Tovmas Arakelyan, archbishop of Tavush Diocese, writes:
It has been said many times that the clergy are at the roots of all spheres of our State, from healthcare to science, from education to security, from economy to culture and law. In the Bible, the prophets and, today, a number of consecrated clergymen are heavily involved in all aspects of the organization of God's people, as detailed in the Old Testament books of Kings. Prophets repeatedly oppose kings in the wrong course. it is legal and natural (let's remember the example of Prophet Nathan and David). Even today, the clergy are distinguished by their high education.
And some clergymen are really serious national and state thinkers, capable, influential, national, unifying forces. Only mediocrity will silence these clergymen. This is not strange. It is strange that sometimes people are afraid of the word "politics" and with that label they try to silence the real leaders leading to reconciliation, be they clerics or businessmen, intellectuals or public figures. The instrument of silence in Armenia today is the prison.
Persecution seems commonplace, although it remains illegal and destructive. I consider silence in this situation unacceptable. This is no longer a policy, but a sincere desire to oppose the obvious anti-church, anti-national course.
Ignoring the terrible chain of rumors, blackmail and threats, I continue to remain loyal to the Armenian Patriarch, I send my filial bow to our illegally detained Holy Fathers, I pray for all political prisoners, I support the national benefactor, the leader of the #merdzevov movement, Samvel Karapetyan, who is also being persecuted illegally. Power-ability to all of us.
