Author: Kanayan Tamar

NAREK THERAPY: ARMENIANS READ MEDIEVAL MONK’S VERSES AS CURE FOR AILMENTS

HEALTH | 09.03.15 | 16:01

Satenik Tovmasyan
ArmeniaNow intern

It may be inexplicable after all, but Dr. Armen Nersisyan says reading
a book written by a medieval Armenian monk has proved to have a
healing effect on body and mind.

The Book of Lamentations, a long mystical poem in 95 sections written
by Saint Gregory of the Monastery of Narek (951-1003 AD), is familiar
to virtually all Armenians, yet few can say they fully understand
this piece of literature that uses Old Armenian, Grabar.

Giving up his professional scope of activity, Dr. Nersisyan,
a professor of psychiatry, spent the past 20 years of his life
researching and promoting the so-called Narek therapy, which uses
the book (often referred to as simply Narek in honor of the author)
for medical purposes.

Dr. Nersisyan claims that the effectiveness of Narek treatment is
based on the patient’s faith in the power of word and prayer.

“It cures only those who believe in the biblical efficacy. Narek
placates people’s souls, gives relief to their emotions and feelings,
as well as has a soporific effect. While hearing Narek, the patient
feels calmness and relief, which can be temporarily disturbed by
tension or anxiety. Unconscious thoughts and emotions may arise
causing physical and spiritual anxiety. Finally, all this leads to
repentance, contributing to the relief of physical and spiritual pain,”
Dr. Nersisyan says.

The researcher adds that to get a stronger effect people should not
just read, but also listen to the book. “This is a therapy method
based on verbal impact, that’s why patients should listen to rather
than just read the prayers for the sake of their quick recovery.”

According to the specialist, in some ways Narek therapy is much
more effective than psychoanalysis, which is a longer and very often
ineffective method. “People sometimes mistake Narek for hypnotherapy,
actually they are completely different things.

The latter impacts people’s subconscious, while the concept of Narek’s
word requires a sober mind.”

Dr. Nersisyan gives a list of many diseases which can be fully or at
least partially treated using the method, depending on the patients’
attitude. Among them, he says, are schizophrenia, Hepatitis C,
periodic disease, stress symptoms and depression.

Here is what a 27-year-old man suffering from schizophrenia wrote after
therapy sessions. “At first I had terrible headaches and would stop
listening as I could not stand the constant critical voices inside me,
but after some attempts I pulled through and now I feel much better.”

There are numerous testimonies given by patients, that’s why Dr.

Nersisyan says he is going to write a book which will consist of his
patients’ testimonies that he says once again prove the wizard power
of Narek.

Remarkably, last month Pope Francis declared St. Gregory of Narek
a doctor of the Universal Church. Also in February Narek’s name was
included in Rome’s martirology (the list of popular saints) as a monk
and teacher.

According to the representative of the Catholic Church, Fr. Petros
Vardabyan, Narek’s prayers aren’t the only ones in their kind. The
church breviary also contains other prayers that have a healing effect.

Fr. Petros says, however, that Narek should not be turned into a
fetish. “Only God and faith in God can cure people and not the book
or a person,” he says.

GEORGIA, ARMENIA INK FIRST JOINT PROGRAM DOCUMENT IN 15 YEARS

March 9, 2015 – 18:43 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Ministries of Justice of Armenia and Georgia,
Hovhannes Manukyan and Thea Tsulukiani inked a memorandum of
understanding.

The document, signed during Armenian delegation’s visit to Georgia last
week, envisages cooperation in the notarial system, stage registration
of juridical persons, enforcement of legal acts and registration of
the acts of civil status, Justice Ministry press service reports.

Welcoming conclusion of the memorandum, the Ministers noted that
this was the first joint program document signed over the past
fifteen years.

At the briefing following the memorandum signing ceremony, the
officials stressed the importance of collaboration between the two
friendly countries. In addition, the ministers emphasized the exchange
of experience as a key priority in the justice system.

