Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT IN CONTROVERSIAL NAGORNO-KARABAKH VISIT

World Bulletin, Turkey
May 9 2014

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a three year war over the region of
Nagorno-Karabakh in 1991-1994, following the collapse of the Soviet
Union.

World Bulletin / News Desk

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian has paid a controversial visit
to the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh to mark Victory Day
on Friday.

The occassion celebrates the 69th anniversary of the defeat of
Nazi Germany. Sarkisian also participated in events marking the
22nd anniversary of Armenia’s victory in the Nagorno-Karabakh city
of Shusha.

The city was taken by Armenian separatists in 1992 during Armenia’s
war with Azerbaijan. To this day, the region remains a cause of
tension between the two neighbors.

CHRISTIAN UNITY IS WAY TO HONOR COMMON WITNESS OF MARTYRDOM, POPE SAYS

The Catholic Sun
May 8 2014

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — To honor the sacrifice of those killed for their
faith in the 20th century, Christians today must renew their commitment
to reconciliation and full Christian unity, Pope Francis said.

“Just as in the ancient Church the blood of the martyrs became the
seed of new Christians, so in our day the blood of many Christians
has become the seed of unity,” the pope told Catholicos Karekin II
of Etchmiadzin, patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Pope Francis welcomed the catholicos to the Vatican May 8, paying
homage to the fidelity and sacrifice of Armenian Christians during
decades of persecution and oppression. He also praised the Armenian
Apostolic Church’s commitment to ecumenical dialogue.

“The number of disciples who have shed their blood for Christ in
the tragic events of the last century is certainly greater than the
number of martyrs in the first centuries” of Christianity, the pope
said. “In this martyrology, sons and daughters of the Armenian nation
have a place of honor.”

Pope Francis did not use the term “genocide,” although his remarks
were an obvious reference to the estimated 1.5 million Armenians —
more than half the Armenian population at the time — who died in a
forced evacuation by Ottoman Turks in 1915-18.

The suffering of Christians from every church and denomination under
the Nazis, the communists and various dictatorships in the 1900s has
made “an invaluable contribution to the cause of unity among Christ’s
disciples,” the pope said.

The unity of Christians in “suffering and martyrdom and blood,”
he said, “is a powerful call to continue walking the path of
reconciliation among churches with decisiveness and trusting
abandonment to the work of the Spirit.”

“We have an obligation to travel this road of brotherhood, including
out of a debt of gratitude toward the suffering of so many of our
brothers and sisters, a suffering that is salvific because it is
united to the passion of Christ,” Pope Francis said.

The pope prayed that the Holy Spirit would “enlighten us and guide us
to that deeply desired day when we can share at the eucharistic table.”

After their formal meeting and remarks in the papal library, Pope
Francis and Catholicos Karekin, along with members of his entourage,
went to the Redemptoris Mater Chapel in the Apostolic Palace for a
brief prayer service.

During the service, a prayer was offered “for our pontiffs — His
Holiness Francis and His Holiness Karekin” and for their ministry. At
the end of the service, both leaders offered their solemn blessings
to the small congregation.

UK AMBASSADOR: WE REMEMBER NOT JUST VICTORY BUT SUCCESSFUL EUROPEAN PROJECT OF RECONCILIATION AND PROSPERITY

May 09, 2014 | 15:17

UK Ambassador Ambassador Kathy Leach together with Diplomatic Corps
in Armenia attended today ceremony at the Victory park in Yerevan,
the Embassy said on Facebook.

Ambassador Leach said today they are remembering not just victory
but extraordinary, successful European project of reconciliation
and prosperity.

The ceremony of placing of flowers to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
at the Eternal Flame was held Friday at the VictoryPark in Armenia’s
capital city Yerevan. Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, government
members, Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan, representatives of diplomatic
missions accredited in Armenia, and war veterans were on hand at the
event which was held on the 69th anniversary of the victory that was
achieved in the Second World War.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO VATICAN HOSTS OFFICIAL DINNER IN HONOR OF CATHOLICOS

12:10 â~@¢ 09.05.14

Armenian Ambassador to Vatican Mikael Minasyan on Wednesday hosted
an official dinner in honor of Catholicos Garegin II.

The ceremony began with the patriarch’s prayer. Ambassador Minasyan
later greeted the guests, highlighting the importance of the friendly
visit.

