Արցախի վերաբացուած թեմը Խորհրդային միութեան վերջին տարիներին (1988-1991)

Abstract

The Artsakh Movement, which started in 1988, was meant to reunite the Autonomous Region of Nagorno Karabakh with Soviet Armenia. It created favorable conditions for reopening the Artsakh Diocese, which had been closed in the 1930s due to Soviet Azerbaijani repression. During that period, the indigenous Armenians of Artsakh, who were living through a period of national and spiritual revival, demanded the reopening of the Armenian churches of the region and the reestablishment of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Catholicos Vazgen I of the See of Echmiadzin, who had struggled for the restoration of spiritual life in Artsakh for decades, felt the time had come to attain that historic goal. After preparatory work by the Catholicos, on March 10, 1989 the Artsakh Diocese was reopened and Archibishop Pargev Martirosyan was appointed as head. On July 5 Archbishop Pargev, together with four clergymen, settled permanently in Artsakh and marked the start of the activities of the Diocese. Despite difficulties and the complicated situation in the region, spiritual life began to flourish in Artsakh. Churches were reopened, mass was conducted on Sundays, and people Artsakh returned to their Mother Church, The Azerbaijani authorities attempted to oppose the reopening of the Artsakh Diocese by all possible means. The Soviet authorities and army supported Baku's anti-Armenian policies, Artsakh Armenian churches suffered armeed attacks and vandalism, the clergy and flock were subjected to psychological and physical persecutions, religious cerenomies and the activities of the diocese were menaced... The complaint letters of Catholicos Vazgen I and Prelate Archbishop Pargev to Soviet authorities remained unanswered. At the end of 1991 the Soviet Union disintegrated bringing to an end the two-year soviet history of the Artsakh Armenian Church.