Wasn’t Sanahin primary?
It turns out that the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II expressed his opinion on the Sanahin monastic complex based on precedence.
This is what Head of the Information Service of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Father Vahram Melikyan announced during a press conference as he touched upon the press releases according to which the Catholicos had said he had nothing to do with the churches and monasteries located on the hills.
"I deny that the Supreme Patriarch said such a thing, especially when Samvel Karapetyan literally presents certain details of that conversation. I tell you it was a matter of precedence, but he has never ignored anything," said Father Vahram.
According to him, the Supreme Patriarch simply said the care for holy places like Geghard, Khor Virap and Holy Etchmiadzin is primary in terms of importance for the nation, if we compare them with other monasteries. "All monasteries are important, but these monasteries are linked to certain realities in Armenian history," said Father Vahram.
Monument expert Samvel Karapetyan reassured that the Catholicos had truly said those words in his presence during a meeting with architect Armen Hakhnazaryan in 2006.
The architect had told the Catholicos that though there was no need for construction of new churches, he asked to pay attention to medieval monuments, for instance, the forest that had grown on the roof of a monastery like that of Sanahin. "The Catholicos literally said he would not allow the destruction of monasteries like Khor Virap or Geghard and that he had nothing to do with the monasteries on the hills," said Samvel Karapetyan.
Only after today's scandal did he mention that perhaps the reason was one of his interviews during which he recalled those words. Now the monument expert is afraid every time he hears that they want to demolish this or that monastery.
Mother See didn't waste money?
Head of the Information Service of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Father Vahram Melikyan also touched upon the articles that the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has acquired 7 cars costing 309,000 dollars from Toyota-Yerevan. "Benefactor Samvel Karapetyan donated those cars to the Mother See two years ago, but we haven't made those purchases. A Dutch pilgrim donated a microbus. We didn't waste any money on that. It is simply ridiculous for the Mother See to purchase several cars that are not too noticeable on the streets," said Father Vahram.
