Author: Emil Lazarian

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

November 30, 2006

YOUTH GATHERING WITH CATHOLICOS THIS WEEKEND
This weekend, December 2 and 3, is the youth gathering with His Holiness
Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, in Dearborn, Michigan. His
Holiness is on a short visit to the United States where he has been invited
to deliver the keynote address at a conference on "Faith and Healing" at
Notre Dame University on Tuesday, December 5. On Wednesday, December 6, the
Catholicos will be awarded the 2006 Pax Christi Award by St. John’s Abbey
and University in Collegeville, Minnesota. In a press release issued by the
University, the Catholicos was praised for "his leadership in opening the
manuscript collection of the Catholicosate to the Hill Museum and Manuscript
Library," and "his leadership in ecumenism." To read the press release
issued by the University click
tm.
Archbishop Oshagan left New York this morning and will greet the
Catholicos who is scheduled to arrive in Michigan tomorrow. The Prelacy’s
vicar, Bishop Anoushavan, will travel to Michigan tomorrow to participate in
the various events, and Deacon Shant Kazanjian, director of the Armenian
Religious Education Council (AREC) will travel to Michigan on Saturday.

PRELATE AND VICAR EXTEND CONDOLENCES
IN ASSASSINATION OF PIERRE GEMAYEL
Tuesday morning, November 28, Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan
visited the offices of the Consul General of Lebanon in New York City, where
they expressed their condolences following the assassination of Pierre
Gemayel. The 34-year-old Gemayel served in the Lebanese Parliament and was
Minister of Industy, and a member of one of Lebanon’s most prominent
Christian political dynasties. The Prelate and Vicar met with the Consul
General, Mohamed El-Harake, and expressed sympathy on behalf of the Eastern
Prelacy.

REQUIEM SERVICE THIS SUNDAY FOR
ARCHBISHOP MESROB ASHJIAN
The third anniversary of the passing of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, who
served as Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy from 1978 to 1998, will be
commemorated with a solemn requiem service, immediately following the Divine
Liturgy, at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City,
this Sunday, December 3. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral,
will officiate. The faithful are invited to attend the service in
remembrance of the late Archbishop and his extraordinary service to the
Armenian Church in the Diaspora and Armenia.
Copies of Living Faith: The Life and Service of Archbishop Mesrob
Ashjian, a beautiful tribute to Archbishop Mesrob, published by the Prelacy,
are available. For information contact [email protected] or
212-689-7810.

SPIRITUAL HEADS OF MIDDLE EAST ORIENTAL ORTHODOX
CHURCHES MEET IN EGYPT
Two of the three leaders of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle
East met at the Coptic Patriarchate in Cairo, Egypt, on November 22-24. The
summit brought together Patriarchs Shnouda III, head of the Syrian Orthodox
Church, and Zakka I, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Catholicos Aram I,
head of the Cilician See of the Armenian Church, cancelled his scheduled
trip to Egypt because of the assassination of Pierre Gemayel, Industry
Minister of Lebanon. However, the Coptic and Syrian Patriarchs remained in
constant contact with Catholicos Aram throughout the meeting, consulting him
on various issues related to the agenda.

BIBLE STUDY AT PRELACY CONTINUES
The eight-session course on the Letter to the Hebrews continues this
Monday, December 4, at the Prelacy from 7:15 pm to 8:45 pm. The group meets
on the first and third Mondays of the month. Sponsored by the Prelacy’s
Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the course is led by Deacon
Shant Kazanjian.

50th ANNIVERSARY OF REV. FR. MOUSHEGH DER KALOUSTIAN
WILL BE CELEBRATED ON DECEMBER 17
On Sunday, December 17, the 50th anniversary of the ordination of Rev.
Fr. Moushegh Der Kaloustian will be commemorated at the Terrace on the Park
in Flushing Meadows, New York. Prior to the luncheon commemoration, Der
Moushegh will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in
New York City, where he served for many years. For reservations and/or
information about this event contact the Prelacy at 212-689-7810.
As we reported in the last issue of Crossroads, Archbishop Oshagan
attended the 50th anniversary of the ordination of Rev. Fr. Gorun Shrikian
in Dearborn, Michigan, on November 19, and Rev. Fr. Torkom Hagopian’s golden
anniversary was celebrated at St. Stephen Church in Watertown,
Massachusetts, in June. The next issue of Outreach (January/February) will
highlight these events honoring the three clergymen who this year marked
their 50 years of service to the Armenian Church.

PROGRAMS OF INTEREST ON TELEVISION
Two interesting television programs you may want to watch this month.
One, which we told you about several weeks ago, is "The Spear of Christ," a
one-hour documentary on the History Channel’s "Decoding the Past" series
scheduled for Thursday, December 21, at 9 pm (check your local listings).
Armenia is one of the places visited for this documentary.
"Picturing Mary," is a production of New York’s PBS station, Channel 13
and will be distributed this month nationwide to public television stations.
Check your local listings. "Picturing Mary" is a one-hour program that takes
viewers on an artistic journey through history from the earliest times to
the present day, offering viewers a visually stunning array of art from
twelve locations in eight different countries, representing various faiths
and traditions of how the image of the Blessed Mother has provided a global
mother-figure.

SAINTS THADDEUS AND BARTHOLOMEW
This Saturday, December 2, the Armenian Church remembers Saints Thaddeus
and Bartholomew, two of the twelve apostles who were the first evangelizers
of Armenia, and were martyred there, giving the Armenian Church its
apostolic identity and earning them the title, "First Enlighteners of
Armenia." Thaddeus came to Armenia about 43 AD to preach Christianity. He
was martyred in southeastern Armenia. His tomb lies in the Armenian
monastery of St. Thaddeus (now Iran) where a chapel was built in the third
century. Bartholomew is believed to have arrived in Armenia about 66 AD. He
was martyred in Hadamakert, southeast of Lake Van.

REMEMBERING KING APKAR
On Tuesday, December 5, the Armenian Church remembers King Apkar, who
according to tradition was afflicted with a skin ailment. The King wrote a
letter to Christ asking for His assistance. Christ replied by sending a
cloth with His image and the promise to send one of His apostles. St.
Thaddeus was sent and subsequently the King had a miraculous recovery. King
Apkar and his family accepted Christianity and the King wrote to other
leaders (including his cousin King Sanadrook of Armenia) to accept
Christianity.

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
This Sunday, December 3, is the second Sunday of Advent. Advent is a
season of waiting for the coming of Christ, which gives us reason to live in
hope regardless of the many challenges and vicissitudes facing us on many
fronts. John the Baptist is the great Advent figure (read Matthew, Chapter
3; and Luke, Chapter 3).
And remember that this time of the year can be lonely and sad for many
people. Reach out with a visit, a note, or a telephone call to an elderly
person who lives alone, or someone who is ill, or someone who recently lost
a loved one.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

December 2-3-Gathering of the Youth with Catholicos Aram I, Hyatt Regency,
Dearborn, Michigan. For details click

December 3-Requiem service in memory of His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob
Ashjian on the third anniversary of his passing, St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian will
preside.

December 9-Men’s Club Steak Dinner, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

December 10-52nd anniversary of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church,
Granite City, Illinois.

December 10-General Membership meeting and elections of auditing and
nominating committees, St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York.

December 10-Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church, Troy, New York, Archbishop
Oshagan will preside over the Divine Liturgy.

December 13-Thanksgiving Luncheon with the local NYPD and Fire Fighters, St.
Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York.

December 16-"A Celebration of Service" in honor of past chairmen and board
of trustees members. Under auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, St.
Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York, 8 pm. For information and
reservations 718-224-2275.

December 16-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Men’s Club and
Ladies’ Guild Christmas Party and Dinner Dance, 7 pm, $40 per person.
Reservations a must. For information: 201-943-4056 (Kiledjian); 201-461-4283
(Mirakian).

December 17-50th anniversary celebration of the ordination of Archpriest Fr.
Moushegh Der Kaloustian, sponsored by the Prelacy Religious Council, at
Terrace on the Park, Flushing Meadows, New York. Der Moushegh will celebrate
the Divine Liturgy at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral (221 E. 27th Street, New
York City) on Sunday morning.

December 24-Sunday School Christmas Pageant, St. Gregory the Illuminator
Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

December 31-New Year’s Eve Dinner-Dance, Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
New Jersey and ARF Dro Gomideh, Parsippany Hilton, New Jersey. Featuring
Arthur Apkarian and Armenia Band. For full information contact the church
office 201-943-2950.

December 31-New Year’s Eve Party, St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston,
New York.

January 6-St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
first Episcopal Badarak in Philadelphia by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian.

January 6-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Christmas party and
special program for Saturday and Sunday school students.

January 28-Annual Membership Meeting, Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda,
Maryland, at 1 pm.

February 4-St. Sarkis name day, celebrating the patron saint of the church
and requiem service for Archpriest Rev. Fr. Asoghik Kelejian, St. Sarkis
Church, Douglaston, New York.

February 11-General Membership meeting and elections, St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York.

February 17-St. Gregory Church, North Andover, Massachusetts, Annual
Membership Meeting.

February 18-Poon Paregentan, Eve of Great Lent, International Cuisine Night,
St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN 2007 NOT BAD AS IN 2003

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 29 2006

The Public Channel of Armenia was criticized by the international
observers for reporting the presidential election. The evaluation of
the international observers changed after the parliamentary election
in 2003. On November 29 at the Friday Club the chair of the Public
Television and Radio Alexan Harutiunyan said they are preparing
for the parliamentary election and will offer a coverage which will
comply with the law and the evaluation will be the same as in the
parliamentary election in 2003.

Alexan Harutiunyan agreed with the journalists that there are few
political shows on the Public Channel. The chair of the Public
Television and Radio said as the election is drawing nearer, the
number of political show will increase and there will be shows
which will appear every day. And soon in two weeks the viewers
can watch a new political talk show with a conventional title –
Europolis. The title was chosen for two reasons, the problems of
European integration will be discussed, and besides it is connected
with the recent past. Europolis is the name of the city we expected
the Europeans to build in Armenia after the earthquake in 1988,
reminds Alexan Harutiunyan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY DOES NOT TOLERATE TURKISH REPORTERS

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 29 2006

The Caucasian Center for Peace Building organized a dialogue between
the reporters of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Armenia in the framework of
the Alternative Start project. The project started on November 28,
and the Azerbaijani and Turkish reporters were supposed to meet
with the students of the Department of Journalism of Yerevan State
University. However, the meeting did not take place. It appears that
the leadership of alma mater is indignant with Turkish reporters. The
reason was that several years ago some Turkish reporters visited
Yerevan State University and made a "negative report" about the
university. The leadership of Yerevan State University did not
allow holding a meeting at the university. The organizers of the
Alternative Start are hopeful to win over the leadership of Yerevan
State University and hold the meeting of Turkish reporters and
Arrmenian students.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN WHAT CASES THE LAW PROVIDES FOR WIRETAPPING

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 29 2006

The Armenian government has drafted a bill on police investigations.

The minister of justice Davit Harutiunyan said one of the important
things about the bill is the provision on wiretapping. According to
Davit Harutiunyan, wiretapping is legal in two cases: crimes punished
by imprisonment for five years and up, and when it is impossible to
get information through other ways.

"It is natural that wiretapping must be sanctioned by the court, except
for serious threats, such as terrorism or attack on the nuclear plant,"
said the minister. However, even in these cases it will be necessary to
receive a sanction of court within 48 hours, added Davit Harutiunyan.

According to the bill, the National Security Service is entitled
to wiretapping, and the information is provided to the body which
carries out the investigation. Davit Harutiunyan said the bill has
mechanisms of control over wiretapping. For this reason, according
to the minister, a special section will be established within the
National Security Service, which will have certain independence.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MONUMENT UNVEILED IN ROME

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 29 2006

A memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey
has been unveiled in Rome in the yard of St. Nicholas Church.

During the ceremony representatives of the Armenian community of Italy
expressed their commitment to consistently fight for the international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide so that no such crimes recur in
the future.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NO PRINCIPAL AGREEMENT REACHED DURING YESTERDAY’S ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI HIGH-LEVEL NEGOTIATIONS

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 29 2006

No final agreement is reached around principal issues during
yesterday’s Minsk negotiations of the Presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan. As ArmInfo was told in the informed circles, despite this,
there is no categorical aversion of positions that could lead to the
negotiation process failure, and finding out of contact points in
the outlook is not ruled out. According to ArmInfo data, the OSCE
MG Cochairmen had expressed their expectations in the beginning of
the meeting of the Armenian and Azeri delegations in an enlarged
format. In their opinion, a progress in the evening-out of the sides’
disagreements with regard to the text of the document in circulation
is to be the primary task. They also wished to hear the position
of R. Kocharyan and I. Aliyev concerning their further steps in the
Karabakh conflict settlement.

As it became known, the sides expect a concretization of positions
during the next annual meeting of OSCE Foreign Ministers in Brussels
December 4-5, especially as there will be formulations in the political
statement of the meeting for the Karabakh issue as well. At the same
time, the Armenian side keeps on hoping that Azerbaijan will finally
recognize a lack of prospects and harmfulness of the attempts to
lead the negotiation process out of OSCE MG frames, particularly,
to make the conflict a subject of UN consideration. In view of this,
the Armenian officials have multiply talked of the huge differences
in the reasons of appearance of the so-called frozen conflicts.

The informed Armenian circles of the country are sure that, despite
the 2007-2008 election campaigns in both countries, the negotiation
process will continue, though there are no great expectations yet
about its results. It has also became known that the OSCE MG American
Cochairman, Mathew Bryza, had informed the negotiation participants,
at yesterday’s meeting in an enlarged format, of his recent meeting
with the President of NKR, Arkady Ghukassyan. M. Bryza has positively
assessed this meeting and noted he does not see any obstacles for
continuation of the negotiation process.

ILHAM ALIYEV: WE APPROACH LAST STAGE OF KARABAKH TALKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.11.2006 17:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "For three years already the talks in the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict have proceeded within the Prague Process that
included numerous meetings of Presidents and Foreign Ministers. We
have overcome certain stages and are approaching the last one," Azeri
President Ilham Aliyev told AzTV. In his words, all the questions were
considered during these three years and the positions of the states
have been completely formed. "Now we are at a stage when the future
of the negotiation process depends on us. From this standpoint I give
a positive estimation to the latest meeting. We held serious talks
and discussed vexed points. We coordinated the issues that were not
settled before but there certainly remain items on which our opinions
differ. However we discussed them as well. Azerbaijan’s position is
unchangeable. We stand for the settlement of the conflict within the
principle of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity," the Azeri President
said, reports Azeri Press.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

POPE ‘SURPRISED WHOLE WORLD’

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.11.2006 18:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Attention in mainly Muslim Turkey, though, was
focussed on surprise moves by Benedict on arrival on Tuesday: his
support for Ankara’s bid to join the European Union and praise for
the faith Muslims feel he had insulted in the past. His speech in
September that seemed to link Islam and violence – a link he denied
making – turned it into a symbolic visit to the Muslim world crucial
for the future of Vatican relations with Islam.

Some Turkish newspapers met with excitement the statements of the Pope
who encouraged Ankara’s aspiration to the EU. "This trip is important
for Turkey’s EU membership. This is a big warning for conservative
politicians who think the EU is a Christian club," reported Milliyet
daily. "It started beautifully: the Pope told the world from Ankara
that Islam was a religion of peace," said Hurriyet newspaper.

However, information agencies say there were no people in the streets
meeting the Pontiff, what proves the absence of interest of the
population to the Pope’s visit, reports the BBC Russian branch.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CAN FOREIGNERS IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION CAUSE INCONVENIENCE FOR THE NATIVE POPULATION?

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.11.2006 GMT+04:00

Can Russia maintain its relations with the few allies, or to be more
exact, with the few partners he has in CIS?

The murders based on national and racial discriminations, committed
during the last year in Russia, raised a very serious problem; will
Russia be able to maintain its relations with its few allies, or to be
more exact its few partners in CIS. First of all the matter concerns
Armenia, which, regardless the lofty words about "the centuries’
friendship", suffers the most from the Russian nationalism and
chauvinism.

And in spite of the soothing words from the Russian side, the situation
still becomes worse.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ With some unknown reasons, the 15 years old
Armenian boy was killed on the threshold of the international day of
tolerance. Does it mean, that killing a foreigner is still considered
a normal phenomenon, or if not a heroic act in Russia? After all,
it didn’t start only yesterday, but before the revolution of 1917,
when the slogan "Kill the Jews, save Russia" didn’t give rise to any
doubts. Today only the nationality can be changed in this slogan,
and it can be used without raising any indignation.

Separate opinions of writers or publicists, of course, do not count,
as the ideologists of "Russia for Russians" hardly ever read them.

If the Russian Federation doesn’t need allies in the Caucasus,
then this matter can at least be fixed without killing innocent
people. Or else Russia has got into the habit of spreading fear all
around, so that even today, in the XXI Century it hasn’t given up
its old methods. Organizing cultural events within the frames of the
Armenian Year in Russia is hardly timely in such conditions. Thereupon,
another question rises; how can a conscript, feeling hatred to the
representative of another nationality, be sent to serve in the 102
Russian Military Conscript Base? Who can guarantee, that none of the
soldiers will decide to open fire on the local population? Maybe, this
is a little exaggerated, but the Armenians have many times believed
in the "brotherhood with other nations", but today we must be ready
to everything.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, RA has appealed to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, with
the request of carrying out most operative investigation of the case
of the 15 years old Armenian citizen, murdered in Russia. According
to the acting press-secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs RA,
Vladimir Karapetyan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, RA is keeping
the eye on the situation and hopes that the murderers will be arrested
in the nearest future.

The RF Ministry of Internal Affairs, to our delight, responded at
once. "The RF Ministry of Foreign Affairs publicly condemns this
and other crimes, committed out of nationalism. We will press for a
detailed investigation and will do our best to bring the offenders to
account. Xenophobia is far uncharacteristic of our nation, and of the
basis of Orthodoxy and is widely condemned by Russia", the official
representative of the RF Ministry of Foreign Affairs Michael Kaminin
announced.

In contrast to the statement made by the RF Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, the Deputy Director of the Federal Migration Service
Vyachislav Postavnin announced that his country mustn’t tolerate
"ethnic enclaves" in its territory, where the foreigners "may cause
inconvenience for the native population". He thinks that the number
of the foreigners living in any part of Russia must not exceed the
17-20% of the population. "In case the number of the migrants exceeds
this limit, it may arise discomfort or dissatisfaction of the local
population", stated Postavnin in an interview with the Russian Office
of BBC.

Earlier, on the occasion of unprecedented political conflicts between
Moscow and Tbilisi and inter-ethnic disorders in different parts of the
country, President Vladimir Putin spoke about the need of "protecting
the native population". Only the whole trouble is that, it is hard to
define who is considered native population in a country, where there
are about 100 nations and national roots. We like to cite the USA as
an example regarding its attitude to the national minorities. In the
States they do not have this notion. They are all citizens of the
United States, and for calling somebody "Niger" or "Latino" one can
be seriously penalized. It is obvious that Russia is not America, but
in this case, one should not speak about democracy and human rights.

"PanARMENIAN.Net" analytical department

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES STATE BUDGET FOR 2007

Arka News Agency, Armenia –
Nov 29 2006

YEREVAN, November 29. /ARKA/. The Armenian parliament approved the
state budget for 2007 today. The parliamentary reporter says 77 MPs
voted for, three voted against, and six abstained from voting.

Presenting the final draft budget project for 2007, Minister of Finance
and Economy Vardan Khachatryan reported that the budget’s incomes
in the next year will total AMD 490.2bln compared to the planned AMD
489.5bln, and the expenditures AMD 558.7bln against AMD 557.9bln.

The minister said that the budget deficit will total AMD 68.47bln
(2.3% of the GDP), AMD 124mln increase compared to the first revision
of the state budget.

According to the state budget for 2007, the actual GDP growth will
amount to 9%, and the forecast inflation – 4%. ($1 – AMD 369.69).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress