Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

What Will Happen To Russia 2 Years Later?

Naira Hayrumyan, Political Commentator
Comments – 25 October 2014, 17:25

A wild process of redistribution of property is underway in Russia.
Semi-state oligarchic giants are trying to steal the state reserves
entirely to survive and stay in government. Meanwhile, survival is
getting more and more difficult due to the decline of oil prices and
international demand. It is even harder for a country which has failed
to invest oil dollars in technology, and the government has built
vertical power, distributing national wealth among groups of
oligarchs.

Despite the fall of oil price, Russia is facing high prices and
shortage of petrol. This was especially evident in the east of the
country where people wonder how come the country that sells oil does
not have oil processing industries. Why has the government instructed
Gazprom to import petrol? Why would Belarus which produces 5% of
Russian petrol influence the Russian market?

Experts say the Western technologies allow producing 4 times more
petrol from the same quantity of oil. Therefore, it is cheaper there.
Besides, shallow oil production technology in the United States has
been improved to the extent that now its production is profitable even
if one barrel costs 57 dollars.

The leading oil producer of Russia Rosneft does not invest in
modernization. As a result, one of the world’s more capitalized
companies owes 30 billion dollars. Now it needs state’s help to
survive.

The head of Rosneft has requested 50 billion dollars, half of National
Welfare Fund, “to develop several projects”. This is not enough
though, and Russia is likely to sell 20% of Rosneft’s shares.
Although, the state will support Rosneft because otherwise it will
have to toll the death of the present government.

At the same time, a process of nationalization of property has started
in Russia. Obviously, there is not enough money, and the draft law on
nationalization of part of privatized property. The new regulations
will be applied to the weak links, primarily Bashneft and Mechel.

Experts claim that Russia has enough resources to stand for 1.5-2
years. What next? Russian giants have neither opportunities nor
intentions to invest in technology and raise their sales. Using
military-political methods to “block” the way of their competitors is
deemed an easier way. However, this is an old mechanism and breaks
down often.

It should be noted that Rosneft now holds monopoly of oil supply to
Armenia. It means that prices in Armenia will not fall despite the
falling prices of oil and petrol in the world market.

From: Baghdasarian

EU ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Oct 24 2014

24 October 2014, 13:20 (GMT+05:00)
By Sara Rajabova

The European Union attaches a particular importance to finding a
solution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Herbert Salber
made the remark a meeting with Chairman of “Azerbaijani Community of
Nagorno-Karabakh” Public Union Bayram Safarov in Baku on October 23,
AzerTag news agency reported.

“Settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is very important for the
European Union,” Salber said, noting that the EU backs an immediate
and peaceful settlement of the dispute.

Safarov, for his part, expressed regret that “international
organizations have taken a double standard approach towards
Azerbaijan’s problem.”

“Unfortunately, the organizations which must show a resolute position
on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have remained
silent and taken a double standard approach towards it,” he noted.

Safarov said the conflict must be settled only in compliance with
international legal norms and within Azerbaijan`s territorial
integrity.

“So we expect the European Union and other international organizations
to show their determination in his regard. Azerbaijan supports peace
and we want peace in Azerbaijan, in the South Caucasus and the whole
world,” Safarov said.

He also stressed the need for close involvement of the European Union
in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“Building an EU-supported dialogue between the communities, ensuring
active participation of the parties in programs and projects of
the organization is important in terms of solving the conflict,”
Safarov added.

European Parliament in 2013 adopted a resolution which confirmed that
Armenian troops have occupied Azerbaijani territories and called for
resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of UN Security
Council resolutions and the L’Aquila statement of the mediating
countries’ leaders in 2009.

According to changes to the resolution, the European parliament
recalled its position that the occupation of the territory of an
Eastern Partnership member by another member state violates the
fundamental principles and objectives of the EU program.

For over two decades, Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in
conflict which emerged over Armenia’s territorial claims against its
South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory,
including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. A fragile
ceasefire has been in place since 1994, but long-standing efforts by
U.S., Russian and French mediators have been largely fruitless so far.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on its pullout from the neighboring country’s territories.

From: Baghdasarian

LOCAL ARMENIANS PROUD ‘ORPHAN RUG’ WILL BE DISPLAYED AT WHITE HOUSE VISITOR CENTER

Los Angeles Daily News
Oct 24 2014

By Brenda Gazzar, Los Angeles Daily News

Sarkis “Steve” Manoukian’s father was 6 years old when Ottoman Turk
forces and their proxies brandishing swords and sledgehammers ambushed
his family and others in the Syrian Desert nearly a century ago.

Manoukian’s mother told him that the horsemen brutally chopped off
heads and limbs of Armenian women, children and the elderly who
were forced to march for weeks in a caravan in 1915, leaving a sea
of severed bodies in their wake. Manoukian’s father, Khatchik, was
the only family member to survive that attack. He was knocked down in
the chaos and awoke that night to a gruesome scene of desert animals
devouring the dead.

The orphaned Khatchik, who was rescued that night and adopted by Arab
Bedouins, lived as a shepherd in a Syrian village for nine years before
running away from desert life. He was about 15 years old when he found
his way to an American orphanage for Armenians in Aleppo that was run
by Near East Relief, a congressionally chartered organization that
contributed more than $110 million in humanitarian assistance from 1915
to 1930 to help the survivors of the Armenian Genocide, Manoukian said.

“I feel so grateful for the people of the United States, who in a way
saved my dad,” said Manoukian, 69, of Reseda, who himself later lived
in a Danish orphanage in Lebanon with his mother and sister after
his father died of a stroke. “Otherwise, he would have had a hard life.

