Month: May 2008

DIRECTOR EGOYAN CHALLENGES WEB "CLICHE"
Bob Tourtellotte, Reuters

Ottawa Citizen
May 22 2008
Canada

CANNES, France (Reuters) – Who said the Web was worldwide? Not director
Atom Egoyan, whose new film "Adoration" explores just how confining
cyberspace can be when a teenager confronts a culture clash that has
damaged him and his family.

"Adoration" premiered on Thursday at the Cannes film festival, and
following a press screening, Egoyan challenged the notion that the
World Wide Web has fostered a global community.

"That’s the cliche of the Internet, but the reality is that it exists
in small interest groups," Egoyan told reporters.

In "Adoration," the key character is a Toronto teenager named Simon
who confesses to a small Web chat room containing only his friends
that his Middle-Eastern father planted a bomb in the suitcase of
his Canadian mother, who was pregnant with Simon at the time, as she
boarded a plane to Israel.

The bomb was discovered, and no one was hurt. But Simon’s confession
touches off a firestorm of controversy on the Web and fuels a wide
range of reactions — from sympathy to empathy and from love to hate.

But Egoyan does not see the response as coming from a singular
collection of people all connected by the Web, but rather as reactions
by different groups of Web users who have happened onto a small piece
of information on the Internet.

"These are ultimately really closed communities that are responding
to each other. It’s just drowned out by kind of a global noise,"
Egoyan said.

Moreover, the Web is just one part of a multi-layered story in
"Adoration" that ultimately tells of one teenager coming to a new
understanding of himself, as well as his family’s dealing with the
pain and loss of Simon’s mother and father who come from vastly
different worlds.

EAST MEETS WEST

Egoyan’s background lends credibility to the idea that he is
well-suited to talking about growing up across cultural boundaries. His
parents are Armenian, he was born in Egypt, raised in Canada, where
he still makes his home.

"Adoration" is a nod to all sorts of symbols people use as ways to
identify themselves and, ultimately, as weapons to exert control
over others.

Simon, who confesses his story in the chat room after his French
teacher reads the tale of his parents from an old news clipping, finds
himself steeped in the Christian religion symbolized by a Nativity
scene his uncle, who is now raising Simon, sets up at Christmas.

Simon and his Uncle Tom’s beliefs are challenged by a Middle-Eastern
woman wearing a burqa who happens by their suburban home one evening
and returns later to further place herself into their lives.

But as Egoyan sees it, he was not so much trying to talk about the
clash of Eastern and Western cultures as much how that conflict exists
in modern life for all the world’s people and, in particular, how it
has impacted Simon and his family.

"We’re all interconnected. These stories all reverberate in ways we
cannot understand at times," he said. "You have three characters
who were all using these props of religions or these ancient
traditions. That’s exactly what they’ve become in a way. They’ve
become props. They’ve been cut off from their original intentions
and are being used for other purposes."

For Simon and for most people, the wielding of those props people
claim to adore — as Egoyan puts it — can have damaging consequences.

TURKEY AND THE CAUCASUS: A CAUCASIAN CHEESE CIRCLE

Economist
urope/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11412925
May 22 2008
UK

The secret diplomacy of cheesemaking

ON AN icy February morning a clutch of Turks and Armenians huddled in a
hotel in Kars, with Turkish intelligence officials looking on. On May
14th their secret, a giant round of cheese, was unveiled in Gyumri,
over the sealed border in Armenia. Under the label of "Caucasian
cheese", the yellow slab symbolises reconciliation between Turkey
and Armenia, and across the Caucasus.

The idea of a regional "peace" cheese (Georgia and Azerbaijan are
involved too) met suspicion when mooted a year ago, says Alin Ozinian
of the Turkish Armenian Business Development Council. "We didn’t
know how the authorities would react," said Zeki Aydin, a Turkish
cheese producer, who made the ten-hour trip from Kars to Gyumri via
Georgia. "We want our borders to be reopened, good neighbourly ties,
so we took a chance," said Ilhan Koculu, a fellow cheesemaker.

Vefa Ferejova, an Azeri campaigning to bury the hatchet with Armenia,
was also there, saying "We are told to hate Armenians: I will
not." Armenia and Azerbaijan are at loggerheads over Nagorno-Karabakh,
a patch of land that Armenia wrested from Azerbaijan in the early
1990s. This prompted Turkey to seal its border (but not air links)
with Armenia in 1993. American-brokered peace talks have failed,
and Azerbaijan now threatens to resort to force.

