Price Watch: Dram Rebounds, Inflation Worries Linger

PRICE WATCH: DRAM REBOUNDS, INFLATION WORRIES LINGER

ECONOMY | 19.12.14 | 11:03

By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Taking advantage of dramatic fluctuations of currency exchange rates
in recent days some Armenian businessmen increased prices of basic
foodstuffs and other essentials that fueled concerns and even created
some panic among citizens.

Within a week prices for some goods increased by 40 percent, leading
to some panic buying at places where prices were not raised and making
some stores set limits on purchases of basic foodstuffs like sugar,
flour, butter, etc. People compared the situation with the early
1990s when bread and butter were rationed and available to buyers
only by ration coupons.

“People are afraid of facing the same situation that they already
experienced before. Within a few hours prices went up. Coffee and
grains, sausages and dairies, meat products, let alone bread – we
used to buy bread for 210 AMD, this morning it was 250. The price of
one egg went from 70 to 100 AMD, cooking oil prices went from 800 to
1,100 AMD. And all this happens at the threshold of New Year holidays,
this is the end of Armenia,” housewife Zhanna Martirosyan, 60, said.

The stores that suspended trade and closed in anticipation of stability
on the currency market reopened on Thursday as the dram that had
hit its historic lows of nearly 600 the previous night rebounded to
460-480. However, no similarly ‘dramatic’ decrease in prices would
take place.

In the afternoon Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan visited a number
of supermarkets to check the prices and see for himself what the
situation in retail trade is.

At one of the stores he told reporters that in the case with a number
of products there were ungrounded price increases which he said he
corrected on the spot. And in the supermarkets he visited there were
price “variations” for eggs, which was fixed as well.

On Thursday at the government meeting the premier said that the
government will not tolerate ungrounded price increases, emphasizing
the particularly obvious price increase of sugar, flour and other
basic foodstuffs. He instructed Artak Shaboyan, the head of the
State Commission on the Protection of Economic Competition (SCPEC),
to look into the matter.

During the recent days parallel to food prices, prices for medicines
also were raised.

“Blood pressure and diabetes drugs got more expensive. Now they make
us go straight to the other world, don’t they? How can they tease
people like this? They are those who import, who sell, who cheat the
people, what do they demand from anyone else?” Margarita Hambartsumyan,
55, said.

PM Abrahamyan also instructed Health Minister Armen Muradyan to
follow trade in the medicines market to understand what is happening
in that sector.

Meanwhile, many believe that if prices continue to climb up, Armenia
may see another wave of outbound migration.

Albert Sargsyan from Yerevan believes that what is taking place today
will only increase poverty.

“I believe all this has a speculative nature. They needed to raise
the dollar and they did so, now they lowered it. This is the way the
country’s oligarchs get richer,” he said.

The price-increase waves had spread across all Armenia. In the second
largest city of Gyumri some had stopped wholesale trade in flour
and sugar, it restarted only yesterday. In Kapan sugar was sold for
500-600 AMD, instead of previous 420.

Buckwheat, grains and flour prices increased by 200-300 AMD. Citizens
hope that dram exchange rate stabilization will also lead to price
decreases, and closer to the New Year prices will not rise again.

From: Baghdasarian

http://armenianow.com/economy/59501/armenia_prices_dollar_dram_prime_minister_hovik_abrahamyan

Process Of Ratification Of Agreement On Armenia’S Accession To Euras

PROCESS OF RATIFICATION OF AGREEMENT ON ARMENIA’S ACCESSION TO EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION BY OTHER MEMBER COUNTRIES GIVES NO GROUNDS FOR ANXIETY – MP

YEREVAN, December 19. /ARKA/. The process of ratification of the
agreement on Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union by
other member countries’ parliaments gives no grounds for anxiety,
Gagik Minasyan, an MP from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia
and the head of the Armenian National Assembly’s finance and
budgetary committee, told journalists on Friday. On December 4,
Armenian lawmakers ratified the agreement. It means Armenia, along
with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, will become a full member of the
Eurasian Economic Union on January 1, 2015. Minasyan said that there
is particular deadline for ratification of this document – it must
be ratified by partner countries before the end of this year. “The
Eurasian Economic Union member countries are taking necessary steps,
and therefore I see no grounds for anxiety over the matter,” he said.

“I think all the countries will manage to ratify it on time.” The
Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
ratified the agreement on December 17. On Friday, Kazakhstan’s Senate
(the Upper House) adopted the law on ratification of the agreement
on Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union. Belarusian
Parliament’s Lower House is planning to discuss the matter
today. —0—-

From: Baghdasarian

http://arka.am/en/news/politics/process_of_ratification_of_agreement_on_armenia_s_accession_to_eurasian_economic_union_by_other_memb/#sthash.EWFEiV7i.dpuf

Beeline To Complete Landlines Digitization In Three Armenian Provinc

BEELINE TO COMPLETE LANDLINES DIGITIZATION IN THREE ARMENIAN PROVINCES BY THE END OF THE YEAR

YEREVAN, December 19. /ARKA/. ArmenTel company (trading as Beeline)
will complete digitization of landline communication networks in Lori,
Aragatsotn and Armavir provinces of Armenia, the company’s press
office reported. The report says works are under way to digitize
private automatic branch exchanges and subscriber connections in
Metsavan, Kuchak and Norashen communities. Measures are launched to
improve infrastructures, according to the report. Upon completion
of the works, residents of Metsavan and Norashen will have access to
high-quality landline networks and improved broadband Internet. Kuchak
residents will get access to broadband Internet, according to the
report. Beeline remains committed to its strategy of even development
in Armenia’s regions, and has substantially increased coverage of its
digital landline networks during 2014. Digitization will continue
in 2015, general director of ArmenTel Andrey Pyatakhin said. The
current landline digitization rate in Armenia is 87%. ArmenTel is
a 100 percent subsidiary of Russian VimpelCom providing fixed and
mobile telephone service and high-speed Internet. -0–

From: Baghdasarian

http://telecom.arka.am/en/news/telecom/beeline_to_complete_landlines_digitization_in_three_armenian_provinces_by_the_end_of_the_year/#sthash.oEJyDVto.dpuf

US Ambassador Disappointed With Lack Of Progress In Armenia-Turkey R

US AMBASSADOR DISAPPOINTED WITH LACK OF PROGRESS IN ARMENIA-TURKEY RECONCILIATION

YEREVAN, December 19. /ARKA/. The lack of progress in Armenia-Turkey
reconciliation is disappointing, said US ambassador to Armenia John
Heffern who is completing his mission in the country, Novosti-Armenia
reported.

