His Holiness Karekin I, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians is presently 
in England visiting Dr. George Carey, the Archbishop of Canterbury who is also the titled 
head of the Anglican Church.  Not to be outdone by Vehapar Karekin I, His Holiness 
Aram I, Catholicos of the See of Cilicia is also planning to visit Dr. George Carey in 
1998. 


Of course, when queried about all of these follow-up visitations, the See of Cilicia’s 
response has been that most of the visitations by their "roving Catholicos" (which 
coincidentally mimics most of Vehapar Karekin’s) is more as moderator for the World 
Council of Churches than as the head of the Cilician See.  However, being of lesser 
calling, who am I to question the motives of a Vehapar?


Be that as it may, I would like once again to bring to the attention of both Vehapars, that 
the Armenian Diaspora of North America, the largest Armenian Diaspora in the world, is 
still administratively and therefore, physically divided.  And if Catholicos Karekin cannot 
bring the runaway Cilician See back into the fold, our Diaspora is definitely in for further 
division and, more than likely, because of the same political influences that divided us on 
December 24, 1933.


In nineteen-ninety-eight we will be celebrating the hundredth anniversary of Khrimian 
Hayrig’s (Catholicos Mekertich) founding of the Armenian Apostolic Church in America.  
It will be interesting to see whether we celebrate this momentous occasion as one united 
Diocese or as administratively divided churches under two separate Sees.  


For the better part of seventeen centuries, outside of foreign encroachment, Etchmiadzin 
has been recognized as the Mother See of All Armenians and its chosen head, Supreme 
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.  I do not profess to be an expert on our 
Apostolic religion’s table of organization, but if I am to believe what the titles of the 
"Mother See of All Armenians" and "Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All 
Armenians" imply, then the only way that Cilicia can deem herself the "Armenian See of 
the Diaspora" and her head as "Catholicos of the Diaspora" is through Etchmiadzin’s 
blessing.  But on the other hand, to seize such reckless authority without proper 
ordination from the Mother See is not only revolutionary in nature as characterized by the 
ARF influences that dominate the Cilicia See, but if they succeed they should also be 
recognized as a separate Armenian faith. 


The See of Cilicia, Catholicos Aram I, along with their in-house politicals, should look at their latest handiwork with grave concern.  They are using the primary essence of our 
seventeen-hundred-year-old religious Armenian heritage as a tool for their own personal 
advantage.  Wake up people.  Can the holy authority of Etchmiadzin, the Mother See of 
All Armenians, survive if she becomes a head on a hydra?         


Considering all of the problems our people are facing today in Armenia, Karabagh, and 
throughout the world, wouldn’t it be in the best interest of all Armenians if our religious 
leaders can put an end to Cilicia’s self-ordained need for extended jurisdiction?  The 
destiny of the Armenian Church was written in Etchmiadzin seventeen-hundred-years ago 
when Armenia adopted Christianity as their state religion.  Honestly, isn’t it a little late to 
start reshuffling the deck?


Joseph Vosbikian