“For Christians, especially those in the Middle East, friendly
inter-church gestures are a message to the entire world at this
difficult moment. The Armenian church, together with the community,
is scatted around the world, the geography being reflected in the
person of the ambassadors attending [the ceremony] this evening. So
I extend my deep respect to them,” said the diplomat.

At the end of the warm reception, the patriarch delivered his
blessings to the guests. He said the Armenian communities, scattered
in most different corners of the world in the wake of the early 20th
century Genocide in the Ottoman Empire, today serve as bridges between
different countries and peoples.

Addressing the Armenian Genocide centennial, the catholicos said
that the international recognition of the 20th century’s first major
atrocity against the mankind is important for not only re-establishing
historical justice for the Armenians but also ensuring enduring peace
and preventing heinous crimes against humanity in future.

“The 100th anniversary is a challenge to nations and states to
condemn the Armenian Genocide and step up common efforts for the
sake of establishing justice and peace around the world,” he said,
thanking all the countries, international organizations and sister
churches which have recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide.

He called upon the ambassadors to further develop and strengthen
inter-state relations and the brotherly love and cooperation between
nations to promote solidarity and kind relations.

Armenian News – Tert.am

OLDEST VETERAN ON SUICIDE BATTALION: NO SPAN OF LAND MUST BE GIVEN AWAY

Siranuysh Papyan, Interviewer
Interview – Friday, 09 May 2014, 14:20

Interview with Spartak Matevosyan, the oldest veteran of Eagle
Suicide Battalion

Mr. Matevosyan, May is the month of victories. Do you have a feeling
of victory? Is what we have worth so many lives and effort?

Everything should be done for the homeland. The liberation of Shushi
is the pride of the Armenian people at the end of the 20thcentury.

After losing territories for many years liberation of such a fortress
is honor for our people and our army. The liberation of Shushi has
several important aspects to our modern history. First, the fortress
was liberated, second, the Karabakh defense army was created during
the action, all the military structures were formed, including the
artillery, the medical military unit, mine clearance unit etc.

What do the veterans think about today’s situation when again
recommendations on Karabakh settlement are proposed? Do veterans have
concerns about these?

Of course, there are concerns, the United States is fooling around
to accelerate the settlement of the Karabakh issue. There is always
such fooling around, but I think we must not give away a patch of
land because we have taken the land at the cost of lives. We must
not surrender any territory, it is impossible. Whoever does is will
be a betrayal if anyone dares to give away to Turks a span of land.

Mr. Matevosyan, do you share the recent complaints of veterans?

Some people complain, they want to have more, for some people a lot
is not enough. Some people live through fraud. I know people who
enrolled in the Armenian Liberation Army, did not participate in a
single battle, lied to the government and received houses. Now the
complaints of those people are not worth anything. However, some
veterans who fought honestly have the right to make claims. Volodya
Avetisyan, for instance, was our instructor. He taught everyone who
did not know anything about war, tactics. He participated in the
defense of Gandzasar, then the liberation of Kelbadjar, served in the
army. One cannot frustrate such a veteran, though he is not the kind
of person that will break down.

Is the idea of independence appreciated in our reality?

If we were not independent, nobody would allow us to liberate
Karabakh. Only independence enabled liberating our territories.

Do you see general weakness in government, hopelessness in people?

If a country is stuck in corruption, it cannot be strong. The
government, especially the president, should try to eliminate all
the forms of corruption, strengthen democracy to have a strong state.

Trust in government should be restored in people.

People lose every day. The rate of emigration causes concerns.

There is emigration from everywhere, including Azerbaijan. We had a
guest from Lithuania who said 400,000 of this country’s population of
3 million have emigrated. However, for Armenia emigration is a high
threat because Armenia is in a state of no war no peace. Emigration
must be prevented through correct policy, creation of jobs and also
campaign.

What is your opinion on the mandatory funded pension?

They passed a law that will force young people working in the IT
sphere to leave Armenia. It won’t do.

What pushed you to become a suicide fighter and do you think today’s
young people and society in general have the same spirit?

Of course, they do. After the war I have been teaching at school. I
attend a lot of events and organize a lot of events, there is such
spirit. However, this spirit should be strengthened, not crushed. It
should be everyone’s goal, first of all the goal of the government,
the state, families, mothers.