He said during his tenure in Armenia his biggest disappointment was
about the Armenian-Turkish protocols.

The envoy said they expected that the protocols would be ratified
resulting in the opening of the border and establishment of diplomatic
relations between the two countries. But the lack of progress is
disappointing, he said.

At the same time, the ambassador said, the US will continue support
Yerevan-Ankara reconciliation.

There are currently no diplomatic relations established between Turkey
and Armenia: official Ankara closed the border in 1993. The uneasy
relationship between the countries is caused particularly by Ankara’s
support to Azerbaijan on Karabakh problem and Turkey’s overreaction
to international recognition of the 1915 Armenian genocide in Ottoman
Empire.

Some reconciliation in the relations started in autumn 2008 initiated
by Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan. Foreign ministers of Armenia
and Turkey signed protocols about establishing diplomatic relations
in Zurich on October 10 2009 to be ratified by the parliaments. On
April 22 2010 Armenia’s president Sargsyan suspended the ratification
process saying Turkey was not ready to continue the process.

Ratification of the protocols has been frozen. -0–

From: Baghdasarian

http://arka.am/en/news/politics/us_ambassador_disappointed_with_lack_of_progress_in_armenia_turkey_reconciliation/#sthash.VgZA4UZf.dpuf

Les Economistes De L’opposition Pas Optimistes Quant A 2015

LES ECONOMISTES DE L’OPPOSITION PAS OPTIMISTES QUANT A 2015

ARMENIE

Les economistes pro-opposition predisent que les fortes turbulences
sur le marche financier de l’Armenie vont persister et les difficultes
economiques generales ne feront que s’approfondir en 2015 si des
changements ont lieu dans la situation politique.

Zoya Tatevosyan, du Congrès national armenien, et Vardan Bostanjyan,
qui etait un membre du groupe parlementaire du Parti Armenie prospère
entre 2007-2012, ont parle jeudi aux medias, mettant l’accent sur les
difficultes economiques rencontrees actuellement par l’Armenie dont
la monnaie nationale, le dram , a perdu plus de 10 pour cent de sa
valeur depuis la fin novembre.

Le dram s’echangeait a 460 a 465 pour 1 $ dans la plupart des bureaux
de change a Erevan jeudi après-midi.

La chute de la monnaie nationale et les augmentations de prix en
resultant sont communement attribuees aux temps tumultueux dans
l’economie russe en raison des sanctions occidentales et de la
chute des prix du petrole. Le rouble russe se est deprecie de près
de 50 pour cent ces derniers mois alors que la Russie a continue a
se chamailler avec l’Occident sur des questions geopolitiques comme
la crise en Ukraine.

Mais Tadevosyan et Bostanjyan a principalement blâme le gouvernement
armenien de la situation, etant donne que rien de suffisant n’a
ete fait pour eviter les consequences negatives des transformations
dramatiques en Russie.

> a affirme Tadevosyan, montrant les recentes
hausses des prix et le ralentissement general de l’activite economique
dans le pays.

Le Fonds monetaire international prevoit une croissance economique
de 3,3 pour cent pour l’Armenie en 2015.

Alina Nikoghosyan

ArmeniaNow

vendredi 19 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

Crossroads E-Newsletter – December 18, 2014

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apost. Church of America and Canada
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Easter Prelacy and Canada
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
Web:

December 18, 2014

Faithful to Our God; Faithful to Our People

`All this has come upon us, yet we have not forgotten you,

or been false to your covenant.’ (Psalm 44:17)

People who have gone through the difficulties and turmoil of life
understand and unwillingly accept that suffering and persecution are
events that happen to human creatures. This experience pounds into
them a mindset to endure human relationship’s most difficult
conditions. They become =80=9Cabove’ man, a `super’ man, while at the
same
time reinforcing the supernatural secret of endurance and survival.

During these days leading to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
joyful Christian world forgets anxieties and pain and enjoys the
happiness that hope brings. Our Christian faith comes to us to spread
the news that God’s supreme love was revealed to us with the birth of
Jesus, while at the same time proclaiming love and mercy toward all
humankind. Christ’s merciful touch fills the faithful with complete
obedience to Him. His
mercy deeply kindles the love and trust of the faithful in Him.

The road to salvation that Christ brought to humankind also became the
road for our people. In spite of centuries of difficulties and
persecution, our fathers carried the cross with Him, and walked toward
Golgotha; many times they were crucified, but at no time did they
break the covenant they sealed with God. We maintained our
faithfulness and fought to survive with hope
and the faith of resurrection. And we survived, always celebrating
through
the remembrance of Christ’s birth, our continuous resurrection,
budding, and strength in the lives of our people.

We are in the closing days of December 2014, with the year 2015
opening before us.

How deeply we would have wanted the peace, love, and solidarity of
Christ’s birth to be pure for us! We have carried with us a deep and
bloody pain for one hundred years and every year we experience the
stress of the remembrance and gird ourselves with hope and resolve as
we relive the memory and legacy of the millions of victims of the
Genocide.

`I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the
Lord,’ (Psalm 118:17)

Contrary to their cruel death, the martyrs did not die. Their
posterity lived in order to relate their martyrdom, to live through
them with the same resolve. Their death became the inspiration for
those who followed, and behold, one hundred years later, through our
lives and our deeds we recount their martyrdom of blood and are
witness to the lives we live according to our will and faith.

We witnessed the best vow to gain life through martyrdom, when in
November
all of the bishops of the Armenian Church met under the presidency of
the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II and the
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, His Holiness Aram I, and
agreed to sainthood for our faithful martyrs (the sanctification will
take place on the forthcoming 2015 Martyrs day). Thereafter, we will
no longer pray for their immortal
souls, but will rather beseech them to intercede and hear our
prayers. Behold the miracle of gaining life through martyrdom.

And this must be our duty and our song, just as the Hebrew people
during their exile sang with longing for their land. It is necessary
for us to affirm that the Armenian people and our Motherland are the
object of our purpose and the summit of our goal.

`How could we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?’ (Psalm 137:4)

Yes, we can, if our Motherland becomes an impelling force and the
focus of
our everyday life; if being Armenian becomes an everyday concern; if
our goal becomes the perpetuity of our nation.

Christ was born and revealed.

May our people be re-born with new hope and the power to overcome.

60th ANNIVERSARY OF GRANITE CITY’S ST. GREGORY CHURCH

Archbishop Oshagan celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the
sermon last Sunday at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Granite
City, Illinois. His Eminence presided over the celebration of the
parish’s 60th anniversary during which six members of the parish were
honored for their service to the church. The honorees were: Susan
Hagopian, Janet Haroian, Takouhie Kakligian, Stanley Karibian, Leslie
Lovett, and Marlene Manoogian.

Archbishop Oshagan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory
Church, Granite City, with the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Torkom
Chorbajian assisting.

Archbishop Oshagan with the honorees.

VICAR ATTENDS COAF DINNER

Bishop Anoushavan attended the Children of Armenia Fund’s (COAF) 11th
annual holiday gala last Friday in New York. The gala raised $2.4
million to help children in rural Armenia. Ara Arslanian was honored
with the Humanitarian Award and Alexis Ohanian received the Save the
Generation Award.

Bishop Anoushavan with COAF founder Garo Armen.

CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION DISCUSSED AT

ST. ILLUMINATOR’S CATHEDRAL

Joseph Garrett and Bared Maronian visited St. Illuminator’s Cathedral
in New York last week for a working session regarding the
commemoration
of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Mr. Garrett, a
digital media executive and internet entrepreneur, is the
great-grandson of Cleveland H. Dodge, one of the founders and the
first president of Near East Relief (now Near East Foundation) that
was founded in 1915 as `The American Committee for Syrian and Armenian
Relief,’ in response to the massive humanitarian crisis precipitated
by the Ottoman Empire.

Mr. Maronian, a four-time Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker, is
the
director of the `Orphans of the Genocide’ documentary. Currently he is
working on the documentary `Women of 1915′ that will bring to light
the lesser known, but equally compelling stories of compassion and
humanitarian relief provided by Armenian and non-Armenian women from
the United States, Canada, and Europe. The documentary will highlight
the integral role Armenian women played in their families and
communities, coupled with the courage and resolve shown to save their
children and their Christian faith from forced Islamization.

Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian with Bared Maronian (left) and John Garrett
at the Martyrs Memorial Altar at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral.

ST. STEPHEN CHURCH HONORS ELDERS

The year 2014 was designated as `The Year of the Elderly,’
by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. In
order
to bring this year-long focus to a close in a memorable way,
St. Stephen’s Church of Watertown, Massachusetts, and the Armenian
Relief Society Social Services honored the elderly on December 6 in a
festive event with
more than 170 people attending.

Following the invocation by the parish priest, Archpriest Fr. Antranig
Baljian, and table fellowship, Der Hayr spoke about why elders have
been looked upon as an essential part of the community and have played
such an important role in society as described in scripture and
recognized throughout Armenian history. Four individuals were honored
for their years of service within the community. Der Hayr presented
Certificates of Merit to Mrs. Hasmig Der Vartanian, Mrs. Zona
Zerdelian, and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph and Florence Markarian.

>From left, Nevart Kouyoumjian, Hasmig Der Vartanian (Honoree),
Nartouhi Abrimian and Der Antranig.

>From left, Nevart Kouyoumjian, Sonia Zerdelian Iradian (Honoree),
Nartouhi
Abrimian and Der Antranig.

>From left, Der Antranig and honorees Florence and Joe Markarian.

LITURGICAL CALENDAR POSTER

The 2015 color poster of the Liturgical Calendar of the Armenian
Apostolic
Church is now available at the Prelacy. This 27×36 inch poster belongs
in every classroom, church hall and home.

The Armenian Apostolic Church uses a liturgical calendar to mark its
feasts and fasts and seasons, like all traditional churches but with
its own unique features. As one can readily see, the Armenian Church
year has eight seasons, depicted on the poster in different colors
with the names of the seasons indicated in the outermost ring: 1)
Nativity and Epiphany, 2) Lent, 3)
Easter, 4) Pentecost, 5) Transfiguration, 6) Assumption of the Holy
Mother
of God, 7) Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 8) Advent. The innermost ring
shows the months.

The weeks of the year are represented by the sectors of the circle,
starting with Sunday and moving towards the center, with slots for
each day of the week. Sunday is the first day of the week,
mi-ya-shapat (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1), the day Jesus rose
from the dead. Christians from the earliest times designated Sunday as
`the day of the Lord’ (deroonee / deroonagan). The word geeragee
(Sunday) comes from the Greek Kyriaki, meaning dominical, lordly,
royal. Thus, all Sundays are dominical days, commemorating and
celebrating the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ (along with
other dominical celebrations, such as the ascension, transfiguration,
and so forth). Some dominical feasts could also be celebrated during
the week, for instance, the Nativity and Epiphany of our Lord Jesus
Christ
on January 6.

In addition to dominical (deroonee) feasts, we also have feasts
dedicated to saints. On saints’ days the church remembers and
celebrates those Christians who have bore an exemplary witness to
Jesus Christ and to his gospel-these include the apostles, the
martyrs, the confessors, teachers, ascetics, bishops, priests,
deacons, kings, queens, princes, and people from all walks of life,
male and female, young and old. In our tradition, saints are
commemorated and celebrated on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and
Saturdays, except during the weekdays of Great Lent and the 50 days of
Easter. This coming year, the Armenian Church will canonize the
martyrs of 1915 genocide as saints.

The church does not always celebrate. There are also days of fasting,
set aside for self-restrain and self-examination; hence festivities
are not compatible with the ethos of the days of fasting. In the
Armenian tradition, Wednesdays and Fridays are designated as days of
fasting, except during the eight days of the Christmas festivities and
during the forty days after Easter festivities. We also have ten
weeklong fasts preceding major feasts and
commemorations, observed from Monday through Friday, except for the
fast of the Nativity which is six days. And there is the great fast
(medz bahk) of Great Lent, preceding the feast of feasts: the
Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (Easter).

The liturgical calendar poster indicates all these with names and
dates=80’showing all Sundays and other dominical days, saints’ days,
and days of fasting.

As part of the celebration and commemoration of feasts and saints’
days, as well as observing days of fasting, the Armenian Church has
assigned Bible readings for all these days. To see the daily Bible
readings prescribed in our lectionary, please visit the Prelacy’s
website at armenianprelacy.org
(). And for more info
about Feast and Fast, please click here
().

To order copies of the liturgical calendar poster, please contact the
Prelacy at 212-689-7810 or at [email protected]. The cost of
the poster is $5.00 plus shipping and handling.

BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for Sunday, December 21, Fifth Sunday of Advent, are:
Isaiah 40:18-31; Hebrews 4:16-5:10; Luke 18:9-14.

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they
were
righteous and regarded others with contempt. `Two men went up to the
temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The
Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, `God, I thank you
that I
am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers or even like
this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my
income.’
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to
heaven,
but was beating his breast and saying, `God, be merciful to me, a
sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather
than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all
who
humble themselves will be exalted.’ (Luke 18:9-14)

For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here
().

DAVID THE PROPHET KING; HOLY APOSTLE JAMES

This Tuesday, December 23, the Armenian Church commemorates David the
Prophet King and James the Brother of the Lord.

David was the youngest of eight brothers and was brought up to be a
shepherd where he learned courage, tenderness, and caring. David
became the second King of Israel. In the Bible, the name David belongs
solely to him, which
indicates the unique place he had as an ancestor and forerunner of our
Lord Jesus Christ. In the New Testament there are more than 50
references to David, including the title given to Jesus-Son of
David. David was a poet and the author of some of the Psalms.

James the Apostle, called `Brother of the Lord,’ probably because of
his close relationship with Jesus, was granted a special appearance of
the Lord after the Resurrection. He is believed to have been a first
cousin of the Lord, or as some biblical scholars have suggested, a son
of Joseph. After the Resurrection and the Ascension, while the other
apostles scattered all over the world, James remained in Jerusalem
where he served as the Bishop and became a leading spokesman of the
early church.

SAINT STEPHEN, FIRST DEACON

Next Thursday, December 25, the Armenian Church commemorates
St. Stephen, the first deacon and proto-martyr. After Christ’s
ascension, the apostles went about spreading the Word. It soon became
apparent that more people were needed to serve the growing church
community. Seven worthy individuals were called upon to serve the Holy
Altar and called `deacons’ (sarkavag). The most noteworthy of the
seven was Stephen, described
as a `man full of faith and the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 6:5). The Feast of
St. Stephen is a popular and important commemoration in the Armenian
Church. It is also a day to honor all deacons of the
church. St. Stephen became the first martyr of the Christian church
and is therefore called
the `proto-martyr.’ The only information about his life and death is
in the Book of Acts of the Apostles (Acts 6:8 and 8:2).

HOLY APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL

On Saturday, December 27, the Armenian Church commemorates the Holy
Apostles Peter and Paul, perhaps the two individuals who had the
greatest role in
the growth of Christianity. It is, therefore, appropriate that the
Church honors them together.

After the Crucifixion and Resurrection, Jesus came to Peter and asked
him to tell the other apostles of His appearance and to give them His
message (Luke 24:34-35). Peter was renowned for his oratory skills,
and he used his talent to spread the Word. He preached in Rome and
founded the church there. He is considered to be the first Bishop of
Rome. According to tradition, Peter was crucified in Rome upside down
because he declared himself unworthy to die in the same manner as the
Lord. He was buried in Rome and his relics are enshrined under the
high altar of the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica.

Paul (Saul) was born in Tarsus in Cilicia. He was an oppressor of the
early Christians until on the road to Damascus he converted when a
brilliant light blinded him and he heard, `Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute me?
I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Enter the City and you will be
told what to do,’ (Acts 9:4-6; 26:12-16). Saul was baptized and
renamed Paul and he went on to become the greatest preacher of the new
religion, traveling and writing extensively. Many theologians credit
him for shaping the
future of the Church. His fourteen epistles comprise more than
one-third of the New Testament, not including the Book of Acts, which
although written
by Luke, primarily is an account of Paul’s preaching.

CHRISTMAS WORLDWIDE

Next Thursday, December 25, is Christmas for most of the Christian
world.
Originally all of Christendom celebrated the birth, baptism, visit of
the Magi, and the First Miracle at Cana, on January 6. Of course the
actual date of Christ’s birth is not known. Rome changed the
celebration to December 25 in the year 336, and this date gradually
became accepted; December 25 was officially adopted as the birthday of
Christ at the Council
of Chalcedon (451)-a Council the Armenian Church did not attend and
never accepted. Therefore, the Armenian Church to this day has
remained faithful to the original date of January 6.

