By Vicken Sonentz Papazian
It is clear that since the glorious Velvet Revolution, Nikol Pashinyan has grown by such mythic proportions that he has transcended his earthly role as mere prime minister. Head of State no longer properly captures his transformation into a semi-deity for his disciples and followers. Much like Jesus Christ who once observed “I am the way” it now appears that Nikol Pashinyan was right when he stated earlier this year that “I am the law.” At first glance this may appear blasphemous, but facts are facts, and if the past seven years has demonstrated anything, it has shown that Nikol Pashinyan is now considered by many to be both a religious and political figure. Therefore, it is now time to embrace “Nikolanity”, a movement that incorporates and expands upon certain concepts of Christianity. A movement shown to know no national boundaries as evidenced by the admiration Nikol enjoys with Muslim Turks and Christian dominated western funded NGO’s alike. Much like prophets before him, Nikol’s sermon on the mount, with its message of “liberating the Armenian people of the burdens of their unfortunate past” is a revelation that has many followers anxiously awaiting The Rapture.
Therefore, to break the impasse that threatens to permanently divide the millennia-old Armenian Church, let us simply agree to create a new offshoot of Christianity (not to replace Christianity, but simply supplement it) and call it “Nikolanity”, an ecumenical religious doctrine centered around the teachings of the modern day illuminator, Nikol Pashinyan.
To guide the flock during these turbulent times of uncertainty, followers can cite verse and passage from the Book of Nikol, and just as (to some) the Dead Sea Scrolls supplemented the Bible, Nikol’s teachings will not seek to replace the Bible, but instead simply update the content to better apply to the modern day “Real Armenia” a growing phenomenon that has expanded throughout the Caucasus.
I am certain the dozen or so renegade Armenian Bishops who met recently with Nikol Pashinyan would endorse this evolution of our national religion, which effectively expands Armenian orthodoxy to include “Nikolanity”. Amen.
