Church weddings – remember those? They seem to decrease in our society every year. According to The Knot, a popular nationwide wedding planning website, only 22-percent of couples chose a religious institution for their wedding in 2017, which is dramatically lower than 41-percent in 2009. Where are the majority of people holding their wedding services? In 2017, 15-percent were held in barns, farms or ranches; 14-percent in historic homes; 17-percent at banquet halls; 12-percent in hotels and 12-percent in country clubs. In addition to a dramatic generational reduction in church weddings, the service itself has been subordinated to the reception venue and activities. The majority of couples are no longer deciding in which sanctuary to be joined together. The celebratory aspects have become the priority. As a result of this trend, the role of clergy in weddings has been significantly reduced. According to The Knot, 43-percent of couples chose a family member or friend to officiate at their wedding in 2016, as compared to 29-percent of couples in 2009. The secular rampage that is engulfing American society has penetrated the wedding sacrament, reducing a spiritual bond to a purely legal experience. Marriage as an institution is under duress, and religion is largely absent from weddings that do take place. 

The Armenian American community is not immune to this reality. In the western diaspora, our communities are heavily influenced by the societal values of the host nations, which has both positive and negative effects. For example, the values of education and personal freedom have been widely exercised by Armenian Americans, leading to their general success and prosperity as a group and benefiting their host communities. While the importance of family has diluted some of the negative influences, secularization, divorce, drugs and violence have impacted Armenian Americans. In a society where success is defined in financial terms,  Armenian institutions do their utmost to protect their constituencies from the harmful side effects of financial prosperity. 

Armenian wedding at Khor Virap, 2019 (Wikimedia Commons)

The most important institution in the diaspora is under the most pressure regarding values and norms. The Armenian church has a responsibility to embody the teachings of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, according to its traditions and canons. It is increasingly challenging for the church to attract new generations without compromising to maintain relevance – a word that should never be associated with a relationship with our savior. Sadly, the church competes with worldly ventures for the attention of their constituencies. The problem lies with how we choose to spend our time on this earth. In our society, the problem is not the acquisition of wealth, but our obsession with it as a distraction. In our faith, life on earth is but the beginning of the promise of eternity. It starts with the family unit created by God as the primary vehicle of teaching and living our values. My parents always made our relationship with God and the church a priority. I will always be grateful for that, although I am certain there were moments of rebellion in my youth. We did our best to carry those values forward with our children, but I have become particularly sensitive to making time as a grandparent to bring our grandchildren close to the church. A loving relationship with God and his church is the most important gift we can give our children to help them navigate life’s challenges. All baby boomer grandparents have an important role to play in this journey. Our children face much more complex societal distractions than we did as young parents. We need to transmit values that enable stability and happiness. They will not transfer simply by the passage of time, but through sacrifice, participation and commitment. Too often we choose the “window shopping” approach, bringing our children to church once in a while, but this is not nearly often enough for them to develop a love and dependency. 

The Armenian church is in a difficult position in this country regarding the marriage sacrament. I have spoken with several priests from both the Diocese and the Prelacy on the decline of church weddings. The general consensus was that the number of church weddings has significantly declined to as little as one third of what it was ten years ago. It obviously varies with the size of the parish, but these observations seem to be consistent with the American societal data. The data from The Knot includes Christian denominations in which the clergy are allowed to conduct weddings at venues outside of the sanctuary. Some of the 78-percent of weddings held outside of religious institutions in 2017 could have been officiated by members of the clergy. The official position of the global Armenian church is that their clergy can only officiate at weddings that are held in consecrated edifices. There are some forms of accommodations, but these exceptions are usually not public. An Armenian priest may also offer a blessing at an outside venue, which is not the sacrament of marriage. Regardless, the decline of church weddings seems like a plan for going out of business. I usually hear the resigned response, what are we going to do?

The diaspora in America differs from Armenia in this regard. Church weddings here are more likely within immigration generations, in line with assimilation trends. In Armenia, despite 70 years of Soviet atheism, it is almost unheard of for couples not to be married in the church. Some local churches in Armenia hold up to four weddings in one day. This might be attributed to the ratio of churches to the population, but also to the cultural connection to the church and limited intermarriage. The church and families must reverse this trend in the diaspora.

