Author: Kanayan Tamar

Aravot: My businesses have nothing to do with my position

12:27 – 09.07.11

The paper has interviewed Mihran Poghosyan, the head of Compulsory
Enforcement Service (CES). Below is an excerpt of the interview.

– How would you explain reports that on the occasion of the CES day
the president of the Republic of Armenia, as previously decided, did
not grant you the title of general given the scandal around you last
year?

– Granting titles is the exclusive jurisdiction of the president, and
it is he who decides what to grant and with what procedure.

– Your name is related to several businesses. Did you obtain them
during your term as a government official?

– I took up the position in 2008, and far before that – let it not
sound immodest – I was already a successful businessman. Thus, my
businesses have nothing to do with the position I occupy.

Tert.am

Aravot: Catholicos’s behavior reflects our intellectual and spiritual
degradation

10:46 – 09.07.11

Catholicos Garegin II disclosed his true upbringing, mentality and
essence, the paper’s editor says in an editorial referring to a
controversial video posted on YouTube. The video shows Armenian
Catholicos Garegin II speaking to Georgian Catholicos Ilia II during a
recent meeting in Tbilisi.

Once again, it became clear that he is no different from our
oligarchs, with their dubious style and lexicon, the editorial says.
He also resembles the mobsters that our TV shows present as role
models for the youth, the editorial goes on.

Tert.am

HAUT KARABAGH
Guérogui Petrossian nommé Conseiller du Président Bako Sahakian

Par décret présidentiel signé le 7 juillet par Bako Sahakian,
Président de la République du Haut Karabagh, Guéorgui Petrossian était
à sa demande, démis de ses fonctions de Ministre des Affaires
étrangères. Le poste sera provisoirement occupé par le vice-Ministre
Vassili Atatchanian. Le même jour, par un autre décret présidentiel,
Guéorgui Petrossian était nommé Conseiller présidentiel.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 9 juillet 2011,
Krikor [email protected]

ARMEE ARMENIENNE
Le 21 septembre, l’Armée arménienne démontrera sa puissance

Le 26 juin, à l’occasion de la « Journée des Forces armées » Bakou
faisait une démonstration de sa puissance militaire lors d’une parade
dans la capitale azérie. L’Arménie ne tardera pas à lui répondre. Le
21 septembre, pour les festivités marquant le 20e anniversaire de
l’Indépendance de la République d’Arménie, les Forces armées
arméniennes répondront à la provocation azérie par une démonstration
de la puissance militaire de l’Armée arménienne. Un défilé militaire
prévu de longue date puisque le 28 janvier dernier, le Ministre de la
Défense Seyran Ohanian avait annoncé une parade militaire
exceptionnelle pour le 21 septembre 2011. L’Arménie montrera ainsi
qu’elle n’a rien à craindre des menaces de l’Azerbaïdjan en montrant
une partie de son arsenal militaire et surtout la combativité et la
préparation de ses soldats.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 9 juillet 2011,
Krikor [email protected]

Glendale News Press , CA
July 8 2011

Bill extends claim deadline for families of Armenian genocide victims

July 8, 2011 | 6:46 p.m.

Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday signed legislation that extends the
deadline in California for victims of the Armenian genocide and their
descendents to file claims on unpaid policies from European and Asian
insurers.

The measure, which extends the deadline through Dec. 31, 2016, was
introduced by Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake).

`This is the culmination of a lot of hard work by me and my staff,’
Gatto said. `It’s nice to see this come to fruition.’

Gatto went into the community to get input before introducing the
bill. `[Residents] saw this as an important tool for seeking justice
for the wrongs committed by the Ottoman Turks.’

The atrocity, which took place from 1915 to 1923, left more than 1.5
million Armenians dead.

The extension was needed because victims and their heirs have been
able to file suit in California courts for only 10 years, Gatto said.
Some of the suits were challenged in federal court, keeping new suits
from progressing.

`Very few people have been able to take advantage of the ability to
file suit in California, so far,’ Gatto said.

Mark Kellam

,0,3690601.story

United Press International UPI
July 8 2011

Armenian crime boss pleads guilty
Published: July 8, 2011 at 3:06 PM

NEW YORK, July 8 (UPI) — The leader of an Armenian crime ring in New
York pleaded guilty to racketeering charges Friday in a federal court,
the U.S. Department of Justice announced.

