Author: Anna Tamamian

Catholicos Aram I pins the “Knight of Cilicia” medal on Vahe Hovaguimian

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia has bestowed the “Knight of Cilicia” medal upon Western Prelacy Executive Council chair Vahe Hovaguimian and his wife, Hasmig, for their decades of service to the Armenian Apostolic church.

Aram I pins the “Knight of Cilicia” medal on Hasmig Hovaguimian The Hovaguimians with Aram I and Western Prelate Bishop Torkom Donoyan

The medal was presented to the Vahe and Hasmig Hovaguimian following the ordination of three celibate priests in Antelias, Lebanon. Vahe Hovaguimian served as what is known as the godfather of the ordination.

Following the ceremony on May 22, Aram I presided over a luncheon honoring the newly-ordained at the Antelias Seminary, where the Hovaguimians were joined by clergy, seminary administration members, students and the parents of the newly-ordained priests. At the conclusion of the event, the Catholicos presented the medals.

Western Prelate Bishop Torkom Donoyan read the Aram I’s Encyclical, in which the Catholicos emphasized the Hovaguimians dedication and service to the Armenian Church.

“As a tangible _expression_ of your enthusiasm toward the Armenian Church, you have made and continue to make an important contribution to the activities of the Western Prelacy of the United States of America, both through the National Assembly and the Executive Council. Both you and your wife Hasmig have supported the endeavors of the Western Prelacy through various means,” the Encyclical said.

Prelate Donoyan was in Antelias to conduct the ordination of the three new celibate priests. After celebrating Divine Liturgy at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral that was presided over by Catholicos Aram I, the three graduates were ordained and elevated to the ranks of the celibate priesthood.

Bishop Donoyan officiates celibate priest ordination The ordained priests with the Hovagumians and Catholicos Aram I

The three deacons— Hrag Kalayjian, Shant Kadehjian and Nareg Filikian—then assumed their priesthood names and will be known as reverends Armen, Arakel and Azad respectively. As is tradition, the newly-ordained priests will spend the next 40 days in prayer, fasting and reflection at St. Mary’s Seminary in Bikfaya, to begin their sacred mission.

The Dean of the seminary, Very Rev. Fr. Barouyr Shernezian assisted in the ordination ceremony as
the Sponsoring Priest.

Following the ceremony, Vahe Hovaguimian, who served as godfather, washed the foreheads and hands of the newly-ordained priests.

Later, Prelate Bishop Donoyan delivered his sermon and expressed his gratitude toward Catholicos Aram I for providing him the opportunity to celebrate this special occasion. He also congratulated the priests, their parents and the Hovaguimians.

At the conclusion of the sermon, Bishop Donoyan addressed Catholicos Aram I: “Your Holiness,
on behalf of the Religious and Executive Councils of the Western Prelacy of the United States of
America, and thousands of our faithful parishioners, we formally invite you to the Western Prelacy of the
United States of America, so that our faithful may experience comfort in your fatherly presence.”

A delegation of religious figures of Georgia arrived in Azerbaijan’s Shusha city after visiting Aghdam and Fuzuli, Azernews reports.

The delegation is on a visit to Azerbaijan with the organizational support of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Georgia and the representative office of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR) in Georgia.

During the visit, the delegation will get acquainted with the sights, historical and cultural monuments of the city, as well as visit Jidir Duzu.

Shusha, which was occupied by the Armenian forces on May 8, 1992, was liberated from Armenia’s occupation on November 8, 2020. The city, which played a crucial role in Karabakh’s liberation, is located on the road to Khankandi, the region’s largest city.

President Ilham Aliyev declared 2022 as the “Year of Shusha”. Considering the historical and cultural significance of the second capital for the Azerbaijani nation, this is a big step in the promotion of the country.

The declaration of 2022 as the “Year of Shusha” will provide new opportunities to demonstrate Azerbaijan’s determination in restoring liberated territories, according to officials.