– See more at:

I WILL NEVER TAKE BACK MY WORDS – RUSSIA AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

May 09, 2014 | 12:57

YEREVAN. – I will never take back my words, Russian Ambassador to
Armenia Ivan Volinkin told reporters on Friday, with respect to his
recent controversialstatements on closing down NGOs and conducting
censorship.

“First and foremost, my statement was badly accepted not in Armenia
in general, but by separate groups. Second, I urge no one to leave
Armenia, but call for being as fair as possible in all matters.

“The issue is something else. My every word can be interpreted as it
is convenient. I have come here [to Armenia] to strengthen and expand
our countries’ relations in a climate of mutual respect and love. And
as for how they interpret my steps, let it remain on their conscience,”
the Russian ambassador specifically stressed.

Russian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volinkin had spoken with
Russian-Armenian newspaper Noev Kovcheg.

“I am convinced that Russia should be more active in asserting its
presence in the information field here in Armenia. But other methods
are also apparently needed for neutralizing those NGOs in Armenia that
want to drive a wedge into Russian-Armenian relations. Incidentally,
Russia has enacted a law that regulates the work of NGOs in a very
concrete manner. Ultimately, it is apparent that those who aim their
actions against the Russian-Armenian friendship, do not wish the best
for Russia and Armenia,” the Russian diplomat had specifically stated.

This statement by Ivan Volinkin had caused an outrage among many.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

FRANCOIS AU PATRIARCHE ARMENIEN : LE SANG DES MARTYRS DOIT UNIR LES CHRETIENS

Vatican-pape-religion-Arménie-Turquie

Le pape Francois a recu jeudi le patriarche des Arméniens Karékine
II, appelant a ne jamais oublier le sang versé par les chrétiens
arméniens au siècle dernier et en soulignant que le sacrifice des
martyrs doit permettre de renforcer l’unité entre leurs différentes
communautés.

Le pape a fait indirectement allusion aux grands massacres des
Arméniens sous l’empire Ottoman au début du XXe siècle : “Le
nombre des disciples qui ont versé leur sang pour le Christ dans
les tragédies du siècle dernier est certainement supérieur a celui
des martyrs des premiers siècles” de l’Eglise.

“Dans ce martyrologue, les enfants de la nation arménienne ont une
place d’honneur”, a-t-il relevé, devant le patriarche de cette Eglise
orthodoxe très ancienne de sept millions de fidèles, dispersés
entre l’Arménie et la diaspora, notamment en Amérique du nord.

Le témoignage des Arméniens “ne doit pas être oublié. Commme dans
l’Eglise antique, le sang des martyrs devient semence de nouveaux
chrétiens, de même que, de nos jours, le sang de nombreux chrétiens
est devenu semence de l’unité” entre les Eglises, a-t-il estimé.

“L’oecuménisme de la souffrance et du martyre est une exhortation
puissante a arpenter la route de la réconciliation entre les Eglises.

Nous ressentons le devoir de parcourir cette route de fraternité”.

Cette notion de “l’oecuménisme du martyre” est revenue a plusieurs
reprises dans la bouche du pape ou de hauts responsables de l’Eglise,
notamment a propos de la tragédie syrienne ou des actions terroristes
de Boko Haram au Nigeria. Des chrétiens de différentes confessions
ayant été tués ou enlevés par des groupes islamistes dans ces pays.

L’appel a l’unité des Eglises, catholiques et orthodoxes, souvent
divisées par des querelles anciennes, devrait être un point fort
du message de Francois, quand il se rendra en Jordanie, Palestine et
IsraÔl du 24 au 26 mai.

Le Catholicos, déja présent lors de la messe d’inauguration du
pontificat de Francois en mars 2013, a ensuite eu un temps de prière
oecuménique avec le pape, dans une chapelle du Vatican.

En 1999, Karékine avait été élu 132e patriarche des Arméniens,
et a eu plusieurs rencontres avec les derniers papes.

Arrivé mercredi pour un séjour de plusieurs jours a Rome avant de se
rendre aux Etats-Unis, il avait au programme une rencontre au Conseil
Pontifical pour l’unité des Chrétiens, et une entrevue avec le pape
émérite Benoit XVI.

