Armenia’s ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan “explained” why he had not come up to head of the opposition Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian who was on hunger strike in Liberty Square during rally staged on March 17.

Talking to the Armenian Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper Ter-Petrosyan said it contradicted his Christian principles. “Christianity to me is primarily a moral code. This code categorically denies the Christian virtues - piety, charity, humility, temperance, patronage, including the demonstration of fasting. When virtue is demonstrated it stops to be such.

One of the most authoritative fathers of the Armenian Church Hovhan Mandakuni said the following about fasting: “Satan ruins one who is fasting when a person wants to put himself above others and wants to make his actions public for others to admire his fortitude.” I can cite hundreds of examples from the Armenian and world church bibliography. Whatever, if Raffi Hovannisian went on hunger strike with precise political demands instead of showing off, I would welcome, and express my full support,” he told the newspaper.