Following the liberation of Shusha, the Azerbaijani government prioritized restoration work, including the restoration and preservation of the city’s historical and cultural heritage.

The Shusha General Plan was completed quickly, the bust of the great poet Molla Panah Vagif and the museum-mausoleum complex were restored to their original state, the house-museum of vocalist Bulbul and the statue of composer Uzeyir Hajibayli were opened, historical, religious, and architectural monuments, music festivals, and the organization of the Vagif Poetry Days in front of the magnificent mausoleum were also restored.

President Aliyev declared the historical Shusha city the country’s cultural capital on May 7, 2021. An immediate inventory of the damage to the city, its historical and cultural heritage, and its natural environment was completed, and restoration work has begun. The Shusha district administration is vested with special powers to ensure the efficiency of restoration work. The city is run by the Azerbaijani president’s special envoy.

Following its victory over Armenia in the 44-day war in 2020, Azerbaijan has organized a number of international and domestic events in Shusha.

Opposition protesters outside a democracy forum let by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on May 20

Opposition protesters gathered outside Yerevan’s Marriott Hotel in Republic Square, where Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was presiding over a “Democracy Forum,” during which he touted Armenia’s democratic advances as a pivot to peace in the region, and U.S. Ambassador to Armenia voiced concern about police use of force against demonstrators.

Saying that the U.S. Embassy has seen images of police violence against demonstrators, Tracy said that there were concerns and said these episodes must be investigated and there should be accountability.

“I have noticed the government’s approach to investigate these episodes, to carry out investigations, and there is also an approach of respecting the rights of the demonstrators and the work of journalists. Of course the demonstrators also have an obligation to demonstrate peacefully that doesn’t create a chaotic situation and doesn’t violate the rights of others,” she said.

U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy addresses the Armenian Democracy Forum

The Ambassador said that democracy is a process for ensuring progress. “People write me about police reforms and ask me ‘is this your democracy?’ No, democracy isn’t perfect, democracy is a continuous process to ensure accountability, to protect human rights, but this isn’t just one part. In case of the police, what matters is the accountability of their actions,” she added.

Tracy pointed out that problems concerning police conduct occur in the United States as well. She said the United States seeks to carry out reforms in the area. “Meaning, this isn’t something that happens only in Armenia. What matters is for accountability to exist in these issues,” Tracy said.

Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers had gone to the hotel but were barred from entering the conference hall where the forum was being held, further fueling their claims that democracy was dead in Armenia. Journalists were also not allowed to enter the conference hall.

Opposition lawmakers accused Pashinyan of only inviting pro-government lawmakers and supporters to the Democracy forum. They criticized the government’s claims that Armenia is “bastion of democracy,” and complained that Pashinyan and his government were selective about which sector they are engaging in the country’s processes.

On Friday, opposition protesters marched from Yerevan’s France Square to the presidential residence, where the Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda was meeting his Armenian counterpart Vahagn Khachaturyan.

Gegham Manukyan, a member of the opposition Armenia Alliance said their goal was to show that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has no mandate to negotiate (with Azerbaijan) on behalf of Armenia.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan speaks during the democracy forum

In his remarks at the Democracy Forum, Pashinyan complained that “democracy was being used to destroy democracy,” presumable voicing his disdain about opposition protests.

It is my strongest conviction that the best way to overcome this challenge is the establishment of democratic institutions, the democratization of state institutions literally based on the professionalism, lawfulness, transparency and accountability of the state institutions,” Pashinyan said.

He went on to advance his government’s policy of “peace in the region,” at a time when Azerbaijan continues to undermine all agreements that were reached following the Artsakh war.

“Now, in order to strengthen democracy, it’s very important that we unite around one more mission. As we have brought democracy to Armenia, so let’s bring peace to Armenia, because I think that one cannot exist without the other,” said Pashinyan, adding “with pride” that his political team “is united around this mission.”