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Iranian president visits Yerevan`s ancient mosque

IRNA, Iran
Sept 8 2004

Yerevan, Sept 8, IRNA — Iranian President Mohammad Khatami visited
on Wednesday the ancient Masjed-e Kaboud (Blue Mosque) in the Armenian
capital of Yerevan.

“Kaboud Mosque of Yerevan is a great historical site showing
coexistence among followers of divine religions,” Khatami wrote in
the memorial book of the mosque.

In the memorial book, Khatami also called for strong ties between
Iran and Armenia and between Islam and Christianity.

Kaboud Mosque, one of the eight ancient mosques in Yerevan, was
built in 1765 A.D. Iran`s Mostazafan and Janbazan Foundation (MJF)
reconstructed the mosque during the 1996-2000 period.

The Republic of Armenia has a population of over 3.7 million people
most of whom are Christians. There are also Muslim, Russian Orthodox,
Protestant, and Yazidi communities living in Armenia. The national
flag consists of three equal horizontal stripes, of red, blue and
orange. The official language is Armenian.

At the invitation of his Armenian counterpart, President Mohammad
Khatami arrived in Yerevan on Wednesday morning on the first leg of
a three-nation regional tour.

Before concluding his visit, Khatami is to attend a press conference
to answer reporters` questions on the issues brought up and discussed
in the meeting with his Armenian counterpart.

Khatami`s official visit to Armenia is taking place in response
for an official visit paid by President Kocharian to Iran in 2001.
Khatami and his entourage will travel Belarus after concluding their
visit to Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 7 2004

ONE-ON-ONE MEETING OF AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV AND PRESIDENT
OF FRANCE JACQUES CHIRAK
[September 07, 2004, 11:50:37]

One-on-one meeting of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and President
of France Jacques Chirak was held on September 7 at the Yelysee Palace,
AzerTAj correspondent said.

In the meeting, passed in a sincere atmosphere, underlined was
the quick development of the Azerbaijan-France relations in the
political, economic and other fields. The bilateral relations are at
excellent level, President Jacques Chirak said. Mr. Jacques Chirak,
in particular, noted that Azerbaijan is the third country in the
foreign trade of France, characterizing it as high indication.

In the course of conversation, also focused were the issues of
Azerbaijan’s integration to the European Union, widely discussed
was aspiration of Azerbaijan to join new neighboring policy and its
prospects. The President of France expressed confidence for expansion
of Azerbaijan’s cooperation with the European Union and stressed
its necessity.

In the meeting, also were centered the regional problems, settlement
of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh problem. The French
President stated its adherence to continuation of peace negotiations
for solution of the conflict, also stating that France would implement
its mediation mission as the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair.

Heads of state had comprehensive exchange of views on the perspectives
of bilateral relations and other international questions.

After the meeting ended, President of France Jacques Chirak saw off
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in the front of the Yelysee
Palace.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE monitors Armenian-Azeri contact line

Mediamax news agency
7 Sep 04

Yerevan, 7 September: An OSCE mission carried out routine monitoring
today on the contact line between the armed forces of the Nagornyy
Karabakh Republic [NKR] and Azerbaijan, in the east of Martuni
[Xocavand] District of the NKR.

A Mediamax special correspondent reported from Stepanakert [Xankandi]
that the monitoring had gone in line with the schedule and no
cease-fire violations had been registered.

>>From the positions of the NKR Defence Army, monitoring was carried
out by field assistants to the personal representative of the OSCE
chairmen-in-office [Andrzej Kasprzyk].

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri MPs criticize NATO for inviting Armenian officers to Azerbaijan

ANS TV, Baku
7 Sep 04

[Presenter] Most of the MPs in the Milli Maclis [parliament] today
demanded that the members of the Karabakh Liberation Organization
[KLO] be released. The parliamentarians also protested against NATO
which has invited Armenians to Baku.

[MP Fazail Agamali, chairman of the pro-government Motherland Party]
We are categorically against the planned visit by Armenian officers
who were directly involved in the occupation of Azerbaijan’s lands,
rose to higher ranks in this [Karabakh] war and whose hands are
imbrued with Azerbaijani blood. I would suggest that we appeal to
NATO’s headquarters today and ask them not to allow the Armenian
officers to attend the exercises in view of the serious resentment
within the country.

