The presentation of Clive Staples Lewis's book “Mere Christianity” took place at Summer Fest (video, photos)

According to Artak Aleksanyan, the CEO of the publishing house, the idea of translating Christian literature and publishing it was conceived in 2019 when Newmag was collaborating with “Tiramor Tun” NGO. It was during this time that the decision to create the “Hun” series was made. After the NGO ceased its activities, Newmag approached the Mother See. Following extensive negotiations, it was decided to collaborate with the Etchmiadzin publishing house to produce the series.

“It was very important for us to obtain the approval and endorsement of the Spiritual Council of the Mother See for the book. Our readers are highly discerning when it comes to spiritual literature, and we wanted to ensure that there would be no doubt about this book being sectarian. This book is safe, it’s secure and free from any sectarian emphasis or misconceptions”.

Father Ararat Poghosyan, director of the publishing department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, emphasizes such partnerships, considering that not all publishing houses are ready to publish religious literature.

“When Artak Aleksanyan initially wrote to His Holiness the Patriarch, the nature of our collaboration was intended to take a different direction. However, as we engaged in negotiations and meetings, we arrived at the current format. The publication of “Mere Christianity” is the initial outcome of this interaction, but we intend for it to be an ongoing partnership. In essence, such collaborations consistently help us elevate our objectives, setting higher standards and thresholds. This allows us to broaden the scope of our publications, introducing new additions to our primary book series”.

According to Father Haykazun Sahakean, the translator of the book, the author succeeded in straightforwardly discussing Christianity, making it accessible to people using simple language. “Lewis doesn't offer as much of a logical commentary as he does personal experience. The ease of his discourse isn't so much tied to the philosophical and logical structure; you can tell that the author genuinely had that experience. Clive Staple Lewis serves as an exemplar to me of encountering God, rather than merely pondering God, which all too often becomes tedious”.

According to Tatevik Nalbandyan, the overseeing editor of the book “Mere Christianity”, the author delves into the ever-present commandment of “loving the enemy” and clarifies the Christian perspective on this matter.

“For instance, when we consider the Christian virtues of forgiveness, does it entail forgiving, justifying, or even loving one's enemy?  Does that mean that they should not be punished because a Christian soldier kills the enemy on the battlefield? It's an intricate issue. Lewis doesn't evade this question; he addresses it candidly. He portrays the Christian knight as the epitome of Christian character, fully equipped to defend GOOD on the battlefield, without the slightest hint of evading military service or advocating pacifism. He views pacifism as a fallacy”.

The book's friendly and conversational style makes it highly accessible and enjoyable to read.