Hayern Aysor’s correspondent sat down for an interview with Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Romania, author of several academic books, Bishop Tatev Hakobyan, who was recently hosted at the RA Ministry of Diaspora. We present the interview to our readers.

Hayern Aysor: Welcome to Armenia! Your Holiness, you were in Armenia and Artsakh during the four-day Artsakh war in April…What was the mission of this visit?

His Holiness: I had come to be present during the pilgrimage of Pope Francis to Armenia.

Hayern Aysor: Is it easy to protect and preserve the Armenian identity and the centuries-old spiritual values of our nation in the Armenian community that is considered one of the oldest Armenian communities in Europe?  

His Holiness: The Armenian community of Romania stands out from other Armenian communities. It wasn’t formed after the Armenian Genocide, but in 1401 when the Armenian Episcopal See was established by the edict of Alexander Bari and headed by Bishop Hovhannes. We accept that edict as a basis. Since then, we have had 42 church leaders. The Armenians of Romania didn’t experience genocide, but they maintain the spirit of the Armenian city of Ani with their customs and traditions. Although the city of Ani is in ruins, the spirit of the Armenians of Ani lives in the Romanian-Armenians. I must also say that these are the Armenians of the Diaspora who almost don’t speak Armenia, 10% of the community speaks Armenian and mixed marriages make up almost 90%. However, we have great riches, including 2 monasteries, 16 churches, 8 chapels and 8 Armenian cemeteries (the Armenian cemeteries in Romania are even museums-all the statues and tombstones have been brought from Vienna). We also have a library, a museum and a rich archive of antique and precious manuscripts. We have the Hovsep and Victoria Dudyan Cultural Center, the Misakyan-Gesimyan Armenian Sunday School, the Romanian-Armenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ararat international Russian-language magazine and the “Nor Kyank” (New Life) Armenian-language quarterly. National minorities have their television programs, and the Armenians are no exception. In Transylvania we also have Armenian Catholic churches that also have their museums, libraries, archives, churches and cemeteries.

Hayern Aysor: In which cities are Armenians based?

His Holiness: They are mainly based in Bucharest. In the church calendars, we have 918 addresses in Bucharest, the addresses of at least 50 people in Botoshan, almost 200 addresses in Constanta, almost 40-50 addresses in all cities, and there are Armenians in almost all cities across Romania.

Hayern Aysor: Your Holiness, in which fields are the Armenians more involved in Romania?

His Holiness: Since ancient times, the Armenians of Romania have always had their presence in many sectors. I must not forget to mention the great Armenian, Catholicos Vazgen I, who was born in Romania and served as leader of the Armenian Diocese of Romania between 1943 and 1955. We have many cultural figures, merited artists of the Opera of Bucharest, recipients of state and international awards, architects, doctors, journalists, teachers…Between 1992 and 1998, our compatriot Virgil Aktarian was Romania’s Deputy Minister for Heavy Industry and later the Minister of Electronic Technologies, and Ashot Sharafyan served as the director for heavy industry in Romania in 2010). Today, Harutyun Pambukchian represents the Armenians in the Romanian Parliament. Senator Varujan Vosganian, who held the office of Minister of Finance and Economy of Romania between 2006 and 2008, is the President of the Union of Armenians of Romania, the Vice-President of the Union of Writers of Romania, as well as author of poems and short stories.

Hayern Aysor: What does the church do and what measures does it take to make sure the Armenians of Romania never forget Armenian?

His Holiness: The Armenian Holy Apostolic Church always stays true to its course. It seems to be the mother eagle that gathers its offspring around it. To this day, it is very clear to all Armenians of the Diaspora that the Armenian Church has the power to unite Armenians and preserve the Armenian identity. It is not the power of a human being. It is the power of the 2,000-year-old Christian faith.

Hayern Aysor: Your Holiness, whose faith is stronger in the Armenian community of Romania-the adults or the youth?

His Holiness: Let us not forget that Romania has been under the influence of Communists for 40 consecutive years, and it is obvious that that generation has been detached from God. Of course, there have also been people who have been followers of the faith. The Romanians are great followers, even in the National Assembly where the chairman sits with a cross on his back. Living among Christian believers (the Romanians are Orthodox) and seeing how strong the faith of 20-22,000,000 Romanians is, Armenian youth also have strong faith. Christian faith is natural for them.

Hayern Aysor: What is the priority issue of the Armenian community of Romania that requires a speedy solution?

