The following letter was sent to Hetq by Very Rev. Father Zaven Yazichyan, Pastor and Manager of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy in Kolkota.

Father Yazichyan refutes a number of claims appearing in the November 26 Hetq Opinion piece entitled Armenian Election Woes in India: Millions in Assets at Stake.

Today  it  is  not  unusual  for miscreants  to  create  a  scandal  out  of  nothing  and  to  tarnish  a persons’ reputation without much deliberation. And what makes it worse is the readiness of the media  to publish without proof of  its veracity, articles written by such miscreants who do not have the courage to name themselves and instead assume the title of “Anonymous”. 

Hence,  it was  not without  anguish  that  I  read  the  article  titled  “Armenian Election Woes  in India:  Millions  in  Assets  at  Stake”  on  hetq.am.  I  do  not  wish  to  demean  myself  to argue with a nameless person; however I would like to make some clarification:

The Armenians  have  been  connected with  India  as  traders  from  the  days  of  antiquity. They came to  this  country by  the overland  route,  through Persia, Afghanistan  and Tibet  and were well established in all the commercial centers long before the advent of any European traders. Nevertheless,  the Armenian community prospered and developed during  the 16th century.  In the early 18th century the Indian subcontinent was faced with a severe crisis. Fierce civil strife between Indians and Europeans as well as between the European powers themselves (England and France), resulted in the victory and subsequent expansion of the British rule in India. It is during  this  period  of  political  upheaval  and  unrest  that  the Armenian  community  sought  to reestablish  their  socio-cultural  identity  and  not  just  restrict  themselves  to  be  a  vibrant commercial community. This was one of the reasons that urged them to build churches (there are  five  churches  in West Bengal,  the oldest one was built  in 1688)  in  their  settlements  and invite priests from Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Armenia. As always and everywhere  in the entire world the Armenian Church was considered as the centre of all community activities, so the Armenians in India were and are not exceptions.

The  Armenians  in  India  considered  it  their  patriotic  duty  to  build  churches  and  provide educational facilities (one of the most important phenomena for the Armenian educational and cultural  life  in  the  Indian-Armenian  Spiritual  Pastorate  is  the  Armenian  College  and Philanthropic Academy (ACPA) and Davidian Girls’ School (DGS) of Kolkata. It may surely be said that it is one of a kind. It has been existing for almost two centuries and is still serving its  noble  purpose  by  educating  students  and  imparting  knowledge  and  wisdom  to  young Armenian  children  from  India  and  abroad)  for  their  compatriots  in  order  to  preserve  their religion,  language,  literature  and  national  identity.  To  the  Armenians,  Christianity  is  the religion  of  the  heart  and  not  of  the  head.  It  is  evident  from  the  gallant  and  simple  records illuminated with the tears of saints and glorified with the blood of martyrs.

Among all the Armenian Apostolic churches in India, The Armenian Holy Church of Nazareth, is  the  oldest  Armenian  Church  in  Kolkata  and  plays  a  unique  and  important  role  as  it  is considered  to  be  the Mother Church  of  the  Indian-Armenians  Spiritual  Pastorate. And  as  in everywhere  in all dioceses, parishes, pastorates, communities or  in any organizations, armies, offices  or  in  businesses  there  is  a  set  of written  rules  that  are  accepted  by  all  people  living together; first to generate a degree of trust and coordination that is necessary for people to live together as well as to specify how the administration will be constituted, and who will have the authority to take which decisions.

The  Indian-Armenian  Spiritual  Pastorate  is  subject  to  internal  and  external  rules,  order  and discipline.  Every  aspect  and  institution  of  human  civilization  requires  some  form  of government to prevent injustice and maintain order and govern a group properly It is said: that if men were  angels,  no  government would  be  necessary.  If  angels were  to  govern men,  no controls on government would be necessary. Unfortunately, it is not like that.

Therefore, our ancestors being well aware of  it, created bylaws for Indian-Armenian Spiritual Pastorate which we call Scheme.  In which  it  is clearly stated who and how  Indian Armenian identity has to be protected and preserved and passed to future generations. 