AFP

ADDRESS OF POPE FRANCIS TO HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II SUPREME PATRIARCH
AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS WITH HIS ENTOURAGE

Thursday, 8 May 2014

Your Holiness, Dear Brothers in Christ,

I gladly offer a most heartfelt welcome to you and to the distinguished
delegation accompanying you. Through Your Holiness, I also extend
respectful and affectionate greetings to the members of the Catholicate
family and to all Armenians around the world. It is a particular
grace to greet you here so close to the tomb of the Apostle Peter
and to share this moment of fraternity and prayer.

With you, I praise the Lord, because in recent years relations
between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Church of Rome have been
strengthened, thanks to the events which are so dear to our memory.

Here I recall the visit of my sainted predecessor to Armenia in 2001,
and the welcome presence of Your Holiness in the Vatican for the
official visit toPope Benedict XVI in 2008 and for the inauguration
of my ministry as Bishop of Rome last year.

Here I wish to recall another occasion full of meaning in which Your
Holiness participated : the commemoration of the witnesses to the faith
of the twentieth century, which took place in the context of the Great
Jubilee of the Year 2000. In truth, the number of disciples who shed
their blood for Christ during the tragic events of the last century
is certainly greater than that of the martyrs of the first centuries,
and in this martyrology the children of the Armenian nation have a
place of honour. The mystery of the Cross, precious to the memory of
your people and depicted in the splendid stone crosses which adorn
every corner of your land, has been lived as a direct participation
in the chalice of the Passion by so many of your people.

Their witness, at once tragic and great, must not be forgotten.

Your Holiness, dear Brothers, the sufferings endured by Christians in
these last decades have made a unique and invaluable contribution to
the unity of Christ’s disciples. As in the ancient Church, the blood
of the martyrs became the seed of new Christians. So too in our time
the blood of innumerable Christians has become a seed of unity. The
ecumenism of suffering and of the martyrdom of blood are a powerful
summons to walk the long path of reconciliation between the Churches,
by courageously and decisively abandoning ourselves to the working
of the Holy Spirit. We feel the duty to follow this fraternal path
also out of the debt of gratitude we owe to the suffering so many of
our brothers and sisters, which is salvific because it is united to
the Passion of Christ.

In this regard, I wish to thank Your Holiness for the effective support
given to ecumenical dialogue, and in particular to the work of the
joint commission for theological dialogue between the Catholic Church
and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, and for the skillful theological
contributions offered by representatives of the Catholicate of All
Armenians.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father
of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all
our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in
any way afflicted with the consolation with which we ourselves are
consoled by God” (2 Cor 1 : 3-4). Full of trust, may we walk the path
that lies ahead of us, sustained by so great a cloud of witnesses
(cf. Heb 12:1), and implore the Father for the unity which Christ
himself prayed for at the Last Supper (cf. Jn 17:21).

Let us pray for each other : may the Holy Spirit enlighten us and
lead us to that day, so greatly desired, in which we can share the
Eucharistic table. We praise God in the words of Saint Gregory of
Narek, “Accept the song of blessing from our lips and deign to grant
to this Church the gifts and graces of Zion and of Bethlehem, so that
we can be made worthy to participate in salvation”. May the all-holy
Mother of God intercede for the Armenian people now and always.

vendredi 9 mai 2014, Stéphane ©armenews.com

CO-CHAIRS TO STUDY ISSUE ON RESETTLEMENT OF SYRIAN ARMENIANS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

APA, Azerbaijan
May 8 2014

[ 08 May 2014 14:40 ]

Baku. Anakhanum Hidayatova – APA. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
will study the issue on the resettlement of Syrian Armenians in
Nagorno-Karabakh, said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov,
APA reports.

The Minister said that the co-chairs would pay a visit to Armenia,
the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan in the middle of May:
“The co-chairs want to be familiarized with the situation in
Nagorno-Karabakh. Some Syrian Armenians settled in the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan as a result of the crisis in the country. I
sent an official letter to the OSCE Chairman in Office in this regard
and asked him to send a fact-finding mission to Karabakh for studying
this issue.”

