Vazgen 1st patriarch in Armenia. National Hero of Armenia, or Facts about Catholicos Vazgen I

Everyone can live freely, in any country, I am democratic towards them. Everyone except the Armenians! This people saw and survived genocide, now we have a homeland, and only Armenians do not have the right to leave here, this is tantamount to betrayal!

Vazgen the First

“Yes, these are the words of Veapar! Everyone can live freely, in any country. Everyone except the Armenians!”
Pargev Shahbazyan, Vazgen the First’s closest assistant for almost forty years, until the death of the Catholicos, was next to him. He studied in Armenian schools in Lebanon and Syria, graduated from a French college in Beirut, and graduated from the Armenian studies department of the French University of Saint-Joseph there. Famous translator of classical French literature into Armenian.

Paron Shahbazyan, you came from Lebanon. As a repatriate of that post-war wave?
Yes, I am a Lebanese-Armenian, I repatriated in 1946. The conditions were very difficult when we arrived: post-war times, devastation, but we survived. Here everyone who came from abroad was treated with suspicion. I used my knowledge of French and taught in different schools. In 1956, Vazgen the First invited me to teach French at the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary.
Did you know each other before?
No, the editor of the Etchmiadzin magazine introduced me to Veapar, we talked for about an hour, on a variety of topics, he asked questions. He didn’t say anything, but a few days later he let me know through the editor that I should come to the seminary to teach. I was then working at the girls’ school named after Gorky, they didn’t let me go from there, and I worked at the school for three days and in Etchmiadzin for three days. This is how I went for many years, the school management was very good, they really asked me not to leave. And in Gevorgyan the level of training was not inferior to a high school; famous historians, linguists, and other qualified specialists taught there.
You speak Armenian perfectly. One of your colleagues, Karpis Surenyan himself, who translated Dostoevsky and Galsworthy into Armenian, admiringly describes your impeccable literary speech.
In those years, during the Second World War, one of the best Viennese Mekhitarist-Armenian scholars, Father Nerses Akinyan, arrived in Lebanon. During the times of Hitler and Mussolini, the Mekhitarists, escaping persecution, scattered throughout the world and founded courses in the Armenian language and literature everywhere, and taught a number of disciplines, including language and literature, in various Armenian communities. About 20–25 young people signed up, and I began to study our native language and literature with them. Soon there were only two people left on the course. I was ashamed of those who had left; I then told Father Nerses: “Many are called, but few are chosen.” And the two of us took everything we could from him. My second teacher was Hrachya Acharyan. In those years, he was excommunicated from teaching at the university, as an opponent of Nicholas Marr, due to discrepancies regarding the belonging of the Armenian language to the group of Indo-European languages.
And you taught only in Yerevan school? They say about you that you were the closest person to the Catholicos.
I was the closest adviser to the Catholicos, a member and secretary of the Supreme Spiritual Council, and when Veapar founded the department of interchurch relations in 1969, he called me and said:
– Paron Shahbazyan, I plan to give you this department.
– But I'm busy with work at school! Both in Etchmiadzin and in the city!
– No, if you agree to head the department, then you will transfer permanently.
I thought about it for a long time, but agreed. He became his translator and scientific secretary, accompanying him on all his trips abroad. True, I didn’t leave teaching; I taught languages ​​until 1995.
Translator? But he was fluent in both French and German...
Yes, indeed, he knew and spoke French and German well, he went to a German school, and he studied excellently, but he also had an excellent command of the Romanian language. He translated Narekatsi into Romanian. Few people know about this in Armenia. Just imagine, this is colossal work!
But how you had to love Narekatsi, and understand, and listen to him, in order to decide to pass on to another people the opportunity to know him...
And in official places he spoke through an interpreter, since, apparently, he did not want to make even small and unnoticeable mistakes. Apparently, so that his French speeches corresponded to his level and status, he took a translator with him. I can say the same about the Russian language.
His mother was a very educated woman; she taught at an Armenian school in Bucharest for many years. Veapar loved her very much and was very attached to her. We respected her; she was very reserved and modest.
What event in church life do you remember most?
A stunning event for all of us was the first visit of Pope Paul VI as a Catholicos. This was in 1970. Vazgen the First received this invitation as the first of the Armenian Catholicos and Vazgen the First was accompanied by almost all the high-ranking hierarchs of the Armenian church, a large group of bishops arrived there, or rather, 12 archbishops and bishops, the visit lasted four whole days, this has never happened before! In the most difficult years for our people, the Armenian Catholicos turned to the Vatican, the Pope, but did not allow anyone beyond the gates. Then this visit was promoted by the ecumenistic movement (the proclaimed rapprochement of the Churches). Veapar was received royally, many Armenians were present at the masses and in the cathedrals where we were.
...Yesterday evening Pargev came and spoke about his journey in the retinue of the Catholicos to Italy, France and Portugal as a translator from French. For three whole hours he spoke in his characteristic high style, in his beautiful literary Western Armenian speech, in the most detailed manner, as only he could do, sometimes breaking out of official restrictions in his narration. And while telling the story, Pargev again relives this journey, and before his eyes, as in a luxurious novel, the Vatican, the Cathedral of St. Peter's, the Sistine Chapel, other cathedrals and temples, palaces, museums with Renaissance masterpieces, magnificent ceremonies with church robes in Rome, the latest modern airplanes and official cars. Church and government receptions... How we went from Rome to the island of St. Lazarus, then celebrations in Milan, Paris, Lyrne, Valence, Marseille, Monaco, Lisbon, in Notre Dame Cathedral, welcoming words addressed to Armenian church leaders, and everywhere an incredibly warm welcome from the Armenian community. And of course, the most impressive was the meeting of the Pope with his cardinals and Vazgen the First with his bishops, a historic meeting in the Sistine Chapel.
I was especially moved by Pargev’s story about how Vazgen the First and the Pope exchanged “holy kisses”, our Catholicos - passing these “holy kisses” to the cardinals, the Pope passes the kiss to the Armenian archbishop, then on and on to everyone standing, and there were a lot of people gathered there and Armenians, and like this, heads move in circles, a wave of kisses in the Sistine Chapel... Karpis Surenyan

I am grateful to fate that I succumbed to the spiritual impulse to write this book and was able to meet such a person as Pargev Shahbazyan and hear his purest literary language...

About meetings in Rome. On Sunday, April 25, an incredible number of pilgrims and believers gathered in St. Peter's Square. Pope Paul VI announced the visit of the Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen I to the Vatican. First, he paid tribute to the recently deceased Alexy of Blessed Memory and read a prayer for the repose of his soul. Then Paul VI admitted to the believers that the ecumenical movement, within the framework of which the visit of the Armenian Catholicos took place, does not, however, provide the opportunity to either make or invent a sincere union so that there would be no harm to either the Catholic or the Eastern Church, so it is better to look union in love and righteous unity.
“And now I announce to you that an exceptional visit is coming - Vazgen the First.”
On May 8, 1970, Vazgen was met by Cardinals Giovanni Willebrands, Giovanni Bennelli, His Holiness Nerses Setyan, representatives from the Armenian Catholic Dioceses of Jerusalem and Constantinople. Veapar was accompanied by almost all the highest representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church: the primates of the dioceses of France, North and South America, London, Milan and other dioceses, Mr. Pargev Shahbazyan, Secretary General of the Department of Official Relations of Holy Etchmiadzin with foreign countries and the press.
Vazgen the First made a speech in which he conveyed his gratitude on behalf of himself and the holy fathers.
The genius of human knowledge in our days, he said, remains for the moral genius of man to manifest itself in relationships with each other.
To the sounds of singing “Sing to the Lord a New Song” in front of the painting of the great Michelangelo “The Last Judgment”, for the first time in the history of the Sistine Chapel it became possible to see the following picture: on the right side stood the Catholicos of all Armenians, on the left - Paul VI, Pope of Rome. On the right stood Armenian priests and clergy, on the left around the pope were the highest officials of the papal curia, cardinals, including Cardinal Gregory Petros Agadzhanian and Ignatius Patanyan.
“We have gathered here not to express and defend points of view, but to all show concern together,” Vazgen addressed those present.
We have come to you from a distant world, the holy city of Etchmiadzin, where the Armenian Christian faith was born many centuries ago.
We have also come to you from the distant times of the Christian testimony of those years that have passed since then, and the Armenian Church preserves these testimonies from the apostles Thaddeos and Bartholomew, St. Gregory the Illuminator, on whose spiritual heritage the Armenian Apostolic Church is based. Faithful to Eastern Orthodox beliefs for centuries, she lived and developed independently, within the boundaries of national existence, and throughout these centuries defended Christianity and Christian culture, often at the expense of her own life. And we will not be mistaken if we notice in the unity of the Churches the answers to the challenges of the time - the strengthening of peace throughout the world. Our churches must not tolerate the ideology of war.”
Vazgen the First called the tragedy of 1915 the first genocide of the century, noting the 2 million victims of the small people. Vazgen the First called the main unifying idea the desire for peace, when the children of all nations, regardless of race, will be brothers and the people of God.
The Pope, in turn, recalled friendship with the Armenians in distant centuries; the Armenians even founded an Armenian school in Rome. There were close relations in the XII-XIII centuries. Know also that our revered brother Grigor Petros Aghajanian is Armenian and occupies the most important position of Cardinal Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Propaganda of the Faith,” Pope Paul added enthusiastically.
At the request of the believers, Veapar read the prayer, “Blessed is our God...”, and the polyphonic choir of students from the Levonyan Seminary completed the ceremony with the performance of “Our Father.”

Vazgen I is the same spiritual leader who was able to increase the authority of the Armenian Apostolic Church not only among the residents of Armenia, but also far beyond its borders. He managed to restore the faith lost during the Soviet years, as well as restore Christian traditions and customs. After independence, he became the first National Hero of the Republic. In honor of the birthday of Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen I (Levon Palchyan), Sputnik Armenia selected several interesting facts from his life.

1. Vazgen I devoted four decades to serving the church (1955-1994). Almost immediately after the death of Joseph Stalin, he became Catholicos, and he managed to revive the church in Armenia.

2. Thanks to Vazgen the First, the face of the famous Armenian poet Petros Duryan was restored. After his death, his relatives realized that the writer did not have a single photograph, and this needed to be corrected.

Then they called the artist Abraham Sargsyan so that at least on his deathbed he could restore Duryan’s face, but the maestro abandoned this idea, noting that the poet’s face was too distorted.

On the instructions of Archbishop Garegin Khachaturian, Duryan’s remains were secretly taken to Etchmiadzin under the supervision of Vazgen I. The future Catholicos of All Armenians not only took responsibility for storing the poet’s remains, but also transferred it to the Charents Museum of Literature and Art so that the face could be completely restored and finally. The eminent scientist Andranik Dzhagaryan took up this important task and recreated a three-dimensional image of the skull.

3. As literary critic and deputy editor-in-chief of the Etchmiadzin magazine Vardan Devrikyan told Sputnik Armenia, Vazgen I did not visit all churches. It turns out that he only visited existing churches.

The priest explained his decision by saying that the Catholicos cannot visit the church as a tourist.

4. Devrikyan also shared that on April 24, the day of remembrance of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, Vazgen I visited the Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex at 6-7 in the morning so as not to attract public attention.

5. The first Patriarchal visit of Vazgen I to India took place in 1963. As the translator of the Catholicos later said, then the President of India Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan came out to the guests, after which those present themselves had to approach the Indian head to greet him.

However, Radhakrishnan opens his arms, leaving aside the official part, and says: “Welcome, Your Holiness.” After this, the president asks a question unexpected for everyone: “Please ask, did the spiritual leader bring with him one of the jokes from Yerevan radio?”

In response, the Catholicos asked what kind of joke the Indian president had heard. Armenian jokes were known then thanks to famous Armenians.

6. When, during the Soviet years, the mother throne of Etchmiadzin was deprived of all independence and could not take its own steps, Vazgen I decided to take care of this. He turned to the authorities at the moment when the 20th Congress of the Communist Party, which condemned Stalin’s personality cult, had completed its work. The Soviet leadership could not help but comply with the wishes of the head of the Armenian Church, whom 11 years ago the very person whose cult the congress condemned did not fail to accept.

7. The main reason for the nation's love for the Catholicos was the essence of the questions he put forward. In addition to important purely ecclesiastical issues, Vazgen I continued to consistently strive for the repatriation of Armenians to Soviet Armenia, the annexation of the illegally seized and included in the Azerbaijani and Georgian republics of the original Armenian lands into the Armenian SSR.

8. At the same time, Vazgen I was that happy Patriarch who, at the end of his days, witnessed and participated in the fulfillment of his cherished dream - the restoration of the independence of Armenia and victory in the Karabakh War.

Vazgen I Bukharestsi (Վազգեն Ա Բուխարեստցի) (in the world Levon Garabed Abrahami Palchyan (Paljyan) September 20 (October 3), 1908, Bucharest, Kingdom of Romania - August 18, 1994 (85 years old) Vagharshapat, Armenia.

Supreme Patriarch and All Armenians, First Hierarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church

National Hero of Armenia (July 28, 1994, for exceptional services in preserving and enhancing national and spiritual values).

Order of the Star of the Romanian Republic (1952).

Soviet Orders of the Red Banner of Labor, "Badge of Honor" (1968) and Friendship of Peoples (1978).

Frederico Joliot-Curie Medal (1962, for his great contribution to the promotion of peace).
Gold medal of the Soviet Peace Committee (1968).

The highest award of the Republic of Armenia - “Hayrenik”

Born on September 20 (October 3), 1908 in Bucharest in the family of a shoemaker and a schoolteacher. He studied at the Armenian school in Odessa, where his parents were evacuated during the First World War; then - at the Misakyan-Kesimyan Lyceum in Bucharest, and in 1924-1926 - at the Bucharest Higher Trade School. In 1929-1943. taught in Armenian schools in Bucharest.

In 1936 he graduated from the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy of the University of Bucharest, defended his thesis on the topic “The issue of discipline in pedagogy.” He attended seminars at the Titu Maiorescu Pedagogical Institute, and in 1937 he successfully graduated from it. From June 1937 to May 1938 published and edited the cultural and social science scientific and journalistic magazine “Erk” (“Plowing”).

In 1937-1942. Palchyan, delving into religious issues, became more familiar with the Armenian Church, its history, confession, law, traditions, and established personal contact with the head of the Romanian diocese - Archbishop Usik Zohrapian, which led him to pastoral service. During the Second World War, he participated in the activities of the Committee for Assistance to Armenian Prisoners of War.

In 1942, in Athens (at that time under German military administration), Palchyan was ordained a priest by the Primate of the Greek Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Karapet (Mazlumyan). In 1943-1944 he studied at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Bucharest.

In 1943 he received the degree of Vardapet and the name Vazgen, was appointed locum tenens, and in 1947 - primate of the Romanian diocese of the AAC.

On May 29, 1948, in Etchmiadzin, Catholicos Gevorg VI gave him the degree of Supreme Vardapet.

On May 20, 1951, he was ordained bishop in Etchmiadzin. In 1952 he was elected to the Romanian Peace Committee. Since 1954 - member of the Supreme Spiritual Council of Etchmiadzin. In December 1954, he also received control of the Bulgarian diocese of the AAC.

May 12, 1956 - The Supreme Patriarch in Moscow, during an official one-hour reception with the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR N.A. Bulganin, gave him a memorandum on the church activities of the Holy See, as well as a separate memorandum with a proposal to annex Nagorno-Karabakh to the Armenian SSR.

From the very first years of his accession to the Throne, Vazgen the First launched extensive church-building and restoration activities - he expanded the Etchmiadzin residence, reopened the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary, churches and monasteries that had been silent for decades (about 40), and formed new dioceses.

On his initiative, the church orders “Surb Grigor Lusavorich”, “Surb Sahak - Surb Mesrop”, “Surb Nerses Shnorali” were established. His efforts in organizing events related to the anniversaries of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 are undeniable: both in his historical homeland and in Syurk; in supporting the heroic struggle of the Armenians of Artsakh, in the creation of the All-Armenian Fund “Hayastan”. The protocol of the referendum on the independence of Armenia was marked with his fatherly blessing.

Vazgen the First participated in international congresses of religious figures for peace, disarmament and the establishment of fair relations between peoples, held in Moscow, Berlin, and Helsinki.

In the 1950-1960s, Vazgen I traveled to all the Armenian colonies of the world. Thanks to his efforts, the main part of the foreign dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church was formed (1966).

September 20, 1908 - August 18, 1994

Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, head of the Armenian Apostolic Church from 1955 to 1994

Biography

Born September 20 (October 3), 1908 in Bucharest. 1924-1929 - studied at the Bucharest Trade School. In 1929-1943 he taught in Armenian schools in Bucharest. He played an important role in bringing Armenians living abroad closer to Armenia. 1932-1936 – studied at the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy at the University of Bucharest, defended his thesis on the topic “The issue of discipline in pedagogy.” He attended seminars at the Titu Maioresco Pedagogical Institute, and successfully graduated from it in 1937. From June 1937 to May 1938 - he published and edited the cultural and social science scientific and journalistic magazine "Erk" ("Plowing"). In 1937-1942, Levon-Karapet became more closely acquainted with the Armenian Church, its history, religion, law, traditions, and established contact with the head of the Romanian diocese, Archbishop Usik Zohrapian, which ultimately led him to pastoral ministry. During the Second World War, he participated in the activities of the Committee for Assistance to Armenian Prisoners of War. On September 30, 1943, Levon-Karapet Palchyan in Athens, in the Church of St. Karapet, by the hand of the head of the Greek diocese of Karapet, Archbishop Mazlumian, was ordained as a priest and received the degree of Vardapet and received the name Vazgen... May 23, 1948 - George VI honored Fr. Vazgen for his selfless service to the ten highest levels of the archimandrite rank of the Armenian Church, and after some time appointed head of the Romanian Armenian diocese (1947-1955). May 20, 1951 - Vazgen Palchyan was ordained bishop in Holy Etchmiadzin. October 2, 1955 - in the Cathedral of St. Echmiadzin, the anointing of the new Patriarch-Catholicos Vazgen I (1955-1994), who became the 130th head of the Armenian Gregorian Church, was solemnly held. In the 50-60s, he visited all the Armenian colonies of the world. Thanks to his efforts, the main part of the foreign dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church was formed (1966). In 1996, the Armenian Church received a new diocesan division, on the basis of which its administrative and territorial management is built. Died on August 18, 1994 in Etchmiadzin.

Education

• In 1924–1929 he studied at the Bucharest Trade School.
• In 1932–1936 he studied at the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy of the University of Bucharest, defended his thesis on the topic “The issue of discipline in pedagogy.”
• In 1936 he graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy and Literature of the University of Bucharest.
• He attended seminars at the Titu Maioresco Pedagogical Institute and successfully graduated in 1937.

Activity

In 1929–1943 he taught in Armenian schools in Bucharest. He played an important role in bringing Armenians living abroad closer to Soviet Armenia.

In 1955 he was elected Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians in Etchmiadzin. In 1950–1960 he visited all the Armenian diasporas of the world.

In 1994 he became the first National Hero of Armenia.

Vazgen I - philosopher and scientist

Over the 39 years of the Patriarchate, Vazgen I was able to return to the Church almost everything lost in the past, including the right to cook and consecrate the Holy Myrrh. During these years, state orders named after the saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church were established. Vazgen I himself was presented to one of the first such orders by the President of Armenia in 1994.

“Without God we are too poor to help the poor,” said the Patriarch. Something to think about...

Quotes

Miscellaneous

• May 12, 1956 - The Supreme Patriarch in Moscow during an official one-hour reception with the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR N.A. Bulganina gave him a memorandum on the church activities of the Holy See, as well as a separate memorandum with a proposal to annex Nagorno-Karabakh to the Armenian SSR.
• From the very first years of his accession to the Throne, Vazgen the First launched extensive church-building and restoration activities - he expanded the Etchmiadzin residence, re-opened the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary, churches and monastery temples that had been silent for decades (about 40), and formed new dioceses. On his initiative, the church orders “Surb Grigor Lusavorich”, “Surb Sahak - Surb Mesrop”, “Surb Nerses Shnorali” were established. His efforts in organizing events related to the anniversaries of the Armenian Genocide both in his historical homeland and in Syurk, in supporting the heroic struggle of the Armenians of Artsakh, and in creating the All-Armenian Fund “Hayastan” are undeniable. The protocol of the referendum on the independence of Armenia was marked with his fatherly blessing.
• Vazgen the First participated in international congresses of religious figures for peace, disarmament and the establishment of fair relations between peoples, held in Moscow, Berlin, and Helsinki.
• The funeral of Vazgen the First took place on August 28 in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

Essays

He made a significant contribution to the field of theology and Armenian philology, to the development of pedagogical and psychological thought. Among his works

• On the Concept of Personality (1938)
• Armenians of Mount Musa in the novel by Franz Werfel (1940)
• Khrimyan Hayrik as a teacher (1943)
• Psychology lessons
• Khrimyan Hayrik as a teacher
• A word about the Motherland
• Armenians of Mussa Dag in the novel by Franz Werfel
• Under the sun of the Fatherland
• Heartfelt letters to Armenian parents!
• Life and work of St. Gregory of Narek

Awards

• National Hero of Armenia (July 28, 1994, for exceptional services in preserving and enhancing national and spiritual values).
• Order of the Star of the Romanian Republic (1952).
• Soviet orders "Badge of Honor" (1968) and Friendship of Peoples (1978).
• Frederico Joliot-Curie Medal (1962, for his great contribution to the promotion of peace).
• Gold medal of the Soviet Peace Committee (1968).
• The highest award of the Republic of Armenia - "Hayrenik"

Memory

In honor of Vazgen I, the seminary on the Sevan Peninsula was named “Vazgenyan”.

In 2008, a monument to Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen the First was erected in the Central Park of Etchmiadzin

In the city of Etchmiadzin, one of the central streets is named after Vazgen I

In the city of Vanadzor, school No. 1 is named after Vazgen the First

Today, September 20, marks the 108th anniversary of the birth of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians, Vazgen I. His name and image have become a symbol of Armenia, and his authority still remains unconditional and unattainable for Armenians all over the world.

As the spiritual leader of the Armenians for almost 40 years, Vazgen was close to his people during the most important periods for her - gaining independence, pogroms of Armenians in Azerbaijan, the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, the devastating earthquake in Spitak. The Patriarch took part in all areas of the country's life and supported his people in difficult times, both in word and deed.

Vazgen (Վազգէն Ա), worldly name - Levon-Karapet Palchyan, was born into the family of a teacher and shoemaker in 1908, in Bucharest. Having graduated from the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy of the University of Bucharest in the Department of Practical Pedagogy, he taught in Armenian schools in Bucharest for more than ten years, and also edited and published for some time a scientific journal "Arable land".

In 1942, the future Catholicos was ordained in Athens, receiving the rank of priest. In 1943–1944 he studied at the Faculty of Theology, received the degree of Vardapet and took the name Vazgen. In 1947 - appointed primate of the Romanian diocese. A year later he was awarded the degree of Supreme Vardapet, and in 1951 he became a bishop. Since 1954, Vazgen also administered the Bulgarian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. In 1955 He was elected Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians.

Vazgen I put a lot of effort into uniting the Armenian diaspora, strengthening cultural and spiritual ties with their homeland, and received many awards for his public activities. His services are also impressive in the restoration of Armenian monasteries, temples, as well as in the search for monuments of the spiritual and material culture of Armenia.

It was thanks to the authority of Vazgen I that the Soviet authorities showed loyalty to the Armenian Church and believers were not subjected to severe persecution. The Catholicos owns a number of philosophical, theological and journalistic works, which he began publishing back in the 1930s in Paris and Bucharest:

« About the concept of personality"(1938)
« Armenians of Mount Musa in the novel by Franz Werfel» 1940)
« Khrimyan Hayrik as a teacher"(1943)
« Psychology lessons»
« A word about the Motherland»
« Armenians Musa Dagha in the novel by Franz Werfel»
« Under the sun of the Fatherland»
« Soulful letters to Armenian parents!»
« Life and work of St. Gregory of Narek»

The Patriarch was elected an honorary member of the Academy of Sciences of Armenia, and he also became the first who, in 1991, after the declaration of independence, was awarded the country's highest award - the title of National Hero and the Order of the Fatherland.

But the highest reward for the patriarch is national love and the bright memory that lives in us.