Introduction

Catholics of All Armenians Vazgen I on the first day of his election as a Patriarch of Echmiadzin and Catholicos of All Armenians (he was elected on the 30th of September and Ordained as a Catholicos on the 2nd of October 1955) he wrote two letters to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR N. A. Bulganin. Before that, Catholicos visited France, Italy, England, Libya, and Egypt with Pastoral mission to meet and familiarize himself with the life of Armenians living in those countries. In his letters Catholicos brought up problems related to the fate of Armenian Nation. In fact formulation of the problem even for that conditions of “thaw” of those years was very daring.

In the first letter presenting depressing state of Spiritual life, education of Armenians in Northern Caucasus, Middle Asia and in particular Azerbaijan and Georgia. In his letter Vahzgen I was proposing complex of measures, demanding urgent solutions.

In the second letter Catholicos accentuates on the “Fair” solution of problems NKAR, Nakhichevan and Akhalkalak, which are mostly populated by Armenians. Catholicos was proposing to join these regions to Soviet Armenia. He was justifying his preposition with the demand of the Armenian Diaspora, which was forcibly deprived of homeland; and had a will of living on the native land with unite national life.

It would be fair to note that those letters was caused not only because of the demands of Armenian Diaspora. In that way His Holiness Vazgen I brought to the attention of the Authorities the permanent pain and the hearthache of  Armenian Nation. Catholicos Vazgen I was a genuine politician, about which is witnessing his opinion about Armenian-Russian relationships.

Bellow are presented these two letters, the copies of which are preserved in The Central Governmental Historical Archives ….

 

From Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen I to N. A. Bulgakin.  05/12/1956

 

Dear Nikolai Bulgakin! I want to start my letter with the word of respectful greeting and gratitude to you and the Soviet Government. On the 23rd of September 1955 with mercy of God and will of entire believing Armenian people I accepted the very high, critical and the same time very difficult position of Supreme Patriarch-Catholicos of All Armenians Supreme Patriarch-Catholicos of All Armenians.

For successful fulfillment of our responsibilities we lay our hopes on dutiful spiritual nobility of Armenian Church and believing Armenian people. We always hoped, that stronghold of fulfillment of our hopes is favorable Soviet Government, which is devoted to its principles of freedom of religion and shows favorable relationship to Religious Institutions of its country, particularly to Echmiadzin.

In its essence and on the way of historical circumstances Armenian Church was always sympathetic to the needs and interests of majority of the nation. Loosing its statehood several centuries ago, our Nation saw Church as its protector and the only leader of his peoples life. Church took these responsibilities in many different spheres of life of our Nation, in the sphere of preservation and development of the richest culture.

In a present situation, when Armenian Nation, because of Soviet system, acquired complete freedom and statehood and reached to unprecedented level of bloom of its culture and economy, the role of the Church in our country now entirely different, and naturally, it now dedicated itself to the main role, to organization and guidance of exceptionally to the spiritual life of believing people.

However, beyond the limits of Soviet Union, in all countries of the world lives almost half of the Armenian Nation, which is connected with indissoluble ties to Armenian Church and Holly See of St. Echmiadzin, considering church as the most important institution of national existence. In this situation the role of Armenian Church and its Center St. Echmiadzin acquire unique role: to save with the help of Church Armenian Diaspora from assimilation and death, spiritual and Cultural ties with St. Echmiadzin and Motherland.

Entire time of its excitance Armenian Church spoke as a defender of freedom and independence of the nation against alien aggressors and enslavers. That was the way in Middle Ages during the Arabian, Persian and Mongolian supremacy. That was the way during latest times, -during Turkish despotism, that was the way in a recent past too when the soviet nation rose to the sacred patriotic war against Hitlerian aggressors. Presently when all nations of the world stood up against incendiaries of new wars, for the sake of long-lasting peace on the world, Armenian Church, with the devotion of its traditional principles mobilized all its forces and joined to the camp of peace.

 

Dear Nikolai Aleksandrovich!