Yet there are hopeful signs that Turkey and Armenia may make
up. Turkey’s president, Abdullah Gul, was among the first to
congratulate Serzh Sarkisian, who became Armenia’s president in
a tainted election in February. Unofficial talks to establish
diplomatic ties could resume at any time. Indeed, there is a whiff
of desperation in the air. Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development
(AK) Party is under threat of closure by the constitutional court for
allegedly wanting to bring in sharia law. AK’s overtures to Armenia
may be aimed at garnering some Western support.

Mr Sarkisian’s government is heading for trouble when gas prices
double this winter. An end to Turkey’s blockade could temper
popular unrest. But hawks in Turkey and Armenia can still count on
Azerbaijan. Allegations that Armenia is sheltering Kurdish rebels have
stirred anger in Turkey. Where did they come from? "The Azeri press,"
snorts Mr Aydin. Even the best cheese cannot change everybody’s
attitudes overnight.

EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT MODEL HAS NO ALTERNATIVE IN SOUTH CAUCASUS: EXPERT

ARKA
May 22, 2008

YEREVAN, May 22. /ARKA/. Achievements of the South Caucasus countries
in the past 5-6 years show that European integration development is
the only right model for the region, according to Director of the
Armenian-European Policy and Legal Advice Center (AEPLAC) Tigran
Jrbashyan.

The EU experience can become an impetus to reforms, as the countries
that implement European models advance, Jrbashyan said today at the
Caucasus 2007 international conference on social-economic development
in the South Caucasus.

The AEPLAC Director stressed the importance of the New European
Neighborhood Policy.

The New European Neighborhood Policy must be in line with the
objectives of the governments of the countries involved in the process,
he said.

The expert believes the only country that can swerve from the course is
Azerbaijan, as it can easily implement the so-called resource-oriented
model of economy. "Armenia and Georgia have no alternative to the
European model of reforms," Jrbashyan said.

THE COLOROSO CONTROVERSY, CONTINUED

Quillblog
blog/?p=2027&akst_action=share-this
May 22 2008
Canada

There’s more reaction to the Toronto District School Board’s decision
to pull Barbara Coloroso’s Extraordinary Evil from a Grade 11 course
(see Quillblog past). The Board was bowing to pressure from the
local Turkish community over references to the Armenian genocide
in Coloroso’s book, a characterization Turkey has always vehemently
denied.

Now The Writers’ Union of Canada chair Susan Swan has posted a
statement about the case on its website. It reads, in part:

It is completely unacceptable for those responsible for educating the
citizens of tomorrow to remove valuable titles every time an interest
group brings forth a complaint. If so, your library shelves would be
bare indeed.

Swan adds that she’ll also be lobbying TDSB executive Gerry Connelly
directly. At the time of this post, still no official statement from
Coloroso’s publisher, Penguin Canada.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN THE SIXTH INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE ON THE DIALOGUE OF RELIGIONS IN DOHA

The 6th international conference on the Dialogue of Religions was convened
in the capital of Qatar, Doha, on May 13-15, 2008. The conference, held
under the auspices of the Prince of Qatar, attracted over 200 participants
from 30 different countries. It was organized by the inter-faith dialogue
center of Doha.

The Catholicosate of Cilicia was also invited to participate in this
conference and it delegated Archbishop Sebouh Sarkisian, Primate of the
Diocese of Tehran to participate on its behalf. The conference convened
under the theme "Religious values: The prospect of peace and a respectable
life."

Speeches were delivered on various topics related to this theme by Jewish,
Christian and Muslim speakers. Three working groups were formed to discuss
various issues related to peace, mutual respect, violence and human rights.

Archbishop Sebouh actively participated in the conference’s activities. On
the sidelines of the conference he also met with the representatives of
various delegations, briefing them on the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s
positive and fruitful contribution to the development of inter-faith
dialogue. The Archbishop also spoke about the initiatives of Catholicos Aram
I in this respect, and particularly in the field of Christian-Muslim
dialogue both in Lebanon and internationally.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

ACUSA LECTURE ON "THE ARMENIAN CULTURE IN THE 5TH CENTURY AND THE ARMENIAN
IDENTITY"

The Armenian Church University Students’ Association (ACUSA) organized a
lecture on the "Armenian culture in the 5th century and the Armenian
Identity" in its Antelias headquarters on May 17.

During her opening remarks, ACUSA Central Committee member Gacia
Kouyoumdjian presented the speaker of the event, well known intellectual and
pedagogue Krikor Shahinian. During his talk, Shahinian first presented
historical developments in the fourth and fifth centuries, stressing that
the adoption of Christianity as an official religion in Armenia aimed at
emphasizing the uniqueness of the Armenian nation.

The speaker then talked in detail about the political situation created in
Armenia after its division in 387 between the Byzantine Empire and Sassanid
Persia. Against this background, Shahinian delved into the 5th century,
talking in particular about the creation of the Armenian Alphabet, which
came to further strengthen Armenian national identity, he said.

Shahinian added that the struggle for the preservation of that identity
continues today. At the end of the lecture, a discussion was held on issues
related to Armenian identity.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Youth
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

esults/round=15035/match=302030/report=rp.html

Tu rkey off the mark in ArmeniaThursday 22 May 2008Match report

Turkey won at the Abovyan Stadium (©UEFA)

Turkey made a winning start to UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Elite round Group 7 with victory against mini-tournament hosts Armenia
at the Abovyan Stadium.

Turkey prevails

Ercan Yıldırım put Turkey into a tenth-minute lead and
although Tigran Voskanyan equalised just before the break, Erhan
Sentürk struck just past the hour to settle the match. On Saturday
Turkey take on reigning champions Spain while Armenia face Ukraine.

©uefa.com 1998-2008. All rights reserved.

PRESS RELEASE
Date: May 22, 2008
Armenian National Committee of America
Eastern Region
122 W. 27th St. Floor 12, New York, NY 10001
Contact: Karine Birazian
Tel: 917-428-1918

ANCA-ER MARKS 89TH ANNIVERSARY OF PONTIAN GENOCIDE
AT NEW YORK CITY EVENT

New York, NY- On May 19, 2008, Armenian National Committee of
America Eastern Region (ANCA ER) Executive Director took part in
commemorating the 89th Anniversary of the Pontian Genocide. Strong
winds and brisk temperatures did not keep community activists from
gathering at Bowling Green Park for the first New York City
commemoration.

Organizing the event was the Federation of Hellenic Societies of
Greater New York and the Pan-Pontian Federation of USA and Canada.
Dimitris Molohides, Secretary of the Pan-Pontian Federation of USA
and Canada, addressed the crowd in attendance and urged for
decisive action for recognition of the Pontian Genocide.

Molohides, who spoke at the Armenian Genocide commemorative event
at City Hall in New York City during the ANC of NY’s April 24th
event stated "today, May 19th the Pontian community with Hellenes
and Philhellenes here in New York City and around the world will
commemorate the 89th anniversary of the Pontian… it is the first
time that we gather here in the Bowling Green Park in the heart of
the economic center of New York City to raise together the Greek
flag and the single-headed eagle symbol of Pontus. Today’s event
is an emotional but also a historical moment for all of us that are
present here."

Speaking on behalf of the ANCA, Birazian addressed the crowd. In
her statement she remarked: "the tragic sufferings of Armenians,
Assyrians, and Greeks will never be forgotten. The Turkish
Government tries to silence us, but we will not be silenced, and
together we will in fact end Turkey’s "Gag Rule" and seek
recognition of this great crime. Nine decades ago they tried to
silence the innocent victims that fell under the Turkish sword, and
today we are still here. Nine decades from now we will still be
here for we will never forget and work to seek justice" (Full
comments can be read below).

Also present at the event include the Cypriot Action Network of
America (CANA), the presidents and members of the two local
associations "Komninoi" of New York and "Pontos" of Norwalk
Connecticut and from the "Holy Institution Panagia Soumela."
Speakers included Reverend Father Ioannis Romas from the St.
Nicholas church that was destroyed on 9/11, Mr. Dimitris Dimitriou,
General Secretary – Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New
York, Mr. Elias Tsekerides, Past President of Pan-Pontian
Federation USA & Canada, Ms. Donna Fotiadou, member and
coordinating committee of the Pontian Youth Association USA &
Canada, and Mr. Ioannis Fidanakis, President of Panthracian Union
of America "Orpheus."

The Ottoman Empire, under the cover of World War I, undertook a
systematic and deliberate effort to eliminate its minority
Christian populations. This genocidal campaign resulted in the
death and deportation of well over 2,000,000 Armenians, Assyrians,
and Greeks.

