Mkrtich Khrimian, Ottoman-Armenian clergyman from Van, primate, publisher, bishop, Catholicos, Patriarch and diplomat, is one of the most mentioned but little studied characters in the second half of the 19th century. He is best known for his fiery sermon following the failure of his delegation in Berlin in July 1878 to secure the intact survival of the provisions of the February 1878 San Stefano Treaty that ended the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-1878) that had provided for reforms in the Armenian provinces in the East of the Ottoman Empire. At the time he ascribed that failure to Armenians’ reliance on tears and complaints to obtain such reforms, as opposed to other peoples who had fought and died for such changes in their lot in the Ottoman Empire. Thus Khrimian is seen as the first to invite Ottoman Armenians to take up arms, a precursor of the revolutionary parties, who holds his prominent place in the pantheon of fedayees and guerrilla fighters, revolutionary thinkers and inspiring political figures. Simultaneously, while primate of Van, he pursued what might be called “ecumenical” policies toward Kurds and Muslims. He was also a strong supporter of industrial modernization in the heart of historical Armenia. And yet, he also wrote a large number of articles, tracts and books that display a deeply held set of very traditional beliefs as well as a reliance on the agriculturally based community. Khrimian also lived long enough to witness the rise of revolutionary parties and withheld his support from them. This paper will try to explain these apparent paradoxes