ANCIENT ARMENIAN CEMETERY ON PATH OF REVIVAL

The Times of India (TOI)
May 7, 2014 Wednesday

by Mir Ayoob Ali Khan

HYDERABAD: Contrary to popular perception, Abid Evans, the 19th century
businessman after whom the main commercial hub of Hyderabad __ Abid
ki Shop __ was named was not the first Armenian to have arrived and
flourished in the city. Armenians first came to Hyderabad during the
reign of Qutb Shahi Sultans and settled down in Hyderabad somewhere
in the early 17th century, inform historians.

An ancient cemetery which dates back to this period is located in
Uppuguda, on the way to Falaknuma through Lal Darwaza and Chhatrinaka
in the Old City. This Armenian cemetery with its distinct tombs and
arches and lying in utter neglect for decades, is now going through
a restoration process.

Mohammed Ziauddin Ahmed Shakeb, an authority on the history and
culture of Hyderabad said, “Somewhere in early 1970s I was working on
documents in the State Archives and Research Institute with which I
was associated then when I chanced upon a letter written by British
Resident W Haig in Hyderabad to a government official. According to
the letter written in 1907 there existed an Armenian cemetery on the
outskirts of Hyderabad. On an inspection of the area around Falaknuma
Palace the British Resident had seen the cemetery which he found in
a bad shape. He wanted the government to restore the cemetery.”

Dr Shakeb who spoke with TOI from London on phone continued, “After
conducting an initial inquiry through my colleague Somnath Pershad I
found the contents of the letter to be true. I visited the place and
saw the signs of the cemetery hidden under a heap of human waste and
shrubs. I informed the matter to Waheeduddin Khan, the then director of
State Archeology and Museums. Khan was thrilled and immediately ordered
the cleaning of the area and restoration of the cemetery. He also got
a compound wall constructed for the security of the historical site.”

Interestingly, during the restoration work, a deep pit was found
which had six levels. Probably it was a grave where six persons had
been buried, one at each level, Dr Shakeb said.

The department of archeology and museums mapped and documented the
entire area. But as time passed by, upkeep of the cemetery became a
non-priority job and finally got off completely from its attention.

Now, after a long time, the department has taken up the task of
restoration again. Two weeks ago, it cleared the area of filth and wild
shrubs. The compound wall is being repaired using granite, lime and
mortar to keep in tune with the character of the ancient precincts. A
single dome on the premises representing the Qutub Shahi style of
architecture and two mandapa-like structures, one square and the
other octagonal, will be the focus of restoration in the coming weeks.

“The most difficult part of the restoration is to set the graves as
found some 40 years ago. The basalt stones of the graves with unique
engravings are scattered all over the place and some of them broken
into pieces. The department will have to hire experts and refer the
material it has in its archives to complete the task.”

He said that it could take about two months to complete the work
after which the place will be open for tourists and public who can
have a look into another facet of the city’s rich history.

CAN ‘DEVIL’S KNOT’ HELP BRING JUSTICE TO REAL WEST MEMPHIS KILLERS?

The Wrap
May 8 2014

Movies | By Lucas Shaw

Director Atom Egoyan tells TheWrap that the dramatization is “about
showing how we live with doubt, how we navigate in places where there
is no resolution”

Jason Baldwin, one of the members of the so-called West Memphis 3,
credits Hollywood with getting him out of prison.

Now Baldwin hopes a new movie will ensnare whomever is responsible
for the crime he swears he did not commit decades ago. Atom Egoyan’s
“Devil’s Knot,” which opens in theaters Friday, dramatizes the story
of three teens convicted of killing three young boys, with Oscar
winners Colin Firth and Reese Witherspoon in key roles.

Also read: Joe Berlinger to Direct Eight-Part Criminal Justice Series
for Al-Jazeera America (Exclusive)

The movie follows three “Paradise Lost” documentaries by Joe Berlinger
about the case, which attracted celebrity interest, and one from Amy
Berg that came out after Baldwin, Damien Echols and Jessie Misskelley
Jr. were freed three years ago.

Baldwin told TheWrap that he feels like he owes it to the slain kids
and their families to keep telling the story in hopes justice will
ultimately be served.

“There’s no statute of limitations on murder,” Baldwin told TheWrap.

“We’re saying to whoever did this, whoever is out there, we’re still
paying attention. We’re not giving up on a search for you. You may
think you’ve gotten away with murder, but you haven’t.”

Although a series of appeals and new evidence convinced legal
authorities to ultimately free the three men accused of the 1993
murders, but Baldwin gives Berlinger a great deal of credit for saving
the life of Echols, who had been on death row.

Also read: West Memphis 3 Defendant Jason Baldwin to Executive Produce
‘Devil’s Knot’ (Exclusive)

He served as executive producer on Egoyan’s “Devil’s Knot.” TheWrap
spoke with Baldwin and Egoyan about the film, its potential impact
and how the case influenced their beliefs.

This story has been the subject of several movies and books. Why
did you pick this approach, and do existing materials complicate
your efforts?

Egoyan: I first saw ‘Paradise Lost’ when it came out in Toronto a few
years after the case, and clearly this documentary was instrumental
in keeping the case alive. It also pointed towards another culprit. A
lot of books and documentaries seem to say if only this person had
been pursued or that person. I don’t think it’s that easy; it would
have been another witchhunt.

What’s remarkable about this incident is the mountain of evidence that
one has to wade through because so much of that was dismissed. Once the
system set its sights on these three young men, they felt they found
the culprits and focused on as expedient a resolution as possible.

See video: Reese Witherspoon, Colin Firth Hunt for Justice in West
Memphis 3 Drama ‘Devil’s Knot’

It is the most horrifying crime scene imaginable and it happened in a
town deeply rooted in religion. With an action of unquestionable evil,
demons had to be created. Once these three young men were brought
into the system, the resolution was sealed.

Did you draw your own conclusions?

Egoyan: Nothing that I would begin to want to talk about. This movie is
not about saying this is what would have happened, but about showing
how we live with doubt, how we navigate in places where there is no
resolution. Mistakes were made from the get-go. You don’t find a body
and then move it.

How many more ways can you tell this story?

Baldwin: I feel like we owe it to Michael, Steve, Chris, their families
and my family to use whatever tools we can. You may say the case
is closed, but the fact remains there’s no statute of limitations
on murder. We’re saying to whoever did this, whoever is out there,
we’re still paying attention. We’re not giving up on a search for you.

You may think you’ve gotten away with murder, but you haven’t.

And what role will Hollywood play in this?

Baldwin: If it weren’t for the documentaries before the movie showing
the world what happened to us, Damien would have been murdered by
the state of Arkansas. Whoever did this would have escaped justice
forever. Maybe this film is a part of all this. This situation is
not hopeless. Damien is alive.

Jason, how much attention did you pay to all of the media coverage
of the case and the books about your life?

Baldwin: I paid the utmost attention to everything I could grasp
about the real atmosphere of the crime scene. When you are arrested
you expect certain things to occur in the judicial system. A mugshot,
a phone call. When it came time to fingerprinting, I was not surprised
they took my entire handprint or footprint. I figured they must have
some kind of evidence to compare something from the crime scene.

They were convinced I’m the person that did this. I was no longer
looked at as innocent. A dark spell came over people and the
prosecution was allowed to create a fanciful story and overlook facts.

There was biological material that could be tested, but since tests
didn’t lead to us it made no sense for the prosecution to act like
it was there.

Egoyan: For all the talk about dark magic, the only act of magic
was what Fogelman could do in that summation. Here’s a table of
circumstantial evidence, and when you mix it all together you’ve
got demons.

Are either of you spiritual?

Baldwin: I was raised Southern Baptist all my life; I was raised on
the story of the Bible. On a sunny Sunday morning, you don’t want to
sit in the church. When the murders occurred, I had this faith. At
the same time I would rather be spending time with friends. As I’ve
gotten older, I’ve been spending more time with faith.

Egoyan: I was raised in the Armenian Christian Orthodox church,
dealing with an extraordinary act of evil — the genocide against
the Armenian evil. Justice hasn’t been served; perpetrators haven’t
admitted it happened.

What draws me to these types of stories is faith seems to be a very
personal issue. When applied communally, it becomes much more complex.

Did this influence your faith?

Jason: All things can be used for good, and all things can be misused.

Egoyan: When you look at Fogelman’s summation, he says religion
can make people do evil things; he’s talking about it in terms of
Satanism. Yet he is about to do a very evil thing in the name of
religion, and that religion is justice.

As a Christian, the fundamental law you are taught is do as you would
have done unto yourself. There are a lot of people in the world who
don’t want to be treated the way you would treat yourself.