As part of my studies at the Ben-Gurion University here and my
genuine interest, I am trying to compare Diasporas and their
religions.
What mainly interests me are the intricate relations between the
Diaspora and its Center as expressed in language, culture,
religion and philosophy.
Two classical ones are the Jewish and the Armenian Diasporas. I
realize that the parameters of my questions are effected by the
relations between Center and Diaspora in the context of Jewish
experience as expressed in Jewish culture and religion as well as
the Hebrew language. I am writing to ask for your help in
clarifying some of the questions that concern me, and would be
most grateful for as detailed an answer as possible.
Can you please relate to the following: 1. Is there a concept of
a _Holy Land_ in Armenian language and religion pertaining to the
relationship of an Armenian to Armenia?
2. In the classical Jewish writings, i.e. the Old Testament, the
Land of Yisrael has been _Promised_ to Avraham and his
descendants, thus the concept of _The promised land_ in Jewish
religion and the Hebrew language. Is there any similar attitude
towards Historical Armenia in Armenian religion and language?
3. If so, does this concept as well as the _Holy land_ relate to
Historical Armenia or to any territory bordered on it and settled
by Armenians?
4. Is there a _Holy Place_ within Armenia? Ararat? Echmiadzin?
5. Holy in what way? Should an individual behave differently in
such a place or is the _Holiness_ expressed only in terms of this
place being a shrine for religious services?
6. Is there a concept of _Exile_ in Armenian culture-religion?
In what way? (RExileS in classical Jewish culture, for example,
is connected to punishment for not obeying GodUs commandments.
How is it in Armenian religion?) Do individual Armenians feel
themselves living in _Exile_, i.e. outside of the proper place,
the center, when they do not live in Armenia?
7. Is there a distinction in Armenian language between Exile and
Diaspora?
Exile being the concept denoting a negative attitude to living
outside the center and Diaspora having no judgmental value, just
a neutral description?
8. Now, that there is an Armenian Diaspora that (like Jewish
Diaspora) does not intend to go back to Armenia - Is there a
tension between those who espouse _Exile_ i.e. never loose the
hope to return, and those who espouse _Diaspora_, i.e. living
outside the Homeland as a normal phenomenon?
9. Is there a special religious or cultural concept of _Return_
to Armenia? (like the Jewish one of _Ingathering of the Exiles_?)
10. Jews term going to the Land of Israel, _Aliyah_ - ascending,
going-up.Is there a similar concept in Armenian religion or
culture?
11. Likewise, Jews term Leaving the Land of Israel, _Yeridah_,
descending, going-down. How is it in Armenian religion?
12. In other words: Is there a value judgment attached to
discussing things like the above?
13. In Jewish culture there is the notion that by getting the
_Torah_, during the revelation at Sinai, the Jews have become a
nation. Jewish religion and Jewish nationality are, therefor,
intertwined. I understand that the Armenian Church provided the
Armenian Peolpe with a strong national culture and that it is the
church that has preserved Armenian national consciousness. Would
you say that they are intertwined in the same way? Are there any
Armenian concepts that express it?
14. The modern phenomenon in Jewish life is the existence of
Secular Judaism. Is there such a thing in Armenians? Can an
Armenian be secular and still consider him/herself an Armenian or
be so considered by others?
15. I understand that the battle of Vardanantz (451 AD) is
commemorated by the Armenians as the preeminent national contest
for religious independence and freedom of conscience. How do you
commemorate it? Is there a similarity in this to the Jewish
Holiday of Chanukah and the battles of the Maccabeans?
16. In Jewish civilization the central city of the ruling Empire
where the Diaspora existed, became sort of a rival to Jerusalem,
the capital of the Homeland. Thus Jews have the notion of _Babel
and Jerusalem_, meaning a Diaspora major city contesting for
supremacy. This, by the way, goes on till today, New-York
replacing Babylon. Is there a major Diaspora city that challenges
Yerevan?
17. Is there a religious duty of pilgrimage to Armenia? To
Ararat?
Echmiadzin? Is it stated in any of the sacred Armenian writings
like the duty to visit the Holy temple in Jerusalem or the Haj to
Mecca in Islam?
I will be most grateful if you use and explain as many Armenian
words and concepts as possible in answering the above. I would
like to understand the subtitles of the differences and
similarities between our two cultures-religions.
If possible, please also refer me to literature - classical or
modern - or to personalities, that will be able to further assist
me in my inquiries.
Gidon Elad