The Pontian Genocide has been formally acknowledged by Greece and
Cyprus and, within the United States, by the states of New York,
New Jersey, Florida, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania,
and Illinois, among others. Most recently, the International
Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) released a statement
commenting:

"BE IT RESOLVED that it is the conviction of the International
Association of Genocide Scholars that the Ottoman campaign against
Christian minorities of the Empire between 1914 and 1923
constituted a genocide against Armenians, Assyrians, and Pontian
and Anatolian Greeks.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Association calls upon the
government of Turkey to acknowledge the genocides against these
populations, to issue a formal apology, and to take prompt and
meaningful steps toward restitution."
#####
Photo Caption: Dimitris Molohides, Secretary of the Pan-Pontian
Federation of USA and Canada reading a proclamation in recognition
of the Pontian Genocide

Comments by ANCA ER Director

"On behalf of the Armenian National Committee of America, I would
like to thank the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New
York and the Pan-Pontian Federation of USA and Canada for inviting
us here to speak in commemoration of the 89th Anniversary of the
Pontian Greek Genocide.

My personal relationship with the Pontian Greek community is very
recent, where after the passage of a mandate to teach genocide in
the Illinois school system, I met George Mavropoulos and others
from the Pontian Society of Chicago Xeniteas Chapter and from there
a dedicated team of individuals worked to organize and host
successful workshops on the teaching of genocide to teachers
throughout the Chicagoland area. We shared a common ground, not
only because of the closeness of our culture and heritage, but we
both suffered a genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire and relive
it each day with its ongoing denial today.

The tragic sufferings of Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks will
never be forgotten. The Turkish Government tries to silence us,
but we will not be silenced, and together we will in fact end
Turkey’s "Gag Rule" and seek recognition of this great crime. Nine
decades ago they tried to silence the innocent victims that fell
under the Turkish sword, and today we are still here. Nine decades
from now we will still be here for we will never forget and work to
seek justice.

Though this is a somber occasion, the devotion our organizations
have in making sure this great crime against humanity is never
forgotten shows the strength of our survival. I am proud that the
Armenian National Committee of America is working to build a
relationship with the Federation of Hellenic Society, and the Pan-
Pontian Federation of USA and Canada, and as victims of genocide, I
urge everyone not only to continue working for recognition of this
crime, but also work in stopping the ongoing genocide in Darfur.
We must be the voice for those who cannot speak and fight for those
who cannot do so. I urge you all to take action, and come and
rally with Africa Action and other organizations this Thursday, May
22, at 12pm to urge the United Nations to take action and make sure
that the deployment of well equipped peacekeepers to Darfur happen.
We need your presence there to make a difference. The rally will
take place at Lexington and 45th St."

PRESS RELEASE
Date: May 22, 2008
Armenians and Progressive Politics
PO Box 419, New York, NY 10108
Contact: Laura Boghosian
Tel: 917-428-1918

"Armenians and Progressive Politics" Announces Conference Panels
—May 31 panels to discuss Armenian issues from a progressive
viewpoint

NEW YORK-Writers, scholars, and activists from around the world
will join their East Coast colleagues in examining Armenian issues
from a progressive viewpoint as part of the May 30-31 "Armenians
and Progressive Politics" conference in New York City.

Seven panels on Saturday, May 31, will discuss issues relating to
Armenia, Armenian identity, gender, genocide, and coalition-
building. Notable panelists include international lawyer and human
rights activist Armineh Arakelian; journalist Florence Avakian;
poet Nancy Agabian; author and professor Nubar Hovsepian;
sociologist and genocide scholar Jack Nusan Porter; Joey Kurtzman,
executive editor of Jewcy; writer, student and blogger Simon
Maghakyan; author and professor Levon Chorbanian; ArmeniaNow editor
John Hughes; and human rights activist Pedro Mouratian.

A brief summary of the panels follows:

"Changing Gender Roles in the Diaspora" will look at how women’s
roles and activities have changed over time, and evaluate the
possibilities for continued change in a progressive direction.

"Foreign Assistance to Armenia: Toward Prosperity or Dependency?"
considers how foreign aid helps or hinders Armenia’s progress, and
examines the agendas and methods of those states and agencies who
contribute aid to Armenia. Specific cases will be assessed.

Armenian and Jewish activists will discuss the controversy that
erupted last year over the Anti-Defamation League’s lobbying for
Turkey in the panel, "The ADL and the Armenian Genocide: Pursuing
Common Goals Through Grassroots Activism." The successes,
challenges, and obstacles in building a genuine coalition of
Armenians, Jews, and other progressives will be addressed.

A student panel, "New Work of an Activist Bent," highlights
activism by young Armenians, and will examine contemporary issues
of cultural genocide: linguistic and cultural disintegration and
identity; student activism on monument destruction; and problems
with victimhood and pain as a central element of culture.

The recent elections in Armenia – and the ensuing turmoil – will be
considered in "Unrest in Armenia: New Seeds of Democracy or
Destabilizing Acts?" The panel will examine whether Armenia’s
government suppressed genuine civil discontent among the
disenfranchised, or whether instead it sought to stem efforts aimed
at destabilizing the country. At the same time, the panel seeks to
move beyond this dichotomy, analyzing what is at stake for
different social strata who are striving for democracy and social
justice in Armenia today.

Panelists will discuss the meaning of progressivism in an Armenian
context in "What Would a Global Armenian Progressive Agenda Look
Like?" Here, Armenian issues will be tied to a larger field of
political ideas.

The closing plenary entitled "Coalition Building Among Dispossessed
Groups" features Tariq Ali, David Barsamian, and Nubar Hovsepian,
author and professor of Political Science and International
Studies. The panelists will lead a discussion on possible
coalition-building strategies for dispossessed peoples – including,
but not limited to Armenians. They will also look at those issues
that can unite or separate the Armenian Cause from other, similar
movements.

Saturday’s panels and closing plenary will all be held at CUNY
Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue (at 34th Street), New York City.
Panels run from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with registration
beginning at 9:30 a.m. and a one-hour lunch break at noon.
Registration costs $15, $10 for students (lunch is not included).

As previously announced, the conference will open with a Friday,
May 30 plenary on "The New Imperialism: Old Problems, New
Challenges" featuring British writer and activist Tariq Ali; David
Barsamian, founder and director of Colorado-based Alternative
Radio; and Neil Smith, Distinguished Professor of Anthropology and
Geography at the City University of New York. These prominent
speakers will discuss the contemporary politics of empire,
superpower rivalries, globalization, trade and monetary policies,
the exploitative nature of capitalism, and the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan. In addition, the destructive effects of imperialism
on small nations will be discussed, as well as alternatives to the
current international structure.

Friday’s session takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Mason Hall, Baruch
College Performing Arts Center, 17 Lexington Avenue (at East 23rd
Street), New York City. Admission is free.

Armenians and Progressive Politics (formerly Armenians and the
Left) is an initiative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-
Eastern USA. The conference is co-sponsored by the Armenian
National Committees of New York and New Jersey, The Nation
Institute, and CUNY’s Center for Place, Culture, and Politics.
Previous participants include Noam Chomsky and Robert Fisk.

A West Coast "Armenians and Progressive Politics" conference will
be held on June 6-7 in Glendale, California.

For more information on both conferences, visit the conference
website at:
####
Photo Caption 1: ArmeniaNow editor John Hughes
Photo Caption 2: International lawyer and human rights activist
Armineh Arakelian

The Armenian Church eNewsletter

May 22, 2008

Diocese of the
Armenian Church
of America (Eastern)
630 Second Ave.
New York, NY 10016

Contact Us <mailto:[email protected]>

Diocesan News

ACYOA GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND SPORTS WEEKEND TO BE HELD IN WASHINGTON, D.C. MAY
22 – 26

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), will preside over the 2008 ACYOA General Assembly,
which will be held in Washington, D.C., May 22-23. Members of the Diocesan
Council will also attend the Assembly.

Sports Weekend activities will follow the Assembly. More than 350
participants registered for the events, which include an array of athletic
competitions, workshops and a social and cultural program. For a complete
schedule, please visit
< asportsweekend2008.com/> , and check
<http://www.armenianchur ch.net/> next week for news and photos from the
weekend.

