The Armenian Church is the Basis of the Armenian Identity – Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen I

“We always repeat that our Church is national, that it is the basis of all Armenian, and this is complete truth. However, this does not mean at all that attendance at the church is just one of the national features.

For an Armenian, it is not enough to be good in secular duties in order to be numbered among the members of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Likewise, if an Armenian by his convictions is not a believer, it does not mean that he cannot be a good Armenian.

A true religious feeling in its essence does not have a national character, but during its historical formation, development, in its manifestations, it has acquired special forms, as well as the corresponding spiritual and historical imprint for this or that people.

In other words, the Church in its essence is an exclusively spiritual, universal phenomenon, and in its form is a national one. Consequently, the feeling of spiritual necessity to go to church should not be confused with national identity.”

© Vazgen I Baljian (September 20, 1908 – August 18, 1994), Catholicos of All Armenians