Religions d’Iran : les Arméniens d’Ispahan s’accrochent à leurs égli

REVUE DE PRESSE
Religions d’Iran : les Arméniens d’Ispahan s’accrochent à leurs églises
à Ispahan, la très ancienne communauté arménienne vit autour du
quartier de la « petite Djolfa ».

Mais de plus en plus de jeunes Arméniens d’Iran s’exilent pour des
raisons économiques.

C’est à Ispahan, dans cette ancienne capitale et ville joyau de la
Perse, qu’est établie depuis plus de quatre cents ans la communauté
arménienne.

Pour se rendre dans la « petite Djolfa », du nom de la ville dont ils
étaient originaires en Arménie, il suffit de lever les yeux pour
repérer les croix bien visibles sur les coupoles des églises et se
laisser guider à travers les rues. Le quartier compte encore 12
églises sur 24 auparavant. Certaines sont en ruine ou ne sont plus
utilisées, faute de paroissiens.

La plus ancienne, Saint-Kevork, date de 1611. Les portes ouvrent sur
un joli jardin. L’église est très fréquentée toute la journée, que ce
soit pour faire une prière, déposer un cierge, une offrande, ou tout
simplement parler des événements ou programme prévus pour les enfants,
vérifier la date d’un mariage, etc.

pour lire la suite cliquer sur le lien

jeudi 28 août 2014,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

http://www.la-croix.com/Actualite/Monde/Religions-d-Iran-les-Armeniens-d-Ispahan-s-accrochent-a-leurs-eglises-2014-08-20-1194390

The Cut ou le génocide arménien vu par Fatih Akin

REVUE DE PRESSE
The Cut ou le génocide arménien vu par Fatih Akin

En compétition à la Mostra de Venise, qui ouvre ses portes le 27 août,
le réalisateur allemand est en butte aux ultranationalistes de son
pays d’origine, la Turquie.

Der Spiegel

| Hasnain Kazim

A vrai dire, Fatih Akin, le réalisateur de Hambourg d’origine turque,
avait voulu tourner un film sur le journaliste arménien Hrant Dink,
rédacteur en chef de l’hebdomadaire bilingue (arménien et turc) Agos,
qui a été abattu par un adolescent en pleine rue à Istanbul en 2007
[assassiné le 19 janvier, ses obsèques ont eu lieu le 23 janvier]. “Le
problème est que je n’ai pu convaincre aucun acteur turc de jouer le
rôle de Hrant Dink”, confie-t-il dans un entretien à Agos. Après avoir
lu le scénario, ils ont tous refusé par peur des ultranationalistes.

pour lire la suite cliquer sur le lien

jeudi 28 août 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

http://www.courrierinternational.com/article/2014/08/25/the-cut-ou-le-genocide-armenien-vu-par-fatih-akin
http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=102766

Mostra de Venise : Fatih Akin revient avec The Cut

REVUE DE PRESSE
Mostra de Venise : Fatih Akin revient avec The Cut

Depuis Soul Kitchen en 2009, et à l’exception du documentaire
Polluting Paradise en 2012, on était sans nouvelles de Fatih Akin. Le
réalisateur allemand d’origine turque revient à la Mostra de Venise
avec The Cut, qui complète sa trilogie “L’amour, la mort et le
diable”, commencée avec Head on en 2004, ours d’or à Berlin, et
poursuivie avec De l’autre côté, palme du meilleur scénario à Cannes
en 2007.

Dans The Cut, Tahar Rahim joue le rôle de Nazareth Manoogian, un
forgeron séparé de sa famille par les soldats ottomans en 1915 au
début du génocide arménien. Quand il apprend que ses filles, des
jumelles, ont survécu, il s’embraque dans une odyssée autour du monde
pour les retrouver. Un rôle intense pour l’acteur français, dans une
production financée par huit pays différents, tournée sur trois
continents et dotée d’un gros budget (21 millions de dollars).

pour lire la suite cliquer sur le lien

!bBNSwjRdNrVRU/

jeudi 28 août 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

http://www.metronews.fr/culture/mostra-de-venise-fatih-akin-revient-avec-the-cut/mnhA

ARF welcomes Artsakh vote

ARF welcomes Artsakh vote

12:43 28.08.2014

Upon the passage of a resolution recognizing Artsakh’s independence by
the California State Senate on Wednesday, the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation Western US Central Committee on Wednesday issued an
announcement welcoming the measure, reports Asbarez.

Below is the text of the announcement:

“Today’s vote by the California State Senate to recognize the
independence and self-determination of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
is a decisive and historic move by the State, which is home to the
largest Armenian community outside of Armenia.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee
welcomes this bold and groundbreaking move, which is a testament to
not only the hard work of the Armenian-American community, but also
the cognizance of public officials in the State of California about
the right to self-determination of all peoples.

This vote is critically important now, given Azerbaijan’s heavy-handed
war rhetoric and its most recent violations of the cease fire
agreement, as well as the efforts of the Turkish and Azerbaijani
lobbies to sabotage this effort.

This vote further reaffirms the very basic tenets of the liberation
struggle being waged by our people and should embolden the entire
Armenian Nation to continue its pursuit of justice and complete
liberation.

As we celebrate this collective victory, we salute all of our ANCA
activists who for years passionately and systematically worked for the
realization of this goal.”

http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/08/28/arf-welcomes-artsakh-vote/

Crossroads E-Newsletter – August 28, 2014

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

August 28, 2014

PRELATE WILL TRAVEL TO MIDWEST

Archbishop Oshagan will be in Detroit, Michigan, this weekend where he
will deliver the opening invocation/message at the opening ceremonies
of the 81st Olympics of the Armenian Youth Federation, tomorrow,
Friday, August 29.

