“LET’S SIT AT THE TABLE WITH AT LEAST THREE SONS”
“ARMENIANS WITHOUT CIGARETTES”
“ARMENIA IS THE HOMELAND OF ALL ARMENIANS, LET’S MAKE IT STRONG!”
“AN ARMENIAN IS HE WHO FEELS ARMENIAN”
“ARMENIANS MUSTNOT ONLY SERVE THE HOMELAND, BUT ALSO GAIN PROFIT”
“BECOME THE INHERITOR, OWNERAND DEFENDER OF ARMENIAN CULTURE EVERYWHERE!”
“RETURN A PART OF YOUR TALENT AND GIFTS TO YOUR HOMELAND”
“SPEAK ARMENIAN AT HOME!”
“SPEND YOUR VACATION IN THE HOMELAND ONCE EVERY 3 YEARS!”
“DRAW YOUR FAMILY TREE!”
“MARRIAGE WITH THE BLESSING OF MY HOMELAND”
“ARMENIAN NAME AND THE “YAN” IS YOUR IDENTITY IN THE WORLD”
“OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT IN THE HOMELAND”
“EVERY ARMENIAN MUST SEE ARMENIA”
“WE EXIST, WE MUST EXIST AND WE MUST GROW IN NUMBER” P. SEVAK
“OH! ARMENIAN PEOPLE, YOUR ONLY SALVATION LIES IN YOUR COLLECTIVE FORCE” Y. CHARENTS

Fr. Archimandrite Maghakia Amirian: “The Argentines feel safe in the Armenian community of Argentina”

Hayern Aysor’s interview with pastor of the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church of the Armenian Diocese of Argentina in Buenos Aires, Archimandrite Maghakia Amirian stressed once again the fact that the Armenian Apostolic Church and the clergyman himself play a major role in preserving the Armenian identity in the Armenian Diaspora and helping Armenians stay true to Christian values.

The clergyman truly helps create a national and church life for the Armenians of the world with his daily activities, consolidates them and urges them to be patriotic and church-centered.

The interview with His Holiness was not only about the spiritual mission in the Armenian Diaspora, but also several other major issues.

Hayern Aysor: Father Maghakia, what made you choose the path of a clergyman that is difficult and interesting at the same time?

Father Maghakia: First, I must say that I had wanted to become a soldier since I was a child. After graduating from school, I had decided to become a serviceman and get accepted to the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Institute of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia.

Later, I changed my mind and wanted to serve in the Armenian Army. My parents noticed that I hadn’t made up my mind and urged me to decide on my own.

During a regular family gathering, leader of the Armenian Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, Archbishop Haigazoun Najarian, who was the superintendent of the Gevorgyan Spiritual Lyceum at the time, suggested that I sing. After I sang, he expressed words of admiration, adding that I had a wonderful voice and that I definitely had to get accepted to the Lyceum. Frankly, I wasn’t too excited, but I agreed.

Perhaps my Grandfather Savugh’s influence also became significant. My grandfather is a religious person and still goes to church and takes part in church ceremonies. My brother is also a clergyman.

I went to get accepted to the Lyceum, not having a clear idea of what was in store for me. After passing the exams successfully, I studied at the religious school of Shirak Diocese from 1997 to 2000 and later at the Gevorgyan Spiritual Lyceum of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin from 2000 to 2006.

To be honest, I had a hard time adapting to the life at the Lyceum in the beginning, even though I studied well. It seemed that I wasn’t able to fit in.

However, after my third year of studies, my life turned upside down. I became connected to the Lyceum and aspired to participate in church activities as much as possible. That was when I decided to become a celibate priest and join the armed congregation. This is how I became a clergyman.

Hayern Aysor: Why did you want to become a celibate priest?

Father Maghakia: I think it was because of my friendships with senior clergymen whose positive influence was significant and, most importantly, it was because of my great desire to serve the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church unconditionally as a member of the armed congregation. Of course, the influence of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians also played a major role. I remember how he would always meet me and convey precious messages during my years of study.

There is also an instructive and interesting event that happened during my years at the Lyceum and had a great impact on my development as a clergyman.

One day, one of the superintendents of the Lyceum lined students up and checked to see if they were following the rules or not. When it was my turn, the superintendent warned me to step out of the line, pick up the ice cream wrapper and throw it in the trashcan. I got afraid of picking up the paper and didn’t go against my principles. After hearing some of his instructions, I was forced to give in, feeling pain deep down inside and asking myself why I did that and humiliated myself in front of everyone.

However, I didn’t find a trashcan and put the wrapper in a corner of the wall. As I was returning from the cafeteria, the superintendent noticed the place where I had put the wrapper, told me to throw it in the trashcan again and told me to come to his office. As I entered the office, he didn’t say anything to me, took a three-volume book about the Old and New Testaments, gave it to me and told me to read it and see him again in three weeks.

I didn’t consider that a punishment at all. It was one of the major and crucial tribulations in my life that became a turning point for me and set an example of cleanliness, discipline and truthfulness.

On April 15, 2007, I graduated from the Lyceum and was ordained a celibate priest by Primate of the U.S. Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.

Hayern Aysor: You became a clergyman. Do you maintain your ties with the Armenian Army and the soldiers?

Father Maghakia: I definitely do. Whenever I visit Armenia, I visit the soldiers first as a sign of respect. I am carrying out a program with the youth of the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church of Buenos Aires to support Armenian soldiers.

Every year, we organize a banquet during one of the special events. I take all the proceeds and give them to the military units located in the bordering villages of Tavush Province. We also provide assistance to some of the families of the villages.

