugas and Hayr Hosep and many others…… All of them prepared strong Armenian generations who are now all around the world.  What did Vosgan give to Armenians?  Do we want to accept his insults of Appahayr.  "Kav Litzi" Baron Vosgan,  that will never happen.

   Now I am alone responding to him; you will recieve hundreds of letters in support of Appahayr Yeghia because we all love that Heros Appahayr who is running our beloved and respected  Congregation . Nobody is allowed to speak or write insulting letters on Appahayr Yeghia. Please go ahead and criticize his work but not his pure and good personality. 

5. Nobody is beyond reproach

   I made an effort to read all available articles on Keghart.com written by Mr. Vosgan Mekhitarian. Is it a coincidence that his name and that of the congregation are the same? All contain materials that it’s hard to think they are fabricated. What surprises me is the absence of public response by the congregation itself to these allegations, unless I have missed them. Something which is not unlikely.

   It would serve the public’s interest if somebody could clear the air and either refute the allegations of mismanagement and a behaviour almost bordering incompetence or provide a plausible explanation of why things are run the way they are.

   Let me remind only one instance amongst many. It’s almost unbelievable that a lawn that bears an interest rate in double digits is favoured against another which is less by more than half. Is this a made up story? Any member of the non-profit organization mentioned by Mr. Mekhitarian, I think, can simply visit Bank of America and verify.

   Probably Boghos Mardirossian, who has commented, is partly correct in stating that character and personalities should be off limit. That for the sake of not confusing issues at hand with traits and what not of persons involved. Their actions surely should be looked at and investigated for as long as they affect "Armenian Life" as he terms it.

   In this day and age nobody is beyond public scrutiny, not even presidents and prime ministers or the Pope. Would it be "insulting" to add the revered Appahayr Yeghia’s name on this list? Nobody is infallible. One might be a great teacher and spiritual leader but lack the skills of management.

6. Accuse and Insult
   Dear Keghart readers,

   It bothers me to read, in respected newspapers, words such "եւ տակաւին կը գործէ կրկնակի ամբարտաւանութեամբ։" (Calling Appahayr AMPARDAVAN). I am against high-interest loans and the mismanagement of the Congregation’ resources, but I do not accept, in any newspaper, words which insult persons. Vosgan Mkhitarian could have brought this matter to public attention in different ways, rather than write in the following way: "Առաջին անգամ չէ որ Հայր Եղիա Քիլաղպեան կը հալածէ Հայր Օգոստինոսը։ 2000 թուականէն սկսեալ մաղձ մը ունի այս ծերունի վարդապետին դէմ, որուն յառաջացման մէջ կային նաեւ անցեալի ա՛յլ տխրահռչակ դերակատարներ, որոնք այդ խաղաբեմէն հեռացած են այսօր։ 2004 թուականի դատավարութիւնները, որոնք հսկայական ծախսերու ենթարկեցին թէ՛ դպրոցը եւ թէ՛ միաբանութիւնը, ածխամատիտով արձանագրուած են միաբանութեան պատմութեան էջերուն մէջ, ի վերջոյ արատաւորելով ամբողջ միաբանութեան վարկը։ Կարծէք անցեալի այս տխուր դէպքերը երբե՛ք դաս չեղան Հայր Եղիային, որուն յանձնուած է, դժբախտաբար եւ անարժանաբար, փառաւոր անցեալ ունեցող միաբանութեան մը ղեկը)  and  ( իր կոպիտ հրահանգները)."

   What kind of expressions are these highlighted words? ("Maghz uni, geh halazeh aradavorel miyapanutyan vargeh, tjpaghtapar yev anarjanapar ghege yeghaz eh.")

   Dear Keghart readers, who gave the right to Mr. Mkhitarian to put an important subject such as he claims in such expressions which do not relate to Appahayr Yeghia’s character?

   We all want investigation and control because the Mkhitarian Congregation is an important Christian and Armenian institution, but I do not accept such street-level articles. For God sake, let us be constructive critics rather destructive.

   1. Harkeli Boghos

      Harkeli Boghos,

      Hamatsayn em hedet, payts meg pan al essem kezi–Voskanin keradzneroun bedk tche shad garevoroutiun drvi, vorovhedev hredor men eh. Djishd zink ge nemantsnem ayn pilissopayagan tebrotsin vor ge gotchvein Sophistner, yev miayn assor anor ge haladzein yev gampardavanen. Eents esse, ays sophistneren eentch hassads e mezi ayssor vorbeszi sorvink? Meg pan yete votch ayssorva geghdod kaghakaganoutiune. Voskanin metchn al marmnatsats e ayss nooyn pilissopayoutiune.

7.  I am glad that there are people

   I am glad that there are people like Mr.. Mekhitarian that have the courage to write, and open the public’s eyes on what’s behind the closed curtains of Mekhitarian  Congregation today.

   It will be a pleasure to have a conversation with Mr. Mekhitarian discussing theses matters.

   1. About private bank accounts
      According to Mr. Mekhitarian’s article, Terenik Koujakian is involved in the Mekhitarian School. The money to be barrowed to pay taxes to EED and IRS would NOT be deposited in the Mekhitarian bank account but that of Terenik’s.

      Some dacades ago, Mr. Terenik was involved in ousting Mr.Injejikian, the founder of the first Ferrahian Armenian High School in the United States. After reaching his goals, Mr. Terenik disapeared from the Ferrahian school. Now he has surfaced again to do damage to the Mekitarians.How did he get involved with the Mekhitarians? 

      Mekhitariantsis BEWARE of him.

8. Gergrortem esadzet Serj

   Gergrortem esadzet Serj, bedk e zkouch ellal Terenig-en, manavant vor al chad vad anoun ouni haygagan cherchanagi mech.  Zarmanalin ayn e vor  kani me dariner arach, irarou tem baykar ounetsadz en (Terenig vs. Appahayr).

9. Al ge pave, Vosgan

   Voskan, yes kezi email bidi ghergeyee payts tsavok srdi, hasgetsa yev hamozvetsa teh anhimn yen kroutiuneret. Bidi tchouzei asgets hedo appahor hastsein tbnass. Nakh toun ov yes vor meshdegh ingats ess yev miapanoutian appahayre ge zerbardess. Al ge pave. Tchaperout metch getsir.

Comments are closed.