VICAR VISITS WHITINSVILLE

Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, held its
annual picnic on the church grounds on August 17, presided by Bishop
Anoushavan, Vicar of the Prelacy, who celebrated the Divine Liturgy
and delivered the sermon earlier. More than 600 parishioners, friends,
and townspeople enjoyed the delicious meals and the desserts that were
available to eat or take home. The parish’s Sirounig Dancers, directed
by Kristi Markarian, provided entertainment. Many of the pastors of
New England parishes participated in the Blessing of the Grapes
ceremony.

Bishop Anoushavan officiates the Blessing of Grapes ceremony at Soorp
Asdvadzadzin Church.

Bishop Anoushavan and Archpriest Fr. Aram Stepanian with `Sirounig
Dancers,’ who performed during the picnic that followed the Divine
Liturgy.

BLESSING OF GRAPES AT NURSING FACILITY

Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, pastor of St. Stephen’s Church in
Watertown, Massachusetts, conducted the Blessing of Grapes ceremony at
the
Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Jamaica
Plains. Participating in the ceremony was pastoral intern
Rev. Fr. Torkom Chorbajian. They were
assisted by Deacons Diran Der Khosrofian (right), and Harold Nazarian
(left), who will be ordained to the Priesthood in October.

ETERNAL FLAME REACHES PHILLY

Philadelphia’s St. Gregory Church community experienced an historic
event last Thursday, August 21, when the Eternal Flame, brought from
Armenia, lit at Dzidzernagapert, was hailed by the congregants. In a
heartwarming ceremony, the Homenetmen Scouts escorted the Torch, and a
requiem service for the 1.5 million martyrs of the Armenian Genocide
was offered by Archpriest Fr. Nerses Manoogian, pastor of St. Gregory
the Illuminator Church. The attendees were then called forth to light
their candles from the Torch’s eternal flame and proceed to the
Khatchkar in the outer court to continue the Vigil Service. Ending
with the Armenian national anthem, Mer Hairenik, everyone then
gathered in Founders Hall for a reception. The arrival of the Eternal
Flame marks the beginning of events that will continue throughout this
year and into 2015, commemorating the Centennial Anniversary of the
Genocide. On Saturday evening a concert featuring Karnig Sarkissian
took place in Founders Hall to an overflow audience of 300.

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
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 SPONSORS SUCCESSFUL SEMINAR FOR TEACHERS

Twenty-three teachers from eight Armenian Saturday schools of New
York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Boston, and Chicago, came together
last Saturday, August 23 for a one-day seminar organized by the
Armenian National Education
Committee (ANEC) at the Prelacy offices in New York City.

The seminar consisted of two main speakers. Sossi Essajanian spoke on
best
practices of early childhood teaching and Anahid Garmiryan spoke about
the
challenges of bilingual education. To read more about the seminar
click here ().

Participants at the ANEC seminar last Saturday.

Sossi Essajanian lecture was augmented with a PowerPoint presentation.

Vartan Matiossian, director of ANEC, introduces Anahid Garmiryan.

SIAMANTO ACADEMY WILL RESUME ITS ACTIVITIES

The Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC), jointly sponsored by
the
Prelacy and the Armenian Relief Society, sponsored for many years the
Siamanto Academy for young adults. After a recent hiatus, the Academy
is ready to resume its activities. The Academy offers courses on
Armenian history, culture, and contemporary issues. Classes will take
place on a monthly basis, every second Saturday, beginning in
September at Sts. Vartanantz Armenian
Apostolic Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey), from 2 pm-5 pm. For
additional information, please contact ANEC at
[email protected].

BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for Sunday, August 31, Second Sunday after the
Assumption of the Holy Mother of God, Feast of the Discovery of the
Belt of the Theotokos are: Isaiah 9:8-19; 2 Corinthians 1:1-12; Mark
4:35-40.

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, `Let us go across
to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with
them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great
windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat
was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the
cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, `Teacher, do you not
care that we are perishing?’ He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said
to the sea, `Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a
dead calm. He said to them, `Why are you afraid? Have you still no
faith?’ And they were filled with great awe and said to one another,
`Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’ (Mark
4:35-40)

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

FEAST OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE BELT OF THE THEOTOKOS

This Sunday, August 31, the second Sunday after Assumption, is the
feast of the Discovery of the Belt of the Theotokos. Because there are
no relics of the Holy Mother’s earthly body (she was assumed into
Heaven), her
personal belongings became the object of devotion. During the time of
the early Church, when Christians were persecuted, her possessions
were kept hidden and secret. Her belt was the first item to be
discovered in Jerusalem in the fifth century. This discovery is the
basis for one of the eight feast days in the Armenian liturgical
calendar devoted to the Holy Mother.

The religuary containg the Belt of the Virgin Mary kept at a monastery
on Mount Athos in Greece.

HOLY PROPHETS EZEKIEL, EZRA AND ZECHARIAH

Next Tuesday, September 2, the Armenian Church commemorates the Holy
Prophets Ezekiel, Ezra, and Zechariah, father of John the
Baptist. Ezekiel prophesied for about 28 years. The Book of Ezekiel,
composed of 48 chapters, is ranked third among the great prophets. It
is full of rich imagery, prophetic visions, and allegories. Ezra was a
learned and pious priest in Babylon. The Book of Ezra describes the
return to Zion following the Babylonian captivity. Zechariah, is the
father of John the Baptist. He was married to Elizabeth, and John was
born to them in their old age. The promise of a son was
conveyed to Zechariah by an angel.

ST. JOHN THE FORERUNNER AND JOB THE RIGHTEOUS

Next Thursday, September 4, the Armenian Church commemorates St. John
the Forerunner and Job the Righteous. St. John the Forerunner, also
known as John the Baptist (Hovhaness Mkrtich), is an important figure
in the Gospels. He is recognized as the `forerunner’ (Karapet) to the
Messiah. He lived as a hermit in the desert of Judea. At the age of 30
he began to preach against the evils of the times and called for
penance and baptism
because `the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’

Job is a good and righteous person who experiences and endures
catastrophe
after catastrophe. The phrase `the patience of Job’ has entered the
English lexicon as a popular cliché. The Book of Job is one of the
five books classified as the `poetical books’ of the
Bible. The central theme is the mystery of suffering. Ultimately, Job
is rewarded because `the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than
his beginning,’ and `After this Job lived one hundred and forty years,
and saw his children, and his children’s children, four
generations. And Job died, old and full of days.’ (Job, chapter 42).

NEWS FROM THE CATHOLICOSATE

CATHOLICOS MEETS WITH SWEDISH DELEGATION

A delegation of representatives from churches in Sweden met with His
Holiness Aram I at St. Mary’s Monastery in Bikfaya, Lebanon, last
week. The delegation is meeting the heads of churches in Lebanon,
Syria, and Iraq
to assess the situation of victims in the Middle East. The churches
they represent are providing humanitarian assistance to the victims of
the conflicts in the region.

After thanking them for their help and their visit, His Holiness
briefed them on the general situation, and explained in detail the
situation of Christians in Syria and Iraq. In response to their
questions, the Catholicos said that fundamentalist Islam threatens not
only the immediate victims in the region, but all Muslims as well, and
the whole world. The West must not feel safe from that threat, His
Holiness said. He said that short-term military strikes are not a
solution. Rather, there must be a plan that includes long-term
diplomacy and strategic planning in cooperation with all Muslim
countries and the establishment of participatory structures of
decision-making. In the meantime, measures must be taken to protect
human rights and the
freedom of religion and rights of minorities. `The presence of
Christians in the Middle East and Christian-Muslim dialogue and
cooperation are vital not only for the people in the region but for
the whole world. Christians will remain in the Middle East
irrespective of the conflict,’ His Holiness said.

THOUSANDS OF FAITHFUL CELEBRATE
THE FEAST OF ASSUMPTION

On Saturday evening, August 16, His Holiness Aram I presided over the
Holy
Liturgy celebrated in the open air by the Prelate of Lebanon, Bishop
Shahe
Panossian, and sung by the Catholicosate’s Shenorhali Choir.

On the Feast of Assumption, the Armenian Church also blesses grapes,
the fruit of the vine. Sixty-two years ago, the Catholicosate declared
the Feast
of Assumption as a day of pilgrimage to St. Mary’s Church in
Bikfaya. Pilgrims arrive in Bikfaya on Friday evening, bringing with
them not only their prayers and supplications, but also offerings,
which are blessed during the Liturgy and shared with the people along
with the blessed grapes.

This year the Holy Liturgy of Assumption was special because it was
celebrated on the newly erected altar dedicated to the memory of the
Armenian Martyrs of the Genocide. At the end of the Liturgy His
Holiness anointed the new altar with Holy Muron including the Mother
and Child sculpture and the two altars on each side dedicated to
St. Gregory the Illuminator, the `Father of our Faith,’ and St. Mesrob
Mashdotz, =80=9Cthe founder of our alphabet.’ In his message to the
pilgrims, His Holiness said, `Pilgrimage means being on the journey
towards Salvation. The road to Salvation is difficult because of the
burden of sin we
carry with us. We make this journey with the understanding that the
Son of
God suffered in order to save us from our sins and make us children of
God. Today you have come as pilgrims to pray to God and ask the Mother
of God to intercede with His Son and grant His mercy to each of us. I
join you and
pray that God bestows upon us His grace, protects our people from all
evil
and restores justice and peace in the Middle East.’

The Catholicos took this opportunity to announce that the monastery in
Bikfaya, which was recently renovated, will now be known as
`St. Mary’s Monastery in Lebanon.’ He thanked the benefactors who made
the renovations possible and decorated Mr. and Mrs. Karnik and Anahid
Yacoubian with the Prince of Cilicia insignia and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur
and Tamar Nazarian with the Knight of Cilicia insignia.

The large crowd gathered at the Cilician Theological Seminary in
Bikfaya, Lebanon

THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY

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

Death of Frunze Dovlatyan (August 30, 1997)

Almost fifty years ago, Frunze Dovlatyan’s film, `Hello, It’s Me!’
(Ô²Õ¡Ö=80Õ¥Ö=82, Õ¥Õ½ Õ¥Õ´), marked a milestone in the history of
Armenian cinema.

Dovlatyan was born in Kamo (nowadays Gavar), on May 27, 1927, in a
family of actors. His father and his paternal aunt staged amateur
plays in the theater of the town. When the Dovlatyan family moved to
Yerevan, Frunze, still
a school student, started his career as an actor. He performed from
1941-1952 in the provincial theaters of Armenia and in the `Gabriel
Sundukian’ academic theater of Yerevan. He graduated in 1947 from the
theatrical studio of the latter, and appeared in a few films from
1943-1958, the first being Hamo-Bek Nazarian’s `David Bek’.

He moved to Moscow and graduated from the all-Soviet Cinema Institute
(VGIK) in 1959. He had already started his career as a film director
(he would still appear as an actor in several films, some of them of
his own, until the late 1980s) and directed three movies from
1958-1963 in Moscow.

Soviet movie poster for the film, Hello, It’s Me.

He returned to Armenia in 1964 and the next year directed his first
film in the homeland, `Hello, It’s Me,’ partly based on the life of
the famous Armenian physicist Artem Alikhanian, the founder of the
Institute of Physics of Yerevan. The film started the career of famous
actor Armen Djigarkhanian and had ten million viewers in 1966. It was
nominated to the Palme d’Or in the Festival of Cannes in the same year
and won the State Prize of Armenia in 1967.

>From 1966-1969 Dovlatyan was first secretary of the Union of
Cinematographers of Armenia. He went on to direct some important films
of the last decades of Soviet Armenian cinema: `Saroyan Brothers’
(1968), =80=9CChronicle of Yerevan Days’ (1972), `Live Long’ (1979),
`The Solitary Walnut Tree’ (1986). From 1986 he was the artistic
director of the Armenfilm studios. His last work was =80=9CYearning’
(1990), about the life of a genocide survivor who,
led by his yearning of the lost homeland, crosses the Soviet-Turkish
border during the time of Stalin.

The filmmaker was the chairman of the Tekeyan Cultural Association in
Armenia during the last three years of his life. He passed away in
1997 and was
buried in Yerevan.

()

Hello, It’s Me, in its entirety.

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

ARMENIAN LANGUAGE CORNER

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

Food and Lunch Are Not the Same Thing

If you are very skinny, some well-intentioned person may give you this
logical advice: `You need to eat food.’ Of course, if (s)he spoke to
you in Armenian, (s)he would logically say: `Bedk e geragoor oodes’
(Õ=8AÕ§Õ¿Ö=84 Õ§ Õ¯Õ¥Ö=80Õ¡Õ¯Õ¸Ö=82Ö=80 Õ¸Ö=82Õ¿Õ¥Õ½).

There is another word for `food,’ oodelik
(Õ¸Ö=82Õ¿Õ¥Õ¬Õ«Ö=84). However, the same person would not say:
=80=9CBedk e oodelik oodes’ (Õ=8AÕ§Õ¿Ö=84 Õ§ Õ¸Ö=82Õ¿Õ¥Õ¬Õ«Ö=84
Õ¸Ö=82Õ¿Õ¥Õ½). The reason is that oodelik and oodes sound quite odd in
the same sentence.

Despite the fact that many people do it, the acquaintance of Mr. or
Ms. Skinny would never say: `Bedk e jash oodes’ (Õ=8AÕ§Õ¿Ö=84 Õ§
Õ³Õ¡Õ· Õ¸Ö=82Õ¿Õ¥Õ½).Why? Because jash does not mean `food,’ but
`meal’ and, by extension, `lunch.’

Geragoor also means `meal.’ If you are a child, you may announce to
your parents after finishing your meal: `Geragoors gera’
(Ô¿Õ¥Ö=80Õ¡Õ¯Õ¸Ö=82Ö=80Õ½ Õ¯Õ¥Ö=80Õ¡Õµ). You may also say `Jashs gera’
(Õ=83Õ¡Õ·Õ½ Õ¯Õ¥Ö=80Õ¡Õµ) if it is noon and you have finished
lunch. But you don’t eat lunch when the sun has set, do you? At that
time of the day, `Jashs gera’ would be incorrect.

In conclusion,

`Food’: geragoor – oodelik

`Meal’: geragoor – jash

`Lunch’: jash

Let’s end by listing the names of the different meals of the day:

nakhajash — Õ¶Õ¡Õ-Õ¡Õ³Õ¡Õ· — `breakfast’

jash — Õ³Õ¡Õ· — `lunch’

nakhuntrik — Õ¶Õ¡Õ-Õ¨Õ¶Õ©Ö=80Õ«Ö=84 —
`snack’

untrik — Õ¨Õ¶Õ©Ö=80Õ«Ö=84 — `dinner, supper’

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

HOVNANIAN SCHOOL SEEKS PRINCIPAL

The Hovnanian School of New Milford, New Jersey, is searching for a
new principal. The school is seeking new leadership after its
principal of 14 years, Anahid Garmiryan, accepted a position at the
Gulbenkian Foundation as the Senior Program Officer for Western
Armenian Language Support. Inquiries and requests for more information
should be directed to [email protected].

CHARLES AZNAVOUR IN NEW YORK

Charles Aznavour will perform in Madison Square Garden in New York on
Saturday, September 20, in what is being called a `farewell concert’
and `only area appearance.’ Tickets are on sale now
at THEATERATMSG.COM or at 866-858-0008.

PRELATE ENJOYS AMERICA’S FAVORITE PASTIME

Ever since his student days in Princeton, Archbishop Oshagan has
enjoyed the game of Baseball, and he became an avid fan of the
Phillies. These days the Prelate does not have the time to enjoy the
thrill of being in a ballpark rooting for his team. Therefore, last
Tuesday was a special treat for him when as a guest of Peter Vosbikian
he watched the Phillies beat the Washington Nationals in Philadelphia.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

August 30-Concert, `Baroque & Before,’ featuring Lucine Musaelian and
Joyce Chen, St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 E.
27th Street, New York City, at 5 pm.

September 6-Nareg Armenian Saturday School opening, 9 am to noon,
Sts. Vartanantz Church, 461 Bergen Boulevard, Ridgefield, New Jersey.

September 7-Picnic Festival, St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley,
158 Main Street, North Andover, Massachusetts, featuring musicians
Leon Janikian, Jason Naroian, Johnny Berberian, and John Arzigian;
presentation by Siroun Dance Ensemble of Central Massachusetts. 12:30
to 5:30 pm, church
grounds. Shish, losh, and chicken kebab dinners, veggie plates,
Armenian pastries, family games and activities.

September 7-St. Stephen’s Church of New Britain and Hartford,
Connecticut, Annual Church Picnic after Sunday services will take
place
at The Quartette Club, 225 Wooster Street, New Britain. Armenian
music, dancing, and food.

September 7-Holy Cross Church, Troy, New York, Annual Armenian Picnic,
12pm to 4 pm. Shish Kebob dinner, Lahmajoun for sale, Armenian
pastries, live music. For info: [email protected].

September 7-Lecture `Mkhitar Heratsi,’ by Dr. Gregory Kazanjian, at 1
pm, St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York
City. Organized by Cathedral and Hamazkayin of New York.

September 12-St. Hagop Church, Racine, Wisconsin, 2nd Annual
=80=9CTaste of the Mediterranean’ Wine Tasting Fundraiser, 4 to 6 pm
at Uncork in downtown Racine. Event will again feature 6 wines for
tasting,
a `mezze’ table, silent auction items, and 50/50 raffle. Cost of the
event is $20 per person or $35 per couple. Last year’s even was a
sell-out, so get your tickets early. For tickets and/or information
contact Mary M. Olson by email ([email protected]).

September 14-St. Sarkis Church, 38-65 234th Street, Douglaston, New
York, Annual Picnic on the church grounds following church
services. Admission is free. Enjoy excellent kebabs and
salads. Terrific entertainment for everyone and special activities for
children in the `KidZone.’ Music, food, and friends…a wonderful
afternoon. For information 718-224-2275.

September 14-Opening day of Sunday School at St. Asdvadzadzin Church,
Whitinsville, Massachusetts. For information contact Priscilla
Altoonian, Director, ([email protected]).

September 18, 19, 20-2014 Fall Food Festival, Soorp Khatch Church,
Bethesda, Maryland.

September 18-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, 12th
Annual Golf Classic, River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New
Jersey. Rain or Shine. 11 am registration and Grilled Lunch Buffet; 1
pm Tee Off. Format: Shotgun Scramble (All player levels welcome). Golf
Outing Reservation: $195; limited to first 128 paid golf
reservations. Reservation includes: Grilled lunch buffet, dinner
banquet, golf, cart, and range balls. Contests and
Prizes. Sponsorships available. For information: 201-943-2950.

September 19-All Saints Church, Glenview, Illinois, 10th Annual Golf
Outing, Fox Run Golf Link, 333 Plum Grove Road, Elk Grove Village. For
information: Hagop Soulakian 847-858-7685 or [email protected].

September 20-Charles Aznavour `Farewell Concert’ at The Theater,
Madison Square Garden. Only area appearance. Tickets: THEATERATMSG.COM
or 866-858-0008.

September 21-Ladies Guild of St. Stephen’s Church of New Britain and
Hartford, Connecticut, will host a Tea party at noon in the church
hall, 167 Tremont Street, New Britain, Connecticut. Brought back by
popular demand. Guest speaker from the Bigelow Tea Company. Goodie
bags for all. Raffle prize is being provided by Armeny Custom Jewelry
Design.

September 21-St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, `Designer Bag Bingo’
luncheon in Founders’ Hall at 2 pm. Fifteen lucky
winners of designer bags, including top labels, Gucci, Prada, Fendi,
Laboutin, Judith Leiber, Chanel, and others. Join us for a fun game of
Bingo, Chinese auction, and enjoy the lavish Chanel inspired theme and
décor, along with champagne, hors d’oeuvres, and desserts. Ticket
sales limited. For reservations and information: Cissy DerHagopian
856-313-6848; Donna Walter 484-354-0388.

September 21-St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
Sunday School Picnic, 1 to 3 pm. Food, hayride, and games at Peter and
Susan Baghdasarian’s farm, Uxbridge, Massachusetts. For information
contact Sunday school director Priscilla Altoonian ([email protected]).

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.

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 19-St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, His
Eminence Archbishop Oshagan will ordain sub-deacon Ara Stepanian
during the Divine Liturgy and preside over the parish’s 57th Annual
Banquet.

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 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 Dutch Reformed Church, Whitinsvilloe, 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.

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

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]

http://www.armenianprelacy.org/
https://t.e2ma.net/click/kgr7e/4f4cee/syqdkb
https://t.e2ma.net/click/kgr7e/4f4cee/8qrdkb
https://t.e2ma.net/click/kgr7e/4f4cee/ojsdkb
https://t.e2ma.net/click/kgr7e/4f4cee/4btdkb
https://t.e2ma.net/click/kgr7e/4f4cee/k4tdkb
www.armenianprelacy.org
www.armenianprelacy.org
www.armenianprelacy.org

VivaCell-MTS and Fuller Center for Housing Armenia Continue Partners

Alla Asatryan
Marketing and Office Manager
Fuller Center for Housing Armenia
96 Sarmen St., 0019 Yerevan, RA
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
Tel: +374 10 52 47 12

The Results of the Housing Project are Already Visible

VivaCell-MTS and Fuller Center for Housing Armenia Continue Partnership

August 26, 2014, Yervandashat village, RA. A long-waited housewarming was
celebrated in the village of Yervandashat. The second family is also close
to the realization of its dream. VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph
Yirikian, volunteer staff members, Fuller Center for Housing Armenia team
and the Global Builders volunteer team from the USA joined forces to help
the Muradyan family complete the construction of their half-built home. The
construction of one family’s house was followed by another family’s, the
Ghazaryans’ home blessing ceremony.

`’We are grateful to you for always standing firm next to the families
keeping the country borders. There is no greater happiness than to
acknowledge that you are not alone, that there are caring people next to
you who have willingly helped to finish the construction of the long-waited
house. Soon we will also move to our new and comfortable home. We are very
glad that today one of our villager’s already completed house is going to
be blessed,” said the Muradyan family father, Hakob.

It is already 64 years the Muradyans have been living in Yervandashat.
Their large family have lived in a building that used to serve as a
kindergarten and needed renovation. As the political and economic situation
in the country worsened their dream of having theirown home remained
unaccomplished. In 2005 they started the construction of the new house but
were unable to finish it.

The Ghazaryans, who were already celebrating a home blessing, have tried to
build their own house for 25 years. They have put the stone on the stone,
but have been unablefinish the construction due to the lack of financial
means. The family has lived in a half-built house for 15 years without
basic necessities. Finally, all the difficulties are left behind.

Today the housing project implemented through the financial investment of
VivaCell-MTS has given its first result. The first achievement of the
project launched a few months ago in this region was marked through a home
blessing ceremony.

`Words can’t describe the happiness we feel today. We have longed for this
day, we have worked very hard to one day have a home of our own, we have
dreamed so long that one day our sons would have a strong roof over their
heads, but we couldn’t… We express our gratefulness to VivaCell-MTS and the
Fuller Center for Housing Armenia for being next to the people living on
the border and sharing our infinite happiness by being present in our
home-blessing ceremony,” the Ghazaryan family mother, Mrs. Gohar,
expressed her gratefulness.

`Every single stone here was laid with love andthat love carries a belief
in bright future. It is particularly important that the villagers living in
the borderland villages feel that they are not alone when facing
hardshipsand that people from various organizations have united to
helptheir familiesstand solidly on the soil of the Homeland. That feeling
is the warranty for success,”said VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph
Yirikian.

`The home for an Armenian is not just a place to live in. It’s the soul of
the family, the warranty and the cornerstone of the secure and decent life.
The project implemented in the borderline villages of Armenia through the
financial investment of VivaCell-MTS is aimed at creating decent conditions
for each family that will give them an opportunity to live, work and create
on their own land in their own homes and to have a base and warranty for
future happy life,” said Fuller Center for Housing Armenia president,
Ashot Yeghiazaryan.

To remind, VivaCell-MTS has invested 55 million AMD for the housing project
in the borderland villages of Armenia and Fuller Center for Housing Armenia
has undertaken the implementation of the project. Thanks to this
partnership 25 families from borderland villages of Armenia will enjoy the
happiness of living in their decent homes by the end of the year.

VivaCell-MTS (K-Telecom CJSC) is Armenia’s leading mobile operator,
having the widest 2G/3.75G/4G network reach and spreading a wide range of
Voice and Data services all across Armenia. Having the best of the Armenian
people interest at heart since its launch on 1st July 2005 and in a short
period of time VivaCell-MTS has managed to build a nationwide network and a
considerable customer base. VivaCell-MTS drives innovation and aims at
always being at the forefront of any development serving the Armenian
mobile communications market. The company follows the guidance provided by
ISO 26000 (International Standard of Social Responsibility). For more
information, visit

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (“MTS”) is the leading telecommunications group
in Russia and the CIS, offering mobile and fixed voice, broadband, pay TV
as well as content and entertainment services in one of the world’s fastest
growing regions. Including its subsidiaries, the Group services over 100
million mobile subscribers. The Group has been awarded GSM licenses in
Russia, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Armenia and Belarus, a region that boasts a
total population of more than 200 million. Since June 2000, MTS’ Level 3
ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MBT).
Additional information about the MTS Group can be found at

Fuller Center for Housing Armenia is a non-governmental, charitable
organization that supports community development in the Republics of
Armenia and Artsakh by assisting in building and renovating simple, decent
and affordable homes, as well as advocating the right to a decent shelter
as a matter of conscience and action. FCHA provides long-term,
interest-free loans to low-income families. The monthly repayments flow
into a Revolving Fund, which is used to help more families, thereby
providing a financial foundation for sustainable community development. Up
to know the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia has assisted 300 families,
the construction of 30 more family houses is in process For more
information, please visit
or email us at
[email protected]

###

www.fullercenterarmenia.org
www.mts.am
www.mtsgsm.com
www.fullercenterarmenia.org

Venice Vet Fatih Akin Talks Completing His ‘Love, Death and the Devi

Hollywood Reporter
Aug 26 2014

Venice Vet Fatih Akin Talks Completing His ‘Love, Death and the Devil’
Trilogy With ‘The Cut’

3:44 PM PST 08/26/2014 by Ariston Anderson

Akin also reveals how Martin Scorsese helped him get his
long-gestating movie made

In 2009, director Fatih Akin came to the Venice Film Festival with his
intimate culinary comedy, Soul Kitchen. That movie went on to win the
festival’s jury prize, and he returned the following year to head the
debut film award jury. Now he’s coming back yet a third time with The
Cut, the German-Turkish director’s biggest film to date.

The $21 million movie shot across three continents completes his
“Love, Death and the Devil” trilogy. His 2004 film Head-On, which won
the Berlin Film Festival’s Golden Bear, made waves as an unlikely love
story between two Turkish immigrants in Hamburg. In 2009, his film The
Edge of Heaven, about two parallel deaths turning worlds upside-down,
took home best screenplay in Cannes.

The Cut, co-written with Mardik Martin (Mean Streets, Raging Bull)
looks at the evil inherent in mankind. The film stars Tahar Rahim (A
Prophet) as Nazareth Manoogian, a blacksmith who is separated from his
family by Ottoman soldiers in 1915 at the start of the Armenian
Genocide. Miraculously, he survives and learns that his twin daughters
have as well. He embarks upon an odyssey halfway around the world to
find them.

The Hollywood Reporter spoke to Akin ahead of The Cut’s world premiere
on Sunday.

How does it feel to be coming back to Venice after your success with
Soul Kitchen?

I remember Venice as a very “hippie” place, very chill. People move
from point A to point B by bike. The quality of the films is very
exciting and high. There is a focus on fresh and alternative
approaches in cinema. For Soul Kitchen, Venice was the best thing that
could have happened to it. Being back makes me feel very happy, like
being in a room without a roof.

Where did you get the idea for the trilogy “Love, Death and the Devil”?

Love, death and devil are three films that are my personal laboratory
to understand the human being. But I’m afraid three films are not
enough to understand the human factor.

When did you start conceiving of the idea for The Cut?

The first idea goes back to 2007. I dreamed about making the ultimate
film about losing one’s home and identity and finding a new one in
America. I delayed the project when I realized how expensive it would
really be. When another project of mine about Hrant Dink (the Armenian
journalist who was shot in Turkey 2007) collapsed, I turned back to
The Cut. With the financial success of Soul Kitchen in Europe the film
was “bankable.”

What was the writing process like, collaborating with Mardik Martin?

I am a German writer. When I decided to shoot the film in English,
which was absolutely necessary for the freedom of the casting, I
needed more than a translator. I needed a screenwriter, who had
knowledge about the material. So the name Mardik Martin, who has an
Armenian background, came up quite quickly. Mardik Martin is the
former writer of such immortal films as New York, New York, Mean
Streets and Raging Bull.

Through Martin Scorsese, and the connection we have because of the
World Cinema Foundation, Mardik Martin and I came together. I visited
him in Los Angeles for 10 days and we went through the whole script.
Once he was involved it was clear that it was not just about finding
the right language. Mardik turned everything upside down and cut the
budget, so making the film became realistic.

Tahar Rahim plays a silent character in the film. How was it to tell
the story mostly through images rather than dialoge?

It felt very comfortable. You didn’t have to focus on the talking at
all. You went straight to the essence of a scene. You start to think
differently. You even stop talking so much as a director. After this
film, I would like to shoot silent films forever!

What was the biggest influence of the film?

There is a very long list of inspiration and role-models. But the most
important influence is America, America by Elia Kazan, the story of a
Greek emigrant who travels from Anatolia to New York, shot in the
1960s. Before doing The Cut I saw it again and again and again,
studied every shot. Knowing Kazan went through all this made me feel
safe and protected.

There are eight co-financing countries involved. What was it like to
put together such a large project independently?

Such a film is only possible if your partners are cinema lovers —
fair, full of passion, faithful and loyal, partners who believe more
in the artistic result than in the box-office. And we had such
partners. I am deeply grateful for their support. This film was mainly
produced by Fabienne Vonier and Karl Baumgartner, who passed away in
2013 and 2014 respectively. Without the passion of these two, this
film would never have been made.

What new projects are you working on?

After such a film I would like to do a little, low budget film in
Germany. I am wondering if this is still possible for me or not. It’s
a dark film, maybe a thriller. After that, I am planning to do a
children’s movie.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/venice-vet-fatih-akin-talks-721727

Australian Churches Demand Safe Haven for Christians

AINA Assyrian International News Agency
Aug 25 2014

Australian Churches Demand Safe Haven for Christians

By Rachel Baxendale

Said Touma and Joseph Haweil with Father Iskander Aphram at St Aphram
Syrian Orthodox church in Reservoir, Melbourne. Picture: Aaron Francis
(photo: News Corp Australia).Middle Eastern Christians in Australia
are calling for inter – national action to prevent mass genocide at the
hands of Islamic State militants in Syria and northern Iraq.

Said Touma, the Syrian Ortho – dox Church Melbourne Archdeacon, and
Joseph Haweil, from the Assyrian Church of the East Relief
Organisation, say simply providing aid was not enough.

History would condemn Western countries, particularly those previously
involved in the war in Iraq, if they did not intervene to create a
safe haven for Christians in the Nineveh Plains in the north of the
country.

The pair, whose families originally come from Iraq, have joined with
the Victorian Council of Churches to call upon the Aus – tralian
government and the UN to act.

“Many organisations are in contact with the Australian government, who
are apparently assessing the situation,” Mr – Haweil said.

“They have already acted in terms of humanitarian aid, but they remain
silent on the long- term solution, and practically we want the
Australian government to use its power and influence to push for a
safe haven.

“I can’t think of another solution. In the long term you can’t try and
transport hundreds of thousands people to Australia. People have a
right to live in dignity in their towns and villages and they want to
be repatriated to those places.

“They can only do that if they’re safe and protected.”

Mr Haweil said the extent of the violence being perpetrated by the
Islamic State had Assyrian Christians fearful of a repeat of the
Armenian genocide almost 100 years ago, which saw about 1.5 million
Armenians and Christian ethnic groups including Assyrians and Greeks
murdered at the behest of the Ottoman government.

“Even the Mongols did not do what is being done by IS right now,” Mr
Haweil said. “They’re beheading children and selling women in cages in
Mosul – markets.”

Mr Said called for international recognition of the fact that
Christians were being targeted in Syria and Iraq.

“There has to be a worldwide resolution that there is something
occurring against the Christians in these two countries,” he said.

For the first time in Mosul in 2000 years, they have emptied all
Christians, all churches.

“If this was to occur elsewhere, there would have been massive,
massive worldwide reaction,” Mr Said said.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au
http://www.aina.org/news/20140825010855.htm

Armenia may adopt 12-year school program

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Aug 25 2014

Armenia may adopt 12-year school program

25 August 2014 – 1:54pm

A bill on 12-year education program has been sent to the Armenian
parliament. About 4,500-5,000 Armenian pupils graduate after grade 9
every year, they do not continue studies, Armtoday.info reports.

Armenian Minister for Education and Science Armen Ashotyan emphasized
the need for compulsory 12-year school education to get higher-skilled
workers.

MISiS Is Successful Example of Innovative University – Rector

MISiS Is Successful Example of Innovative University – Rector

Rector of MISiS, the National University of Science and Technology,
Alevtina Chernikova announces that the strategic goal of the university is
to join World’s Top Universities

(c) Photo : Alevtina Chernikova’s account on Facebook
17:44 26/08/2014

Related News

Economic Education in Russia Internationally Competitive
Moscow Students to Enjoy Free Wi-Fi – But Only for Education
Russia to Prepare International Higher Education Rankings by 2015
Experts to Discuss Bilingual Education Challenges

The Moscow State Institute of Steel and Alloys (MISiS) has a reputation as
one of the best universities in Russia and the world. It is ranked in the
international university tables and is working, pursuant to a presidential
executive order, to join the World’s Top 100 Universities by 2020.

How popular is a Russian engineering education for foreign applicants? What
arrangements have been made to provide comfortable conditions in which to
live and study? Rector of MISiS, the National University of Science and
Technology, Alevtina Chernikova, addresses these and other questions in an
interview with RIA Novosti’s Anna Kurskaya.

Have you received foreign applications this year?

Alevtina Chernikova: Yes, of course. Prospective students from foreign
countries who want to become engineers and enroll in our university apply
every year. This year’s admissions campaign is no exception.

As of today, we have over 500 foreign applicants or almost 30 percent more
than last year. There is growing interest in this university both among
foreigners and all prospective students in general.

If we compare the admissions data for 2014 and 2013 (disregarding the fact
that 2014 is the first year we are enrolling students jointly with the
Moscow State Mining University, which we have taken over), we have more
than a thousand more applicants than last year. Hopefully we’ll accept good
students, who want to receive a high-quality engineering education meeting
global standards.

How many foreign students do you have? What countries are they from?

Alevtina Chernikova: We have about 1,500 foreign students from 50
countries: 1,000 in Moscow and 500 at our branches elsewhere. The vast
majority of them come from the CIS countries, primarily Kazakhstan and
Uzbekistan; they are followed by students from Azerbaijan, Armenia,
Belarus, Moldova, etc. We have a branch in Dushanbe, the capital of
Tajikistan. The non-CIS countries represented are Vietnam, China, Mongolia,
Angola, Congo, Egypt. There are also students from Europe – France, Germany
and Italy.

Not long ago, MISiS announced that its strategic goal was to join the list
of World’s Top 100 Universities, based on the main international rankings.
One of these criteria is the number of foreign students. Do you think
outreach is important in this regard?

Alevtina Chernikova: The important thing for us is quality, not quantity.
We want to accept motivated students, who have made a conscious choice to
pursue an engineering profession.

Of course, we are working in this area both in the Russian Federation and
elsewhere. For example, my university is a member of the Time to Study in
Russia consortium, which holds academic competitions both in the CIS and
farther afield. This year MISiS sponsored competitions in 15 countries
worldwide. This certainly promotes its popularity and competitiveness in
Russia and abroad.

We are primarily oriented to the CIS countries. Our university is the core
institution for the CIS that trains and retrains professionals in the area
of metallurgy and materials science. We are building up our capabilities
with each passing year. There is every reason to believe that the prestige
of the Russian engineering education will only grow. Our graduates are
proving this by their successful work in many countries.

What facilities do you have for training foreigners? Do you have a modern
campus?

Alevtina Chernikova: This university has all the necessary amenities for
getting a good education, including modern interactive study-rooms,
scientific and educational centers, world-class research laboratories,
curricula that has been coordinated with employers and a highly
professional faculty. The entire infrastructure is geared toward training
top-notch specialists capable of competing on labor markets at home and
abroad.

There is also a focus on creating good living conditions for foreign
students, and to help them adapt. After all, it is always stressful to
leave one’s family and home and travel to a foreign country.

We have modern and well-equipped dormitories. In 2013, our campus was
recognized as the best in Moscow and third best in Russia. Last year, we
commissioned the first block of the Commune House for students in the
master’s program and post-graduate students. It’s very comfortable. The
rooms are singles or doubles.
There is also a Club of International Friendship run by students, which
helps to reduce the assimilation period and make it less painful for
foreign students.

Do you teach Russian?

Alevtina Chernikova: We know from our experience that foreign applicants
have insufficient knowledge of Russian to study in Russia. In 2013, we
opened a Center for Studying Russian as a Foreign Language, which we are
currently expanding.

What disciplines are particularly popular with your foreign students?

Alevtina Chernikova: These are our traditional disciplines that this
university is very strong at: metallurgy, mining, materials science,
information science and computer engineering.

Are your graduates competitive internationally? What jobs do they take at
home?

Alevtina Chernikova: There is no doubt that our graduates are highly
competitive both here in Russia and internationally.
Our foreign students can be divided into three categories. Some are sent to
study in Moscow by industrial businesses located in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,
Angola, Vietnam, Mongolia and other countries, with which we have been
cooperating for years.

The second category includes students enrolled under intergovernmental
agreements. Both categories return home to take jobs that are waiting for
them.
There is also a third category that includes young people who have chosen
our university on their own, the majority of whom are our compatriots. Of
course, some of them return to their countries, but during the last two or
three years, more than 50 of them became Russian nationals and their choice
cannot fail to please us.

Do you have to modernize curricula, retrain teachers and invite foreign
professors in order to join the list of the World’s Top 100 Universities?

Alevtina Chernikova: MISiS is a successful example of an innovative
university. We are leading the field in the area of technological
education, and at the same time we are a full-fledged research center. We
are seeking to integrate the educational process and research activities as
much as possible.
We have a rule: master’s theses and scientific degrees should be based on
concrete research or business projects. We do all we can to coordinate our
curricula with employers.

MISiS has been introducing advanced educational methods. We were among the
first to accredit curricula not only in Russia but also in other countries.
Jointly with employers, we develop uniquely designed curricula along with
our own standards, which enable graduates to rapidly adapt to specific
business environments.

Of course, these tasks can only be handled by highly qualified faculty
members. In recent years, our university has focused on organizing modern
scientific and educational centers and research laboratories. We invite
world renowned scientists to teach at the university and head research
teams. Their research teams include university instructors, master’s
students and post-graduate students, something that provides our students
with additional competitive advantages.
There is also an emphasis on holding further training courses for
instructors. Last year alone, more than 100 MISiS employees took refresher
courses at leading Russian and foreign universities. Top professors from
other universities come to MISiS, and we send our instructors to their
universities. We have maintained long-standing contacts with the leading
scientific and educational centers, with which we have student exchanges
and dual degree programs.
This certainly enhances the competitiveness of each faculty member, and the
university as a whole. The more talented people we employ, the more gifted
students will enroll, the more successful the university will be.

What educational institutions do you have student exchange programs with?
Is the conferring of a dual degree a regular practice?

Alevtina Chernikova: Yes, this program has been in operation since 1998.
Our partner universities are L’Universite de Lorraine, L’ecole superieure
d’ingenieurs de Sandettie, and L’ecole des mines in France, the RWTH Aachen
University and the Clausthal University of Technology in Germany, and
universities in Kazakhstan, Belgium and The Netherlands. Nearly 300
students recently received diplomas from foreign universities along with
MISiS diplomas.

In addition, we have been actively promoting one-term exchange programs. In
early 2014, we signed an agreement with the French embassy, under which our
students can study at French universities free of charge.

Whom would you advise to enroll in Russia’s engineering universities from
abroad? For whom would this be the optimal choice?

Alevtina Chernikova: I’d advise this primarily for those who wish to become
highly skilled engineers. This is a necessary condition. But in general,
the factors determining the choice of a Russian university are the
fundamental nature of Russian education, its high quality, and the wide
range of educational services. Russia has the potential to assume a leading
position in the world academic community. This can happen quite soon.

http://en.ria.ru/interview/20140826/192366238/MISiS-Offers-Foreigners-a-World-Class-Education—Rector.html