A compromise can be reached that maintains the sanctity of the sacrament and enables the church to continue its important role. I have mixed feelings when I attend weddings outside of the church. I am happy for the couple, but I still feel a sense of emptiness as we keep God on the outside and failure as a part of the current gatekeeping generation. Intellectually, I understand that there are larger, overwhelming societal issues at play. Yet the absence of God in this union is tragic. One suggestion I have heard is the use of a consecrated mobile altar for weddings held outside the sanctuary. More resources must also be applied to strengthening families in their spiritual journeys. If God is a part of our home life, then the sacrament of marriage is a natural extension. Deprioritizing a spiritual family life and expecting children to marry in the church is unrealistic and self-fulfilling. We have no right to lament the absence of the sacrament when we raise our children with an aloof presence in the church and little familial spirituality.

The decline of church weddings in the western diaspora is a reflection of shifting values and priorities. I have long feared an Armenian community with a dominant secular base. Decoupling our historic bond between heritage and faith by diminishing the role of the church as an institution is not in the long-term interests of the Armenian nation. If this trend continues, then what’s next – unbaptized children or fewer who seek redemption through the body and blood of Christ? At that point, we are an empty people in decline. If we have the will, we can overcome these challenges, not simply for the sake of restoring traditions but for the glory of God and our salvation. It has been said that marriage offers a sense of commitment to each that will guide couples through life’s challenges. The holy sacrament of marriage provides us the lifelong seal of commitment with the love of our heavenly Father.

This is the business of the church and the responsibility of our families. We can begin to solve problems once we recognize them as such. Give our children this gift.

Labor Day parade by L. G. Strand, circa late 1880s (Wikimedia Commons)

Labor Day is a holiday honoring working people. It is observed as a legal holiday on the first Monday in September throughout North America. Labor organizations sponsor various celebrations, but for most people it is a day of rest and recreation. It also has become a symbol of the end of summer. In European and other countries, Labor Day is May 1.

The idea of setting a day aside to honor the country’s working people was conceived in 1882 by Peter McGuire, founder of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. In 1887, Oregon became the first state to make Labor Day a legal holiday, after which President Grover Cleveland signed a bill in 1894, making Labor Day a national holiday.

For most of humanity, people have had to work. Even the first parents of the human race, Adam and Eve, had responsibilities in the Garden of Eden. An accurate reading of the Genesis story shows us that, from the beginning, it was God’s intention that Adam should tend the Garden. Adam’s attitude toward work changed after the fall.

Work is essential because many worthwhile things have to be earned. Few things in life are free.

Work is not only essential to human survival, but also to our mental and emotional well-being. Some of the healthiest people are those who enjoy their work. Work is also important for self-esteem and personal dignity. It not only drains surplus energy, which can be a source of tension if not properly used, but also kindles hope and banishes morbid discouragement. When hope vanishes, life is not worth living. Idleness causes stagnation, and anything stagnant is hurtful. Purposeful, creative work gives one a sense of worth and dignity. Worthwhile work enriches personality.

Unemployment can be a serious problem in many respects. Sociologists tell us that unemployment has very high social costs. Each time the unemployment rate increases, suicides and murders increase.

Work is also related to people’s sense of satisfaction about life. Lack of purposeful action brings about boredom, and boredom can be deadly to the morale of individuals. There is a great deal of truth in the saying, “The idle brain is the devil’s playground.”

Work is also good therapy for those who are in distress. Part of the secret for dealing with grief is to carry on with the daily routine of life. Those who are not capable of dealing with distress shut themselves off from the world of responsibility and relationships.

Of course, not all people have enviable and satisfying jobs. Some kinds of work are not easy; some kinds of work are thankless. Regardless of the nature of work, it becomes meaningful when people understand that their lives are part of a greater divine plan. God created humans in His own image. God is a creating, sustaining and working God. Jesus said in John 5:7, “My Father is working still, and I am working.” How we view our work is a religious question. If people view life as meaningful and purposeful, then they will probably view their work as having rhyme and reason as well. However, if life is simply a matter of passing time, getting by and merely existing, then it is doubtful that people will get excited about the roles they play in life.

Work has a spiritual purpose. Each individual has a place in God’s plan for the world. In fact, human beings are partners with God in the provision of the world’s needs. As part of the plan of God, our work is a ministry, a mission and a sacred endeavor. We are partners with our Creator in the stewardship of earth’s resources and in supplying the needs of His children.

Viewed from this perspective, work is not a curse, but a blessing!

AMAA Artsakh Camp

By Viktor Karapetyan, AMAA Representative in Artsakh

They are trying to eliminate us, but we live and keep others alive…

Life in Artsakh is different. To live here you must be a source of support for those around you. You must transmit life to others. You must fight and not give up.

Uncertainty, chaos, despair…Sometimes it seems like spring will never come to the homeland. It is difficult to work with and convey hope to members of the young generation who live in this chaos. It is even more difficult to show them how they can participate in the mission. 

From August 14-18, the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) Artsakh branch organized a camp to give hope and encouragement to the youth and teach them that each person has their part in building the homeland. The camp, filled with entertainment as well as educational and patriotic sessions, separated the children from their everyday worries and the blockade.

We must learn to be healthy in mind, heart and soul so that we can pass on the same spirit to others. We can each help and uplift each other to overcome these challenges.

“It is the heroic resistance that will save the motherland and not pitiful foreign mercy,” said Zaven Khanjian, AMAA Executive Director/CEO. “We firmly stand by your side, with unbreakable will, but we humble ourselves against your heroic struggle. We appreciate, love, join your struggle and bow before you.”

BRICS family photo at 15th BRICS Summit, Johannesburg, South Africa, August 22, 2023 (Wikimedia Commons)

The BRICS summit, hosted by South Africa from Aug. 22-24, 2023, came amid a tumultuous, almost entropic period in global politics. Intensifying U.S.-China competition and the war in Ukraine have emphasized geopolitical fault lines. Meanwhile, many newly-formed medium-sized powers, frustrated by U.S. foreign policy, have reduced their dependency on U.S. currency while increasing bilateral trade in their own currencies in order to challenge the unipolar system and raise their concerns. For such countries, joining non-Western blocs such as BRICS has been a main objective.

BRICS is a group of emerging economies made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Economist Jim O’Neil predicted that by 2050 BRICS would surpass the wealth of the major: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. BRICS may face certain internal challenges. While China and Russia have their own agendas against the West, India, Brazil and South Africa want warm relations and to avoid sanctions. The expansion of BRICS will nonetheless have an impact on the emergence of the new world system and Eurasian politics. As India and Russia push for north-south connectivity along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), the membership of Persian Gulf countries Saudi Arabia, the Emirates and especially Iran (which recently also joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, or the SCO) will further accelerate regional trade interconnectivity and increase Russia’s influence in the South Caucasus, which is the key linkage between Russia and the Persian Gulf. 

BRICS as an Emerging Economic Power Amid Global Challenges 

BRICS encompasses about 26.6-percent of the gross world product and 32.5-percent of Global GDP in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). BRICS was formed to highlight investment opportunities between the member states, yet gradually it became a cohesive geopolitical bloc. Bilateral relations between the member states are conducted on the basis of non-interference, equality and mutual benefit. BRICS is considered the foremost geopolitical rival to the G7 bloc of the U.S.-led leading advanced economies (U.S., U.K., Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, with the EU as a non-enumerated member). 

BRICS has been pushing for de-dollarization, yet there is a lack of unanimity on how this process will be shaped. As I mentioned in my recent article reflecting on discussions during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, “BRICS is becoming a rising de-dollarization coalition, with the group developing multiple de-dollarization initiatives to reduce currency risks and bypass U.S. sanctions. However, it is far from reality, at least for now, to argue that the group will initiate a common currency replacing the U.S. dollar. During the panel debates, many opposing ideas were presented from different representatives of member states. All member states aimed for de-dollarization, but none are in favor of a common currency to replace it, even though they aim to establish a ‘polycentric global monetary system by promoting the internationalization of the currencies of member states.’” BRICS member states will continue trading with their local currencies instead of using the dollar until a unanimous agreement is reached to institutionalize de-dollarization and come up with an alternative currency. To this end, Russia has crafted a joint strategy between the members of BRICS, the SCO and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to increase the use of national currencies in trade. 

Another challenge facing the bloc is the significant difference in the foreign policies of its member states regarding the U.S.-led unipolar world system and a clear and consistent vision of a multipolar order. In his book The Poorer Nations: A Possible History of the Global South, Indian Marxist scholar Vijay Prashad said that the bloc has its limitations compared to the West. Prashad argued that BRICS has neither established new institutions to counterbalance the West nor come up with an alternative ideology for neoliberalism. He says BRICS has no ability to challenge the primacy of the U.S. and NATO. 

The Expansion of BRICS and Internal Pluralism

Since 2022, BRICS has sought to expand its membership, as several developing and new rising powers have expressed their interest in joining. At the 15th BRICS summit in South Africa, BRICS announced that six new emerging market economies will join the group and full membership will take effect on January 1, 2024.  According to many political analysts, the main objective behind this expansion is building a multipolar world system to increase the marginalized voice of the Global South. Between 2022 and 2023, over 40 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS, including Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Venezuela, Turkey, Mexico, Uruguay and Pakistan. 

BRICS accounts for 40-percent of the world’s population and a quarter of global GDP. Adam Gallagher and Andrew Cheatham argued in the United States Institute of Peace that “adding to the bloc means that BRICS would be a stronger and more influential group, further advancing multipolarity.” “Despite divisions among the BRICS members, there is an emerging consensus that the international order is not working and a new one is needed,” the article reads. Each member state has its own perspective on worldview and the expansion of the bloc, with notable differences between India and China. 

Gallagher further argues that Russia is “keen on advancing a multipolar world and sees BRICS expansion as a way to undermine the liberal international order.” Following its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has looked to the Global South, mainly Africa and the Persian Gulf, to facilitate trade relations and bypass Western sanctions. He says the presence of dozens of members at the summit was seen by Russia as a “positive signal regarding its international standing.” China also views the bloc as a tool to shape the global system and an alternative world order to that led by the U.S. China has been in favor of its expansion, arguing that economic distress in some of the BRICS countries is “weakening the BRICS countries’ common identity, position and enthusiasm to continue promoting the cooperation mechanism,” as argued by Antara Ghosal Singh. As the era of the post-pandemic rapid economic growth in Brazil, South Africa and Russia has passed, adding new members to the bloc could accelerate economic activity within member states and around the globe. Moreover, China wants to take advantage of the war in Ukraine, which has brought Europe into a “new Cold War environment,” to promote its global agenda and connect newly emerging economies to its supply chains, such as by connecting them through the Belt and Road Initiative. 

Cheatham and Gallagher also agree that the U.S. fears that China may use BRICS as a tool to consolidate its position globally. They argue that the world is seeing a “new wave of ‘minilateralism’ – a style of diplomatic engagement that gives prominence to small- and medium-sized coalitions of like-minded states.” This trend will be accelerated with the expansion of BRICS. The U.S. is concerned that China is taking advantage of this process and positioning itself as the leader of the emerging multipolar world. 

Although Brazil and India are cautious not to turn the bloc into an anti-Western coalition, China and Russia have used it as leverage against the West. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many countries around the world were expected to take sides, and blocs such as BRICS give rising middle power the space to raise the voice of the Global South.

Initially, Brazil and India were not in favor of expansion, fearing that it would “dilute their influence and impact their non-aligned foreign policies.” On the other hand, China and Russia were pushing the expansion of BRICS as a “counterweight to the Group of 7 and other Western-led alignments.” Brazil, isolated from Eurasian political developments, does not have as much diplomatic weight as Russia or China to shape global affairs and believes that the expansion of the bloc would diminish its influence as a leader in the Global South. As Andre Pagliarini has argued, “Brazil’s enduring embrace of the UN suggests that it does not aspire to a global order hostile by definition to the U.S., but rather one in which Washington is more inclined – even if compelled – to listen to others.” 

Meanwhile, India, which possesses the largest population in the world, is wary of the bloc becoming anti-Western in orientation and being used as a tool by China to increase its influence in Asia and around the world. One of the founding nations of the non-aligned movement during the Cold War, New Delhi has carried this legacy even in today’s current great power competition. While India is also a member of the SCO, its political relations with the U.S. keep expanding, and it works with Japan and Australia to counter China’s expansion in the Indo-Pacific. India has its own interest in becoming a world economic power. While China’s economic engine may be sputtering at the moment, Bloomberg Economics predicts that India is ready to “pick up the slack and could boost the BRICS’ share of global GDP to more than 40% by 2040, compared with 32% last year.”

The Impact of the Expansion of BRICS on the South Caucasus

Iran’s accession to BRICS is a win for Russia, India and China. Moscow and Beijing have been trying to integrate Iran into their regional architectures. This was clear during Iran’s accession to the SCO in 2023, in an attempt by Russia and China to bring Iran into their orbit amid a possible breakthrough on nuclear negotiations between Iran and the West. Iran is an important partner for Russia to push its regional agenda in the Middle East (mainly Syria but also in Iraq and Lebanon). The China-brokered diplomatic rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia was a diplomatic victory for Moscow to minimize U.S. influence in the region. 

Iran’s membership announcement in BRICS came amid intensified diplomacy to reduce its isolation and boost its economy by strengthening ties with Russia, China and India and improving its diplomatic relations with its Arab neighbors. The Islamic Republic has the second largest worldwide gas reserves and is rich in oil. It has a geostrategic location bordering 13 countries with access to the Persian Gulf, Caspian Sea, Central Asia and the South Caucasus. It is also part of China and India-backed international transit corridors. Normalization between Iran and the Persian Gulf Arab countries, in addition to Chinese investments in these countries, could reduce disputes and promote dialogue. 

During the recent BRICS summit, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi said that the “Iranian leadership sees BRICS’ challenge to the conventional economic order as an opportunity to weaken U.S. influence on the global stage.” Iran’s accession will have an impact on the South Caucasus, especially on those countries that are participants in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). On August 27, the General Director of the Railway Company in Iran announced the transit of Russian cargo to Saudi Arabia through the Iranian section of the INSTC. This will further push Iran and Russia to finalize the construction of the remaining section of the railway, the Astara-Rasht railway, connecting Azerbaijan to Iran. 

Divyanshu Jindal, a Research Associate at NatStrat, Center for Security and Strategic Studies in India, told the Armenian Weekly that “INSTC has been a landmark connectivity project for expanding India’s trade outreach with Central Asia and Russia and is being seen as a major corridor for connectivity with Europe. Not only does this help the member states reach new markets, but the corridor holds immense potential in kickstarting economies in the decade ahead. As the world’s focus shifts toward Asia, the Eurasian region and various projects involved around it (like the Eurasian Economic Union) will only increase in significance.” 

Jindal argued that India is interested in playing a significant role in regional connectivity and trade. He said the Persian Gulf-Black Sea corridor proposed by Iran and Armenia is the ideal parallel corridor to the INSTC, given the warm relations between Iran, India and Armenia and the strengthening of defense ties between India and Armenia. Armenia can become a major transit hub serving as a gateway to European markets and further enhancing Yerevan’s regional security.

Iran’s accession to BRICS and the implementation of new economic projects around INSTC make the bloc attractive to Armenia and Azerbaijan. As Georgia has its path clear towards trans-Atlantic institutions, pressure may increase on Armenia and Azerbaijan to join similar blocs in the future. Meanwhile, integrating the infrastructure of the South Caucasus into the Eurasian regional system has been the objective of Russia for the past years. However, a competition may emerge between different geo-economic projects in the region, such as the Turkish-Azerbaijani backed “middle corridor” and the Russian-Iranian-Indian backed North-South corridor. It is crucial to see where China will be positioned in these competitive projects. Global powers such as the U.S. would not be happy to see the South Caucasus serve as a bridge between Russia, Iran and the Persian Gulf, which could trigger new conflicts.

 Armenia has some options to choose from. The unblocking of communication channels between Baku and Yerevan is far from reality for the time being due to Azerbaijan’s blockade of Artsakh and its aggressive attitude towards Armenia. Instead, Yerevan should keep promoting the Black Sea-Persian Gulf corridor. By doing so, Yerevan would keep its window open to the West, offering itself as a crucial transit hub between Europe and India and a highway connecting Russia to the Middle East via Iran. Such a step may bring certain risks, yet proactive diplomacy from Armenia’s side may repel pressures from competing global powers. 

Economic interconnectivity is crucial for the South Caucasus, as it could bring foreign investment and stability. Politically, the facilitation of trade along the INSTC corridor will consolidate Russia’s influence in the South Caucasus and Iran’s position as a bridge between the Caucasus and the Persian Gulf. Meanwhile, small- or medium-sized countries, to preserve their strategic position in the region, will continue to balance alliances or bandwagon and join regional economic groups.