Our parents were wise to celebrate both December 25 and January 6. It
is nearly impossible to escape the holiday activity leading up to
December 25. For us January 6th was a more religious event; we
attended the long church service from beginning to end as a family,
and then spent the rest of the day with extended family. My late
mother used to tell us, `Our Lord is worthy of two birthday
celebrations.’

SOUND OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC IN PHILLY

The Sanctuary of St. Gregory Church in Philadelphia was filled with
joy, peace, the `sound of music,’ last Saturday evening as
parishioners joined in singing and praising God during the parish’s
first
Advent concert. Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian welcomed the worshippers,
explained the meaning of `Advent’ and the concert as a way of escaping
the secularism and stress of the world during this special season and
embracing the true message of Christmas-the birth of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ. Ara Eloian, master organist, offered two Advent
selections that were followed with four Christmas selections, Gospel
readings from the Book of Luke, group caroling, and a candle lighting
ceremony and the
collective signing of `Silent Night’ in English and Armenia in a
darkened Sanctuary lit only by candlelight. A reception took place in
Terhanian Hall, where all gathered for shared fellowship.

The popular Christmas carol, `Silent Night,’ is sung in the darkened
sanctuary.

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT IN NORTH ANDOVER

Children presented a beautiful Christmas pageant at St. Gregory Church
of Merrimack Valley in North Andover, Massachusetts, last week, to the
delight
of parishioners that included parents, grandparents, friends and
relatives. (photos by Violet Dagdigian)

The angels of North Andover in the Christmas pageant.

The star of Bethlehem guides the pageant.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT ST. SARKIS

The St. Sarkis Church community of Douglaston, New York, enjoyed a
Simply Wonderful Christmas recital last Sunday. The annual Christmas
tradition is now in its 6th year and has become an event the
parishioners look forward to each year. This year, following the
Divine Liturgy, parishioners were overjoyed to enjoy a beautifully
orchestrated concert, featuring the beautiful
voice of Hooshere, and talented musicians Elizabeth Kalfayan (cello)
and Peter Douskalis (acoustic guitar). A reception took place in the
parish’s main hall following the concert.

Traditional Christmas Carols were presented with an Armenian twist.

CATHEDRAL SENDS SHOES TO SISTER COMMUNITY

St. Illuminator Cathedral’s sister community in Lchkadzor, Armenia,
received the first 200 pairs of winter and summer shoes from the
Prelacy’s St. Nerses the Great Charitable Organization. The donation
became possible after Archbishop Oshagan’s recent visit to
Armenia. The
shoes have been distributed to school children in the community as
well as
to needy families.

Shipment of winter shoes are being distributed to children in
Lchkadzor, Armenia, through the St. Nerses the Great Charitable
Organization with the sponsorship of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral.

PROJECT SAVE AT ST. STEPHEN’S SCHOOL

Principal Houry Boyamian of St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School,
and Ruth Thomasian, Executive Director of Project SAVE Armenian
Photograph Archives, both located in Watertown, Massachusetts, have
entered into a
teaching collaboration to engage fourth-grade students in discovering
their Armenian heritage through vintage photographs. On October 23,
2014, as part of their Armenian Cultural Day celebration, students
were introduced to this discovery process with a unique classroom
program presented by Ruth, a
former elementary school teacher herself.

Using enlargements of vintage photographs from the collections of
Project SAVE Archives, Ruth engaged students in observing details and
using these clues to `read’ the photographs and discover their deeper
meaning. She asked students to observe all the many `things’ in the
photo, and then went on to ask `What-do-you-think?’ types of questions
followed by, `And your reason is?’ In this way students learned to
support their thoughts with the details they have observed. The
challenge for students was to be observant and to support their ideas
with visible details. St. Stephen’s will incorporate Project SAVE
Archives’ `Reading Photographs’ into the fourth grade enrichment
program every year.

Project SAVE Archives’ mission is to preserve and promote Armenian
heritage through photograph. Its `Reading Photographs’ program at
St. Stephen’s School is both a contribution to the community and a
thank-you for local support of its archives and educational
programs. St. Stephen’s is fully accredited by the Association of
Independent Schools in New England (AISNE), the accrediting body for
independent elementary schools. AISNE has commended the school `for
creating an environment where all the students love to read and appear
committed to academic excellence and for recruiting a remarkably
talented and dedicated staff.’

St. Stephen’s Armenian School fourth-grade students hold a Project
SAVE Archives photo enlargement that they have just `read’
in an exercise to help develop observational and critical thinking
skills.
This year’s fifth graders also participated so that they would
experience `Reading Photographs’ before moving on to middle
school. Staff, left to right, principal Houry Boyamian, teachers Cathy
Bass and Mark Boylan, Ruth Thomasian, executive director of Project
SAVE Archives, and Armenian teacher Ardemis Megerdichian.

THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY

Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)

Closure of the Kevorkian Lyceum (December 21, 1917)

In the nineteenth century, the Armenian Church did not have an
institution
that provided superior religious education and prepared its future
members. At the beginning of his tenure, Catholicos Kevork IV
(1866-1882) met Russian czar Alexander II (1855-1881) and asked for
permission to found such an
institution. The construction of the lyceum (jemaran) started on May
25, 1869 and the grand opening was held five years later, on September
28, 1875.
The bylaws approved by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Empire
in the same year established that the lyceum would have two sections:
a six-year school and a three-year auditory, and would provide higher
religious education. After the death of the Catholicos, the lyceum was
named in his honor.

Despite many efforts, Kevork IV did not see any graduate becoming a
celibate priest during his tenure. A secularist spirit predominated in
the lyceum. His successor Magar I (1885-1891) played an important role
to redirect the institution into its actual purpose. He invited a
qualified faculty, which included Bishop Maghakia Ormanian, future
Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople. The latter became the teacher of
theological subjects, and thanks to
his efforts, four graduates were consecrated celibate priests in 1888.

The level education at the lyceum was quite high. At the school level,
the
following subjects were taught: Armenian history and geography,
general history and geography, ancient Armenian literature, Armenian
and foreign (Russian, French, German) languages, natural sciences,
astronomy, mathematics, the Bible, religious music, logics, etc. The
auditory section included Armenian language (Classical and Modern),
Armenian history, religious literature, Armenian literature, European
literature, philosophy, psychology, pedagogy, political economy,
history of the Armenian Church, Armenian religious law, ritual
studies, ancient Greek, etcetera.

The graduates presented final essays, which were defended before an
examining committee and then they became clerics or continued their
higher studies in Russian and European universities.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the lyceum had 20 paying
students and 230 others with scholarships. It was maintained through
the incomes of the monastery of Holy Etchmiadzin, as well as
fundraisers and donations.
The Catholicos was the principal, who followed the activities of the
lyceum through the Educational Council and the dean. The deans
included Bishop Gabriel Ayvazovsky (brother of the famous painter),
Rev. Garegin Hovsepiants
(future Catholicos of Cilicia), Rev. Mesrop Ter-Movsisyan, and other
names, generally but not exclusively ecclesiastics. Among the teachers
of the Kevorkian lyceum were such luminaries of Armenian culture as
Manuk Abeghian, Hrachia Ajarian, Leo, Stepan Lisitsian, Gomidas, Hakob
Manandian, and many others. Those teachers were partly graduates of
the same lyceum.

Within the frame of the lyceum there was an intensive intellectual
activity: preparation of Armenian schools programs, writing of
textbooks and handbooks, as well as many historiographic,
philological, pedagogical, and theological works. The faculties of the
Armenian schools of the Caucasus were filled by graduates of the
Kevorkian lyceum for more than half a century.

Due to the political and military unfavorable conditions at the end of
1917, Catholicos Kevork V (1911-1930) decided to cease temporarily the
activities of the lyceum on December 21, 1917. Attempts to reopen the
Kevorkian Lyceum during the first independent Republic did not
succeed. The unique and rich collection of its library (45,000
volumes) became one of the starting points of the collections of the
National Library of Armenia and the Matenadaran.

The Etchmiadzin lyceum was finally reopened in 1945 and continues its
activities until today.

Previous entries in `This Week in Armenian History’ can be
read on the Prelacy’s web site ().

SYRIAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY NEEDS OUR HELP MORE THAN EVER

The crisis in Syria requires our financial assistance.

Please keep this community in your prayers, your hearts, and your
pocketbooks.

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET OUR ONGOING RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE ARMENIAN
COMMUNITY
IN SYRIA WHERE CONDITIONS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT.

THE NEED IS REAL.

THE NEED IS GREAT.

DONATIONS TO THE FUND FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF CAN BE MADE ON
LINE. TO DONATE NOW CLICK HERE
() AND SELECT SYRIAN
ARMENIAN RELIEF IN THE MENU. OR IF YOU PREFER YOU MAY MAIL YOUR
DONATION TO:

Armenian Prelacy

138 E. 39th Street

New York, NY 10016

Checks payable to: Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief

Thank you for your help

ARMENIAN LANGUAGE CORNER

Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)

New Armenian Words Not in Your Dictionary

1) Password

Any person with some reasonable knowledge of the Armenian language may
invent a word, especially compound words. The old `watchword,’
related to military issues, has found its equivalent in the
twenty-first century as `password.’ How should we say it in Armenian?

If you get into the business of literal translation, you may put
together ants-nil (Õ¡Õ¶Ö=81Õ¶Õ«Õ¬) `to pass’ and par (Õ¢Õ¡Õ¼) `word’
to obtain antsapar =80=9Cpassword.’ However, there is not always the
need to translate literally. A password is a secret (encrypted) word
or text used to `pass’ the obstacle; for instance, to enter a
computer. People came up with a better solution that has become most
used: kaghdnapar (Õ£Õ¡Õ²Õ¿Õ¶Õ¡Õ¢Õ¡Õ¼). This word combines kaghdni
(Õ£Õ¡Õ²Õ¿Õ¶Õ« `secret’) and par, the same as we have kaghdnakir
(Õ£Õ¡Õ²Õ¿Õ¶Õ¡Õ£Õ«Ö=80) to say… `cryptogram.’

2) Upload and download

Anyone may get a load of something or, otherwise, load something (for
instance, on a vehicle). The Armenian word for `load’ is perr (Õ¢Õ¥Õ¼)
and the verb, perrtsnel (Õ¢Õ¥Õ¼Ö=81Õ¶Õ¥Õ¬). How do you deal with
`upload’ and `download’ in Armenian?

You may hear, here and there, partzratsnel
(Õ¢Õ¡Ö=80Õ±Ö=80Õ¡Ö=81Õ¶Õ¥Õ¬) and ichetsnel
(Õ«Õ»Õ¥Ö=81Õ¶Õ¥Õ¬). However, these words are standard Armenian for `to
raise’ and `to lower.’ They give the `up’ and `down’ idea of the
English term, but not the
concept of `loading.’ Since `to load’ has a clear meaning of putting
up something, but not putting down, you cannot use perrtsnel either.

Someone went to the roots and found the solution: to turn perr
(`load’) into a new verb, perrnel, to give the idea of putting up
something. The new verb perrnel (Õ¢Õ¥Õ¼Õ¶Õ¥Õ¬) became the Armenian
word for `upload,’ and, combined with the prefix ner (Õ¶Õ¥Ö=80), which
means `under, intro, down,’ helped create the Armenian word for
`download’: nerpernel (Õ¶Õ¥Ö=80Õ¢Õ¥Õ¼Õ¶Õ¥Õ¬).