In order to create favorable conditions for accomplishment of planes mentioned above, as a head of Armenian Church, I bring with a great respect to your attention some problems, being confident that you will come forward to make appropriate arrangements for its solutions:

1.To permit once per annum to call an Assembly of Bishops of Armenian Church (the first one in 1957) in St. Echmiadzin, and once in a 5 years- National – Religious Assembly for discussing and solving vital problems, in a connection of Armenian Church.

2. To create possibility and necessary conditions for amplifying and strengthening the mutual ties between Armenians in Soviet and Armenian Diaspora in the spheres of literature, art and science, by organizing visits of delegations of both sides.

3. Publishers of Soviet Armenia are publishing daily many volumes of fiction literature, textbooks and periodicals. But Armenians leaving outside do not have a chance to use

that literature, because there is a shortage of it, because of the high demand of that production. I am asking your interference, for helping to enlarge the funds of typing paper designated for Armenia, considering that part of the publications will be sent abroad.

4. According to kind instructions of previous Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, on the honor of I. V. Stalin some privileges had been given to Echmiadzin. Those privileges had been not used, which was the fault of church and local statesman. For example

a). the building belonging to the monastery of St. Echmiadzin located on the territory of the church should be returned to the congregation. Up to this days that buildings does not serve to its purpose, because outsiders inhabit that buildings.

b) St. Echmiadzin was allowed to have its own printing house for printing magazines, religious books and other similar literature. However the printing house is not established until now.

 

We would like your effective interference for solving those problems of returning the buildings to the Monastery. The most important building is the building o f monastic chambers, which have been occupied by military units. We are asking to return those building after renovation and to open the publishing house without delay. All equipment will be fetched with financial means of church with the help of Armenians of Diaspora.

 

5.We would like to bring to your attention the task of opening of new churches on the territory of Soviet Union, in the regions where live bigger communities of Armenians, which is a very important task taking into account the next facts: On the territory of Azerbaijan are living more then half a million Armenians, but there exists only two churches, one is in Baku another one is in Kirovabad. On the territory of Nagorny Karabagh, where lives 200, 000 Armenians there is only one church which is not in the Regional Center, but it is in one of remote villages. There are no churches in the regions of Nakhichevan where Armenians live. There no functioning churches in republics of Central Asia, where the number o Armenians there is more then 100, 000.

In Republic of Georgia where 400, 000 Armenians live there are only 4 churches-two in Tblisis and another to in remote regions. There no churches in bigger cities like Batumi and Sokhumi, where are very large communities of Armenians.

All these facts are well know for religious high ranking clergy and public figures, who are visiting to Soviet Armenia and I want to mention that this gives a reason for them to have unfavorable thought about organization of church in our country. Catholicos of all Armenians receiving letters from Armenians living in foreign countries ant on the territory of Soviet Union asking for interference for opening new churches. In those letters believing people are complaining that because of absence of churches there are unable to have religious ceremonies and spiritual consolidation.

Presenting all this facts mentioned above and circumstances for your high discretion, we would like to get a permission of the government for opening number of churches in the regions of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Georgia, Northern Caucasus and Central Asia populated by Armenians.

6. There are many old monasteries of historical significance for our nation in Transcaucasia and Northern Caucasus. We are thinking that it is very important if three neglected monasteries to transfer under supervision of St. Echmiadzin that we could take care of these monasteries appropriately.

Those monasteries are Gandzasar (in Azerbeijan), Datev (in Armenia) and Surb Khach (in Rostovski Region).

 

Honorable Nikoly Aleksandrovich!

 

Being confident on positive solutions of those problems presented in this letter I want to finish my letter mentioning that about 200 years Armenian Nation linked its fate with Russian Nation. In the sphere of its national liberation, economic development and cultural progress our nation owes Russia. Using your attention, with which you deign to read this letter, I want as an Armenian and as Supreme Patriarch-Catholicos of All Armenians I want to convey passionate regards and best wishes to great, noble and magnanimous Russian nation

 

Honorable Mr. Nikoly Aleksandrovich Bulganin, please accept our best wishes to your well being, success and our assurance of our respect.

Supreme Patriarch-Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen I.

