The Armenian people are facing a historical turning point. For the first time in centuries, we have a stable and independent Republic of Armenia. At the same time, around three quarters of the believers of the Armenian Apostolic Church live outside the borders of Armenia, in the diverse and worldwide Diaspora.
This new reality raises an urgent but often perplexing question. What is the proper role of the Armenian Apostolic Church and what is the role of the state?
Armenian identity and Christian faith have been deeply intertwined throughout history. Medieval Armenian authors often talked about God and the homeland in the same breath. That close spiritual and national connection enabled the Armenian people to resist foreign rule, genocide and dispersion.
However, what helped us to survive in the absence of statehood can cause confusion in the reality of the modern republic.
