Author: Kajoyan Gevork

NOAM CHOMSKY AMONG SPEAKERS AT MIT ARMENIAN PROGRESSIVE POLITICS FORUM

Friday, October 3rd, 2014

A scene from the discussion between Chomsky and Barsamian (Photo by
Aaron Spagnolo)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Armenian Weekly)–A distinguished line-up of speakers
from Armenia, Turkey, Europe, and the United States examined Turkey,
the media, Turkish-Armenian relations, and genocide reparations at
the Armenians and Progressive Politics (APP) conference held at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Sept. 26-27.

In the opening plenary on Sept. 26 in MIT’s Kresge Auditorium, APP
organizing committee member Khatchig Mouradian delivered welcoming
remarks and invited internationally renowned scholar, activist,
and public intellectual Noam Chomsky and Alternative Radio’s David
Barsamian to the podium. Chomsky and Barsamian discussed imperialism,
social movements such as the Gezi Park protests in Turkey, its
treatment of the Kurds, ISIS, the implications of the recent Scottish
referendum, “worthy” versus “unworthy” victims, and Turkish politics.

Panels on the media, Turkish-Armenian relations, reparations for the
Armenian Genocide, and a closing discussion took place the following
day, also at MIT.

How and why the mainstream media has created its narrative on Armenian
and Turkish issues was explored by Levon Chorbajian of UMass Lowell,
filmmaker Carla Garapedian, and journalist Aris Nalci from Istanbul,
and moderated by writer/activist Laura Boghosian. They looked at how
corporate and foreign policy considerations influence reporting on
Armenia and Turkey, particularly on the Armenian Genocide, which is
often framed as a controversy rather than a fact.

Examining Ben Bagdikian’s monumental work The Media Monopoly and
the book co-authored by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky titled
Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media,
Chorbajian explored the ways in which the media operates in the U.S.

and how that impacts their reporting on a number of foreign policy
issues, including the Armenian Genocide.

Garapedian argued that the formula “more media coverage leads to
justice,” does not hold. She highlighted cases over the past two
decades when the mainstream media covered the Armenian Genocide, and
then the news cycles moved on, and the coverage did not result in U.S.

recognition and justice.

The audience following the discussion (Photo by Aaron Spagnolo)

Nalci discussed the situation of the mainstream media in Turkey,
providing insight into the way the media operates through analysis and
several examples from recent years. Talking about the Turkish media’s
coverage of the Armenian Genocide, he argued that more coverage does
not necessarily mean better coverage, and predicted more of the same
as the centennial of the Genocide approached.

Prof. Bilgin Ayata traveled from Berlin, Germany, to join Peter
Balakian of Colgate University, Marc Mamigonian of the National
Association of Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), and the
University of Chicago’s Ronald Suny. The panel–moderated by
Mouradian– considered several aspects of Turkish-Armenian relations.

Ayata discussed Kurdish-Armenian relations in light of recent
developments. As power asymmetries and serious problems in discourse
marred Turkish-Kurdish and Turkish-Armenian relations, Ayata called
for a robust Kurdish-Armenian dialogue that confronts the past and
examines avenues of cooperation on the foundation of justice.

Mamigonian discussed how Armenian Genocide denial in recent years
has focused on “manufacturing doubt” rather than blatantly denying
the veracity of the genocide, as the latter approach has become
discredited.

Suny discussed the Workshop on Armenian and Turkish Scholarship (WATS)
conference series, a project that brings together Turkish, Armenian,
and other scholars to examine various aspects of the Armenian Genocide
and Turkish-Armenian relations.

Balakian spoke about the paranoid style in Turkish politics and
how that is reflected in the destruction and neglect of Armenian
cultural heritage and the obfuscation of the contributions of Armenian
architects over the centuries.

The second panel (Photo by Nanore Barsoumian)

Umit Kurt from the Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide
Studies at Clark University, attorney Edvin Minassian of the
Armenian Bar Association, and Thomas Samuelian, dean at the American
University of Armenia (AUA) in Yerevan, discussed the confiscation of
Armenian property during the Genocide and demands for reparations and
restitution for this crime against humanity. The panel was moderated
by Henry Theriault, professor and chair of the philosophy department
at Worcester State University.

Kurt presented an overview of the meticulous process through which
the Ottoman and then the Turkish state coded into law the complete
dispossession of the Ottoman-Armenian citizenry, making every effort
to seal every legal avenue within the Turkish justice system for
Armenians to reclaim what had been termed “abandoned properties.” Kurt
classified these legal maneuvers by the Kemalist government as phase
two of the genocide.

Samuelian and Minassian discussed legal channels and strategies
that might be pursued for reparations and restitution in Turkish and
international courts.

Samuelian stressed that Armenians must also pursue reparations claims
against all countries and entities that benefitted from the genocide
and continue to benefit today. He also argued that reparations should
not be tied to or come after genocide recognition–as they are two
separate processes that can run parallel. He also discussed the
significance of the church claims, as the Armenian church was the
biggest landowner.

Minassian focused on specific legal cases, such as the California
insurance case, and the complications resulting from the court
declaring that that the case could not proceed because the U.S.

government has not officially recognized the genocide.

To close the conference, Ayata, Samuelian, Garapedian, and ARF Eastern
Region central Committee co-chair Dr. Antranig Kasbarian discussed
the question, “Where do we go from here?” The discussion was moderated
by historian Dikran Kaligian, managing editor of the Armenian Review.