… They let him work in the orphanage, helping the baker for three
years until he became 18.”

Now, these little-known American relief efforts will be spotlighted
when an elaborate rug woven by orphans of the genocide will be taken
out of storage and displayed as part of an exhibit at the White
House Visitor Center from Nov. 18-23. The Armenian Orphan Rug, also
known as the Ghazir Rug, was woven by seven Armenian girls from Near
East Relief’s Ghazir Orphanage in Lebanon in 1920 and presented to
President Calvin Coolidge in 1925 as a symbol of their gratitude for
American humanitarian aid.

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The rug was originally going to be exhibited in the Smithsonian last
year in connection with a new book by Dr. Hagop Martin Deranian about
the Near East Relief organization, but the event was canceled at the
11th hour, said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank. President Barack Obama’s
administration informed the museum that it was not appropriate to
exhibit the rug, part of the White House collection, at a book sale,
Schiff said. The Armenian community, however, was skeptical and
thought the decision had more to do with not wanting to offend the
Turkish government, which has long denied there was a systematic
campaign by the Ottoman Turks to kill Armenians, Schiff said.

Not long afterward, Schiff asked the White House if the rug could be
exhibited at a reception on Capitol Hill that focused on the efforts
of Near East Relief. Several months ago, the White House assured
him they would make the rug available in the fall, Schiff said,
“and now they have made good on that commitment.”

The Turkish Consulate General in Los Angeles sees “the display of
the Armenian Orphan Rug, along with two other items, as a cultural
exhibit,” a spokesperson said in an email. A vase and artwork titled
the “Flowering Branches in Lucite” will also be displayed.

This will be the third time the rug, slated to be part of the exhibit
entitled “Thank you to the United States: Three Gifts to Presidents
in Gratitude for American Generosity Abroad,” will be displayed
since Coolidge’s family returned it to the White House as a gift in
1982. It was removed with his possessions when he left office in 1929,
according to the National Security Council.

The ornate rug, which has more than 4 million hand-tied knots and
measures 11 feet 7 inches by 18 feet 5 inches, represents the tragic
story of what happened to Armenians between 1915 and 1923, with
massive deportations, displacement and genocide in which as many as
1.5 million Armenians were killed, said Deranian, author of the book
“President Calvin Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug.”

But “more than that, it represents America as a nation of compassion
that came to the aid of the orphans,” he said.

Near East Relief, once called the American Committee for Syrian and
Armenian Relief, saved the lives of at least a million people amid the
wreckage of the Ottoman Empire, treated more than 6 million patients
in NEF-run clinics throughout the region, established orphanages and
provided education and training to more than 100,000 Armenian children
who became orphaned in the turmoil, according to the website of the
Near East Foundation, which is what the organization is called today.

“I think (the rug) is an important link not only between the terrible
dark days of the genocide but also the beginning of an American
tradition of providing assistance to those in need, a tradition that
very much continues to this day,” Schiff said.

Manoukian said he’s proud that the Armenian Orphan Rug will finally
be displayed but characterized it as a “small step” taken by the
White House in an effort to satisfy the Armenian-American community.

“We’d like to see the U.S. government be more courageous and be
more honest about its past history and come forward and say, ‘Look,
this is our ancestors. This is what they did. They conducted such
a humanitarian effort while a whole nation was being butchered,'”
Manoukian said.

Armenian-American Maurice Missak Kelechian, 54, of Toluca Lake, an
independent researcher who gives talks on Near East Relief, says he
believes the rug should be displayed much longer and in a prominent
museum such as the Smithsonian, particularly in light of Turkey’s
denial and U.S. administrations’ reluctance to use the word genocide,
he said.

“You think all Armenians are happy to remember the genocide?”

Kelechian said. “It’s such a trauma to carry from one generation to
the other.”

By displaying the Armenian Orphan Rug, “you’re watering their souls
(of those who perished.) You’re acknowledging their story.”

Deranian, who lives in Massachusetts, will speak about the themes in
his book from 6 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 6 at Woodbury University, 7500 N.

Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank. The event, sponsored by the Armenian Assembly
of America, will include the display of a “sister rug” that was also
produced by girls in the Ghazir Orphanage.

From: Baghdasarian

GERMANY OFFERS GUIDANCE TO RECONCILE ARMENIA, TURKEY

The Daily Star, Lebanon
Oct 24 2014

YEREVAN: Germany’s foreign minister Thursday offered Berlin’s
experience in postwar reconciliation to Armenia and Turkey to help
them forge peace a century after a World War I-era massacre.

On a visit to Yerevan, Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Germany’s long
road to partnership with France after two world wars could serve as an
example following the 1915 slaughter of Armenians during World War I.

“When it comes to the bloody history of the 20th century, in which
Germany started two world wars, we should not present ourselves as
the schoolmasters,” he told reporters after talks with his Armenian
counterpart Edward Nalbandian in Yerevan.

“But we can offer our experience.”

He noted that he had also told Turkish leaders earlier this year
that Germany and France had worked hard to overcome the hatred of
previous generations.

“After a difficult century, we have reconciled by not keeping silent
about our historical responsibility” but by “working through the
horrific things that happened,” he said.

“If our experience can be helpful, we are ready to offer it,” he said,
citing youth exchange programs as one initiative that had helped to
build bridges. “But that must be decided here.”

Nalbandian said Armenia was ready to reduce tensions with Turkey but
insisted the ball was in Ankara’s court.

“Five years ago, on Armenia’s initiative, we started a process that led
to the signature of the Zurich protocols – to make the normalization
of our relations possible,” he said.

“But Turkey is not respecting these agreements.”