Resolutions of A.N. Bulgakin:” Send to all members of Presiduim of Central Committee of KPSS, to Candidates to Presiduim of Central Committee of KPSS to Secretaries of CC of KPSS. N. Bulgakin May the 12th 1956.

 

A Letter from Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen II to N. A> Bulgakin. On May of 1956. Moscow.

Dear Nikolai Aleksandrovich!

 

As a Catholicos of All Armenians, as newly elected head of Armenian Church, due to favorable relationship of Soviet Government, had a possibility to make a pastoral visit to our diocesan abroad, familiarized myself with the life of Armenians living in other countries.

Within months I visited Armenian colonies in Lebanon, Egypt, Italy, France and England. As a Holly See of St. Echmiadzin and Pastor visiting our people from motherland, I was accepted by them with warmth and great inspiration. Returning from three months long trip, I consider my duty to bring some issues to your attention:

The glance of more the 1 million Armenians living abroad are pointed towards St. Echmiadzin and towards motherland Soviet Armenia. They are anxious to see the solution of Armenian Problem, because the people who are craving to return their homes are dreaming about this already one decade. Wherever I were, all the people from all of these countries, particularly people from Lebanon, Egypt and France, where are living around 400, 000 Armenians appealed me with the request: “Please do not leave us here, take us with you to the motherland”.

Entire our way from Beirut to France was washed with tears of Armenians craving to the motherland. All our Patriots in these countries, leaders of our people- our bishops, representatives of our national clergy asked me to convey to the Soviet Government their gratitude, because the part of Armenian nation around 1,500,000 people got a chance to live peaceful and happy life on native land-on the territory of Soviet Armenia, thanks to the help of great Russian Nation and Great Soviet Union.

But that is presenting the solution of the one third of the Armenian problem. More then one million Armenians are living in the republics of Tran Caucasus-Georgia and Azerbaijan. Approximately the same amount of people is living abroad. These people are remaining part of Armenians, exiled from Turkish Armenia during the First World War, in result of unprecedented history of persecutions and killing by the Turkish Government. Our Nation with loyalty laid his hopes on Russian Nation and Soviet Government.

Abroad many asked me, if now is the time for fair solution of the problem of Autonomous Region of Nagorny Karabakh, Nakhichevan ASSR and Akhalkalak region, where mainly inhabited by Armenians, but they are still continuing to be outside of the borders of Soviet Armenia.

Armenians from abroad are hoping the favorable Soviet Government will create all conditions in terms of land (territory), employment and housing for them to return to home for reunification to their families on the native land.

The Armenian Leaders abroad asked me to inform the Soviet Government that it is necessary to work out a program of repatriation of Armenians to Armenian for the next 5-7 years, which would make possible for repatriation of 30,000-40,000 people. For carrying out such a program- for creating jobs, building housing it is necessary funds and for that it is essential to take necessary steps.

 

Many of Armenians abroad expressed discontent about other regional cities of Georgia and Azerbaijan with compact Armenian communities, where many Armenian schools are closed, where they do not have enough resources to allow Armenian children to learn the native language.

For example in Rostov On Don, Karsnodar, Armavir, Piatigorsk, Batumi, Sukhumi and Tran Caspian Republics, where before 1937 existed Armenian middle schools, now days   those schools does not exist anymore. Honorable Nikoly Bulgakin, I want to assure you that the problems touched in my letter exposing the sincere emotions and cherished hopes of Armenian Nation.

Please let me dare to mention the reality, that as much Armenia and Armenian Nation will be stronger in Transcaucasia, as much will be safer Southern borders of our Great Country. For the last 200 years Armenian Nation showed his infinite devotion and friendship with the Great Russian nation. As always, but now in particular the fate and the life of Armenian nation depends on the fate of a great northern friend, nation –saver.

 

 

Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen I

 

Resolutions of A.N. Bulgakin:” Send to all members of Presiduim of Central Committee of KPSS, to Candidates to Presiduim of Central Committee of KPSS to Secretaries of CC of KPSS. N. Bulgakin May the 12th 1956.