According  to  the  Scheme  every  four  years  in  the  Indian-Armenian  Spiritual  Pastorate  the Armenian  community  of Kolkata  assembles  to  elect  a  new  committee who will  protect  and preserve  the  Armenian  inheritance  and  pass  it  to  future  generations.  The  practice  of  the Armenian community  in Kolkata of assembling  together  to elect a new committee  is not new and the gossip surrounding it is also quite an old ritual, something I believe will unfortunately, continue  forever  and  never  stop. What  astonishes me  is  the  disposition  of  some  people  to escalate  such  baseless  gossip  into  a  sensational  mudslinging  affair,  by  trying  to  lend  it credibility through publications in the media. Either such individuals have a lot of spare time, or  they  do  not  know  how  to  utilize  the  limited  time  in  our  lives  in  a  prudent  and  righteous manner, knowing very well that the day of the Lord will come.

The  Scheme  clearly  states who  are  eligible  for  election; who  can  vote  and  can  be  elected. Hence  I  would  like  to  talk  about  specifically  what  has  been  written  in  this  article.  In  my opinion whosoever wrote this article is either a preposterous liar trying to undermine the peace of society or  is himself/herself not aware of  the  rules governing  the election procedure  in  the Indian-Armenian community.

“…recent election has included getting four clergymen and four Armenians from Armenia” 

Firstly,  the  clergy  robe  or  vestments  do  not  prevent  the  clergy  from  being  Armenians  and hence a part of the community. The clergy have been in the community from the first day when the  community was  established,  because  it  is  their  duty  to  be  present wherever  there  is  an Armenian  establishment,  to guide  them  to happiness  and partake  in  their  sadness. Yet  again according  to The Scheme, whosoever,  lay or  clergyman,  receives charity  from  the church or lives  in  the  property  of  the Church  is  not  eligible  to  vote. Manager, Assistant manager  and Armenian  teachers  are  employees  of  the  Armenian  College  and  Philanthropic  Academy (ACPA).  None  of  them  receive  any  charity  from  the  church  and  none  of  them  live  in  the property  that belongs  to  the Church. ACPA  is a  totally  separate body with  its own  rules and constitution. Secondly, there were four clergies in Kolkata during the summer months and now there are only two. Moreover, there are other strict criteria in The Scheme that one must meet before he/she can be allowed to vote. Only two clergies took part in the election. 

The Indian-Armenians I am sure are proud and  truly happy  to have  two priests because  there are so many Armenian communities that desire to have at least one visiting priest, so they can have Divine Liturgy  at  least  once  a month,  but  due  to  shortage  of  the  number  of Armenian priests, they are unable to enjoy the benefits of having one.

“…what was the reason for inviting these clerics six months prior to the November 10 election date… these clerics are archimandrites and bishops. Such a situation leads one to speculate as to their hidden agenda”    

Again  there  is no archimandrites and bishops  in Kolkata and no one was  invited  six months prior  to  the November 10  election date;  there  is  one married priest with his  family who has been living in Kolkata for more than three years and there is the newly appointed manager who had  to come  to Kolkata almost a year before his actual appointment,  to  learn and understand 3 the cultural differences and responsibilities of  the managerial position for a smooth  transition of chair.   

It is a complete lie that it in the history of the Annual General Meeting it is the first time that the  clergymen  have  participated  in  the  election.  Research  the  history,  who  advised  the community  to  have  a  Scheme,  a  written  document,  so  Indian-Armenians  could  keep  their identity so far from Motherland. 

“One might ask what four clerics are doing in India, where only 200 Armenians remain. Why aren’t they  in  places  where  there  are  40,000  Armenians  and  no  priests  –  Syria,  Ethiopia  and  Syria,  and elsewhere - where there is a need for holy men to save wandering souls?”     

Honestly, this is too much. I am wondering whether this person (whoever he or she is) has ever seriously thought what s/he wrote or is able to show on the map where Syria, Ethiopia is or tell how many Armenian Churches we have  there or how many priest are currently serving  there.

My suggestion to the writer would be to get his facts correct before saying, writing or let alone publishing anything. 

“What  exactly  are  the  clerics  doing  in  return  for such  luxurious  salaries? While  a  cleric  in Armenian  average  receives,  say,  $100  a  month,  in  India  they  receive  $2000  to  $3000, including benefits.”