This year, we managed to raise $30,000 dollars from my close friends in the USA, visited Artsakh and helped 26 families of soldiers who fell in the four-day Artsakh war. We also met with disabled and wounded soldiers and even went to see the families of those who were killed during the Artsakh liberation war.

Hayern Aysor: When did you start your spiritual service in the Armenian community of Buenos Aires?

Father Maghakia: In 2011, under the direction of the Supreme Patriarch, I was appointed pastor of the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church of Buenos Aires.

Throughout the five years of my spiritual service, I have discovered a community of patriotic and pro-national Armenians who stay clung to the Armenia, their Motherland.

I have learned a lot from the Armenian community of Argentina. I am thankful and grateful to the Supreme Patriarch for trusting me. The trials and tribulations that an Armenian clergyman undergoes abroad provide the clergyman with the opportunity to serve more persistently in the future.

As far as the community is concerned, it consists of fourth generation Armenians. We have an organized community of 100,000 members.

With the feeling of patriotism, Argentine-Armenian benefactors carry out different kinds of social programs in the bordering villages of Armenia and Artsakh. They build churches and schools, supply water, build sport schools, etc.

There are Armenians who have never been to Armenia, but provide financial assistance to the Homeland. One of them is Eduardo Seferian, who has carried out a large charity program for Artsakh. Argentine-Armenian businessman Eduardo Eurnekian’s efforts are also invaluable.

Hayern Aysor: What are the trials and tribulations that an Armenian clergyman undergoes abroad?

Father Maghakia: There are many difficulties and challenges, but a clergyman needs to move forward without thinking twice and with the unwavering faith in Christ. Nothing comes easy.

The first challenge is that you are alone, and there are many faithful people following you. You need to establish close ties with them and gain their trust.

However, thank God, I have already become fully integrated into the community.

Hayern Aysor: Unquestionably, the relations between the Armenian Church and the Armenian community are of great significance for community life. How strong is that relationship?

Father Maghakia: It is hinged on strong foundations since it is a mutually beneficial cooperation. The community doesn’t hold any event without the Church.

Argentine-Armenian youth, who stand out with their great feeling of patriotism, also make their great contributions to ensure that partnership.

To unite them around the Church, we reopened the youth organization of the Armenian Diocese of Argentina established back in 1951. The members of the youth organization are the young members of various organizations and institutions with whom we organize and carry out various pro-national events and initiatives. I always say that the Church is a structure that is for everyone.

To strengthen the bonds between the Church and the community, I have been organizing Bible readings for the faithful every Thursday at the Prelacy for the past five years. People of all ages participate in the meetings, and we have created a small family with them. We discuss not only religious topics, but also other topics.

Hayern Aysor: Have the Armenians of Argentina managed to establish friendly ties with the Argentines over the years? What have you noticed?

Father Maghakia: Without exaggerating, the Armenians are anticipated and respected in Argentina. During community events, we receive the Argentines with open arms. The Argentines even ask us to invite them to Armenian national events. As for the partnership with Argentina, the political, economic and cultural relations are at a high level.

If you sit in a cab and tell the driver you are Armenian, he will immediately take you to the Armenia Quarter. In other words, the Argentines feel safe in the Armenian community of Argentina.

The Armenians of Argentina are engaged in all sectors of the country. A vast majority of them are jewelers and silversmiths, while others have their restaurants and are entrepreneurs. There are well-known Armenian lawyers, advocates, doctors, professors, intellectuals, musicians and other professionals in Argentina.

We have young Armenians who stand out with their activism in the cultural sphere. They have a good reputation and are respected in the community.

Hayern Aysor: It is clear that the danger of mixed marriages is troubling and growing day after day. What actions does the Church take to help the young Armenians preserve their national identity?

Father Maghakia: The issue of mixed marriages is truly problematic in Argentina.

Almost seven out of ten people get married to a foreigner. I think the main way of preventing the danger of mixed marriages is to try to help the youth preserve the Armenian identity when it is time so that they realize the importance of an Armenian family. Latin America is a free country, and it is a little hard to manage young Armenians in that flow.

Of course, the Church works with them, talks to them about national preservation, the Armenian language and national customs.

Hayern Aysor: We know that Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Argentina, Archbishop Gissak Mouradian has had close ties with Pope Francis. What interesting stories of the Pope has the archbishop shared?

Father Maghakia: Yes, Pope Francis has had very cordial and friendly ties with the Armenian community of Argentina and His Holiness Gissak back when the Pope was a cardinal of Argentina. The Pope felt the sincerity of the Armenians towards him, and that is what made him love and trust us. As we know, he maintains friendly relations with the Armenians.

His Holiness says the Pope has come to the Armenian Church of Argentina by bus very often. People had a very hard time trying to convince him to go to the Prelacy of the Catholic Church by car.

During the visit of the Pope to Armenia, though with great difficulty, members of the Armenian community of Argentina managed to not only meet the Pope with special invitations in the Mother See, but also talked and took photos with him. As always, the Pope received us with open arms. It was a wonderful meeting.

Hayern Aysor: What do you think Armenia got out of the Pope’s visit?

Father Maghakia: First, I must say that this was not an ordinary visit. As His Holiness had said, he was making a visit to the first Christian nation. Indeed, his visit was very important for us Armenians. The visit was important for the strengthening of the already close ties with the Roman Catholic Church. The establishment of those relations is also the result of the hard work of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.

Hayern Aysor: Being at a distance, what do you miss about Etchmiadzin?

When I was ordained a celibate priest, my one wish was to serve the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to the sounds of the bells of the Mother See throughout my entire life.

Being at a distance, I have a great longing for the Mother See. It is our family which we always hope to return. The Mother See is the greatest glory of the spiritual essence of all Armenians around the world.

Interview by Gevorg Chichyan

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