The society was shocked to hear that of the servants of the Church, the head of the Araratian Branch of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan has bought an expensive Bentley. I was not surprised by that news. It would be surprising if he would organize a presentation of a holy book about the God’s word or if he would petition the authorities to stop the violence against citizens as violence is a crime not only against the society but against the God as well.
Of course it would be good if this high rank religious servant would be a model of modesty for others instead of becoming a hero of different discussions and rumors (I do not want to write about the numerous scandal stories about Kchoyan). However I am not a judge. Eventually the human being is not integral, even if this man is the head of the largest Branch of the Church. If he may make the God angry with such behavior, the God is the one to punish him.
I am concerned about another thing in this story. I worry about the results that the abuse of the words of the God may bring to.
I will try to write why such behavior is not acceptable.
1. When Armenian Christian hear about the immoral behavior of this representative of the Church, they stop believing in the Armenian Apostolic Church. Every person can ask himself a question why he should go to Church if the servant of this Church has forgotten about his duty and is deep in pleasure.
2. Armenians (from Armenia and Diaspora) think that this example is applicable for others as well. Two or three representatives of the Church harm the image of the entire Church system, as a result of which people get disappointed and do not believe in them anymore.
3. A part of the disappointed people are trying to look for an ideal church (but there cannot be ideal church) and they join different sects, and even may change their religion.
4. Some people start criticizing the Church and the servants of the Church, thus weakening the role of our Church.
5. As people say, bad examples are contagious. I think there will be young people who will tend to graduate from the religious schools not to become one of the servants of the Church but to solve their financial problems and drive at least a Mercedes.
6. I think such behavior shortens the inflow of donations to the Church. People would not donate money to the Church if they know that a part of their money goes to satisfy the pleasure and needs of a servant of the Church.
Now let’s think about who is the one that undermines the image and reputation of our Church. The witnesses of Jehovah, Satanists, Turkish and Azeri special services or several oligarchs and servants of the Church (thanks to God there are few of them now).
www.mediamax.am
Reported by Tigran Hakobyan