 As  the Pastor of  Indian Armenian Spiritual Pastorate and Manager of Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy, I would refrain from disclosing the modest salary we receive and yet how I wish this allegation was true, not that I would know what to do with that monumental a paycheck.

“The Girls School has been closed  for 5 years now, and all  the  thirty girls are staying at  the  re staying at  the  re staying at  the  re staying at  the boys’  hostel. Does  the  school  administrator  intend  to  sell  the  girls  school, which  is  a  trust property? What about  the safety of  the young girls surrounded by celibate clerics and young  teenage boys?”     

The  DGS  is  currently  under  construction  and  the  delays  are  due  to  the  long  process  of obtaining  legal permission  for  renovations under  the  Indian Government  laws. Hopefully by the beginning of 2015 we will have all necessary paperwork done and will start construction of Davidian  Girls’  School  which  will  reopen  in  2017,  wherein  it  will  have  the  capacity  to accommodate more than 200 Armenian kids. No one has any intention of selling the DGS, for it  is  a  trust  property  and  it  is  under  the  kind  donation  of  the  Church  committee  that  this renovation project will become a reality. 

We as school administrators understand and leave no stone unturned in providing safety to the young Armenian girls on the highest level. We have appropriate women staff appointed 24/7 to look after the girls. 

To a few Armenians, who wish to remain anonymous:

I am not upset that you lied; I am just upset that many readers believed and got upset and from now on the person who would think logically cannot believe you anymore.   

For  the  senior  Indian-Armenians  we  have  the  Old  Age  Home  which  is  situated  near  The Armenian Chapel of St. Gregory the Illuminator near the Park Circus. This Home caters to the welfare of the needy. The church and the Home are taken care of by the Church Committee of Holy Nazareth as well. 

Dear author please verify your information, because even in the list of committee member you mentioned have erred, you have named people who are not  in  the committee and never were.  Furthermore,  I wonder  how  you  being  a  recipient  of  charity  from  the Church  can  say  such hurtful things to the Church and His servants who have helped you in times of need. Your way of thanking them appalls me.   

As  the Pastor of  Indian-Armenian Spiritual Pastorate and manager of Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy  I  invite everyone  to come and see  for  themselves how we  live  in  the ACPA. It is open to everyone and at all times. All Armenians must be proud that we are trying to do our best to keep the Armenian heritage and flag flying high and shining brightly in India.  We  are  open  to  comments  and  advice  for  improvement  and  development,  but  lies  and dishonesty will always be rejected. I implore Indian Armenians not to be misled by the words of  people who  are  simply  trying  to  divide,  confuse,  and  ruin  the  bonds  of  love within  the community. I pray  to God Almighty  to grant everyone wisdom and  to forgive people who  lie and show them the right path in life.  

May God the almighty have mercy on you and grant you forgiveness of all your transgressions of the past and the present. May he deliver you from those that are to come, confirm you in all good works, and give you rest in the life of the age to come. Amen  

With love and blessings,
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Very Rev. Father Zaven Yazichyan

Pastor and Manager

Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy

56B, Mirza Ghalib Street (Free School Street), 

Kolkata - 700 016, West Bengal, India 

Tel: +91 (033) 4010 9051 / 22299051

Fax: +91 (033) 22275869   

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.armeniancollege.edu.in  

P.S.  

 “I am sure  they don’t know  the Indian culture or even how  to hail a cab or read and write  in English. Do they college degrees in management?”

 After this article I hope there will be no doubt on my English reading/writing capabilities. And hopefully if my duty permits me free time to step outside the ACPA, you’ll surely see me hail a cab, or better still use the more humble public transport like the metro, bus and auto-rikshaw. And with  regard  to  the  college degrees,  I  invite  everyone  to visit my office where  there  are three  diplomas  hanging  on  the  wall.  It  is  not  like  some  people  tried  to  false  their  baptism certificate prior November 10; I have earned them throughout my hard work.  

Being a Pastor  is not a “privileged clergymen”  it  is a duty, when one of  the senior Armenian was having a health problem, no one where next to him, even his own children, because there were living their lives overseas in calm and peace that “privileged clergymen” who donated his own blood in the middle of the night and save him, and that Church committee who took care of all his hospital bills and expenses. The hospital has all records, thank God.