Author: Hambardsumian Paul

St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church of Hartford and New Britain celebrated their 90th Anniversary this past Sunday November 15th. This is the second oldest Armenian Church in the United States,  according to .

In celebration of this event, His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan Primate of the Eastern Prelacy, and His Grace Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General celebrated the Ancient Mass of the Armenian Church. Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity in the year 301A.D.

The Mass was followed by a banquet at the Farmington Club with a large number of members in attendance. A Proclamation was read from Governor Dannel Malloy as well as a citation from Sixth District Senator Terry Gerrantana.

The Archbishop and Bishop welcomed the new Godparents of the church, Mr. and Mrs. Garabed Tovmassian of Worcester, MA.

St Stephen’s Church was dedicated in 1926, however it fell into foreclosure during the great depression. Four men stepped forward, pledging their personal assets to save the Church. In honor of these men His Eminence, the Archbishop presented awards to their descendants who were in attendance. Susan Kochunas received an award as the daughter of Karekin Kevorkian, Godfather of the Church, who named it after the church he left in Cyprus, before coming to America. Lucy Horenian received the citation for her father Mr Avedis Atashian. The other two men were Mr Amrah Bayram and Mr Harry Parparian.

Following the citations, children of the church presented a gift to the Pastor, Archpriest Aram Stepanian to be given to the orphaned children of Armenia.

Conan O’Brien‘s “Conan in Armenia” episode of his TBS talk show is air on Tuesday.

In a new sneak peek of the episode released Monday, the host herds sheep, learns a new language and lands a role on an Armenian talk show. He also visits a memorial with his assistant, Sona Movsesian, who is of Armenian descent and has never visited the country.

“I think it’s every boss’s responsibility to take their assistant back to their ancestral land,” Conan said when the episode was announced. “That’s why I’m going to make sure my next assistant was born in a five-star resort in Tuscany.”

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian has issued a statement on the terrorist attacks in France.

“Armenia stands by France. We strongly condemn the barbaric terrorist attacks in Paris. We express our condolences and support to the friendly people of France. The fight against terror is the fight of the whole civilized world.”

An Armenian civilian was repatriated today in an operation carried out under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Communication Programs Director of the ICRC Yerevan Office Zara Amatuni confirmed the news to

The woman had crossed the international border into Azerbaijan on 8 November 2015. Today’s handover took place on the road between the Azerbaijani town of Gazakh and the Armenian town of Ijevan, at the international border.

Acting as a neutral intermediary and in accordance with its mandate, the ICRC facilitated this repatriation in conjunction with the Azerbaijani and Armenian authorities. The individual in question had previously confirmed to ICRC staff that she was returning of her own free will. ICRC representatives were also in contact with her family prior to the operation.

On the basis of its mandate under the Geneva Conventions, the ICRC has been working in the region since 19n92 in connectio with the Nagorny Karabakh conflict.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Ministry of Finance of Armenia and the Municipality of Yerevan city have signed an agreement to allocate a co-financing grant of €1.9 million to support the modernisation of street lighting in the city of Yerevan.

The grant is provided by the E5P fund (Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership) which is managed by the EBRD and pools donor contributions from the European Union and a number of donor countries including Armenia.

In May 2015, the loan to modernise Yerevan’s street lighting system by introducing new energy-efficient technologies that will benefit the city’s residents. The grant will now help to make the lighting more efficient and environmentally friendly.

The current street lighting network of Yerevan consists of old, inefficient and environmentally polluting mercury-based lights. The heavy-metal based content of the current lighting system contributes to energy waste and is a considerable environmental hazard. Due to the antiquated condition of the current system and the high percentage of lights that are not working, large parts of the city are not sufficiently illuminated.

The project will help to introduce new energy-efficient LED lighting, a control and monitoring system, pole replacement and renovation as well as power cable replacement. This will result in better service quality and improved environmental standards due to reduced energy consumption and the minimisation of operating and maintenance costs.

Better-lit streets will also be safer for pedestrians and motorists alike. The new LED lighting is expected to cut the cost of energy consumption by 64 per cent and will result in annual electricity cost savings for the municipality.

Mark Davis, Head of the EBRD’s Yerevan office, said: “We are very grateful to our donors, especially to the European Union and Sweden, as well as the government of Armenia and the municipality for such a successful cooperation. The grant is a very important contribution by the E5P fund. It will complement the EBRD’s initial financing and ensure the successful continuation and completion of the project. This is the first project for E5P in Armenia that sets a standard and an example which we hope to implement again in future projects in solid waste management or energy efficiency with the help of E5P grants.”

On September 28, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; consecrated two Khachqars (Cross-stones) that are replications of originals from the Monastery of St. Davit of Derjan in Aparan Western, Armenia. They were installed on the grounds of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin several days prior to the consecration.

The two khachqars have been installed through the initiative and blessings of His Holiness and by the generous sponsorship of Mr. and Mrs. Hagop and Mrs. Donna Didzyan.

Before the consecration service, His Grace Bishop Mushegh Babayan, Director of Operations of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin addressed the crowd. His Grace stated in part, that it is a remarkable and extraordinary day. Reflecting on the cherished year of 2015 for the Armenian people, His Grace stressed that this year was discerned with the canonization of the ArmenianGenocide victims. The consecration of the Khachqars on the Grounds of the Mother See dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide, was an opportunity to extend our prayers to Heaven for the intercession of the saints who tasted the sweet yoke of martyrdom.

His Grace also added that it was a great joy to see all the guests gathered at the consecration of the Khachqars as a divine and sacred reality. In His remarks His Grace stated that it was an important achievement of the Catholicos of All Armenians to consecrate the two glorious Khachqars, which are also immeasurable in their spiritual meaning, using the newly blessed “Victory” Holy Muron for the first time. “These two Khachqars have been installed to represent the thousands which no longer exist and the Armenians who have kneeled at them and extended their prayers to Almighty God” he noted in his remarks.

Mr. Hagop Didizyan, the benefactor of the Khachqars, made brief remarks. He recalled the long journey, which the two stones had taken. He also expressed his gratitude to the sculptors and architects who endeavored over 9 months and carved the sanctities. He also expressed confidence, that the newly erected Khachqars will reveal to the coming generations the glorious culture of the Armenian people, as well as the eternal memory of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide, exemplifying the current rebirth of the Armenian people.

After the remarks a veil covering the soaring Khachqars was removed by Mr. and Mrs Didizian and the Catholicos of All Armenians consecrated the uniquely designed Khachqars.

Following the service a special reception was held during which His Holiness Karekin II once again extended His blessings to the Didizian family. Mr. and Mrs. Hagop and Donna Didizian were granted the Order of “St. Gregory the Illuminator” for their beneficial and church-devoted endeavors, by His Holiness Karekin II.

President Serzh Sargsyan, who has arrived in the United States of America to take part in the 70th session of the UN General Assembly, participated in the UN Summit on Peacekeeping Operations on 28 September in New York, where he made an address.

Statement by the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan at the UN Peacekeeping summit

Dear Colleagues,

I thank President Obama for the initiative of this summit, which is of pivotal importance from the international security perspective.

Despite the immense efforts directed by the international community toward prevention of conflicts and their peaceful resolution, peace and security remain fragile and vulnerable.

I am glad to note that despite the present tensions on our borders, Armenia’s engagement in the area of international peacekeeping has gradually expanded both geography-, and quantity-, and quality-wise. Currently Armenia is already an active contributor to the international peace and security, and in the course of the preceding decade it accumulated considerable experience.

Since 2004 Armenian peacekeepers joined the operation in Kosovo, and later the same year – the one in Iraq. Since 2010 we have taken part in the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Since 2015 we have partaken in the Resolute Support Mission in that very country, and, as we have declared on numerous other occasions, we will stand there with our international partners until that mission is accomplished.

Last year we expanded our engagement with peacekeeping missions. Now we are also present in the UNIFIL mission that is stationed in Lebanon. Moreover, this July Armenia launched its participation in the MINUSMA peacekeeping mission in Mali. And, most recently, we have undertaken new commitments to develop appropriate skills to be provided in the course of our future participation in the UN peacekeeping operations such as a Role II medical hospital and training of associated personnel, as well as training of a company of EOD/C-IED (Explosive Ordnance Disposal & Counter-Improvised Explosive Device) soldiers.

The U.S., Greece, Germany, as well as NATO structures and other member States have played pivotal role in the establishment and development of the Armenian peacekeeping capabilities, and I extend our special gratitude to them upon it.

Preservation of international peace and security is a primary responsibility for all, both great and smaller States, and peacekeeping is a major conduit to achieve that objective. Today we still need to take additional collective measures for its further consolidation. It is obvious that a peaceful and safe world may be secured solely by comprehensive, joint and careful measures to be taken.

I thank you.

Some of the top chess masters in Canada will compete in Toronto during a memorial tournament held in honour of the victims of the Armenian genocide, reports.

The “Chess to Remember,” hosted in Toronto on Sunday, is meant to raise awareness of the death of 1.5 Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman government.

It’s being held as part of the commemoration of the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide, which began on April 24, 1915.

More than 80 participants have registered to take part in the event, including a grand chess master, four international masters and two women international masters. An additional five FIDE (World Chess Federation) masters and seven national masters will be in attendance.

The event will be broadcast .

The tournament takes place at the Toronto Armenian Community Centre. A total of $2,500 is up for grabs in prizes, trophies and medals.