I had a chance to speak to Father Hovsep Garabedian, pastor of the St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church in Washington, D.C.

He told me that Armenians coming to the capital, as compared to California and elsewhere, are educated professionals who quickly find work, even if temporary. The community has 10,000-12,000 members.

Father Hovsep says that in the diaspora the church serves two functions – spiritual and cultural.

Most Armenian churches in the diaspora have a host of affiliated groups and organizations, as well as a Sunday school teaching religious history and the Armenian language.

St. Mary’s Sunday school has 80 children attending; almost all from families originating in Armenia.

Unlike Armenia, church membership in the U.S. is fee based. This entitles one to vote in various parish elections. At St. Mary’s the annual membership fee is $200. The church has 300 dues paying members.

Father Hovsep has been the pastor at St. Mary’s for the past four years.

He confessed that the fact that a small number of Armenians in America are involved in crime was something of a novelty for the community.

This year the church is planning to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independece in style and a special event’s committee has been set up that will cooperate with the Armenian Embassy in Washington D.C.

Father Hovsep told me that the church tries to avoid getting involved in the political ups and downs taking place in Armenia. The pastor says that the church must offer spiritual nourishment only but being a “national” church as well it tries to impart an Armenian identity in the youth through history and culture.

“If the church got involved in politics it would lose its meaning and role. In addition, you live in Armenia and see events unfold before you. We live far away from Armenia and become informed in a totally different way. The church would get into something of a pickle if it stuck its nose into politics in Armenia,” Father Hovsep said, adding that he believes that some priests in Armenia are involved in politics.

He said that he thinks the church in Armenia is trying to rediscover itself and restore its former values.

Historically, the church has always stood alongside the people but Father Hovsep argues that it has lost some of these national traits.

“Priests in Armenia differ from those here. Those in Armenia still serve as formal clergy who officiate at various rituals. It’s a holdover from the Soviet era. This is slowly changing but this view still holds, and in the people as well. If I am about to conduct a marriage here I meet several times with the couple. This doesn’t happen in Armenia. Priests there are still removed from the people.”

Nevertheless, Father Hovsep urges reporters and Armenians back in Armenia not to condemn the entire church and clergy for the bad acts of a few.