Tempers are flaring in the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Aravot newspaper reports that in his letter to Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Nourhan Manoogian has expressed his indignation at the Catholicos' attitude towards the Primate of the French Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Norvan Zakarian.
Earlier Armenian mass media published Zakarian's letter to Karekin II, where he conveyed his deep outrage over the humiliating attitude His Holiness publicly displayed towards him. Zakarian was insulted by the Catholicos' ultimatum that he might lose his position unless he changed his attitude towards pastor of Strasbourg Vache Hairapetyan. In his letter Zakarian said that to him Hairapetyan is more a businessman than a priest, and so, he'd rather resign.
Manoogian was shocked by this news. He wonders how one can humiliate an archbishop because of an ordinary pastor and warns Karekin II that if he continues acting like this, he will lose his reputation of a Catholicos the Builder.
Manoogian points out that the past years have shown that Karekin II cares for material benefits more than for spiritual values. He is convinced that such an atmosphere of fear and intimidation is bad for the image of the Armenian Apostolic Church and for all believers.
In protest of the Catholicos' behavior, Manoogian warns that he will not attend the assembly of bishops scheduled for Sept 21-28.