Արևելահայերեն
Արևմտահայերեն
РусскийThe doors to the homeland had been closed for 70 years
During the international conference devoted to the 200th anniversary of the Mekhitarist Congregation in Vienna, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan awarded Abbot of the Mekhitarist Congregation, Supreme Archimandrite, Father Boghos Gotchanian the “William Saroyan” Medal of the RA Ministry of Diaspora for his patriotic acts.
During the conference, Father Boghos delivered a report on “The History of the Mekhitarist Congregation” and presented the life and career of Mkhitar Sebastatsi, as well as the glorious past of the Mekhitarist Congregation.
The Museum and Library of the Mekhitarist Congregation in Vienna store Armenian cultural values that give one the opportunity to get acquainted with the spiritual riches of Armenians’ history.
The Mekhitarist Congregation in Vienna also has the largest collection of Armenian coins and newspapers, as well as the first Armenian Tricolor. “Hayern Aysor”’s correspondent L. Abrahamyan sat down for an interview with Father Boghos Gotchanian.
In all times, great importance has been attached to Armenology, especially at the Mekhitarist Congregation in Vienna. However, the Mekhitarist Congregation in Venice has also carried out important acts, such as the publication of old Armenian literature, as well as the translation of foreign and classical literature into grabar. The latter were important works for the Armenian people, especially at a time when many hadn’t attended schools and it was important to awaken love for education and form taste for literature.
It is very important to examine everything and reveal the reality. We shouldn’t just pursue the goal of the nation, but the science as well. We have to seek the truth everywhere. That is why our newspaper called “Handes Amsorya” is open to everyone. Anyone can write whatever he or she wantts, but that has to be a scientific work and the sources have to be precise.
A Christian Encyclopedia was written here years ago. I was told to prepare an article on the “Handes Amsorya”. I did and sent the article. Then, I was asked about the newspaper’s direction, to which I replied that the newspaper is scientific. Anyone can write whatever he or she wants, but it has to be grounded with facts.
“Hayern Aysor”: Did the Mekhitarist Congregation in Vienna celebrate its 200th anniversary?
B. G.: We celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Mekhitarist Congregation in Vienna a month ago in Vienna. There were German speakers and that is why we conducted everything in German.
It was more important for us to celebrate the Congregation’s anniversary in Armenia, and I am happy to see that our wish was fulfilled. The RA Ministry of Diaspora took responsibility for organizing the conference, and I would like to express my gratitude to RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan.
“Hayern Aysor”: In your report, you mentioned that the Congregation faces several issues.
B. G.: When the Armenian people was reborn after the perversion of culture, the Mekhitarist Congregation was surely the force that made them reborn. Unfortunately, the Congregation is not what it was 50 or 100 years ago, and we all know the reasons why. For 70 years, the doors to the homeland were closed, and we were only carrying out activities abroad.
We had clergymen from Armenia before WWI, but not after the war.
Eleven years ago, the Congregations in Venice and Vienna joined forces, and together they have 26 archimandrites, which is the least number of archimandrites in the history of the Mekhitarist Congregation. Before the Genocide, there were nearly 100 archimandrites, including 50 in Venice and 50 in Vienna.
We have an educational complex in the Avan district of Yerevan, and it is led by the state curriculum. However, if the students wish to continue their studies after graduation and follow us, we send them to Venice to prepare at the universities of philosophy and theology. There are already three Armenian youth studying in Venice.
“Hayern Aysor”: You also participated in the Pan-Armenian Forum for Heads and Representatives of Diaspora Armenian Organizations. How would you assess that forum?
B. G.: I welcome the forum as a first step, but to make the forums practical, they have to be held frequently with smaller groups working on separate materials. It is impossible to speak of issues related to Armenian culture in an hour. I would like to see more forums.
Interview by Lusine Abrahamyan