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their forebears were killed in a
1915-17 genocide by Turkey’s former Ottoman Empire.

Turkey categorically rejects the term genocide and argues that 300,000
to 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife
when Armenians rose up against their Ottoman rulers and sided with
invading Russian troops.

In April, Turkey’s then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is now
president, expressed his condolences over the massacre of Armenians,
which he called “our shared pain,” but his overture was brushed aside
by Yerevan as insufficient.

Switzerland mediated between Armenia and Turkey in 2009, leading
to landmark pacts being signed in October that year in a first step
toward ending decades of hostility but the efforts soon stalled.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA AGAINST ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE NK DISCUSSIONS FROM OSCE MINSK GROUP FORMAT

Friday 24 October 2014 19:19
Photo: Photolure

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said that Armenia is
against attempts to remove NK conflict settlement from the format of
OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

“OSCE Minsk Group is the only structure that has an international
mandate to act as a mediator in NK peace process. Azerbaijan’s attempts
to take those discussions to other formats or platforms are known,
and show that official Baku is trying to fail the negotiation process
once and for all”, Armenian FM stated at the joint press conference
with Lithuanian FM commenting on the appointment of PACE rapporteur
on NK conflict.

According to the FM, working out and developing reports that end in
themselves can nowise contribute to the progress of the negotiation
process.

From: Baghdasarian

GEVORKIAN DANCE ACADEMY DEBUTS IN SAN DIEGO TO A HUGE AUDIENCE

Thursday, October 23rd, 2014

Young performers from the Gevorkian Dance Academy present an ensemble
of traditional Armenian dances.

SAN DIEGO, Calif.–On Oct. 19, more than 800 people attended a
spectacular and unforgettable performance by the Gevorkian Dance
Academy. One hundred dancers of all ages took the stage in San Diego’s
first ever “Dances Under the Stars” at the Moonlight Amphitheatre in
Vista, California. The mesmerizing choreography, dazzling costumes,
and spirited music brought the audience into the very heart of the
Armenian culture. Enchanting dances from other countries, including
Russia, Georgia, Moldova, Israel, Greece, Romania, and the United
States, were also performed. George Krikorian, Jr., owner of Krikorian
Premiere Theatres, was the lead sponsor of this magical evening.

“Words cannot describe the beauty, grace, and energy displayed by the
Gevorkian dancers. The performance made every one of us so proud to
be Armenian. The Academy has shown the world that the Armenian nation
is very much alive and thriving. We thank Vartan, Siranoush and Sona
Gevorkian, and all the dancers and their parents, for bringing this
great celebration to San Diego,” stated Harry Krikorian, chair of
the organizing committee.

The Los Angeles-based Academy enjoyed two successful concert tours in
2001 and 2005, including three consecutive sold-out performances at
the renowned National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Yerevan.

In 2005, they proudly celebrated their 10th anniversary at the famous
Kodak Theatre. In 2010, they celebrated their 15th anniversary at
the world-famous Nokia Theatre with a live performance, where Vartan
Gevorkian received a gold medal from the Minister of Culture of the
Republic of Armenia. In 2013, the Gevorkian Dance Academy participated
in the “My Armenia” festival in Yerevan, where they received a gold
medal from the Minister of Diaspora.

Principal dancer, Sona Gevorkian, and her troupe dazzle the audience
with a jazzy number.

The performance was generously supported by Aladdin Restaurant, John &
Cynthia Andonian & Evans Tires, Richard & Ursula Avakian, Carpeteria
Carpet One & Melcon Markarian, Robert & Viviane Hagopian, Homenetmen
San Diego Sevan Chapter, Khoren & Kathy Kassardjian, George Krikorian,
Jr., Richard & Sherry Manoogian, Vahe & Jeannette Manoushakian, John
Shakarian Jewelers, Jerry Torossian, and Alan & Mireille Yaghdjian.

The event was planned with the participation and support of many
Armenian organizations of San Diego, including the Armenian General
Benevolent Union, Armenian Jeweler’s Association, Armenian National
Committee, Armenian Relief Society, Armenian Revolutionary Federation,
Armenian Catholic church community, Armenian Protestant church
community, Homenetmen San Diego Sevan Chapter, Knights & Daughters
of Vartan, St. John Garabed Armenian Church, Trust Fund Committee,
and the Triple X Fraternity.

At the request of the sponsors and organizing committee, the net
profits from “Dances Under the Stars” will support Phase One of the
Bridge to the Future project, which will establish a new church
campus in San Diego near Del Mar. For more information, email
[email protected].

From: Baghdasarian

CAIRO FILM FESTIVAL ADDS DAVID CRONENBERG, JEAN-LUC GODARD TITLES TO LINEUP

Hollywood Reporter
October 22, 2014 Wednesday

by Alex Ritman

Maps to the Starsand Goodbye to Languagehave been added to the lineup
for the upcoming Cairo International Film Festival, which is set to
run Nov. 9-18.

The David Cronenberg and Jean-Luc Godard titles join an international
list of films, including John Boorman’s Queen and Country and Diplomacy
from Volker Schlondorff.

The festival is due to kick off with The Cut, Fatih Akin’s drama
about the 1915 Armenian genocide that stars Tahar Rahim.

Having been canceled in 2013 and in 2011because of Egypt’s two major
revolutions and largely seen to have fallen by the wayside as compared
to other, newer regional festivals such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the
Cairo International Film Festival, now putting on its 36th installment,
is seen as experiencing something of a reinvigoration.

Last year, it appointed veteran Egyptian film critic Samir Farid as
director, and he immediately brought in acclaimed local directors
Yousry Nasrallah and Ahmad Abdallah to the festival’s board, also
forming a festival team made up of young filmmakers and critics. The
response from the region has largely been one of enthusiasm and
optimism about the festival’s return.

“Samir Farid has got a great team of young people who come from
different backgrounds and add a lot, helping make the festival more
diverse and more organized,” Egyptian producer Mohamed Hefzytold
The Hollywood Reporter. Hefzy was behind the recent Egyptian hit
Excuse My French, which recently screened at the BFI London Film
Festival. “I think the programming is going to be fantastic. They’re
great programmers, they love film, they’re hungry,” he adds.

Among the regional films appearing at the festival will be Palestine’s
Oscar entry, Eyes of a Thief, directed by Najwa Najjar and starring
Egyptian actor Khaled Abol Naga. Both are set to attend.

“What I appreciate most about the revival of the Cairo Film Festival
is that in spit of all the political changes and upheavals, culture
and cinema survives in the country which pioneered and advanced cinema
throughout the Arab world,” said Najjar, also pointing to the fact
that the festival is only one in the whole of Africa and the Middle
East to be accredited by FIAPF.

From: Baghdasarian

HOST OF SHOW NAMED AFTER GENOCIDAL POLITICAL FACTION CONTINUES TO DEMAND REDSKINS NAME CHANGE

Daily Caller
Oct 23 2014

Joel Reed
Lecturer, Texas A&M

Liberals’ double standards on political correctness may truly know
no bounds. Whether it is the left-wing blogosphere’s robust defense
of Alec Baldwin after he launched into an anti-gay rant on Twitter,
or the seemingly endless string of impolitic comments which flow
from Vice President Joe Biden, it is clear that there are different
PC restrictions for anyone on a Barack Obama donor list than there
are for the rest of us.

One of the most egregious violators of this double standard is left
wing political commentator, Cenk Uygur.

Uygur, the founder and face of the liberal media enterprise The Young
Turks — it was once a show, but was cancelled — has been vehemently
demanding that the Washington Redskins change their name to something
more acceptable to his former colleagues at MSNBC; presumably something
like the Loraxes, or the Upper Middle Class Suburban Gay Couples.

Last week, Uygur described the president of the Navajo Nation as,
“an ass” for joining Redskins owner Dan Snyder in the stands to watch
the D.C. football team get walloped by the Arizona Cardinals. The only
problem is that Uygur’s own media company is named after a genocidal
political faction within the Ottoman Empire. In 1915, the Young Turks
movement, which had recently come to power in the Ottoman Empire,
engaged in the wholesale extermination of the Armenian people.

The Young Turks rounded up and arrested community leaders before
luring fighting age men to meetings which became mass executions.

After murdering most of the adult male population, the Young Turks
marched Armenian women, children, and the elderly into the Syrian
Desert where most died from heat, thirst and/or exhaustion. Marco
Rubio and John McCain have been among the Republicans putting pressure
on the Obama administration to officially recognize the slaughter of
the Armenians as genocide (which it indisputably is).

Uygur began hurling stones from the confines of his glass house
back in December when he told a story on The Young Turks about
watching football with his young son and being unwilling to explain
the Redskins name to the child. In June, Uygur did another special
criticizing Redskins owner Daniel Snyder saying, “He’s still not
convinced because he’s Daniel Snyder and he’s a jerk.” In another
segment last Tuesday, Uygur asserted that the only thing Dan Snyder
cares about is the money he might lose by changing his brand. The
Young Turks Network has been vocal in its opposition to the Redskins
name with apparently little cognitive dissonance related to being on
a network named for the Caucasian equivalent of the Hitler Youth.

The Young Turks Network has been fighting their own “change the name”
battle launched by Armenian-Americans who are descendants of those
massacred in the first genocide of the 20th century but has so far
been given a pass on their hypocrisy.

So far, the only explanation that Uygur has offered for the name The
Young Turks is that he and his friends “looked it up in the dictionary”
and that he works with Armenians, resorting to the time tested,
“I’m not racist, I have black friends” defense. At a meeting of the
California Democratic Party in 2012, Uygur described the genocide of
the Armenians by borrowing some lingo typical of Holocaust deniers,
describing the genocide as, “The historical situation, uh, that
happened in that era.”

From: Baghdasarian

CO-CHAIRS SHARE EXPECTATIONS FROM UPCOMING MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS IN PARIS

APA, Azerbaijan
Oct 23 2014

[ 23 October 2014 17:15 ]

The co-chairs refused to comment on the appointment of a trial of
Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Asgarov by separatist Nagorno Karabakh
regime

Baku. Rufat Ahmadzada – APA. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
expect the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents to have a serious
discussion in Paris about the key issues of a settlement, said OSCE’s
press service said in its statement to APA.

“The Presidents’ recent meetings in Sochi and Wales revitalized the
most important channel of communication between the sides. We expect
the Presidents to have a serious discussion in Paris about the key
issues of a settlement. We also hope the Presidents will agree to
measures that can increase trust and transparency between the sides.

The Co-Chairs stand ready to help in whatever way we can”, said OSCE’s
press service.

“The OSCE Minsk Group is the only format the sides trust to mediate a
lasting settlement to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. The leadership
in Armenia and Azerbaijan has publicly expressed their support for
the Co-Chairs’ efforts, and we are ready to assist the sides to
reach a peaceful resolution. A resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict depends on the political will of the Presidents of Armenia
and Azerbaijan, and not on treaties or alliances. The Co-Chairs hope
with the recent contacts between the Presidents they will commit
themselves to a settlement”, the statement said.

The co-chairs refused to comment on the appointment of a trial of
Azerbaijani hostages – Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Asgarov by separatist
Nagorno Karabakh regime on October 27.

From: Baghdasarian

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:

** TOP STORY October 23, 2014
————————————————————
Discovery of the Holy Cross

** Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross
————————————————————
On Sunday, October 26, the Armenian Church will observe the Feast of
the Discovery of the Holy Cross. The feast day marks the
fourth-century =80=9Cdiscovery’ of the actual cross of the Crucifixion
by Queen Helena, mother of the Roman emperor Constantine.

At the advanced age of 80, this pious Christian woman made a
pilgrimage to the Holy Land to identify places where Christ had walked
some 300 years earlier. There, after years of prayer and good works,
Helena was witness to a miracle: at the foot of Golgotha-the hill
where Christ was crucified-workers under her sponsorship unearthed
three wooden crosses.

But which one was the true Cross of Christ? In an ingenious solution,
the workers brought the body of a recently-deceased man to the
site. Placing him on the first two crosses produced no result. But
when he was placed on the third, the body stirred to life. This,
Helena concluded, must be the True Cross-still surging with the
miraculous, life-giving power of Christ’s Resurrection.

The cross is a source of great pride for Armenians as a khachagir-or
“cross-bearing”-nation. Over the centuries, Armenians have borne
Christ’s cross with faith, hope, and love. What was once an instrument
of torture and death would become for Christians the symbol of
salvation, and victory over death.

Click here
()
to read more about the significance of the cross.

Rev. Fr. Vasken Kouzouian
Fr. Vasken Kouzouian was ordained to the holy priesthood in October
1994.

** Holy Trinity Church to Celebrate Pastor’s Milestone
————————————————————
On Sunday, October 26, Holy Trinity Church of Cambridge, MA, will
celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ordination of their pastor, the
Rev. Father Vasken Kouzouian, and the 53rd anniversary of the church’s
consecration.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate, will visit the parish
on this occasion, preside over the celebration of the Divine Liturgy,
and ordain five young sub-deacons. Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, the
Diocese’s Ecumenical Director, also will take part in the day’s
events.

An afternoon program in the church’s Charles and Nevart Talanian
Cultural Hall will honor Fr. Kouzouian’s milestone. Click here
()
to read more.

** Scripture of the Week
————————————————————

Wis 14:1-8
Is 33:22-34:1
1 Cor 1:18-24
Mt 24:27-36

** Prayer of the Week
————————————————————

By the holy cross let us beseech the Lord, that through it He may
deliver us from our sins and save us by the grace of His
mercy. Almighty Lord, our God, save us and have mercy on us. Amen.

** Upcoming Saints & Feasts
————————————————————

26 October: Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross

** CHURCH NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
————————————————————
Holy Cross Church of Lijkh, Armenia
Holy Cross Church in Armenia’s Lichk village, located on the shores of
Lake Sevan.

** New Church Consecrated on Lake Sevan
————————————————————
Earlier this month, we shared with readers news of the consecration of
St. Gregory of Narek Church in Vaghashen village, in Armenia’s eastern
Gegharkunik region. Last week, the Primate of the Gegharkunik Diocese
consecrated another new church, this time in the village of Lichk,
some seven miles west of Vaghashen.

The entire village gathered for the consecration service on October 14
by Bishop Markos Hovhannisyan. Holy Cross Church, erected in the
village center, took four years to complete and was made possible
thanks to the contributions of hundreds of local residents.

Bishop Hovhannisyan called the project a collaborative effort, and
said the village felt proud of its spirit of unity. Now residents are
fundraising for a cultural hall to be built near the church. Click
here
()
to view a video in Armenian about Holy Cross Church.

** A Country Profile on Armenia
————————————————————
Readers of the
New York Times awoke this morning to find a four-page insert about the
Republic of Armenia in today’s paper. For those who do not have access
to the print edition, we are offering a digital copy of the
advertisement insert here
()
.
.

** DIOCESAN NEWS
————————————————————
His Holiness Karekin II Visits Diocesan Center
His Holiness Karekin II leads the Diocesan Council in prayer.

** Catholicos Karekin Meets with Diocesan Council
————————————————————
At the Diocesan Center in New York City today, members of the Diocesan
Council had an opportunity to meet with His Holiness Karekin II, the
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, who is briefly
visiting the city this week.

The Catholicos offered the council members a pastoral message about
the church’s progress in Armenia and around the world. He shared
several objectives that the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has set for
coming years, and also expressed his appreciation for the support
shown by the Eastern Diocese, the Diocesan Council, and parish
leaders. He particularly noted that the strength of the
Armenian-American community and the Eastern Diocese directly
strengthens the Holy See and the Armenian Church overall.

In a special appeal directed to the clergy, the pontiff laid emphasis
on the mutual love between pastor and flock as being essential to the
priestly vocation. He also spoke more generally about the mission of
the church, the challenges it faces in America and abroad, and the
plight of our people in Syria and the Middle East. A vigorous question
and answer period with the council members rounded out the discussion.

Also during Thursday’s Diocesan Council meeting, members heard reports
on the finances and development goals of the Diocese, including the
2014 Annual Appeal campaign. New Director of Administration Jacob
H. Yahiayan spoke about his inaugural weeks in his new role at the
Diocesan Center. The Diocesan Council also received a report from the
three delegates who represented the Eastern Diocese at the recent
Ecclesiastical Representative Assembly in Armenia.

FAR
>From left: FAR Board of Directors chair Randy Sapah-Gulian, Marta
Batmasian, and Dennis Tarzian.

** FAR Board Reviews Programs in Armenia
————————————————————
The Board of Directors of the Fund for Armenian Relief held its
year-end meeting last week at the Diocesan Center in New York.

Board members reviewed the progress made in the implementation of one
of the most challenging FAR programs in Armenia, `Breaking the Cycle
of Poverty.’ Established by the Mardigian Family Foundation, the
five-year project addresses malnutrition, unemployment, poverty, and
infrastructure weaknesses in Armenia’s northeastern Tavush province.

This year FAR also opened two new soup kitchens in Armenia, sponsored
by the Hacet Foundation of Louisville, KY. The soup kitchens provide
daily meals to more than 250 elderly in the country’s most
impoverished towns. Another highlight is the innovative crowdfunding
initiative, =80=9CAyo!,’ sponsored by the Batmasian Family
Foundation. Over the past 12 months, `Ayo!’ has generated significant
enthusiasm in Armenia, as well as with the younger generation in the
diaspora.

The Board of Directors approved several new projects, including one
that would link New Jersey’s Rutgers University with the Armenian
University of Civil Engineering (sponsored by the SJS Foundation) to
facilitate the upgrade of curriculum at the Armenian institution. The
board also approved a set of new initiatives that would create deeper
connections between the Eastern Diocese’s ACYOA chapters and the
`Ayo!’ program.

Lastly they welcomed news of FAR’s recognition earlier this month by
the City of Yerevan, which awarded FAR a `Gold Medal’ for its
outstanding work in supporting the citizens of Armenia’s capital
city. Other awardees were Holy Etchmiadzin, the AGBU Youth Center, and
the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies.

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
The tower of the Armenian monastery in Bethlehem.

** Armenian Christmas Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
————————————————————
The Eastern Diocese is sponsoring a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the
Holy Land, which will run from January 12 to 22, 2015. The pilgrims
will visit some of the most inspirational sites in the Holy Land.

These include guided tours of Jerusalem, Jericho, Nazareth, the Sea of
Galilee, the Dead Sea, the Jordan River, Tiberias, and
Qumran. Participants will explore Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter and the
Sts. James Armenian Monastery and Armenian Patriarchate, and will have
an audience with His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan Manougian, the
Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem.

The pilgrims will also travel to the city of our Lord’s
birth-Bethlehem-to celebrate Christ’s Nativity with a Christmas
procession and a midnight Divine Liturgy on January 18-19.

The all-inclusive package for this 10-day pilgrimage (departing from
JFK airport) is $2,598 per person (double occupancy, plus a $50
administrative fee). Questions about the trip can be directed to the
Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, the pilgrimage coordinator, at
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

Click on the following links to view a flyer
()
and to access an online registration form
()
.

Annual Appeal

** Support the Diocese’s 2014 Annual Appeal
————————————————————
The Eastern Diocese has launched its 2014 Annual Appeal-the only
Diocesan-wide fundraiser conducted each year to help the Diocese
undertake the many ministries, programs, and resources that enrich
life in our parishes.

Your thoughtful gift brings light to our local churches. It supports
Christian education, Armenian language instruction, summer camps,
youth programs, mission parish outreach, and the use of new
communication technologies.

To our past and prospective donors, we are deeply grateful for your
support of the creative, educational, and inspirational programs that
lift up Armenian communities throughout the Eastern Diocese.

Please accept this invitation to strengthen our efforts. Your generous
contribution to the 2014 Annual Appeal will help spread the good work
of the Armenian Church across our local communities-and across the
generations.

Follow this link to donate now
()
to the 2014 Annual Appeal.

Book Club

** Join the Enlighteners Book Club
————————————————————
Last month, `The Enlighteners Book Club’-an online group sponsored by
the Diocese’s Department of Christian Education-read and discussed
their first book,
The Fragrance of God by Vigen Guroian. Members met online for live
discussions and posted comments to share their reactions to various
parts of the book. Dr. Guroian joined one of the online discussions
and answered questions.

`The Enlighteners Book Club is a fun new way to join in thoughtful
discussion from locations all across the country. I’m excited to
continue reading with `The Enlighteners’ as we relate to one another
and to Christ through other books,’ said participant Emily Movsesian
of Holy Trinity Church of Cheltenham, PA.

The book club will announce its next book soon. To register, click
here
()
to open a Goodreads account and then join the group named `The
Enlighteners Book Club.’ Once you join the group, you will have access
to the online discussion platform, as well as information regarding
the next book and online meeting times. For more information, contact
Eric Vozzy at (212) 686-0710, ext. 165, or via e-mail at
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

Click on the image above to view Professor Johnson’s lecture.

** Victors, Not Victims
————————————————————
On Thursday, October 9, the Diocese’s Krikor and Clara Zohrab
Information Center hosted a talk on martyrdom and canonization by
Maxwell Johnson, professor of Liturgical Studies at the University of
Notre Dame in South Bend, IN.

Titled “The Blood of the Martyrs, Yesterday and Today,” Dr. Johnson’s
lecture focused on next year’s canonization of the martyrs of the
Armenian Genocide, their future role as saints, and the consequence it
will have on Armenian Church practice.

Click on the following links to read more
()
and to view a video
()
of the lecture.

** PARISH NEWS
————————————————————

Click on the image above to view a brief video about the Chicago
parish.

** Chicago Parish Celebrates 50th Anniversary
————————————————————
Parishioners of the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Chicago, IL,
celebrated their 50th anniversary at the church’s current location
during the weekend of October 17-19. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Diocesan Primate, visited the parish to ordain acolytes, meet with
community members, and take part in the celebratory banquet on Sunday.

The Primate celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, October 19, and
gave a sermon on the Holy Translators. Also taking part in the service
was the Very Rev. Fr. Aren Jebejian, parish pastor, and the
Rev. Fr. Nersess Jebejian. Rev. Thomas Baima, Vicar for Ecumenical and
Interreligious Relations at the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago,
was in attendance. Maestro Khoren Mekanejian, the Diocese’s director
of Music Ministry, led the choir.

At the afternoon banquet, the community welcomed Roman Catholic
Archbishop of Chicago Francis Cardinal George. Cardinal George spoke
about his close ties with the Armenian Church, and especially the warm
relationship he shares with St. Gregory the Illuminator
Church. Archbishop Barsamian expressed his gratitude to Cardinal
George for his friendship and support. Messages were also delivered by
Parish Council chair Arden Karian and Craig Koresian, chair of the
50th anniversary committee.

On Friday evening, October 17, Archbishop Barsamian ordained eight
acolytes. At a reception following the ordination service, Archbishop
Barsamian presented the newly ordained altar servers with hand-carved
wooden crosses from Armenia.

Click on the following links to read more
()
and to view photos
()
and a brief video
()
about the Chicago parish.

Holy Resurrection Church, New Britain, CT
Fr. Kapriel Mouradjian and Tom Ashbahian (second from left) with
parishioners.

** Renovated Church Hall Opens in New Britain
————————————————————
On Sunday, October 19, parishioners at Holy Resurrection Church of New
Britain, CT, marked the 73rd anniversary of the church’s consecration
and celebrated the opening of their renovated church hall. The
Rev. Fr. Kapriel Mouradjian, parish pastor, celebrated the Divine
Liturgy and performed a requiem service for the parish’s deceased
pastors.

A Home Blessing Service followed in the renovated Abrahamian
Auditorium. At a luncheon that afternoon, Diocesan Council member Tom
Ashbahian gave a talk on the importance of family in Armenian culture,
and reflected on more than a century of growth in the Armenian Church
of America.

On the previous evening, Mr. Ashbahian, who serves as the Diocesan
Council liaison to the New Britain parish, met with Fr. Mouradjian and
members of the Parish Council to discuss goals for the future, receive
updates, and address questions and concerns.

Holy Trinity Church, Cheltenham, PA
Fr. Hakob Gevorgyan with course participants at Holy Trinity Church.

** A Focus on the Badarak in Cheltenham
————————————————————
The Holy Trinity parish of Cheltenham, PA, sponsored a three-week
mini-course on the Divine Liturgy titled
In Remembrance of Him. Three hour-long sessions were held after
badarak on consecutive Sundays in October.

Senior Deacon Albert Keshgegian led the course using excerpts from his
upcoming book, Communicate in Holiness: Reflections on the Divine
Liturgy. `I tried to present the information in an understandable way,
and also convey how this deeply significant and meaningful service
relates to our everyday lives,’ he said.

The course emphasized the Holy Sacrifice section of the liturgy,
beginning with the Transfer of the Gifts and the Kiss of Peace,
continuing through the Eucharistic Prayer, and concluding with the
Lord’s Prayer and Holy Communion. Participants were led through the
`how’s’ and `why’s’ of the Armenian Church’s worship service.

The mini course built on the Instructed Divine Liturgy the parish
sponsored last year. `Our people are eager for more information on the
liturgy,’ said Nancy Basmajian, Holy Trinity’s Adult Christian
Education director. `Judging from the feedback, we’ll be offering more
educational programs on the badarak for our adults.’

That opportunity will arrive shortly, when the parish organizes a book
study on The Melody of Faith: Theology in an Orthodox Key
()
, the recent volume by theologian Vigen Guroian.

Armenian Church of Baton Rouge
Parishioners in Baton Rouge prepare a traditional meal to commemorate
the defense of Hadjin.

** Baton Rouge Commemorates the Battle of Hadjin
————————————————————
Last weekend, the parishioners of St. Garabed Church of Baton Rouge,
LA, welcomed the Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian, the Diocese’s director of
Mission Parishes, as they gathered for the parish’s annual
commemoration of the heroic defenders of Hadjin.

The majority of local parishioners are descendants of survivors of the
Hadjin massacres, perpetrated in the 19th and early 20th centuries
while the city was part of the Ottoman Empire.

The entire parish gathered for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy
on Sunday, October 19. A requiem service was held for deceased
community members, as well as the defenders of Hadjin. Following
services, Fr. Abdalian blessed madagh in the church hall. The luncheon
program featured poetry recitations and the singing of Armenian
folksongs.

Click here
()
to view photos.

Upcoming events

** Upcoming Parish Events
————————————————————

Holy Trinity Church | Cheltenham, PA
Holy Trinity Church of Cheltenham, PA, will host its 2014 Harvest
Bazaar from Friday, October 24 through Sunday, October 26. Highlights
include Armenian food, music, a Country Store, vendors, displays of
Armenian art, and activities for kids. Click here
()
to view a flyer for information, or call the church at (215) 663-1600.

Hye Pointe Church | Haverhill, MA
The ACYOA of Hye Pointe Church of Haverhill, MA, will host a “Harvest
Hayride and Apple Picking” on Saturday, October 25, beginning at 2
p.m. The afternoon of activities, which includes a pizza lunch, will
be held at Smolak Farms in North Andover, MA. Click here
()
to view a flyer for information, or call the church at (978) 372-9227.

Armenian Church of Jacksonville | Jacksonville, FL
The mission parish of Jacksonville, FL, will host a costume party for
kids on Saturday, October 25. Click here
()
to view a flyer for information.