Armen Kazarian, 47, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy,
admitting his association with the Mirzoyan-Terdjanian organization
and acknowledging he engaged in extortion for the crime ring and on
his own behalf, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a release.

The indictment charged Kazarian used his leadership position in the
crime community to help the Mirzoyan-Terdjanian crime engage in a
range of criminal offenses, including operating a $100 million
Medicare fraud billing ring.

Kazarian was a “vor” — roughly translated as “thief-in-law” — among
high-level criminals from Russia and the countries that had been part
of the former Soviet Union, including Armenia.

“International organized crime has emerged as one of the most serious
law enforcement problems of the 21st century,” Bharara said. “It is a
problem that this office — and the Department of Justice as a whole
— is committed to rooting out. [Kazarian’s] guilty plea should send a
strong message to international gangsters all over the world that if
you commit crimes in this country, we will find you, and we will
prosecute you with the full force of the law.”

Kazarian will be sentenced Oct. 6, 2011.

news.am, Armenia
July 8 2011

Armenian free economic zone regime for Russian businessmen will
contribute to their activities – Russian official

July 08, 2011 | 15:29

Rostov-on-Don. – Free economic zone regime for Russian businessmen in
Armenia will significantly contribute to their activities, said
Russian Minister of Transport Igor Levitin on Friday, during the
sitting of intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation
between Russia and Armenia in Rostov-on-Don.

`Turnover of goods between Armenia and Russia in 2010 increased by 10
percent, equaling to $1 billion. The first four months of current year
marked turnover increase of 14 percent in relation to same period of
2010,’ said Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan, who
participated in the sitting.

According to Sargsyan, the sides need to increase the intensity of
mutual contacts and to establish a permanent exchange of information
on investment projects of mutual interest.

news.am, Armenia
July 8 2011

18 people got poisoned from boiled meat in Armenia

July 08, 2011 | 17:42

VEDI. – Eighteen people got poisoned from boiled meat in Shaghap
village of Ararat region. They were taken to Vedi hospital on
Thursday, PR department of the Ministry of Healthcare informed
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

`Initial expertise shows that possible reason of poisoning was
self-made boiled meat, which was not kept in appropriate temperature.
Currently condition of all patients is satisfactory. Ministry of
Healthcare controls their health condition,’ head of ministry PR Lilit
Babakhanyan told and recommended to use only fresh food or keep it in
refrigerator.

Those eighteen people diagnosed with food poisoning are from the same
village. The youngest person is 23 and the oldest is 80-year-old.

FORUM 18 NEWS SERVICE, Oslo, Norway

The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one’s belief or religion
The right to join together and express one’s belief

===============================================
7 July 2011
ARMENIA: EUROPEAN COURT FINDS CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR WAS WRONGFULLY
CONVICTED AND JAILED – BUT WHAT WILL GOVERNMENT DO?

The European Court of Human Rights has today (7 July) published a Grand
Chamber judgment finding that Armenia violated Vahan Bayatyan’s right to
freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Bayatyan, an Armenian
Jehovah’s Witness, was imprisoned from September 2002 to July 2003 for
refusal on grounds of conscience to perform compulsory military service.
Armenia currently has 69 prisoners of conscience – all Jehovah’s Witnesses
– in jail for refusing conscription. Armenian officials gave only cautious
responses to the verdict to Forum 18 News Service, but Jehovah’s Witnesses
noted to Forum 18 that it should both lead to the prisoners of conscience
being freed, and “help our fellow believers who are facing are facing the
same issue in Azerbaijan and Turkey”. Armenia claims amendments to the
Alternative Service Law now in Parliament will take the current alternative
service out of the control of the military. But the wording of the
amendments is unclear and does not unambiguously state this. Lieutenant
Colonel Sasun Simonyan, who was involved in preparing the amendments, told
Forum 18 that – as at present – anyone doing alternative service who
violated their terms of service would be dealt with by the Military
Prosecutor’s Office.
* See full article below. *

4 July 2011
BELARUS: “CLERGY ACCESS IS SOMETHING EXCEPTIONAL IN PRE-TRIAL DETENTION
CENTRES”

Three months after his arrest, the closed trial of Grodno-based journalist
Andrzej Poczobut on charges of slandering Belarus’ president is likely to
conclude tomorrow (5 July) with the verdict. He has been denied a visit
from a priest since his April arrest. “He is a true Roman Catholic and all
this time in detention he has asked for a priest more than once, but the
prison administration always found excuses not to grant it,” his wife
Aksana Poczobut complained to Forum 18. One of the two Catholic prison
chaplains, Fr Kazimir Zylis, told Forum 18 he has been waiting for
permission from the Prosecutor’s Office to visit Poczobut. Forum 18 also
knows of pre-trial detainees denied clergy visits in the KGB secret police
detention centre in the capital Minsk and in the city’s Detention Centre
No. 1, which is run by the Interior Ministry. “Clergy access is something
exceptional in pre-trial detention centres,” Oleg Gulak of the Belarusian
Helsinki Committee told Forum 18.

5 July 2011
KAZAKHSTAN: “ABSURD” CRIMINAL CHARGE FOR PRAYING FOR THE SICK

Pastor Yerzhan Ushanov of the New Life Protestant Church in Taraz could
face up to two years’ imprisonment if criminal charges of harming an
individual’s health, brought by the KNB secret police, reach court. The KNB
claim a visitor to the church suffered after Pastor Ushanov prayed for him
using hypnosis, the second time the secret police have brought such charges
against a Protestant pastor in Jambyl Region. “This is not the first time
the authorities in southern regions of Kazakhstan bring such absurd
accusations against pastors for allegedly using hypnosis, while in reality
all they do is pray for the sick,” New Life Church members complained to
Forum 18 News Service. The police Department for the Fight against
Extremism, Separatism and

Terrorism then raided the Church’s Sunday worship after an alleged
complaint of food poisoning and the KNB searched Pastor Ushanov’s home. The
KNB secret police, as well as the ordinary police Department for the Fight
against Extremism, Separatism and

Terrorism, both refused to comment on the case to Forum 18.

7 July 2011
ARMENIA: EUROPEAN COURT FINDS CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR WAS WRONGFULLY
CONVICTED AND JAILED – BUT WHAT WILL GOVERNMENT DO?

By Felix Corley, Editor, Forum 18 News Service

Exactly eight years after he brought his case to European Court of Human
Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg in 2003, the Court’s Grand Chamber this
morning (7 July) ruled that Vahan Bayatyan had his right to freedom of
thought, conscience and religion violated and awarded him compensation.
Bayatyan, an Armenian Jehovah’s Witness, was imprisoned from September 2002
to July 2003 for refusal on grounds of conscience to perform compulsory
military service. Of the 17 judges, only the judge from Armenia, Alvina
Gyulumyan, dissented from the decision. There are currently 69 imprisoned
conscientious objectors in Armenia – all Jehovah’s Witnesses – and the
ECtHR judgment directly affects their cases.

Armenian officials gave only cautious responses to the verdict. “If this is
the decision of the European Court, the government must pay the
compensation,” Karine Kalantaryan, spokesperson for the Justice Ministry,
told Forum 18 News Service from the Armenian capital Yerevan on 7 July.
“The government has always paid compensation handed down in such cases.”
However, asked about the implications of the judgment for the current
prisoners, she referred to Deputy Justice Minister Emil Babayan. His
Assistant told Forum 18 the same day that he was out at a conference.

A senior official of the central government apparatus – who asked not to be
identified – told Forum 18 that “in the execution of the judgment, the
government might review the situation of the imprisoned conscientious
objectors”, but gave no promises.

Jehovah’s Witnesses welcomed the judgment. “This landmark judgment by the
Grand Chamber should lead to the eventual release of the 69 Jehovah’s
Witnesses imprisoned in Armenia, and helpour fellow believers who are
facing are facing the same issue in Azerbaijan and Turkey,” one told Forum
18 from Yerevan on 7 July.

The Armenian government claims amendments to the Alternative Service Law
now in Parliament will take the current alternative service out of the
control of the military. However, human rights defenders and Jehovah’s
Witnesses have told Forum 18 of their doubt at this claim, as the wording
of the amendments does not clearly establish this.

Rights violated

In today’s ECtHR Grand Chamber judgment, the Court found that Bayatyan’s
right, under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms, to freedom of thought, conscience and religion had
been violated. It stated that Bayatyan’s “failure to report for military
service was a manifestation of his religious beliefs. His conviction for
draft evasion therefore amounted to an interference with his freedom to
manifest his religion as guaranteed by Article 9” (see
).

This overturns the controversial 2009 judgment that Bayatyan’s right to
freedom of thought, conscience and religion had not been violated (see
Commentary by Derek Brett of Conscience and Peace Tax International at
). Bayatyan appealed
after that judgment (see F18News 7 December 2010
).

The ECtHR today noted, among other points, Armenia’s formal commitments to
respect the right to conscientious objection when it joined the Council of
Europe (see below). Considering the case, the ECtHR found that the
conviction and imprisonment was “not necessary in a democratic society” and
so violated Article 9. Indeed, the Court argued that: “respect on the part
of the State towards the beliefs of a minority religious group like the
applicant’s by providing them with the opportunity to serve society as
dictated by their conscience might, far from creating unjust inequalities
or discrimination as claimed by the Government, rather ensure cohesive and
stable pluralism and promote religious harmony and tolerance in society.”

The Court’s judgment – which is final and cannot be challenged – orders the
Armenian government to pay compensation to Bayatyan within three months of
10,000 Euros (5,305,580 Armenian Drams, 77,500 Norwegian Kroner or 14,253
US Dollars), plus a further 10,000 Euros in costs.

As well as paying compensation and costs, states are required to abide by
judgments by also ensuring that the reasons for violations found by the
ECtHR are removed. This can include changing legislation.

Other Council of Europe member states which currently imprison
conscientious objectors are Azerbaijan (see F18News 22 February 2011
), and Turkey (see
F18News 17 March 2010
). Today’s ECtHR
judgment – in a comment that may have implications for the laws and
official actions of both states – noted that “the overwhelming majority” of
Council of Europe member states have “already recognised in their law and
practice the right to conscientious objection”.

Armenia’s Council of Europe commitment

On its accession to the Council of Europe in January 2001, Armenia formally
pledged to: “adopt, within three years of accession [i.e. by 25 January
2004], a law on alternative service in compliance with European standards
and, in the meantime, to pardon all conscientious objectors sentenced to
prison terms or service in disciplinary battalions, allowing them instead
to choose, when the law on alternative service has come into force to
perform non-armed military service or alternative civilian service”.

The current Alternative Service Law was adopted in 2003 (coming into force
on 1 July 2004), but despite amendments in 2004 and 2006, it still fails to
meet Armenia’s Council of Europe commitment to allow a choice of
“alternative civilian service” to be possible. Jehovah’s Witnesses and a
Molokan who initially accepted the Law’s “alternative service” quickly
abandoned it when it became clear that the “alternative” was controlled and
overseen by the military. They were soon imprisoned, and Armenian has
failed follow its Council of Europe commitment to pardon – and therefore
release – its prisoners of conscience who object to compulsory military
service (see F18News 7 December 2010
).

69 imprisoned conscientious objectors

As of the beginning of July, 69 young men – all Jehovah’s Witnesses – were
imprisoned for refusing both military service and the military-controlled
alternative service, Jehovah’s Witnesses told Forum 18. All were sentenced
under Article 327, Part 1 of the Criminal Code, which punishes evasion of
the call-up to military or alternative service. The maximum sentence under
this article was increased to three years’ imprisonment in December 2005.

Of the current 69 prisoners, four are serving maximum sentences of 36
months, 35 are serving 30-month sentences, one is serving a 27-month
sentence, 28 are serving 24-month sentences, one is serving an 18-month
sentence and one a 12-month sentence. Seven of the prisoners were sentenced
in 2011, with the most recent two trials in April. The 69 prisoners are
serving their sentences in prisons in Artik, Erebuni, Kosh and Nubarashen.

The number of conscientious objector prisoners has hovered around 70 for
several years, almost all of them Jehovah’s Witnesses. One Molokan (an
early Russian Protestant-style Christian community), Pavel Karavanov, was
also imprisoned as a conscientious objector, being freed in 2006 (see
F18News 2 May 2007

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:

July 7, 2011

PONTIFICAL BLESSINGS WILL BE OFFERED THIS SUNDAY

Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy will offer Pontifical Prayers and
Blessings this Sunday, July 10, on the occasion of the 16th
anniversary of the election and consecration of His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. Archbishop Oshagan will
preside over Pontifical Prayers and Blessings at St. Gregory the
Illuminator Church in Philadelphia.

During the past 16 years, His Holiness Aram I has continued the rich
legacy of the Holy See of Cilicia, especially through its Seminary
which has produced outstanding clerical and lay leaders of the
church, and its prolific printing press which has produced an
impressive list of books on theology, history, biography, music and
literature.

We wish His Holiness good health and many more years of his visionary
and dynamic leadership.

In our church there is no difference between the person and the
position. To become Catholicos does not mean to acquire power, but to
empower the church, I mean the community. Being a spiritual shepherd
means servingService is a collective act. When we speak of the Holy
See of Cilicia, we mean the clergy, the dioceses, our organizations,
and most importantly, our faithful acting and serving together. During
the past sixteen years we lived this vision together, and we shall
continue this spiritual journey together for the glory of our church
and its people.

Catholicos Aram I, Sunday, July 3, 2011, in the Cathedral of
St. Gregory the Illuminator, Antelias, Lebanon.

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL VISIT

DATEV SUMMER INSTITUTE TOMORROW

Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Pennsylvania tomorrow where he will
spend the day with the 56 teens and their instructors and supervisors
at the 2011 St. Gregory of Datev Institute Summer Christian Studies
Program, currently underway at the St. Mary of Providence Center in
Elverson, Pennsylvania.

On Saturday evening, the Prelate will preside at the Datev 25th
anniversary celebration that will take place at St. Gregory the
Illuminator Church, Philadelphia. On Sunday His Eminence will preside
over the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory Church, attended by current
and past Datev students as well as friends and supporters.

PRELATE IN WATERTOWN

Last Sunday, July 3, Archbishop Oshagan presided over the Divine
Liturgy at St. Stephen Church, Watertown, Massachusetts. The Liturgy
was celebrated by the recently ordained Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian, who
is currently assisting Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, pastor of
St. Stephens. The Sermon was delivered by Der Antranig. Following the
Liturgy Archbishop Osagan led a flag-blessing ceremony of the
American flag on the occasion of Independence Day.

Archbishop Oshagan with Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, left, and
Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian inside St. Stephens Church.

The clergy and altar servers at the flag pole during flag blessing of
stars and stripes.

CAMP IN ARMENIA FOR ORPHANS

Archpriest Fr. Aram Stepanian, pastor of St. Asdvadzadzin Church in
Whitinsville, Massachusetts, is in Armenia where he is directing a
summer camp program for more than 30 youngsters that are enrolled in
the Prelacys Orphan Sponsorship program. Also directing the camp
program is Mrs. Shoushan Seropian. The arrangements for the camp were
undertaken by the Prelacys Yerevan office, St. Nerses the Great
Charitable and Social Organization. The campers enjoy different
summer recreational activities along with regular Bible studies and
liturgical services.

Archpriest Fr. Aram Stepanian and staff of St. Nerses the Great
Charitable Organization with the campers in front of the Prelacys
Yerevan office before boarding the bus taking them to the camp in
Dzaghgatzor.

The campers arrive at the camp grounds.

CILICIAN SEMINARY GRADUATION

During the graduation ceremony of the Seminary of the Holy See of
Cilicia, His Holiness Aram I thanked the Dean, the Vice Dean and the
faculty for their dedication in preparing spiritually and
intellectually mature clergy. His Holiness addressed the graduates
and said, The Seminary prepares disciples not only by teaching them
the Bible, the Liturgy and the tradition of our church, and academic
topics; it also gives the vision for evangelism and diakonia of the
church. We believe in the quality of our future clergy and not in the
number of graduates. I commend our clergy serving on all levels of
our church, because they are setting the example for the younger
generation. As you are leaving the seminary, I encourage you to
remain loyal to your vocation and faithful to our community.

BIBLE READING

Bible readings for Sunday, July 10, Fourth Sunday after Pentecost,
are: Isaiah 1:21-31; Romans 7:25-8:11; Matthew 12:38-45.

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, Teacher, we wish
to see a sign from you. But he answered them, An evil and adulterous
generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except
the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and
three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and
three nights the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth. The people
of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and
condemn it, because they repented the proclamation of Jonah, and see,
something greater than Jonah is here! The queen of the South will
rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because
she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of
Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!

When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through
waterless regions looking for a resting place, but it finds
none. Then it says, I will return to my house from which I Came. When
it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes
and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they
enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than
the first. So will it be also with this evil generation. (Matthew
12:38-45)

For a listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click here (

).

(

)

DISCOVERY OF RELICS OF ST. GREGORY

This Saturday, July 9, the Armenian Church commemorates one of the
three feast days dedicated to St. Gregory the Illuminator: The
discovery of his relics. St. Gregory is considered to be the Apostle
of Armenia. After years of evangelizing, St. Gregory sought solitude
and an ascetic life. He chose a cave on Mount Sepouh as his dwelling
place. It was here that Gregory died alone. Shepherds found his body
and without realizing who he was buried him under a pile of
stones. Later a hermit, Garnik of Pasen, who had been a disciple of
St. Gregory saw a vision and went to Mount Sepouh where he found the
site of Gregorys burial. He took the remains to the village of Tordan
for burial, where King Trtad was buried. Relics from the right hand
of St. Gregory are at the Holy Mother See of Etchmiadzin and the Holy
See of Cilicia. The Catholicoi mix the new muron (chrism) with the
old muron with the golden right hand that contains the relics.

(

)

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

July 11-July 22St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Sixth Annual
Summer Camp, 10 am to 3 pm. American heritage, religion, music, arts &
crafts, Armenian dance, trips. Space is limited; apply now. Camper
ages: 5-15, $325; CIT ages: 16-18, $225. Fees include daily meals and
snacks. Minimal fee for field trips. Installment payments welcome. For
information contact church office: 718-224-2275.

July 14-17The Armenian Relief Society 91st Eastern Regional
Conventionl Meetings, banquet and dance at the Hilton Providence, 21
Atwells Ave., Providence. Banquet Saturday, July 16; cocktail hour
6:30 pm; dinner 7:00 pm, $50. Music by Leon Janikian, Ken Kalajian,
Robert Raphaelian and Jason Naroian. For information: Joyce Yeremian,
401-354-8770. Reservations for banquet with check can be mailed to
ARS, 402 Broadway, Providence, Rhode Island 02909.

August 1St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, 12th
Golf Tournament. For details contact Gerry at 508-234-8763, or Hagop
at 508-473-7695.

August 7Annual picnic of St. Stephens Church, Watertown,
Massachusetts, at Camp Haiastan in Franklin, Massachusetts, 12 noon to
5 pm. For information: 617-924-7562 or at (

).

August 13-14Annual Armenian Fest and Blessing of the Grapes, at All
Saints Armenian Church, Glenview, Illinois. Join us for a fun-filled
day and enjoy our delicious food, music, backgammon tournament,
childrens activities, and more. Admission free. For information
847-998-1989.

August 14Assumption of the Holy Mother of God, Divine Liturgy,
Blessing of the Grapes, and Indoor Picnic in John Pashalian Hall,
presented by Ladies Guild of St. Illuminators Cathedral, New York
City. Various dishes of your choice for purchase. For information
212-689-5880.

August 14Annual picnic and Blessing of the Grapes at Holy Trinity
Church, 635 Grove Street, Worcester, Massachusetts. Join us for a
fun-filled day and enjoy our delicious food, music by DJ Shaheen,
backgammon tournament, childrens activities, and more. Admission is
free. For information [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
or 508-852-2414.

August 14Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church, Providence, Rhode Island,
Annual Picnic at Camp Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts, 12 noon to 6
pm, under auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. Divine
Liturgy will be celebrated in the Hye Hope Pavilion (lower camp) at 11
am. Free pony rides for children 2-4 pm, and the Bouncing
Bubble. Delicious shish, losh and chicken kebab and Armenian pastries
available all day. Live music provided by Michael Gregian and
Ensemble. Madagh and Blessing of the Grapes at 4 pm with the New
England clergy participating. All welcome. For information:
401-831-6399.

August 21St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
presents the greatest picnic in New England. Presided by His Eminence
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate, with participation of clergy
from the New England area. All invited.

September 16Annual Golf Tournament, All Saints Armenian Church,
Glenview, Illinois. For details contact Hagop Soulakian, 847-858-7685.

October 23Student Festival in celebration of the Year of the Armenian
Child. Details will follow.

Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacys web
site.

To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add [email protected] (mailto:[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] (mailto:[email protected])