3) Audiobook

The world of books has gone through unprecedented transformation in
the past ten years. Readers of paper books are now sharing their world
with other
media, like e-books and audiobooks.

We do not have many audiobooks in Armenian yet, but what do we call
the ones we have?

The problem is with `audio.’ As the reader knows, the word
is related to hearing. The immediate answer would be something related
to lsel (Õ¬Õ½Õ¥Õ¬ `to hear’). Since we have lsaran (Õ¬Õ½Õ¡Ö=80Õ¡Õ¶
`audience’), Why
not lsakirk (Õ¬Õ½Õ¡Õ£Õ«Ö=80Ö=84), with l(i)s =80=9Caudio’ and kirk
`book’?

Again, it is a matter of being creative. More than hearing, an
audiobook is about the voice (tzayn) as the means to transmit the
information. Doesn’t tzaynakirk (Õ±Õ¡ÕµÕ¶Õ¡Õ£Õ«Ö=80Ö=84) sound better?
We already have tzaynakrutiun (Õ±Õ¡ÕµÕ¶Õ¡Õ£Ö=80Õ¸Ö=82Õ©Õ«Ö=82Õ¶) for
`audio recording.’ Let’s continue the word family.

Previous entries in `The Armenian Language Corner’ can be read on the
Prelacy’s web site ().

NEXT ISSUE OF CROSSROADS

Our next issue of Crossroads will be on Tuesday, December 30.

THE CHILDREN OF PESHAWAR

Home and school are two places where children should be safe and
sound. This week, during the season of hope, peace, and good will, the
world witnessed another horror of inhumanity. On Tuesday morning nine
militants stormed into a public school in Peshawar, Pakistan, and
murdered 145 people, 132 of
whom were school children whose only crime was being children
attending school. Our hearts go out to the families who lost their
loved ones in yet another senseless and cowardly crime.

We pray for the day when the peace of our Lord will descend upon all
humankind.

`But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my
refuge. He will repay them for their iniquity and wipe them out for
their wickedness.’ (Psalm 94:22-23)

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

December 21-Armenian Chamber Music, presented by St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral and Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society
of New York, at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street,
New York City, at 2 pm. Featuring: Noune Karapetyan (soprano), Sargis
Karapetyan (violin), Nune Hakobyan (piano). Program includes works of
Armenian contemporary composers. Musical notes by Krikor Pidedjian
(musicologist). Aram Satian, president of the Composers Union of
Armenia will attend. Admission: $20. For information and/or tickets:
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, [email protected] or
212-689-5880.

February 7, 2015-Armenian Relief Society, NJ Shakeh Chapter presents
`The Sound of Music’ (in Armenian), performed by the Bedros Atamian
Theatrical Group of Hamazkayin Sanahin Chapter, Montreal,
Canada. Director and playwright, Lena Khacherian, at Fort Lee High
School, 3000 Lemoine Avenue, Fort Lee, New Jersey. Tickets: $50, $35,
$25. Contact: Ani Keshishian 201-417-0204; Anik Kechichian
201-394-4408; Lena Tarakjian 201-592-7991.

February 9-11, 2015-Ghevontiantz gathering of clergy serving the
Eastern Prelacy.

March 13-15, 2015-`Responsibility 2015,’ International conference for
Armenian Genocide’s centennial at Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York,
featuring prominent historians, policymakers, authors, and
artists. Organized by the ARF Eastern US Centennial Committee, under
the auspices of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of America,
Eastern Region. for information.

March 20, 2015-Musical Armenia, presented by Eastern Prelacy and
Prelacy Ladies Guild, Weill Recital Hall, 8 pm, Carnegie Hall, New
York City. Featured artists Patil Harboyan, piano and Heather Tuach,
cello, will present a program dedicated to the 100th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide that will include works of Armenian composers
Atamian, Babajanian, Gomidas,
Khatchaturian, Saradjian, Stepanian, and Talalyan. Tickets are $25 and
will be on sale after December 20th at the box office and the Prelacy,
212-689-7810.

March 13-15, 2015-International conference, `Responsibility 2015′
marking the Armenian Genocide’s centennial, at Marriott Marquis Hotel,
New York City. Organized by the ARF Eastern United States Centennial
Committee, under the auspices of the Armenian Genocide Centennial
Committee of America, Eastern Region. For information visit the web
site ().

April 25, 2015-Connecticut Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day at the
Connecticut State Capitol. Keynote speaker: Noted author Chris
Bohjalian.

April 26, 2015-Centennial commemoration of Genocide. Joint united
Divine Liturgy in New York City (site to be announced), presided by
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. To be
followed by Times Square gathering `100 Years to Remember.’

May 7, 8, 9, 2015-National Armenian Genocide Centennial Commemoration
in Washington, DC, organized under the patronage of the Diocese and
the
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Presided by His Holiness
Karekin
II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of the Great House of
Cilicia. May 7, Ecumenical Service at the National Cathedral, 7 pm;
May 8, A Journey Through Armenian Music at the Music Center at
Strathmore, 7:30 pm; May 8 & 9, Exhibits, Films, and Events at various
venues; May 9, Divine Liturgy at the Basilica of the National Shrine
of the Immaculate Conception, 10 am; May 9, A Time to Give Thanks,
banquet, 6 pm (location to be announced).

May 10 to June 4, 2015-Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Aram I to the
Eastern Prelacy.

July 18, 2015-Blessing of the Holy Muron (Oil) by His Holiness Aram I,
at the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia in Antelias,
Lebanon.

October 5-9, 2015-Clergy gathering of Eastern, Western, and Canadian
Prelacies.

Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web
site.

To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add
[email protected] to your address book.

Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please
credit Crossroads as the source.

Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected]

From: Baghdasarian

http://www.armenianprelacy.org/
https://t.e2ma.net/click/cmiyf/4f4cee/8y9cqb
https://t.e2ma.net/click/cmiyf/4f4cee/oradqb
https://t.e2ma.net/click/cmiyf/4f4cee/4jbdqb
https://t.e2ma.net/click/cmiyf/4f4cee/kccdqb
www.armenianprelacy.org
www.armenianprelacy.org
www.responsibility2015.com
www.responsibility2015.com

Inga Zarafyan: Mining Industry Has Leading Positions In Terms Of Env

INGA ZARAFYAN: MINING INDUSTRY HAS LEADING POSITIONS IN TERMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE

by Karina Manukyan

Thursday, December 18, 15:55

Mining industry has leading positions in terms of environmental damage
in Armenia, Inga Zarafyan, Head of EcoLur NGO, told ArmInfo.

Zarafyans said that the mining companies receive “OK” despite the
obvious environmental risks and the resistance of public and experts.

He pointed out the example of the project of development of Meghrasar
gold deposit by AT Metals.

Earlier the environmentalists said that 60% of the deposit is located
in Arevik National Park. Zarafyan pointed out that the development
of the deposit will inflict a huge damage to the whole southern
part of the country. Nevertheless, AT Metals received a positive
environmental conclusion.

The provision of the status of a Biosphere Complex to a number of
protected areas in Southern Armenia was a big flaw in this matter.

The matter concerns Shikahogh reserve, Arevik National Park, Zangezur
and Khustup partial reserves, Plane-Tree Grove. All of them occupy
an area of about 60 thsd ha.

Each of these protected areas had its own clear boundaries. Having
become a part of the Biosphere Complex, all these areas lost their
legal status and the Complex has no boundaries of its own yet,
she said.

While the new projects of deposit development receive “a green light”,
the problems related to the condition of the tailing dumps remain
unresolved. The law qualifies them as secondary technogenic deposits
and imposes no taxes on them. “Moreover, they have no passports and
they are registered nowhere with specific content and certain risks”,
she said.

Zarafyan added that in the communities adjacent to the deposits, the
state does not survey the impact of the mines on human health. The
matter concerns first of Kajaran, Kapan, Alaverdi and Akhtala.

Earlier experts pointed out that nearly 450 deposits are being
developed in Armenia. They have also repeatedly pointed out the lack
of accurate methods of assessment of the mining industry impact on
the environment.

From: Baghdasarian

http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=24A197D0-86B5-11E4-A6670EB7C0D21663

Armenian Cabinet Members To Visit Military Units During New Year Hol

ARMENIAN CABINET MEMBERS TO VISIT MILITARY UNITS DURING NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS

15:42 18/12/2014 >> SOCIETY

Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan has instructed the cabinet
members to visit the country’s military units during the New Year
holidays.

In his remarks at a cabinet meeting on Thursday, he said that he had
discussed the issue with the Defense Minister.

“I wish that everyone wanted to visit military units,” he said,
adding that this is very important and “in my opinion, will be
important from the point of view of morality.”

Mr Abrahamyan instructed to submit the schedule of visits to the
government’s staff.

Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, for his part, offered not only to
visit military outposts, but also to meet with border settlements’
residents.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Baghdasarian

Unemployment In South Caucasus

UNEMPLOYMENT IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

Sarke Economic Press Monitor, Georgia
December 15, 2014 Monday

by Netgazeti.Ge

According to Caucasus Barometer research, conducted by Caucasus
Research Resource Center (CRRC) through 2009-2013 among adults of
25-60 years (19,500 persons in total), 52% of inquired Georgians
regard unemployment as the main problem, while 44% – in Armenia and
23% – in Azerbaijan.

At that, 49% – in Armenia, 48% – in Azerbaijan and 43% – in Georgia
declare that they are employed.

According to methodology of International Labor Organization (ILO),
unemployment rate in Georgia makes up 15%, while 18.5% – in Armenia
and 5% – in Azerbaijan.

Reason of such lack of coincidence is that official assessment
methodology considers as employed all people, who have any kind of
income from their labor, even through selling of household production,
while in the poll, the respondents decided themselves to which category
they belong.

Employment rate among men comparing to one among women is much higher
in all 3 countries. The difference of employment probability for men
and women is much bigger in Azerbaijan than in Armenia, in which this
gap is higher than in Georgia in turn.

In Azerbaijan, where merely privileged families have access to
education, a person with higher education has bigger chance to be
employed, while this difference is much smaller in Armenia and Georgia.

The article is prepared within frames of project “South Caucasus News”,
supported by Heinrich Boell Foundation (published on November 14).

From: Baghdasarian

Iran Minister Expresses Readiness To Expand Ties With Armenia

IRAN MINISTER EXPRESSES READINESS TO EXPAND TIES WITH ARMENIA

Fars News Agency , Iran
Dec 15 2014

Tehran, 15 December: Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian underlined
Tehran’s readiness to cooperate with Yerevan in different areas,
especially in energy and economic sectors. “Iran will utilize all its
existing capacities for the expansion of mutual cooperation with the
Republic of Armenia,” Chitchian said, addressing the opening ceremony
of the 12th Meeting of Iran-Armenia Joint Economic Cooperation
Commission in Tehran on Monday [15 December].

He pointed to the cultural and historical commonalities of the two
nations, and said, “These commonalities and good neighbourly ties
have resulted in a growing trend of bilateral ties since independence
of Armenia.”

“The two countries have held 11 meetings of Iran-Armenia Joint Economic
Cooperation Commission and exchanged many high-ranking delegations at
presidential levels, which shows not only suitable grounds for the
expansion of mutual cooperation, but can also considerably help to
the broadening of cultural, social and economic relations,” he added.

From: Baghdasarian