[MP Qudrat Hasanquliyev, chairman of the pro-government United
Peoples Front of Azerbaijan Party] They [Armenians] expelled more than
200,000 [ethnic] Azerbaijanis [from Armenia] in cold winter days [in
1988-89]. How can we host those Armenians in our five-star hotels and
cater for them today? I think that the Milli Maclis has to express
its position on the issue. We have to appeal to the president and
ask him to express his stance on the issue.

[MP Mais Safarli, leader of the opposition Compatriot Party] If the
Azerbaijani public unanimously says no to the visit of the Armenian
officers today, then under no circumstances can we allow the Armenians
to come. I think that if the Azerbaijani government lets them in,
its reputation within the Azerbaijani people will be ruined completely.

[MP Sahlar Asgarov] [NATO] should give up its plan to turn Azerbaijan
into a social lab by bringing here first two, then four and then 40
Armenian servicemen.

[Passage omitted: MP Karim Karimov from the ruling New Azerbaijan Party
says the sentence on the KLO members has caused public resentment]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia drafts 209 proposals for US-sponsored Millennium Challenge project

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
6 Sep 04

[Presenter] Armenia has prepared 209 proposals which will be submitted
for financing under the Millennium Challenge Account. A session
of the local council of the Millennium Challenge will be held in
Yerevan this week which together with the government and political
organizations will discuss and choose the programmes to be send to
Washington. Most of them fall under social welfare and will be aimed
at reducing poverty in the country.

[Correspondent Hermine Bagdasaryan] The Armenian Finance Ministry has
already got 209 proposals for the reduction of poverty in Armenia
with assistance from Washington. Just 158 out of the 209 proposals
have been estimated at 2bn dollars. The Armenian government will not
submit this figure to the Washington office. It will be discussed in
Yerevan this week at the session of the Millennium Challenge.

[Vardan Khachatryan, Armenian Finance and Economy Minister, speaking
in his office] Various proposals have been made: 50 m dollars for
education, 86 m dollars for health care, 46 m dollars for social
security, 372m dollars for road construction and repair, 87m dollars
for drinking water. We do not know for sure whether our proposals
will be approved or not. If they are to be approved, we shall choose
the most important ones.

[Correspondent] The work which will be carried out in this direction
and expenditure will be controlled from Washington. If everything is
implemented successfully and Armenia is among the ranks of countries
enjoying American assistance, then it will get 760 m dollars in the
next three years.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TRIAL OF ARMENIAN PILOTS IN EQUATORIAL GUINEA TO RESUME IN EARLY OCTOBER

ArmenPress
Sept 7 2004

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS: In an exclusive interview with
Armenpress Armenian ambassador to Egypt, Sergey Manaserian, recently
back from Equatorial Guinea where he attended the trial of six
Armenian pilots, arrested on charges of involvement in an alleged
coup to oust that country’s president Teodoro Obiang Nguema, said
the trial, started on August 23, was suspended for one month.

He said Equatorial Guinea’s chief prosecutor, national security
minister and high officials of the foreign ministry used to say
that the trial would not run for more than 3-4 days, an opinion
that was also shared by lawyers and locally deployed diplomats and
representatives from the South African Republic.

Manaserian said the South African Nick du Toit, accused of attempting
to oust the president, was the only one of 19 arrested people for
whom prosecutors demanded death punishment. He was also the sole
who admitted to plotting the coup, saying he was to meet the team
of mercenaries and direct their further moves. He at the same time
insisted that other arrested 7 South Africans had no connection with
the plot and were just fulfilling his instructions.

Manaserian said Armenian pilots were questioned on the third day of
the trial and the prosecutors’ questions referred to their February
17 flight to Zambia. Their answers made obvious that they had no
relations to the implicated charges. Nick du Toit in his turn said
he had no relations with Armenian pilots (one of the charges was
that Armenians received money from South Africans). Their answers
were clear and definite despite the prosecutors’ attempts to find
any discrepancy in their testimonies.

Manaserian said that despite expectations that the presiding judge
will issue his ruling on August 30, he announced about adjourning the
trial for one month, as was requested by prosecutors, for collection
of additional evidence. The ruling was protested by lawyers, who cited
several international conventions, but without any effect. The trial
is most likely to resume between October 1 and 7.

The ambassador also criticized some Armenian mass media for distorted
coverage of the case, which he said was sometimes jeopardizing the
pilots’ fate. He also expressed his bewilderment that not a single
Armenian mass media sent a journalist to follow the trial in Malabo,
the capital of Equatorial Guinea.

According to the ambassador, no evidence was unveiled at the trial to
implicate Armenian pilots’ involvement in the plot, which he said was
a serious basis for optimism, but added that “we have to wait until
the end of the trial.”

On Monday Armenia’s foreign ministry denied a report by Agence France
Presse that a team of investigators from Equatorial Guinea arrived in
Yerevan to gather more information about six Armenian pilots accused
of involvement in the alleged plot. Agence France Presse quoted an
unnamed `legal official’ in the country’s capital Malabo as saying
that the investigators flew to Armenia to probe links between the
suspected coup plotters and an Armenian airline whose pilots have
been kept in Equato-Guinean custody since March.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The urgent need to Westernize the Black Sea region
Ron Asmus, Project Syndicate

Jakarta Post, Indonesia
Sept 7 2004

The bloody end to the schoolhouse hostage crisis in North Ossetia,
and recent clashes in Georgia between government troops and separatist
forces, have put the troubled Black Sea region on the front pages of
newspapers once again. This rising violence is also a wake-up call
for the West, highlighting the need for a new Euro-Atlantic strategy
in a vitally important region that lies at the crossroads of Europe,
Eurasia, and the Middle East.

Indeed, the Black Sea region is the Euro-Atlantic community’s eastern
frontier with the wider Middle East. With Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran
topping the list of strategic challenges facing the West, anchoring
democracy and security in these new borderlands of the Euro-Atlantic
community has become imperative for both the United States and the
EU. Moreover, success here can provide lessons in how to facilitate the
daunting process of reform and modernization in the wider Middle East.

Georgia’s “Rose Revolution” last winter demonstrated that the will to
implement radical reform now exists. For the first time, a country in
the region is matching its aspirations with the concrete steps needed
to become a viable candidate for eventual membership in Euro-Atlantic
institutions. A visitor to Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, now sees the
same level of determination to join the West that existed a decade
ago in the Baltic states.

America and Europe share an interest in the success of these efforts,
particularly as they seek to diversify energy supplies away from
Saudi Arabian and Persian Gulf oil. The Black Sea is poised to become
a key conduit for non-OPEC, non-Gulf oil and natural gas flowing
into European markets and beyond. The Black Sea region’s long-term
stability and integration with the West is thus critically important
to the long-term energy security strategy of EU and NATO members.

Anchoring these countries to the West will not be easy. Whether the end
result is better relations or full integration of these countries into
the EU and NATO is an open question. But both organizations need to
reach out to these countries, a process that should be seen as the
next phase in completing the wider Europe.

What should a new bold yet realistic EU and NATO outreach strategy
for the Black Sea region look like? Clearly, the regions countries
are weaker and further behind previous candidates for Western
integration. But the good news is that the EU and NATO are much better
positioned to develop an ambitious strategy than they were vis-…-vis
Central and Eastern Europe a decade ago. If the EU and NATO decide
to launch a bold outreach strategy for the region, they will be able
to draw on existing tools, conceptual talent, and practical experience.

For example, NATO already has three members — Bulgaria, Romania,
and Turkey — bordering the Black Sea. As for the EU, the candidacies
of Romania and Bulgaria need to be concluded successfully, together
with the issue of Turkey’s membership aspirations. An EU that includes
Sofia and Bucharest, and that is on track with Ankara, will be well
positioned to engage the wider region.

The EU also needs to put meat on the bones of its new Neighborhood
Policy, while NATO must apply new mechanisms for strengthening ties
with the region. As opposed to a 100- or 200-meter sprint, both
organizations need to think more in terms of a much longer race,
perhaps a marathon. If countries in the region embrace the idea, a
network of current EU and NATO members could step forward with projects
and assistance aimed at promoting a Black Sea identity and community.

Recent events in Georgia remind us that resolving the region’s “frozen
conflicts” — i.e., those in the breakaway regions of South Ossetia
and Abkhazia, of Transdneistria in Moldova, and Nagorno-Karabakh in
Azerbaijan — must be a priority. In reality, these conflicts are not
frozen; they are festering wounds that breed corruption and organized
crime. They inhibit democratization and incite instability. While
these conflicts involve historical grievances, outside actors —
particularly Russia — contribute to their lack of resolution, which
is essential for successful reform.

So far, neither America nor Europe has made these conflicts a top
priority. Resolving these semi-dormant wars requires stepped-up
political involvement, economic engagement, and a willingness to
provide Western peacekeeping forces and monitors if and when they
are needed.

But the long-term peace and stability needed to advance economic and
political reform in the region will also require either a change in
Russian behavior or a reduction in Russian influence. The experience
of the last decade suggests that a policy of engaging the Kremlin
intensely while protecting fundamental Western interests may be the
best way to proceed.

Developing a new Euro-Atlantic strategy for the Black Sea region must
start with the democracies of North America and Europe recognizing
their moral and political stake in the outcome. Projecting stability
and security in these countries is the next logical step in building
a Europe “whole and free” and securing the Euro-Atlantic community’s
eastern frontier with the Middle East. This task will be as important
over the next decade as integrating Central and Eastern Europe into
the West was in the 1990’s.

The writer is a Senior Transatlantic Fellow at the German Marshall
Fund was America’s Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European
Affairs from 1997-2000.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; [email protected]
Website;
September 3, 2004

HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II RECEIEVES FOREIGN MINISTER OF DENMARK

On August 27, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians, received Per Stig Moeller, Foreign Minister of the
Kingdom of Denmark, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Mr. Moeller
was accompanied by Vladimir Karmirshalian, Ambassador of the Republic
of Armenia to Denmark.

Welcoming Mr. Moeller to the spiritual and administrative headquarters
of the Armenian Church, His Holiness reflected on the mission of
the Church as well as the close historic ties which exist between
the two countries and peoples. His Holiness also spoke of the
positive relations that have been established in recent years in the
ecclesiastical sphere between the Churches of Denmark and Armenia.

During the meeting, the Catholicos and the Foreign Minister
also discussed the Nagorno Karabagh issue, and the desire of all
parties to see it resolved through peaceful means. His Holiness
informed Mr. Moeller that he has met a number of times with the
spiritual head of Azerbaijan, and confirmed that religious leaders
have a very important role in the resolution of the conflict, by
publicly advocating that disagreements must be solved through mutual
understanding and reciprocal dialogue.

Finally, the Pontiff of All Armenians touched upon the concerns
of Armenians living in Denmark, and their desire to become active,
contributing members of Danish society.

At the conclusion of the meeting, His Holiness extended his gratitude
to the state authorities of the Kingdom of Denmark and to the Danish
people, for the assistance and help they have provided to Armenians,
most notably following the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 and the
devastating earthquake in Northern Armenia of 1988.

* * *

ECUMENICAL MEETING AND LUNCHEON WITH SPIRITUAL LEADERS AND DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES OF MIDDLE EASTERN COMMUNITIES

On Thursday, September 2nd 2004, His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian,
Primate of the Armenian Church Canadian Diocese hosted a luncheon at
the Diocesan headquarters in Montreal, 615 Stuart Street, in honor of
spiritual and diplomatic representatives of Middle Eastern countries.

Attending the luncheon were Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim Primate, Greek
Melkite Catholic Church; Mgr. Ephrem Aboodi, Abp. of the Assyrian
Orthodox Church; Mgr. Joseph Khoury, Abp. of the Maronite Church of
Canada; His Excellency Imad El Ahmar, Charge d’Affaires of Syrian
Arab Republic in Ottawa; His Excellency Fadi Zeyn, Consul General of
Lebanon in Montreal; His Excellency Fawzi El Ashmawi, Consul General
of Arab Republic of Egypt in Montreal; Mr. Aamer El Ezabi, Consul
for Tourism of Arab Republic of Egypt in Montreal.

>>From the Islamic communities present among the invited guests were,
Sheikh Samahat Al Sayed Nabil Abbas, Leader of the Shiite Muslim
community of Canada; Imam Said Youssef Fawaz, Leader of the Sunnite
Muslim community of Canada and Sheikh Hassan Aazeddin, Leader of the
Druze in Canada, as well as Mr. Hassan Hamieh from the Islamic Center
of Montreal.

Pastors from Christian denominations in Greater Montreal present to the
reception were Rev. father George Zabarian, Armenian Catholic Church;
Verabadveli Mher Khatchiguian, Armenian Evangelical Church; Rev. Fr
Sharbel Ibrahim, Greek Melkite Catholic Church; Rev. Fr. Kamil Ishak,
Assyrian Orthodox Church; Rev. Fr. Emil Bakhoum, Coptic Catholic
Church; Fr Arsanios Serry, Coptic Orthodox Church; Fr. Raphael
Bishara, Coptic Orthodox Church, as well as Mr Stephanos Mamdouh from
Coptic Catholic community; Mr. Elie Moujaes and Ghassan Agroush. From
the Armenian Church Diocese of Canada present were Diocesan Clergy
and Council members, Very Rev. Fr. Ararat Kaltakjian, Vicar general;
Rev. Fr. Vazgen Boyadjyan, Pastor of St Gregory the Illuminator
Armenian Cathedral in Montreal; Dr Haroutiun Arzoumanian, Mr. Arto
Basmadjian, Mr. Viken Darakjian and Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant
to the Primate.

His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian led the guests to the St
Gregory Cathedral, where a brief joint prayer was held together with
the ecumenical guests. Diocesan Council Vice Chairman Dr. Haroutiun
Arzoumanian welcomed the guests and Mr. Arto Basmadjian informed
the guests briefly about the history of the Armenian community in
Canada and the establishment of the Diocese in 1984. The guests
were then ushered through the church premises and assembled in the
Vatche Hovseptian Hall where luncheon was served. The invocation
was presented by His Eminence Archbishop Timotehos Ephrem Aboodi,
Primate of the Assyrian Orthodox Diocese of Canada. During the
luncheon Mgr. Zabarian addressed the guests in Arabic and on behalf
of the guests thanked Bishop Galstanian for hosting this meeting and
praised the initiative of these gatherings, whereby spiritual leaders
and diplomatic representatives of Middle Eastern communities get to
know each other better, are encouraged to work together and thus
also love each other better.

Before his closing address, Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate,
presented a small Armenian Khatchkar (Cross-stone) to Mr. Stephanos
Mamdouh, in appreciation of his multiple humanitarian and religious
efforts, and then thanked all the guests for having accepted his
invitation. The Primate said, “We, who have come from Middle Eastern
cultures, bring with us values that are common to us and we are
eager to transmit them to our children who are born and grown here
in this hospitable country. Since we cannot change the global society
of this continent, we have to work hard and work together to be able
to instill our values in our younger generations.” Bishop Galstanian
then blessed all and prayed for success in their respective missions.

* * *

SUNDAY SCHOOL CENTRAL COUNCIL MEETING IN SAINT CATHARINES

His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate of the Diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of Canada, presided at a meeting of the
Department of Christian Education in St. Catharines. St. Gregory the
Illuminator Armenian Church was host to clergy, deacons and department
members from Southern Ontario.

A very productive agenda produced the calendar for the forthcoming
Sunday school sessions, a parent Sunday school schedule, special event
timetable, and various directives for major special events throughout
the coming year.

An art competition will be held throughout the year, entitled “my
vision of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Invention of Armenian Alphabet”. The
judging of all the drawings submitted by the Sunday schools of the
Diocese will take place at the end of the school year with a special
exhibition at the Diocesan Annual 22nd Assembly.

The Sunday school web site will be airing very soon, according to
our webmaster, Alexia Citak, department member from St. Mary’s church
in Hamilton. Discussions will be held for the proposed constitution
of the Sunday schools, led by Taline Gumushdjian, department member
from Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Toronto. The Director of the
Department of Sunday Schools, Mrs. Georgina Sarkisian is distributing
the calendars and the parent schedules to all the Sunday schools in
the Canadian Diocese. A fall meeting will be held to prepare for the
2nd Annual Armenian Children’s Christmas Celebration.

* * *

SCHEDULE OF HIS EMINENCE BISHOP BAGRAT GALSTANIAN

We hereby would like to present to our faithful the schedule of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian for the month of September.

September 7, Tuesday. Holy Cross Armenian Day School of Toronto
September 7, Tuesday.. Meetings with the Representatives of Calgary Armenian Community
September 8, Wednesday. Meetings with the Mayor of Calgary Mr. Dave Broconnier
September 11, Saturday. Celebrating Divine Liturgy in Calgary
September 12, Sunday. Arriving in Vancouver St Vartan Armenian Church
September 16, Thursday. Arriving in New York
September 17-18, Friday and Saturday. Attending the meeting of St Nersess Armenian Seminary Board of Trustees
September 19, Sunday. Presiding over the event of the College Ministry and Armenians for Higher Education
September 24-25-26, Friday-Saturday-Sunday. Church Anniversary Holy Cross Armenian Community of Laval.

We pray the Almighty God grant His Eminence good health and success in his future projects and undertakings.

* * *

CHILDREN’S FUND FOR ARMENIA ANNUAL JOINT MEETING

On Saturday August 29, 2004 the Primate of the Armenian Church
of Canada His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian and Very Reverend
Father Ararat Kaltakjian met with both Toronto and Montreal Chapter
Children’s Fund for Armenia (CFFA) executive members. The Annual
meeting of Children’s Fund for Armenia Montreal and Toronto Chapter
took place in Kingston, Ontario.

His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate opened the meeting with
a prayer. His Eminence expressed his joy and greeted the participants,
then invited them to introduce themselves.

The Annual Report of CFFA was presented by Very Reverend father
Ararat Kaltakjian, Vicar General and Director of projects in
Armenia. Discussions focused on the report of activities taking place
in the motherland, Armenia. Future plans and project were set for both
committees for implementation during 2004-2005. The next consultative
meeting will be held on Saturday November 13, 2004 in Kingston Ontario.

The meeting was adjourned after Serpazan’s prayer.

* * *

WOMEN’S GUILD CENTRAL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES MET IN KINGSTON

On August 28, 2004 the Women’s Guild Central Council and Regional
representatives’ joint meeting was held under the auspices and presence
of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate, at Ambassador
Hotel Conference Room in Kingston, Ontario.

During the meeting, discussions focused on the role and the mission of
Women in the Armenian Church. Upon the instruction of His Eminence,
future plans and projects were formulated to revitalize the Women’s
Guilds of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada. Regional
representatives then talked about the challenges and the difficulties
facing their mission in local communities and emphasized the importance
of such meetings to further improve the Women’s Guild activities in
local level.

Very Reverend Father Ararat Kaltakjian, Vicar General, Reverend Fr
Zareh Zargarian, Pastor of Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Women’s
Guild Central Council members as well as regional representatives
from Ontario and Quebec Parishes participated in the meeting.

* * *

AN UNPRECEDENTED EVENING TO HONOR THE 2004 ARMENIAN GRADUATES FROM HIGH SCHOOLS

It is with deep spiritual joy that we announce to the faithful of the
Armenian Church Canadian Diocese that the Armenian College Ministry
Department in conjunction with a group of young Armenians called
“Armenians for Higher Education” have been working hard over the
summer, planning an unprecedented event for all High School graduates
in the greater Montreal area to publicly show how proud the Armenian
community is of the accomplishments of the Class of 2004.

The event will take place on Sunday, September 19th at 6:00 pm in the
Bolsahay Cultural Center. There will be a separate cocktail for the
graduates and another one for the accompanying family members. Each
graduate will receive a certificate of merit from the Primate, His
Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian.

For more information please visit the website at or
contact the Diocesan office at 514-276-9479.

* * *

FEAST DAYS

THE FEAST OF EXALTATION OF THE PRECIOUS AND LIFE-GIVING HOLY CROSS

The Feast of Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Holy Cross
is celebrated each year on September 14 – one of the five major
feasts of the Church, and the most important of the four feasts of
the Holy Cross. The Feast commemorates the finding of the True Cross
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by Saint Helen, the mother of
the Emperor Constantine.

The Exaltation, known as Khachverats in Armenian, is connected with
several historical events, each of which involves the “raising up” or
glorification of the cross. An early tradition identifies St. James,
the brother of the Lord, one of Jesus’ 12 Apostles and the first bishop
of Jerusalem, as the first to exalt a cross. Taking in hand a likeness
(or perhaps an actual piece) of the original cross of the Crucifixion,
St. James elevated it before the people, and venerated it as a symbol
of “the power of God,” praying: “We prostrate ourselves before your
cross, O Christ.” Those very words in Armenian, Khachi ko, Krisdos,
yergirbakanemk, are still repeated in our church services.

In the twentieth year of his reign (326), the Emperor Constantine sent
his mother Saint Helen to Jerusalem to venerate the holy places and to
find the site of the Holy Sepulcher and of the Cross. Relying upon the
oral tradition of the faithful, Saint Helen found the precious Cross
together with the crosses of the two thieves crucified with our Lord.

However, Helen had no way of determining which was the Cross of
Christ. With the healing of a dying woman who touched one of the
crosses, Patriarch Macarius of Jerusalem identified the True Cross
of Christ. Saint Helen and her court venerated the Precious and
Life-Giving Cross along with many others who came to see this great
instrument of Redemption. The Patriarch mounted the ambo (pulpit) and
lifted the Cross with both hands so that all of the people gathered
could see it. The crowed responded with “Lord have mercy”.

This became the occasion of the institution in all of the Churches of
the Exaltation of the Precious Cross, not only in memory of the event
of the finding of the Cross, but also to celebrate how an instrument of
shame was used to overcome death and bring salvation and eternal life.

The Feast is an opportunity outside of the observances of Holy Week to
celebrate the full significance of the victory of the Cross over the
powers of the world, and the triumph of the wisdom of God through the
Cross over the wisdom of this world. This Feast also gives the Church
an opportunity to relish the full glory of the Cross as a source of
light, hope and victory for Christ’s people. It is also a time to
celebrate the universality of the work of redemption accomplished
through the Cross: the entire universe is seen through the light of
the Cross, the new Tree of Life which provides nourishment for those
who have been redeemed in Christ.

Christians “exalt” the Cross of Christ as the instrument of our
salvation. Adoration of the Cross is, thus, adoration of Jesus Christ,
the God Man, who suffered and died on this Roman instrument of torture
for our redemption from sin and death. The cross represents the One
Sacrifice by which Jesus, obedient even unto death, accomplished our
salvation. The cross is a symbolic summary of the Passion, Crucifixion
and Resurrection of Christ, all in one image.

The Cross, because of what it represents, is the most potent and
universal symbol of the Christian faith. It has inspired both
liturgical and private devotions.

Placing a crucifix (the cross with an image of Christ’s body upon
it) in churches and homes, or wearing this image on our persons,
is a constant reminder, and witness of Christ’s ultimate triumph,
His victory over sin and death through His suffering and dying on
the Cross.

“He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of
me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life
for my sake shall find it.” (Mt 10:38-39).

* * *

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONGRATULATION TELEGRAMS

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
7 Sept 04

On the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the Republic of Nagorni
Karabakh a large number of telegrams were sent in address to President
Arkady Ghukassian. Telegrams were received from the president of the
Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharian, the Catholicos of All Armenians
Garegin B, speaker of the National Assembly Artur Baghdassarian,
Prime Minister Anoushavan Danielian, members of the RA government, the
Central Bureau of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, vice-speaker
of the National Assembly of France Rudy Sally, member of the National
Assembly of France, chairman of the group of French-Armenian friendship
Francois Rocheblanc, Russian friends of Karabakh Vladimir Stoupishin,
chairman of the council of the Congress of the Intelligentsia of
Russia Sergey Filatov, chairman of the Writersâ^À^Ù Union of Russia
Svetlana Vasilenko, Valentin Ostotski, Andrey and Gallina Nuykin,
Victor Krivopuskov, Inesa Burkova, Kiril Alexeevski, as well as other
representatives of culture from Russia.

AA.
07-09-2004

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MEETING WITH THE NKR PRESIDENT

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
7 Sept 04

On September 4 NKR president Arkady Ghukassian met with Armenian
benefactors from America Karapet, Saro and Narek Harutyunian. During
the warm talk in which Prime Minister Anoushavan Danielian and the
head of the Agency for Migration, Refugees and Resettlement Serge
Amirkhanian also took part, the guests informed the president on the
programs implemented in Nagorni Karabakh on their means. These are
the building of the boarding school in Gandzassar, the Art Center of
Shoushi, and restoration of the new village Knaravan in Karvachar.
According to Karapet Harutyunian, the school building and 15 houses
have been built in the village already. The benefactors plan to finance
the construction of another 30 houses, as well as the buildings of
the municipality, the surgery and the cultural center. They also plan
to implement programs of developing such branches of agriculture as
beekeeping and cattle breeding. Highly appreciating the contribution
of the family Harutyunian to the post-war restoration of Artsakh,
Arkady Ghukassian also pointed out the importance of further promotion
of the relationships between NKR and the Armenian Diaspora as one
of the conditions of further development of Nagorni Karabakh. At
the meeting were present the president of the Armenian union of
public organizations “Yerkir” Sevak Artsruni and Australian Armenian
entrepreneur Hakob Abulakian.

AA.
07-09-2004

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress