On May 29, 1985, I met with Archbishop Ashjian to discuss the problem of disunity 
between our churches.  I have sent a summary of that meeting to the Armenian Reporter 
for publication.  


On June 20, 1985, Mr. John Hoplamazian and myself met with Archbishop Torkom 
Manoogian to get his viewpoint on this same issue.  Though His Eminence had 
previously stated that he would not submit to an interview, we went there hoping to 
convince him of the importance of open communication.  In spite of all of our powers of 
persuasion, however, he confined his discussion to protocol, generalities, and church 
policy.  Unfortunately, he left no opening for specific questions or statements regarding 
his opinion on the matter.   I hope that someday these guarded attitudes will subside.  


I think we’re mature enough to know the facts of life and, I’m sure most of us have 
already paid the price.  Although I admit to a certain degree of disappointment and 
frustration, I fully realize how much more of a burden this must be for our Archbishops.  I 
am also very sympathetic toward all those wonderful foolhardy individuals who have 
been on this merry-go-round before me.  


Therefore, since Archbishop Ashjian’s account of the unity effort (re my letter of May 30, 
1985) is the only one of record, I have to assume it is correct.   Politics came into our 
churches in 1933 with the assassination of Archbishop Tourian.   Although there were 
plenty of squabbling going on outside the church, it was the assassination that brought it 
home.  The assassination split our church in two groups (Rhamgavars and Tashnags), 
with those condemning the assassination remaining with Etchmiadzin, and those who 
opposed Archbishop Tourian in life becoming the disenfranchised.  Now, instead of one 
unified church as before, we became two churches politically opposed to each other.    


World War II brought the US and Russia together as allies against Nazi Germany.  Up to 
this point in time, the clergy in the disenfranchised churches were getting old and 
replacements were hard to come by.  Because of this growing need, the outcast churches 
kept appealing to Etchmiadzin.  Finally, in 1947, when it seemed that an accord had been 
reached, the Cold War started.  This stand-off between the US and the USSR caused the 
whole thing to come apart again.   


In 1957, the See of Cilicia, adopted all of the independent churches in America.  It was at 
the request of these churches, because they were without spiritual leadership.  This 
compounded the problem even more.  In the eyes of Etchmiadzin , the Mother See, this 
was a family problem and Cilicia had no jurisdiction.   Of course, Cilicia was related, as 
all Armenian Sees are related, but this was not their argument.  This turn of events caused 
the problem to escalate even more.   By 1970, things had quieted down again, and a new 
unity effort was initiated.  This was because time had thinned out and the old guard on 
both sides, and the young Western influence was taking over.  This effort continued until 
1983 when an accepted set of guidelines were agreed to and submitted.  Though it was 
anticipated that the new guidelines would be approved by both Sees, Etchmiadzin in an 
unexpected move, restated their position on jurisdiction.  Cilicia would first have to give 
up all claims to her churches in America.  


Though the Unity Committee is still technically active, very little has been done since this 
setback.   Up to this point, this is how I interpret things to have happened.  It is 
oversimplified, and perhaps not technically as accurate as a disciplined historian might 
like, but for the purpose of this writing, it’s sufficient.  And I’m sure if I’ve made a 
mistake, I will be quickly corrected.  


Now comes the difficult part.  I’m going to express an opinion.  It is by no means a final 
statement and also begs for comment.  Within the last ten years, there has been a 
powerful resurgence of Armenian nationalism in the Cilicia churches.  This condition is 
due to the spillover of people and influence caused by the upheavals in the Middle East.  
In many of the Cilicia churches, this resurgence has taken on the look of a corporate 
takeover.  Besides affecting the inter-communal atmosphere it is also causing internal 
problems within the same church.  Though I have never heard it stated, I feel that 
Etchmiadzin put the brakes on unity, by restating the jurisdiction issue, because they 
didn’t like what they saw.   


Approximately two years have passed since the guidelines were side tracked.  No real 
effort has been made to revive it again.  It is my understanding that, some of the men who 
were involved on that committee, go out in disgust.  I believe more could have been done 
and still can be done, if these issues can be approached more openly.  Moreover, I believe 
that as members of these churches, we should be informed as to what’s going on.  For the 
majority of us, we don’t know any of the underlying problems that exist.  To my 
knowledge, this writing is the first time anyone has attempted to define this situation in a 
simple, unbiased and understandable way.  I have tried not to be judgmental.  It goes 
without saying that both sides must think they’re right, and if they are, this is the first 
time that I know of that "two rights make a wrong."


As for myself, I want our family back together again.  I want our children to know each 
other, and to get involved in their culture.  But, I’m afraid this is never going to happen 
unless we get involved and get our ‘Sky Pilots’ on the same course again.


Joseph Vosbikian   

cc:   Archbishop Torkom Manoogian
       Archbishop Mesrop Ashjian
       The Armenian Reporter
       Dr. Walter Bandazian
       Mr. John Hoplamazian