_____________________________

4 DAYS 4 LIFE PROGRAM BEGINS NEXT WEEK

>From Monday, May 26 to Friday, May 30, College Ministry will inaugurate a
dynamic program entitled "4 Days 4 Life." As a way for college students to
extend the ACYOA Sports Weekend experience, the program combines Armenian
fellowship with the opportunity to give back to the larger community. Each
day will consist of serving meals at a homeless shelter, social excursions
in the greater Washington, D.C. area, fellowship with parishioners at St.
Mary’s Armenian Church, spiritual reflections and more. To sign up, contact
College Ministry Facilitator Julie Hoplamazian at [email protected]
or 212-686-0710, x165. Click here
< ifeFlyer.pdf> for more
information.

_____________________________

ACYOA JUNIORS HYE M’RTSOOM KICKS OFF FRIDAY

This weekend the ACYOA of St. James Church in Watertown, Mass. will host the
annual Hye M’rtsoom for ACYOA Juniors. The event will draw young people,
ages 13-18, from around the Diocese for a weekend of fun and fellowship.
Participants will arrive Friday night and head "home" with their host
families for a good night’s rest. Saturday morning will begin with a matins
service led by the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Arakel Aljalian, followed by an
Insights program led by Diocesan Youth Outreach Coordinator Jennifer Morris.

Friendly competition in basketball and volleyball will begin on Saturday and
conclude on Sunday with the championship games. Dances will take place on
Saturday and Sunday evening. The holiday weekend will conclude Monday
morning with a farewell breakfast before the participants head back to their
home parishes. For more information about upcoming events for ACYOA Juniors,
please contact Jennifer Morris at <mailto:[email protected]>
jenni [email protected].

St. James ACYOA Juniors receiving an award at Hye M’rtsoom in 2005.

_____________________________

FAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETS TO DISCUSS PROGRAMS

The Fund for Armenian Relief’s Board of Directors discussed and approved the
organization’s strategic development vision for 2008-2015 at a meeting on
May 16. Founded in response to the 1988 earthquake, FAR has implemented more
than 220 relief, development, social, educational and cultural projects,
valued at more than $265 million.

FAR periodically revises its mission to meet the evolving needs of the
people of Armenia and Karabakh. This latest update of the organization’s
strategy is tailored to improve and strengthen FAR to effectively address
new challenges that the Armenian nation is facing today. The Board approved
the ambitious and yet realistic program to multiply FAR’s resources and
engage new partners in Armenia’s civil society, the private sector and
international NGOs. The goal is to develop innovative projects that will
support countrywide changes to offer better living conditions, provide hope
to the most vulnerable segments of the population and empower young
Armenians with the tools, resources and guidance to shape a bright future.

In the next decade, FAR will also concentrate its resources on developing
specific projects that will nurture powerful connections and mutual
appreciation between Armenia and the Diaspora. "The Board has expressed its
strong commitment to programs in Armenia and Karabakh," said Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern) and FAR Board president. "By partnering with FAR family members
globally, we will be ready to continue supporting our brothers and sisters
in building a democratic and prosperous Armenia."

FAR Board of Directors members discuss the organization’s strategic
development vision at a meeting last Friday.

_____________________________

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY HELD AT ST. NERSESS Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) and
president of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary’s Board of Directors, presided
over the Divine Liturgy and the commencement program at St. Nersess Seminary
on Saturday, May 17.

Commencement participants included Megan Jendian, who recently joined the
Diocesan Department of Youth and Education, Rev. Fr. Mesrop Hovsepyan, who
serves the St. James parish in Richmond, Va., and Harry Tchetchenian.

Dr. Abraham Terian, professor of Armenian Patristics and academic dean at
St. Nersess Seminary, addresses participants at the seminary’s commencement
program.
_____________________________

CHURCH AND HOME MATERIALS AVAILABLE ONLINE

A wealth of new Church and Home materials are now available on our Web site,
<; . Click on the
"Church and Home" button on the homepage and you will be directed to a
listing of a variety of online tutorials and programs designed to offer
"Back to the Basics" educational tools that can be used from the comfort of
your home. Learn about Armenian Church feasts, the calendar, modern and
classical Armenian and much more!

_____________________________

ART EXHIBITION AT ST. VARTAN ARMENIAN CATHEDRAL

The Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) presents Art @ the
Cathedral: Giving Form to Faith, an exhibition of work by major 20th and
21st century Armenian-American artists. The exhibition opens on June 19,
2008 at 5:30 p.m. at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, 630 Second Avenue, New
York, N.Y. A concert featuring renowned Armenian-American artists Lucine
Amara, soprano; Sahan Arzruni, piano; and Ani Aznavoorian, cello; will begin
in the sanctuary at 7:30 p.m.

The exhibition is organized in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the
consecration of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral. It will highlight the
collection of the Cathedral and include works by established and emerging
artists. The exhibition will remain on view until June 24, 2008. Hours are
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 20-23, and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 24. The
exhibition is free and open to the public. Tickets for the opening night
concert are $20 for adults and $15 for students. To purchase tickets, call
the Diocese at 212-293-1270. Click here
< > for more information.

Construction of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in the 1960s. The Cathedral
was consecrated in April 1968.

_____________________________

SUMMER EVENTS ON THE CATHEDRAL PLAZA FOR VYPs (ST. VARTAN YOUNG
PROFESSIONALS)

This summer, St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral will again give young
professionals in the greater New York area an opportunity to come together
on the Cathedral’s Grand Plaza. The monthly cultural and social programs
will commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Cathedral and will feature
local Armenian artists and musicians, a grand tour of the Cathedral complex
and opportunities to connect with other Armenians in a unique space. Mark
your calendars now for the following events:

Thursday, June 19 – Art @ the Cathedral: Giving Form to Faith. Art
exhibition at 5:30 p.m. and opening night concert at 7:30 p.m. (art
exhibition free of charge; concert $20)

Thursday, July 17, 6-8 p.m. – YY Sisters vocal trio and SonaArt with wine
and cheese reception

Thursday, August 14, 6-8 p.m. – Grand Tour of St. Vartan Cathedral with wine
and cheese reception

Thursday, September 18, 6-8 p.m. (tentative date) – Fall Kick-Off
Coffeehouse featuring the photography and music of Haik Kocharian

For more information, contact Rachel Goshgarian at 212.686.0710, x126 or
[email protected]; or Julie Hoplamazian at 212.686.0710 x165 or
[email protected].

__________________ ___________

SHUSHI ARMENIAN DANCE ENSEMBLE TO PERFORM AT DIOCESAN CENTER ON MAY 30

The Shushi Armenian Dance Ensemble of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral will
celebrate its 15th anniversary at the Diocesan Center on Friday, May 30.
This much-anticipated event, featuring music, dance, dinner and a
performance by the Shushi dancers, will mark the Ensemble’s success since
its inception and honor the steadfast dedication of the group’s artistic
director and choreographer, Seta Paskalian-Kantardjian. Funds raised at the
event will help Shushi travel to Armenia in July, where dancers will have
the tremendous opportunity to perform at the Opera House. For more
information, please visit <;

_____________________________

PARISH NEWS

Livingston, N.J. – St. Mary Armenian Church

Upcoming Events

St. Mary Church will hold a Golf and Tennis Outing at the Rock Spring Club
in West Orange, N.J. on June 2. Click here
< gt; for more information. The
church’s Food and Music Festival, featuring live Armenian dance music, is
scheduled for June 7 and 8. Visit
<http://www.myarmenian church.org/> to learn more.

DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO THE MOTHER CATHEDRAL OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN

The Eastern Diocese will make a pilgrimage to the Mother Cathedral of Holy
Etchmiadzin this fall to participate in the blessing of the Holy Muron
(Oil). The two-week pilgrimage begins in late September and concludes in
early October. The blessing of the Holy Muron will take place on Sunday,
Sept. 28. For more information, click here
< df> or contact Arto Vorperian at
the Diocesan Center at 212-686-0710, x213 or e-mail [email protected]. To view
a video about the Holy Muron, click
< n.wmv> here.

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
blesses the Holy Muron (Oil) with the relic of St. Gregory the Enlightener
in 2001. This special ceremony occurs once every seven years.

_______________________________

Prayer for the Week

It seems like you’re not with me, Lord. My soul is full of trouble. Like I’m
in the darkest pit, overwhelmed in the waves of a rocky sea. Living with
indescribable loss. Even my best friend has turned away and I feel repulsive
to everyone, attacked by all. Darkness seems to be my closest friend. Give
me a sign of your goodness, for I know, Lord, that you can help and comfort
me.
More prayers
< .asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=5246&
HS=1 > <;

Scripture for the Week

Prv 9:1-6

Zec 3:7-4:9

Heb 9:1-10

Jn 10:22-30

Saints & Feasts

5/24: St. Gregory the Enlightener (Deliverance from the pit)

5/25: Feast of the Catholic Church of Holy Etchmiadzin

May God bless and keep you and your family.