Recently, a 44-meter cross was erected in the Yeranos community of the Gegharkunik province in memory of our compatriots who died in the last war. The Facebook response was mostly very negative: “What kind of display is this? If you have extra money, renovate the school or buy weapons.” I must admit that ten years ago I would have reacted in the same way. Now I would not rush to make a sharp assessment, so to speak, out of context. And the context is as follows: if that cross just has to rust and only attract people’s attention from a distance, then it really makes no sense at all.
If you will allow me to, I will draw a parallel. A few months ago, the government talked about selling university buildings and building modern Western-style “campuses” in the suburbs of Yerevan with that money. The idea was also heavily criticized. And really. Making “campuses” is a way. In the case of today’s teaching methods, programs, and goals, they will not give anything. The result can be achieved only in the case of unity of form and content. The same with the cross. If the residents of the community unite around that cross, if they regularly gather there to organize some informal event from the heart, then, I think, the existence of the cross will be completely justified.
I used to complain that churches are being built in villages, which, of course, may be the result of the ambition and ostentation of a former resident of a village living in “Russia” and getting rich there. But now I approach the question from another side. Does the existence of that chapel contribute to the unification of the community, or is it just a place for weddings and baptisms? It is one thing to drive from Zovuni (where there is no church) to Yerevan. There, I go to church with my other errands, I see strangers, I light a candle and I run my errands again. One day I may be lazy, one day I may forget or not have time. It is another thing if I go to the temple of God every day or, at least, every Sunday on purpose, where I communicate with my fellow villagers and exchange positive energy.
I do not call on everyone to become a believer. I have great respect for atheists or members of other religions. It’s just that the Armenian Apostolic Church has been an institution for at least 1720 years, which, in my opinion, is more in line with our thinking. But, naturally, people can, conventionally speaking, find their “cross” in other religious or secular communities.
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Were we short of weapons during the war? I’m sure that was not the number one factor. We lacked faith, mutual trust, and discipline. In the same way, the lack of a vaccine does not stop us from fighting the virus. We are hindered by skepticism, disbelief, and nihilism.
Aram Abrahamyan