St. Thomas Church | Tenafly, NJ
The Cultural Committee of St. Thomas Church of Tenafly, NJ, and the
TCA Mher Megerdchian Theatrical Group will present a concert by the
Huyser Music Ensemble
()
on Saturday, October 25. The ensemble will give an encore performance
of its “CLASH-Reloaded” program, featuring violinist Diana Vasilyan
and percussionist Raffi Massoyan. For ticket information and
reservations, contact Marie Zokian at (201) 745-8850, or Talar
Sesetyan Sarafian at (201) 240-8541.

On Sunday, October 26, the Cultural Committee of St. Thomas Church and
Tekeyan Cultural Association will host `Armenian Antiques and
Artifacts: A Presentation and Appraisals by Krikor Markarian.’ The
event will begin at 1:30 p.m. Parishioners are invited to bring their
antiques for appraisals. For information, call Maral Kalishian at
(845) 729-1888 or Talar Sarafian at (201) 444-2478.

On Saturday, November 1, St. Thomas Church will host `Taline and
Friends Spooktacular Halloween’ for children. Two shows will be held
at 2 p.m. (preceded by lunch at 1 p.m.) and 4 p.m. (followed by dinner
at 5:30 p.m.). For tickets and information, contact the church office
at (201) 567-5446, Martha at (201) 568-5315, Maral at (845) 729-1888,
Talar at (201) 240-8541, or via e-mail at [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]) .

St. Peter Church | Watervliet, NY
St. Peter Church of Watervliet, NY, will take part in Albany’s
“Festival of Nations” at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center on
Sunday, October 26. The parish’s Renee Dearstyne will compete for the
title of `Miss Festival of Nations.’ Click here
()
for more information.

Holy Cross Church | Union City, NJ
Holy Cross Church of Union City, NJ, will host its annual bazaar and
food festival on Saturday, November 1. The day will begin with a
Children’s Halloween Party at 5 p.m, followed by dinner service at 6
p.m. Enjoy khavourma, keshkeg soup, kufteh, luleh kebob, cheese boreg,
yalanchi dolma, and desserts. The day will also feature a raffle, a
performance by the Antranig Dance Ensemble, and music by DJ
BERJ. Click here
()
to view a flyer for information, or contact the church office at (201)
864-2480, or via e-mail at [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]) .

St. Leon Church | Fair Lawn, NJ
St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn, NJ, will host an illustrated
presentation by Professor Richard Hovannisian on Thursday, October 30,
beginning at 7:45 p.m. Professor Hovannisian will speak about the
historic Armenian city of Kesaria and the Armenian communities near
Constantinople prior to the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The event is
free and open to the public. Click here
()
to view a flyer for information.

Sts. Vartanantz Church | Chelmsford, MA
On Friday, November 7, Sts. Vartanantz Church of Chelmsford, MA, will
host a lecture titled “What You Should Know About the Divine Liturgy”
by the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findkyan, professor of Liturgical Studies
at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary and director of the Diocese’s Krikor
and Clara Zohrab Information Center. The evening begins with dinner at
6:30 p.m. Click here
()
to view a flyer for information.

On Sunday, November 9, Sts. Vartanantz Church will present an
Instructed Divine Liturgy-a unique educational opportunity for
parishioners to experience the badarak with a live, step-by-step
commentary. The service will begin at 10 a.m.

** YOUTH NEWS
————————————————————
ACYOA

** Register for ACYOA Seniors Leadership Conference
————————————————————
The ACYOA Central Council will sponsor a Leadership Conference the
weekend of November 14-16 at the Don Bosco Retreat Center in Stony
Point, NY. The conference will give young people the opportunity to
strengthen their leadership skills while exploring the topic `Know
Thyself: Responding to Life’s Challenges.’ The Very Rev. Fr. Daniel
Findikyan will serve as conference chaplain.

Young people ages 18 and older are encouraged to participate. The
ACYOA Central Council will cover all costs related to lodging and
meals. Click on the following links to view a flyer
()
and to register online
()
.

For more information, contact Jennifer Morris, the Diocese’s director
of Youth and Young Adults Ministries, at [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]) , or Lorie Odabashian, the
department’s coordinator, at [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]) .

** EVENTS
————————————————————
Boston Faneuil Hall

** Talk on Media Freedom Tonight in Boston
————————————————————
This evening at 7:30, Boston’s Armenian Heritage Park will sponsor a
discussion titled `Truth to Action: Media Freedom’ as part of it
s Najarian Lecture on Human Rights series.

Tonight’s panelists-journalists Ray Suarez, Stephen Kurkjian, and
Thomas Mucha-will discuss the importance of freedom of speech and the
protection of this fundamental human right across the world.

The event will be held at Faneuil Hall. Click here
()
for information.

Merdinian
Violinist Sami Merdinian will give a concert on October 24.

** A Concert at St. Vartan Cathedral
————————————————————
St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral will host a concert by violinist Sami
Merdinian on Friday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m. He will be accompanied by
pianist Riko Higuma.

The program will include music by Khachaturian, Komitas, Tartini,
Saint-Saëns, and Beethoven. Tickets are $20 for adults, and $10 for
students and seniors. Click here
()
to view a flyer for information, or call (212) 686-0170.

Ararat Center

** Ararat Center Boston Harbor Cruise
————————————————————
The Ararat Center will host a Boston Harbor cruise on Saturday,
October 25, beginning at 7 p.m.

Guests will enjoy dinner, dancing, and a silent auction aboard the
Odyssey. Proceeds help benefit the Ararat Center, the Diocese’s
conference and recreation facility in upstate New York.

Click here
()
to view a flyer for ticket information.

From: Baghdasarian