After brief presentations by panelists, Kaligian invited the audience
to share their proposals and ideas concerning the topics discussed
during the conference. The result was a lively discussion on a number
of subjects.

The conference was successful not simply for the ideas presented, but
for the wide range of active participation from scholars, journalists,
filmmakers, lawyers, and activists in the audience.

A video recording of the entire conference will be made available
online soon.

The conference was organized by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(ARF) Eastern Region USA, and co-sponsored by Alternative Radio,
and the MIT Armenian Society. For additional details, visit

GENOCIDE OF GREEKS COMMEMORATED

Neos Kosmos, The Greek Perspective, Australia
Oct 3 2014

We must continue seeking the recognition of genocides by all Australian
parliaments, says Professor Lygeros

“We won! We are here!

“We won against the plans of the genocidaires because we are here
and remind them of their crimes.”

This was the essence of the address by the keynote speaker, Professor
Nikos Lygeros, a research fellow at the University of Lyon, France,
to a well attended Commemoration of the Genocide of the Hellenes of
Pontos, Asia Minor and Thrace, held at New South Wales Parliament
House last week.

The commemoration was the result of the cooperation of a number of
organisations including the Order of AHEPA NSW and NZ (main sponsor
of Professor Lygeros’ visit), the ‘Pontoxeniteas’, ‘Panayia Soumela’
and ‘Diogenes’ Pontian associations of Sydney and Wollongong.

‘Unity is strength’ was another of the Commemoration’s main messages,
conveyed as much by the organisers as by the keynote speaker.

Professor Lygeros emphasised the significance of the unity of the
victims – be they Hellenes, Armenians, Assyrians or Jews. This was
underlined by the delegations of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies,
the Assyrian Universal Alliance, Sydney’s Armenian community and
others who lent their support for the Hellenic Genocide Commemoration
in their own ways.

“The purpose of the genocidaires is the extermination of the victims,
the cessation of the continuity of the Hellenes, the Armenians, the
Assyrians, the Jews and others,” continued Professor Lygeros. “To
deny to those yet unborn even the right to life. This is why we
must persist in demanding recognition of the genocides by all the
parliaments of Australia.”

Speaking about his visit to the Sydney Jewish Museum, Professor Lygeros
stressed the importance of such installations for the continuity of
historical memory, of the continuity of the peoples who have endured
genocide. He stated further that there must be created in Sydney a
similar museum for all genocides, so that we do not forget, so that
such events are not repeated.

The Master of Ceremonies, Dr Panayiotis Diamadis (state secretary
of the Order of AHEPA NSW and NZ and lecturer in genocide Studies,
University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) opened the commemoration with
a phrase from the 6th century BCE mathematician and philosopher
Pythagoras: ‘ÔÁÓ ËÅÙOÏÑÏÕÓ ÃŒC ÂÁÄEÆÅEÓ’ – Do not follow the
well-trodden path.

Those who attended last week’s commemoration did not follow the
well-trodden path. In their addresses, David Clarke MLC (Parliamentary
Secretary for Justice, Liberal Party) and the Rev. Fred Nile MLC
(Christian Democratic Party) related the threats, pressures and bribery
attempts they had been subjected to by Turkish authorities in Ankara
and Australia, and their local adjuncts. The two supporters of the
Australian Hellenic community, who played leading roles in the formal
recognition of the genocides of the Hellenes, Armenians and Assyrians
by the parliament of New South Wales in May 2013, re-emphasised the
significance of the unity of peoples against genocidaires, especially
today, when a new wave of genocidal action has been unleashed against
the indigenous Assyrians and the Armenians of Syria and Iraq.

Fred Nile told the assembly of his pride in having the framed
photographs of the Holy Monastery of Panayia Soumela Trapezountas in
his parliamentary office, gifts of the Pontian associations of New
South Wales at the 2013 Genocide Commemoration.

In his message to the commemorative event, Consul-General of Greece
in Sydney Dr Stavros Kyrimis stated that it is our obligation to
humanity to remind everyone of the values of Western civilisation:
acceptance of difference, human rights, democracy.

TIME FOR SANCTIONS ON BAKU

AzeriReport
Oct 3 2014

As the West has turned its attention to the Islamic State and
the Ukraine crisis, the government of President Ilham Aliyev has
expanded its crackdown on dissenting voices in Azerbaijan with
harassment, threats, beatings, and arrests. Even American citizens
and international NGOs have bet caught up in the widening net of
repression. These actions demand a response.

By David J. Kramer and Richard Kauzlarich, The American Interest

WASHINGTON, DC. October 3, 2014: For years, Belarus’s leader Alexander
Lukashenka has been called Europe’s last dictator, although Vladimir
Putin is giving Lukashenka a run for his money, amidst the worst
crackdown on human rights in Russia in decades. And now we might also
add another leader in the region to the list: President Ilham Aliyev
of Azerbaijan.

After an accelerating series of arrests, Aliyev’s government now
holds nearly 100 political prisoners, roughly double the number in
Belarus and Russia combined. Beyond the raw numbers, Azerbaijan’s
authorities are also getting more thuggish in their handling of
critics, journalists, and opposition figures–as well as Westerners.

Statements of concern and criticism from Western and international
officials and organizations have fallen on deaf ears in Baku. Even
President Obama’s recent criticism of Azerbaijan’s treatment of NGOs
made no impact. To the contrary, there are now credible reports that
the Azerbaijani authorities plan to arrest investigative journalist
Khadija Ismayilova when she returns to Baku from a trip abroad. The
best way to try to reverse this disturbing trend is to impose penalties
on the Aliyev regime for its outrageous treatment of its own people.

Among the most egregious abuses are the July 30 arrests of civil
society activists Leyla and Arif Yunus, accused of spying for Armenian
secret services–implausible charges linked to the decades-old dispute
over Nagorno-Karabakh. On August 20, journalist Ilgar Nasibov was
savagely beaten into a state of unconsciousness while he was in
the office of a rights organization in the Naxcivan region. Several
leading opposition figures–including Ilgar Mamedov of the opposition
movement REAL and Tofig Yakublu of Musavat–languish in prison on
unsubstantiated charges.

American citizens and organizations are not immune from Azerbaijan’s
heavy-handed intolerance of dissenting voices. Said Nuri, an American
citizen of Azerbaijani origin, was recently blocked for nearly a
week from leaving Baku, after visiting his ailing father. The local
offices of several American and international non-governmental
organizations have been raided and/or their bank accounts frozen,
and their employees harassed including IREX, the National Democratic
Institute, Transparency International, and Oxfam. Several grantees of
the National Endowment for Democracy have been arrested, and numerous
others have had their accounts frozen.

Azerbaijan’s smear campaign has included U.S. officials, too. Recently
departed U.S. Ambassador Richard Morningstar was subjected to various
personal attacks by Azerbaijani government representatives, including
the Chief of the Presidential Administration, Ramiz Mehdiyev. Senate
staffers during a visit to Baku earlier this year were called “dogs”
by a prosecutor and “spies” by a parliamentarian after meeting with
Khadija Ismayilova.

Any individual or organization that criticizes Aliyev or promotes
democracy is viewed as hostile. Mehdiyev has characterized independent
media as “anti-Azerbaijani forces” financed from abroad.

The Council of Europe’s human rights chief, Nils Muiznieks,
slammed the Azerbaijani government earlier this month for the
“totally unacceptable” human rights situation, which, he said,
“flies in the face of the human rights obligations undertaken by
Azerbaijan” as a member of the Council. In August, several UN human
rights envoys said they were “appalled” by the growing number of
abuses and arrests of rights activists “on the basis of trumped-up
charges.” The “criminalization of rights activists must stop,” they
declared, calling for the release of the Yunuses and others.

For years, Azerbaijan’s oil and gas reserves insulated the country
from exposure for its abysmal human rights record. The West’s attention
lately has been focused on the Russia-Ukraine crisis and the challenge
of the Islamic State, giving the Aliyev regime a sense that it can
get away with its crackdown. To be safe, at last month’s NATO summit
it offered to take part in investment and reconstruction projects in
Afghanistan, betting that contributions to the allied effort would
buy it a pass on its internal situation. Azerbaijan has also thrown
around lots of the money it has earned from energy exports to buy
influence and friends in the West.

Azerbaijani authorities often argue that they live in a tough
neighborhood–sandwiched between Russia and Iran and with an unresolved
conflict with Armenia–and that this should excuse them for their
behavior. Geopolitics, however, shouldn’t shield Azerbaijan from
criticism for treating its citizens and Western organizations as
criminals.

It’s time, therefore, for the United States to apply a law modeled
on the 2012 Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law and Accountability Act to
authorities in Baku. A number of Azerbaijani activists have called for
such measures. Given the reported assets the Aliyev family and its
circle hold overseas, freezing their assets and denying them access
and travel to the West might just do the trick. The State Department
should also issue a travel warning to American citizens alerting them
of the surveillance, harassment, and possible detention they might
face in Azerbaijan.

At a time when Vladimir Putin is continuing Russia’s aggression
against Ukraine, some will argue that, for geopolitical reasons,
this is not the time for the United States to get tough on Azerbaijan.

There is never a good time to take such steps, but the situation inside
Azerbaijan demands a response now. Further Western expressions of
“concern” or characterizations of the situation as “unacceptable”
would sound increasingly hollow. The Aliyev regime must understand
that there are consequences for its abuses. -0-

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:

October 2, 2014

The Armenian Prelacy =99¦ 138 East 39th Street =99¦ New York, NY
10016

tel: 212-689-7810 =99¦ Fax: 212-689-7168 =99¦ Email:
[email protected]

ORDINATIONS IN PROVIDENCE

By the Grace of God and in accordance with the sacred canons and rites
of the Armenian Church, Archbishop Oshagan will ordain and consecrate
two candidates to the holy order of the priesthood this weekend at
Sts. Vartanantz Church in Providence, Rhode Island.

Deacon Harold Nazarian, a member of Sts. Vartanantz Church
(Providence) and Deacon Diran Der Khosrofian, a member of
St. Asvadzadzin Church (Whitinsville), will be ordained in the
presence of family and friends in services that will take place over a
two-day period, Friday and Saturday, October 3 and 4. Bishop
Anoushavan, Vicar of the Prelacy, is the sponsoring priest and
presenter of the two candidates. Godfathers are Dr. Andre Markarian
and Mr. Ara Getzoyan. In addition to the Prelate and Vicar, ten
clergymen serving
the Eastern Prelacy will participate.

For more than two years both candidates followed a special program of
study developed by Archbishop Oshagan and the Religious Council. In
addition, they received regular individual instruction by Bishop
Anoushavan and other clergy and lay specialists. Early this year they
traveled to Lebanon where for a period of three months they received
further instruction and preparation.

The attendance and prayers of the faithful are welcomed on this joyous
occasion.

Click on the image below to listen to an interview with the two
candidates
as part of this week’s podcast by Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor
of St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York.

()

PONTIFICAL VISIT OF CATHOLICOS ARAM

TO EASTERN PRELACY ANNOUNCED

His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan and the Religious and Executive
Councils of the Eastern Prelacy are pleased to announce that His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of the Great House of
Cilicia, will visit the Eastern Prelacy in May 2015.

Originally planned to take place in October 2012, but postponed due to
the
civil strife in Syria, His Holiness, who will be traveling to the
United States in May for the joint commemoration of the centennial of
the Armenian Genocide in Washington, DC, will extend his stay to
fulfill the pontifical visit that had been scheduled more than two
years ago.

The visit will begin on May 15, 2015 and end on June 4, when His
Holiness will open the Eastern Prelacy’s National Representative
Assembly (NRA) in Watertown, Massachusetts, before returning to the
Holy See in Antelias.

Jack Mardoian, Esq., a member of All Saints Church in Glenview,
Illinois, and a former chairman of the Executive Council, is serving
as chairman of the National Steering Committee. Under the presidency
of Archbishop Oshagan,
the executive members of the steering committee are: His Grace Bishop
Anoushavan Tanielian, John Daghlian, Vazken Ghougassian, Tamar
Harutunian, Jack
Mardoian, Iris Papazian, and Kristen Santerian. The steering committee
will oversee the visit and will guide the work of a number of
sub-committees that have been formed, especially at a local parish
level. Read more about the pontifical visit here
().

CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA WILL PURSUE RETURN

OF HISTORIC ECCLESSIASTICAL CENTER OF SIS

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of the Great House of
Cilicia, recently announced that the Catholicosate will take legal
action to claim ownership of the historic headquarters of the
Catholicosate of Sis, the
seat of the Catholicos since 1293, in the capital city of the Armenian
Kingdom of Cilicia. The last Catholicos to occupy the throne in the
city of Sis was Catholicos Sahag II Khabayan, who was exiled in 1921
along with his people in the aftermath of the Genocide. After a period
of uncertainty and peregrination, Catholicos Sahag settled in
Antelias, Lebanon, the site of a Near East Relief orphanage.

In his announcement about the legal action at the recent
Armenia-Diaspora Conference, His Holiness said, `We cannot remain
indifferent towards the abuse of the rights of the Armenian
nation. Indifference amounts to the betrayal of the nation.’

His Holiness said that the Catholicosate has been working with a legal
team for two years to take the case to Turkey’s Constitutional Court,
and is also prepared to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights
if necessary. `This certainly does not mean that efforts on the
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide will be abandoned,
but recognition should provide for compensation,’ His Holiness said.

His Holiness expressed the confidence that the Armenian people will
support this legal initiative that will require significant commitment
and funding.

PRELATE AND VICAR IN NEW JERSEY

Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the Divine Liturgy at
Sts. Vartanantz
Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey, this Sunday, October 5. Following
the Liturgy, Bishop Anoushavan will make a presentation about
St. Ephrem the Syrian. The Vicar recently published two books devoted
to the Prayer of St. Ephrem, in separate Armenian and English
versions. Copies of the two books will be available for purchase.

Ephrem was a 4th century Syriac deacon and prolific hymnographer and
theologian. Many Christian denominations, including the Armenian
Church, venerate him as a saint. He wrote a wide variety of hymns,
poems, and sermons, as well as biblical exegesis. Although many of his
works survived, some were lost, and some exist only in other
languages, especially in Armenian.

MIDDLE EAST TOPIC OF DISCUSSION

Rev. Fr. Bedros Shetilian, pastor of St. Gregory Church, Indian
Orchard, Massachusetts and Holy Cross Church, Troy, New York, will
speak on the current Middle East Crisis and Its Affect on Middle East
Christians, on Wednesday, October 8 at 7 pm, at Delmar Presbyterian
Church, 585 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, New York. The event is sponsored
by St. George Orthodox Christian Church (Albany), Holy Cross Armenian
Apostolic Church (Troy), and Delmar Presbyterian Church. A native of
Aleppo, Syria, with family members still living there, Der Bedros will
speak about the current situation and also share personal experiences
as an Armenian Christian who grew up in Aleppo.

MUSICAL ARMENIA APPLICATIONS

The Musical Armenia committee is accepting applications from young
Armenian musicians who would like to be featured in a concert at
Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in New York City. Those interested
in applying should visit the Prelacy’s web site
() or click here
().

The Prelacy inaugurated the Musical Armenia series in 1982 in order to
promote the careers of talented young Armenian musicians from all over
the world. Since then, the annual concerts have remained faithful to
the objectives of the series. The 2015 concert will take place on
Friday, March 20. Applications should be sent no later than October
30, 2014.

ANEC DIRECTOR IN ARMENIA

Dr. Vartan Matiossian, Executive Director of the Armenian National
Education Committee, traveled to Armenia, where he will participate in
the workshop organized by the Society of Armenian Studies (SAS) to
mark the 40th anniversary of its founding on October 3-5, with the
participation of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences. The
workshop will bring together twenty scholars from abroad and twenty
from Armenia.

Dr. Matiossian will also participate in the 13th general conference of
the
International Association for Armenian Studies (AIEA) that will take
place
at the Matenadaran from October 9-11. He will present a paper entitled
=80=9C’Haiko’: The Last Unknown Participant in Talaat Pasha’s
Liquidation.’

BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for Sunday, October 5, Fourth Sunday of the Exaltation
of the Holy Cross are, Isaiah 17:7-14; 2 Corinthians 13:5-13; Mark
11:27-33.

Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the
chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him and said, `By
what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority
to do them?’ Jesus said to them, `I will ask you one question; answer
me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the
baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer
me.’ They argued with one another, `If we say, `From heaven,’ he will
say, `Why then did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, `Of human
origin’?-they were afraid
of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. So they
answered Jesus, `We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, `Neither
will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’ (Mark
11:27-33)

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

STS. SAHAG AND HAMAZASP, THE PRINCES

Today, Thursday, October 2, the Armenian Church commemorates the lives
of the brothers Sahag and Hamazasp Ardzroonik, who together with other
Armenian nobles revolted against Arab rule of Armenia in 786. When
captured they were given the choice of renouncing the Christian
religion or death. They refused and were tortured and put to death.

72 HOLY DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

This Saturday, October 5, the Armenian Church commemorates the 72 Holy
Disciples of Christ. The reference comes from the Gospel of Luke
(Chapter 10, Verse 1): `After this the Lord appointed seventy others
and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where
he himself intended to go.’ (Note: Some sources say 72 disciples;
others say 70). These disciples remained true to the Lord and their
calling, and spread the Gospel. They were not random choices, but
rather true disciples whose labors
carried the message of the Lord throughout the Roman Empire and
beyond. All of the saints are remembered individually in the
liturgical calendar of the church, but this day is set aside to
remember them collectively.

THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY

(Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee[ANEC])

The Council of Chalcedon and the Armenian Church by Karekin Sarkissian
was
written in 1959 as a thesis for the degree of B. Litt from the
University of Oxford. Since its original publication by S.P.C.K. in
England, it has been reprinted a number of times. This paperback
edition was published by the
Prelacy in 1975. The most recent reprint is Volume 7 in the `Karekin I
Series’-a long-term project of publishing all of the major writings of
His Holiness. The series is currently up to Volume 15, with several
more volumes to come.

Opening of the Council of Chalcedon (October 8, 451)

The fourth ecumenical council that convened in Chalcedon became a
turning point in the history of the Armenian Church, even though the
Armenian Church was not represented at Chalcedon.

The first ecumenical council at Nicea (325) determined that Jesus
Christ was God, `consubstantial’ with the Father. This meant that God
(Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) are `of one being’ in that the Son is
`born’ or `begotten’ `before all ages’ or `eternally of the Father’s
own being, from which the Spirit also eternally `proceeds.’ The
confession of Nicea, recited in every Holy Mass of the Armenian
Church, states: `We believe (…) in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of
God, begotten of God the Father, only-begotten, that is of the
substance of the Father (…) who for us men and for our salvation
came down from heaven, took body, became man, was born perfectly of
the holy Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit. By whom he took body, soul
and mind and everything that is in man, truly and not in semblance.’

This was reaffirmed at the first council of Constantinople (381) and
the council of Ephesus (431). One of the fathers of the Church, Cyril
of Alexandria (d. 444) taught that `There is only one nature (physis),
since it is the Incarnation, of God the Word,’ which was held as
orthodoxy.

In 446, an aged monk from Constantinople named Eutyches started
teaching a
subtle variation of this doctrine. His teachings were considered
heretical, but he was rehabilitated in a council marred with scandal,
held again at Ephesus (449) and supported by Byzantine emperor
Theodosius II (408-450) where he publicly professed that while Christ
had two natures before the incarnation, the two natures had merged to
form a single nature after the incarnation. Pope Leo I denounced the
council as a `synod of robbers’ and refused to accept its decisions.

The threat of a schism led the new Byzantine emperor, Marcian
(450-457), to hold a new council at Chalcedon (451) from October 8 –
November 1, 451, which condemned the work of the council of 449 and
professed the doctrine of the incarnation presented in Leo’s Tome, a
document prepared by the Pope, which confessed that Christ had two
natures, and was not of
or from two natures. A special committee appointed by the Council
decided unanimously in favor of the orthodoxy of Leo’s Tome, and
determined
that it was compatible with the teachings of Cyril of Alexandria. The
confession of Chalcedon stated: `We, then, following the holy Fathers,
all with one consent, teach people to confess (…) one and the same
Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures,
inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably.’

The formula on the nature of Christ adopted by the Council of
Chalcedon was severely criticized by various Oriental sees. Many local
councils rejected that doctrine. Resistance reached the point that
Byzantine emperor Zeno I
(474-491) issued a document called Henotikon in 482, which considered
the doctrinal resolutions of the first three councils (Nicea,
Constantinople, and Ephesus), while the Council of Chalcedon and Leo’s
Tome were not
mentioned at all.

At the time of the Council of Chalcedon, Armenia was in crisis. A few
months before, in May 451, the battle of Avarair had been fought, and
the Armenian Church was in no position to have its say on the
issue. The situation changed after the Treaty of Nvarsak (484), when
the situation stabilized with Persian Armenia under the government of
Vahan Mamikonian. The Armenian Church adopted the doctrine of the
Henotikon, and this position was officially confirmed by the Council
of Dvin (506).

The followers of the Council of Chalcedon have frequently accused the
Armenian Church of monophysitism, but this is not true: the Armenian
Church follows the doctrine of Cyril of Alexandria established at the
third ecumenical Council of Ephesus (431) that reaffirmed the
decisions of the Councils of
Nicea and Ephesus.

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 crises in Syria, including the recent upheaval in Kessab, require
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

FROM THE BOOKSTORE

The Prelacy Bookstore has an extensive collection of books (in
Armenian and English) about the Genocide, including histories,
historical novels, memoirs, eye witness testimonies, essays, and
poetry. From now through next April we will feature one or two books
each week from the Bookstore’s collection.

The Tragedy of Bitlis

By Grace H. Knapp

The Tragedy of Bitlis (originally published in 1919) is one of the few
English language primary accounts of the Armenian Genocide in
Bitlis. This is another disturbing account of the systematic
murder. It is relatively unknown and deserves more attention.

Soft cover, $20.00 plus shipping & handling

>From Istanbul to Aghtamar:

An Armenian Pilgrimage

By Hagop Nersoyan

This travelogue is a well-written account of a trip that took the
author from Istanbul to the island of Aghtamar in a time when such a
trip was not common. It is filled with insights and valuable
information about the history of the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul
and the Armenians of Turkey, particularly in the 20th century.

Soft cover, $10.00 plus shipping & handling

To order these or other books contact the Prelacy Bookstore by phone
(212-689-7810) or email ([email protected]).

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

October 2-St. Gregory Church, North Andover, Massachusetts, Avak
Luncheon at noon at Jaffarian Hall. Presentation by Charlie Larkin
(mother is Goshgarian), who will discuss the growing number of young
professionals and how they are building our Armenian communities
throughout the world. Owner of Johnny Appleseed Models, a startup firm
manufacturing products for scale modelers, and teacher of driver’s
education.

October 3-St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York, Saturday
School Dinner Dance Gala.

October 3 & 4-Ordination to the Priesthood of Deacon Diran Der
Khosrofian and Deacon Harold Nazarian, at Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Providence, Rhode Island, by His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan. Banquet
to immediately follow at the Providence Marriott Hotel. Please contact
the Church Office at 401-831-6399 for reservations/information.

October 11-Armenian Friends of America presents Kef 5, 7:30-12:30,
Michael’s Function Hall, 12 Alpha Street, Haverhill,
Massachusetts. Tickets $50; students 21 and under, $40. Proceeds will
benefit Armenian churches of Merrimack Valley. Individually served
mezza platters and pastries; musicians, Mal Barsamian (clarinet), John
Berberian (oud), Bob Raphaelian (violin), Bruce Jigarjian (guitar),
Jason Naroian (dumbeg & vocals). Advance ticket sales only. John
Arzigian, 603-560-3826; Lucy Sirmaian, 978-683-9121; Peter Gulezian,
978-375-1616, Sandy Boroyan, 978-251-8687.

October 12-15-Prelacy Clergy Gathering for Reflection and Renewal at
St. Mary of Providence Retreat Center, Elverson, Pennsylvania.

October 18-Annual Armenian Bazaar, St. Gregory Church, 135 Goodwin
Street, Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, 10 am to 7 pm. Favorite
Armenian dinners including shish, losh, and chicken kebab and rice
pilaf; stuffed grape leaves, cheese and spinach pie, pickled
vegetables; traditional Armenian and American baked goods;
raffle. Take-out available. For information: (413) 543-4763.

October 19-St. Stephen’s Church, New Britain, Connecticut,
His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan will ordain Ara Stepanian as Deacon
during
the Divine Liturgy and preside over the parish’s 89th Annual
Banquet.

October 26-Celebration of 80th anniversary of Armenian Weekly and
115th anniversary of Hairenik, at home of Carmen and Avo Barmakian, 58
Matthew Lane, Waltham, Massachusetts. Keynote speaker, Professor
Richard G. Hovannisian, professor of Armenian and Near Eastern History
at UCLA. Reservations by October 18, Heather Krafian, 617-932-1965.

November 2-All Saints Church, Glenview, Illinois, 71st Anniversary
under auspices of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, following the Divine
Liturgy, at Shahnasarian Hall, 1701 N. Greenwood, Glenview, Illinois.

November 7-8-9-Rouben Mamoulian Film Festival, 7 pm, at the Museum
of the Moving Image in Astoria, New York. Sponsored by the
Anthropology Museum of the People of New York, the Armenian Cultural
Educational Resource Center Gallery at Queens College, and The Museum
of the Moving Image. Opening night and reception will feature Love Me
Tonight, the 1932 musical comedy film produced and directed by
Mamoulian, with music by Rodgers and Hart, starring Jeanette MacDonald
and Maurice Chevalier. For tickets and information:
[email protected] or 718-428-5650.

November 7 & 8-St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 58th
Armenian Bazaar, 10 am to 9:30 pm at Armenian Cultural & Educational
Center, 47 Nichols Avenue, Watertown, Massachusetts. Meals served from
11:30 am to 8:30 pm (take out is available). Enjoy delicious meals,
Armenian pastries, gourmet items, arts and crafts, books, raffles,
attic treasures. For information: 617-924-7562.

November 15 &16-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island,
Armenian Fest 2014 at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Broad Street, Cranston,
Rhode
Island. Largest indoor festival in Rhode Island. Delicious shish and
losh kebob, chicken and kufta dinners and Armenian pastry available
all day. Live dance music. The Mourad Armenian School and Providence
Hamazkayin dance groups will perform on Saturday and Sunday at 5
pm. Hourly raffles, silent auction, country store, gift baskets,
flea-market, arts and crafts. Main raffle prizes worth total $2,700.
Fun for all ages. Free admission, parking and valet. For information:
401-831-6399 or

November 21, 22, 23-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey,
Annual Bazaar, Food Festival, and Hantes. Mezze and Kebab dinners
(chicken, shish, luleh); dessert table and trays of home-made
delicacies; Boutique
Booths; Chinese Auction; Supervised Game Room for children;
Pre-packaged Monte, Sou Buereg, Kufteh, and Lehmejun; Take-out
available; Live Music for dancing and listening. Traditional Kavourma
dinner on Sunday served immediately after church service. For
information: 201-943-2950.

December 6-Armenian Winter Dessert Festival, Soorp Khatch Church,
Bethesda, Maryland.

December 6-St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
Annual Bazaar at Christian Reform Church, Whitinsville, 10 am to 5 pm.

December 7-Ladies Guild of St. Stephen’s Church of New Britain and
Hartford, Connecticut, will host a Wine Tasting Party at noon in the
church hall, 167 Tremont Street, New Britain. A wine talk and tasting
will be provided by Taylor Brooke Winery, Woodstock, Connecticut,
owned by Linda Varjabedian Auger.

December 7-8th Annual ANC Eastern Region Banquet, Ritz-Carlton Battery
Park, NY. Freedom Award Honoree: former Manhattan District Attorney
Robert Morgenthau and the Morgenthau family; Vahan Cardashian Award
Honoree: ANCA activist Alice Movsesian. Tickets are $250. For
reservations and information, please visit or
917.428.1918.

December 12-Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) 11th Annual Holiday Gala,
Cipriani 42nd Street, New York City. Cocktails and Silent Auction, 7
pm; Dinner & Program, 8 pm; Dancing & After Party, 10 pm. For tickets
and information or 212-994-8234.

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

March 1, 2015-`One Nation-One Culture,’ cultural evening of song and
dance dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
Felician College, 262 S. Main Street, Lodi, New Jersey. For
information: [email protected].

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.

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]

SAMVEL ALEKSANYAN TWICE REFUSED HIS CONNECTION WITH COVERED MARKET

10:33 | October 3,2014 | Social

The Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash
administrative districts will hear on Friday the lawsuit filed by
Karo Yeghnukyan against Armenian lawmaker, oligarch Samvel Aleksanyan,
who is the owner of the Covered Market.

Yeghnukyan demands that Aleksanyan compensate him for defaming his
honour, dignity and business reputation.

Samvel Aleksanyan did not show up in the previous sittings but he has
sent two letters to the judge claiming that he has no connection with
the Covered Market.

During today’s court sitting, the court will watch videos in which
Aleksanyan openly admits that he is the owner of the market.

THE CENTENARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY

CITY OF PARIS

The Council of Paris voted unanimously yesterday a vow about a hundred
years of the Armenian Genocide. A paper presented by Catherine
VIEU-CHARIER Advisor Paris Deputy Mayor in charge of memory and
fighting world and Patrick Klugman Deputy International Relations
and Francophonie.

Considering that 2015 will be a year of special significance with
respect to the memory of the genocide that marked the twentieth
century;

Whereas April 24, 1915 began the genocide that would lead to the
killing methodically organized one million and five hundred thousand
Armenians;

Whereas the city of Paris hosted in 1915, scores of survivors of
the genocide, a large part moved first in the ninth arrondissement,
which today still end presence of the Armenian Diaspora and the we
continue to call “Little Armenia”;

Whereas, by the law of 29 January 2001, France has publicly recognized
the genocide of 1915; Considering that the city of Paris is strongly
committed to the work memory of genocide;

Whereas, despite the historical evidence, the denial of the Armenian
Genocide, the first of the twentieth century, continues to thrive
and that the persistence of this denial is an insult to the memory
of the victims and the dignity of their descendants;

Whereas the Armenian community in Paris contributed to development,
culture and reputation of our city;

Whereas the city of Paris has signed a cooperation agreement with
the city of Yerevan November 10, 1998, reinforced by an October
2011 amendment;

Patrick Klugman and Catherine VIEU-CHARIER issue on behalf of the
municipal executive vow:

That the city of Paris, in conjunction with the Republic of
Armenia, the Mission 2015 CCAF and Armenian organizations in Paris,
commemorating the centenary of the Armenian genocide, with plans to
distribute, to know and to understand the reality genocide and fight
its negation.

The ninth arrondissement of Paris, given its history of reception
of genocide survivors, is closely involved in the organization of
such activities;

A large exhibition on the Armenian genocide to be held at the City
Hall in the first half 2015, and Paris hosts on this occasion some
of the collections of the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan;

Educational work that is engaged in connection with the National
Education, in Parisian schools to promote awareness of the genocide
of Armenians and awareness of the history of the Armenian genocide
survivor community, which is an integral part of history of Paris,
particularly the ninth arrondissement;

That the City of Paris valued associative initiatives to know the
reality of the genocide of the Armenians and the contribution of
Paris to the development and reputation of our city;

The Mayor travel to Yerevan in the framework of the celebrations to
be organized by the Republic of Armenia throughout 2015.

Catherine VIEU-CHARIER, Councillor Paris Deputy Mayor in charge of
memory and the fighter world Patrick Klugman, Deputy International
Relations and Francophonie.

The ninth arrondissement of Paris (Delphine Burkli its mayor in the
picture) and the 2015 mission of CFC (Alexis Govciyan, chairman of the
mission and the first deputy mayor of the ninth) mentioned in the vow.

Thursday, October 2, 2014, Ara © armenews.com

DEFI POUR LA SOCIETE ARMENIENNE ?

ARMENIE

L’ensemble de la presse commente la > de Souren
Khatchatrian en tant que gouverneur de la region du Siounik un an
après avoir ete demissionne de ce poste a la suite d’un assassinat
commis devant sa residence privee a Goris, dans lequel son fils
et son garde du corps etaient impliques. La nomination de Souren
Khatchatrian a ete proposee par le Premier ministre Hovik Abrahamian
et approuvee par son cabinet. [Rappelons qu’un homme d’affaires de 43
ans, Avetik Boudaguian, avait ete abattu, le 1er juin 2013, devant
la villa du gouverneur, tandis que son frère, Artak, un colonel des
forces armees, avait ete gravement blesse. Le fils de S. Khachatrian
âge de 20 ans, et l’un de ses gardes du corps avaient ete arretes
et accuses d’assassinat et de port d’armes illegal. Le gouverneur,
pour sa part, avait ete contraint de demissionner. Toutefois, les
deux hommes emprisonnes avaient ete liberes en septembre 2013, les
enqueteurs ayant estime que les coups de feu tires relevaient de la
legitime defense, les frères Boudaguian ayant mene une > contre la residence de S. Khachatrian]. La decision du
Gouvernement a provoque la colère de la famille de la victime, qui l’a
qualifiee de >, des partis d’opposition et de la societe
armenienne, les utilisateurs des reseaux sociaux ayant vivement reagi
a cette nomination. Selon la deputee du parti Armenie Prospère, Naïra
Zohrabian, la reconduction de S. Khatchatrian en tant que gouverneur
du Siounik est un > au peuple armenien. L’editorial de
Haykakan Jamanak s’interroge sur les raisons qui ont conduit S.

Sarkissian a prendre une decision aussi >. L’editorialiste
rappelle que le nom de Souren Khatchatrian etait associe, durant de
longues annees, aux meurtres, au trafic des drogues, a la corruption et
a la permissivite : >.

Le redacteur en chef d’Aravot relève dans l’editorial que sa première
reaction en apprenant cette nouvelle fut d’> en tant
que citoyen d’Armenie. Il demande pardon aux habitants du Siounik
de ne pas avoir su prevenir, en tant que journaliste, les prochains
mefaits que Souren Khatchatrian ne manquerait pas de commettre dans
cette region.

Enfin, les quotidiens relèvent que les journalistes ont boycotte,
en signe de protestation a cette nomination, les points de presse de
plusieurs Ministres a la suite du Conseil des Ministres de jeudi.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 26 septembre 2014

vendredi 3 octobre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

L’ARMENIE PREVOIT D’EXPORTER ENVIRON 6000 TONNES DE VIANDE DE MOUTON EN IRAN EN 2014

ARMENIE

L’Armenie prevoit d’exporter environ 6000 tonnes de viande de mouton
(ou 150000 a 155000 tetes) vers l’Iran cette annee a annonce le chef
du departement de zoologie et veterinaire du ministère armenien de
l’agriculture Ashot Hovhannisyan.

Les exigences halal seront suivis lors de l’abattage, a-t-il dit.

Hovhannisyan dit que l’Iran est le principal importateur de moutons
armenien. Avant la partie iranienne importait le betail, mais
maintenant il prefère l’importation de la viande, pour des raisons
sanitaires en particulier.

Selon le ministère, les exportations de moutons d’Armenie ont totalise
environ 100 000 tetes en 2013 dont la plus grande partie a ete exportee
vers l’Iran et l’Irak.

vendredi 3 octobre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

ARMEN JIGARKHANYAN MARKS 79TH BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY

11:46, 03 Oct 2014

Armen Jigarkhanyan, the renowned actor and director, is marking his
79th birthday anniversary today.

In 1954, he was admitted to Yerevan Institute of Theater and Arts. His
debut was in January 1955, in Viktor Gusev’s play “Ivan Rybakov”
at the Russian Drama in Yerevan.

Armen Jigarkhanyan’s debut in cinema was in 1960. But it was “Hello,
That’s Me!”, a 1966 Armenian drama film directed by Frunze Dovlatyan,
that made him famous.

Armen Jigarkhanyan played in about 300 films, thereby becoming one
of the Russian actors that have played in the largest number of movies.

In 1996, on the basis of his course, he established Moscow Drama
directed by Armen Jigarkhanyan, which ranks high among Moscow’s
small theaters.

Armen Jigarkhanyan is in the Guinness Book of Records as the Russian
actor that has played the largest number of film roles.

PUTIN REFUSED TO INTERVENE

20:53, 02 Oct 2014

During the investment forum titled “Russia Calling” Russian President
Vladimir Putin announced that he did not intend to intervene the
situation created around “Bashnevt”. Recall, Armenian businessman,
philanthropist Levon Hayrapetyan is also involved in the mentioned
case.

“I hope that all solutions will be found not on criminal law, but
rather based on civil law and in arbitral realm. Anyway, I am not
going to intervene and give any instructions. I repeat, this does
not mean that the government is going to start completely reviewing
the privatization results. No ways!”, RIA Novosti quoted President
Putin as saying.