Up until the late 4th century, there was little if any movement
toward mandating celibacy in the Catholic Church.   Catholic 
clerics from their Pope down were all free to marry and sire children.
This was also true among our Armenian clerics.

St. Gregory the Illuminator, the Father of our Armenian Apostolic
faith, for instance, was a happily married man with children.  
And when he died in 325 A.D., his younger unmarried son (St. 
Aristakes 325-333 A.D.) succeeded him.

When St. Aristakes died, his elder married brother (St. 
Vrtanes 333-341 A.D.) succeeded him.   When St. Vrtanes died,
his married son (St. Hoosik 341-347 A.D.) became the Catholicos
of Etchmiadzin.  And this continued for a few generations
thereafter.  At this juncture, this being a very delicate 
subject, I would like to advise the reader that my intention
is not to vilify but to enlighten.   

Celibacy was introduced into the Catholic faith by Pope Innocent II
in 1130 A.D. at the Synod of Clermont.  He declared that conjugal
relations by Christian clerics offended the sanctuary
of the Holy Spirit and therefore the dignity of the church.  
And since celibacy became a mandate among the Catholic clerics, 
I suppose all the clerics who were married at that time had to 
divorce themselves from their wives and children.   How does what
happened in the Catholic Church relate to us?  Read on.   

The way that the Armenian Apostolic Church got involved into
celibacy was during the Crusades, 11th to 13th century A.D. 
The Armenian Church, after the Catholic Church had mandated 
celibacy among its clerics, asked the Pope for assistance from
the Crusaders.   But the Pope denied assistance because the 
Armenian Church at that time had not mandated celibacy among 
its clerics.   Thereafter, the Armenian Church in dire support
of Vatican help, negotiated a deal with the Pope partially
mandating celibacy among their higher rank clerics.   

At this point, I would like to say that I am vehemently against
any form of mandated celibacy among clerics.

The institution of love, marriage, and family is one of God’s
greatest gifts to mankind.   And this being so, I do not believe
that any mortal, regardless of political or religious rank, 
has the authority to interfere in God’s work.   And to an even 
larger degree, I must also say that the mandating of celibacy 
among our clerics attracts the misaligned along with the 
overwhelming majority of those who are normal.   And, sad to 
say, current statistics prove that I am 100% on the money.   

Celibacy, as in Pro-life or Pro-Choice, should be a free choice 
between the individual and God.   

I would therefore suggest that one of the reforms in our Armenian
Church should be the abolishment of all laws pertaining to celibacy.

No doubt, there will be many new problems arising from such
a bold move, but the problems it will do away with, will
more than outweigh the problems that pseudo celibacy generates 
today.

Joseph Vosbikian