His Holiness: Speaking Armenian is the issue that needs to be solved first because an Armenian-speaking Armenian feels the Armenian identity differently. The community also has a problem with connecting the Armenians of Romania to the Homeland. There are few of them in Armenia. They need to live in Armenia, recognize the Homeland and establish contacts with the locals. When a Diaspora Armenian comes to Armenia, he has a different understanding when he sees Armenians all around him and people speaking only in Armenian. This has a great impact, and the person feels more powerful. Whenever I visit Armenia, I feel some kind of strength.

Hayern Aysor: It is no secret that many sects have penetrated into Armenia and become radicalized over the years. Have they also found their place within the Armenian community of Romania?

His Holiness: I must say that the sects weren’t able to penetrate and become radicalized in Romania because the Romanians have a very strong faith, are well informed about the Christian faith and the whole country follows one religion.

Hayern Aysor: Your Holiness, during the four-day war in April, you visited Artsakh and stood by the side of Armenian soldiers. Was this your personal initiative?

His Holiness: I have always thought that I have never been a soldier in the Republic of Armenia and wanted to fulfill my duty to my Homeland during those days. At my initiative, I stayed at the military positions in Artsakh for eight days. I think it is the duty of every Diaspora Armenian to become enlisted for the Homeland. I went to Martakert and Talish, the different military subdivisions, talked to the soldiers, gave them my blessings, stayed with them and experienced what they were experiencing. As I was looking at all those soldiers, I thought to myself-they are not ordinary people, but angels. I saw a different kind of light and purity in their glances. What amazed me was their modesty. The soldier having struck a tank was talking as if he hadn’t done anything at all.

Hayern Aysor: What does Artsakh mean to you? Is it merely a geographical territory, a bordering zone, or a powerful land?

His Holiness: It is a powerful land. I have often said that there is something sacred about the word “Artsakh”, the spirit of Armenians because whenever we Diaspora Armenians hear about Artsakh, we all unite as one and forget which church, organization or political party we are affiliated to. I think Artsakh is not just a piece of land. God is present there, and I always say that people aren’t the only ones in war. God is also in a war with us.

Hayern Aysor: Your Holiness, the Armenians of Romania have many churches, but the Armenians talk more about the Holy Archangels Armenian Church. What is the secret?

His Holiness: The church is the first Armenian church opened and consecrated in 1915. From the inside, it is very similar to the Mother Cathedral of Ani. From the outside, it looks a lot like the Mother Cathedral of Etchmiadzin. The Michael and Gabriel Holy Archangels Armenian Church, which is located at Armyanskaya Street, was built according to the plan of Grigorie Cherkez and Dimitrie Maymarolu. Indeed, the Hatchkatar (Hatchoyakatar) St. Mary Monastery in Sucaeva is also very beloved and important because it is the only monastery where all the faithful come to pray. We renovated that church through a donation from U.S.-based Romanian-Armenians Vika and Hagop Gouyoumjian. The monastery is located on a hill, and the Romanians climb to the top on their knees, spin around the monastery three times, enter the monastery and light candles. This is an inexplicable and wonderful procedure. Let me recall the Zamka Monastery and all the other churches, the sacred cathedrals of light. One has to see them.

Hayern Aysor: Let me change the course of our conversation. Your Holiness, why and what made you decide to become a clergyman? Were there clergymen in your family?

His Holiness: I was born in the city of Mosul of Iraq, but my roots trace back to Sasun. My parents live in Holland. We are an extended family and have had a clergyman in our family. I started going to church when I was little. At that age, I already felt that the church lives within me and that my mission was to serve the Armenian Church. I chose to be a monk, thinking that I love the church more than a woman, children and a family. I received my education in Etchmiadzin during the living years of Vazgen I and have served in different countries around the world.

Hayern Aysor: What are your impressions of the visit of the Pope to Armenia?

His Holiness: I am very impressed with the idea that he made his pilgrimage to the first Christian country, Armenia. After his visit, many people will want to make pilgrimages to Armenia. We showed the whole world that we Armenians are first Christian and then belong to this or that church. Our goal is to see the unity of Christians. What impressed me a lot was the Pope’s statement that Armenia is the citadel of Christianity. I often say that Armenia is the gateway to Christianity, and that gateway needs to be strong. The other important thing was that it was in Armenia where the Pope pronounced the word “Genocide”.

Hayern Aysor: We know that your prelacy released a book devoted to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide. Could you tell us more about the book?

His Holiness: Of course! We printed a beautiful album presenting the history of the church and old and new photos. The book includes the speeches by the Supreme Patriarch, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the President of Romania, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Hayern Aysor: Your Holiness, what other profession would you have chosen, if you hadn’t chosen to become a clergyman?

His Holiness: I would become a military serviceman.

Hayern Aysor: Well, Your Holiness, a clergyman is also a soldier and has his share on the battlefield. I wish you success and wish that you continue your mission to instill the faith.

Karine Avagyan