AZERBAIJANI PROPAGANDA PRODUCT OVER AGHDAM EVENTS THROWN INTO TRASH IN DENMARK

11:22 09/03/2015 >> SOCIETY

Azerbaijani propaganda once again made an unsuccessful attempt to hold
another event on the 23rd anniversary of the events in Aghdam, this
time in Denmark, witnesses having shot a video of it told Panorama.am.

In a factually empty square and with evident indifference of the
passers-by the representatives of Azerbaijani and Turkish diaspora
chanted slogans and demonstrated photos of those killed during
the events in the Balkans, presenting them as the “victims of
Khojalu.”[]

Remarkably, the propaganda product that the organizers used during
the event was thrown into the trash bins near the square and trampled
under people’s feet after the event.

On February 26, 1992, during the war in Karabakh, around 200 to 300
people (according to Human Rights Watch, and 600 according to the
version propagated by Azerbaijan) were killed in unknown circumstances
near the city of Aghdam. They have been deliberately withheld by the
Azerbaijani authorities in the midst of the military actions.

Population of the village of Khojalu, which was one of the firing
points shooting at the blockaded Stepanakert (among five others) was
kept in the village for months by force and was not evacuated by the
authorities of Azerbaijan deliberately, in order to use them as human
shields later. Residents of Khojalu coming out through the humanitarian
corridor, which the self-defense forces of NKR had left open, freely
passed more than 10 km and reached Aghdam city controlled by the
Azerbaijani troops. Later, not far from the positions of Azerbaijani
troops dead bodies of the villagers were found. The exact death toll
remains unknown as the official Baku publishes data contradicting each
other. Parliamentary Commission investigating the tragic death of the
civilians at Aghdam city was dissolved by the order of Heydar Aliyev,
the investigative materials are kept secret.

ISRAELI PRESIDENT TO ATTEND PRAYER DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS MEMORY

10:18, 9 March, 2015

JERUSALEM, MARCH 9, ARMENPRESS: The main event in Jerusalem, devoted to
the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, will take place on April 24
at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, where a liturgy of
commemoration will be held. The Head of the Armenian National Committee
of Israel Georgette Avagian told Armenpress that an agreement was
reached and the President of Israel Reuven Rivlin promised to attend
the Church on that day and commemorate the innocent victims of the
Armenian Genocide.

“He is the friend of the Armenian people. He talked about the Armenian
Genocide a lot and condemned it. Recently he has delivered a speech on
the Genocide at the UN. He promised to visit the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre of Jerusalem on April 24 to pay tribute to the innocent
victims of the Genocide”, – said Georgette Avagian, adding that the
participation of other authorities of Israel in the events is being
clarified.

CONTRACT SERVICEMAN ARTHUR AFYAN FOUND HANGED

Arthur Afyan, a contract servicemen of Russian Federal Security
Service’s Frontier Department in Armenia, has been found hanged, his
family told Aysor.am. They are awaiting results of forensic tests to
understand whether he committed suicide.

Arthur Afyan, 26, went missing on February 21. His wife informed
Armenian law enforcers of his disappearance. Investigative bodies
opened a criminal case under the Criminal Code’s article ‘murder’.

Afyan earlier told his wife he had run into debt.

09.03.15, 14:24

MOST WOMEN IN ARMENIAN VILLAGES HARMED WITH PESTS

15:44 March 06, 2015

EcoLur

Most women in Armenian villages are harmed with pesticides. In rural
areas the men have to leave the country in the search for a job,
while women have to deal with agricultural activities using pesticides.

“There are pesticides, which tend to get accumulated. They come out
of the organism through sweating, while during pregnancy the pests
can infect the foetus and through milk during lactation…” said
experts of “Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment” NGO
Lilik Simonyan and Qnarik Grigoryan at the press conference held at
EcoLur Press Club on 6 March.

“Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment” NGO conducted
studies in 20 communities Ararat, Armavir, Tavush and Gegharkounik
regions and carried out surveys with 567 people, mostly women. As a
result, 70% of the surveyed is conscious of the hazardousness of the
pesticides, but all four regions use pesticides by almost 100%. When
visiting the medical institutions in the communities, it was found out
that most doctors are not aware how to help in case of such poisoning.

The NGO studies in 20 communities show that pest warehouses are not
controlled and the pests get spread. The pests should be accumulated
urgently together with the contaminated land area so as to manage
the hazardous substances in proper manner.

EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO BE OPENED IN CZECH REP.

11:27, 9 March, 2015

YEREVAN, MARCH 9, ARMENPRESS. On March 8, at the invitation of the
Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the
Czech Republic Jan Bartosek, the delegation led by the Vice President
of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov
left for the Czech Republic on three-day official visit.

The Information and Public Relations Department of the National
Assembly of the Republic of Armenia informed “Armenpress” that the
deputy of the ARF Faction Artsvik Minasyan and the Chief of Staff,
General Secretary Hrayr Tovmasyan are in the delegation.

On March 9 the parliamentary delegation will take part in the official
opening of the exhibition entitled “Armenian Genocide: Front Page
Coverage in the World Press” to be held under the auspice of the
Committee on Petitions of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech
Republic, where the Head of the Armenian Delegation will deliver a
speech. On the same day the NA Delegation will meet with Jan Bartosek,
the Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of
the Czech Republic.

On March 10 the NA Vice President Eduard Sharmazanov will deliver
a speech-lecture at the conference entitled “Crime of Genocide:
Legal and Political Aspects” in Charles University. The Armenian
parliamentarians’ meeting with ZdenÄ~[k Å kromach, the Vice President
of the Czech Senate is scheduled.

SUMMIT IN RIGA TO MAKE EU-ARMENIA COOPERATION PROSPECTS CLEAR – ANALYST

YEREVAN, March 9. /ARKA/. The Riga summit will make the prospects of
Armenia-EU cooperation clear, political analyst Narek Galstyan said
on the air, on Sputnik-Armenia radio, as cited by Novosti-Armenia.

The Eastern Partnership summit will be held in Riga in May, 2015.

Yet, the expert said, the expectations from the summit should not be
high. According to Galstyan, the summit may also specify the tools
for cooperation, the format and the range of issues on the fields of
the cooperation.

When starting the neighborhood program Europe set an ambitious goal,
i.e. to create a stability zone, but overlooked interests of some
major geopolitical centers, the analyst said.

Initially uniform subject matters and instruments were used to various
countries in a diverse region, the expert said. As a result, Belarus
isolated itself, Azerbaijan was not “in a rush” either and said the
EU is its energy partner only.

Finally, the program came to a standstill after the Ukrainian events,
Armenia’s refusal to sign association with the EU after 3.5-year talks,
EU sanctions and Russia’s retaliation, Galstyan said.

Today the EU is ready to meet its partners halfway and to take into
account their unique needs, according to the analyst. -0–

TendersInfo – Project Notices
March 7, 2015 Saturday

Yerevan Street Lighting Project

Business sector:Municipal and environmental infrastructure
Notice type:Public
Environmental category:B
Target board date:06 May 2015
PSD disclosed:06 Mar 2015

Project description and objectives : The EBRD is considering financing
a project aimed at the rehabilitation and modernisation of the street
lighting network in the Armenian capital city, Yerevan. The key
project components include 80 km of underground cabling in primary and
secondary streets, the replacement of existing lighting fixtures with
modern, energy efficient technology, and the installation of a central
lighting-management system with automated control and energy
monitoring.

The proceeds of the EBRD loan will finance a pilot project to
refurbish the street lighting network of 28 streets in Yerevan.
Transition impact :

1. Successful private sector participation and institutional strengthening:
The Project will be contracted on a design-install-maintain basis by
the company selected following a transparent tendering process. The
winning bidder will need to present energy saving targets, carry out
the equipment installation and ensure a multi-year performance
guarantee for the installed solution.
2. Demonstration of new replicable behaviours/skills related to the
introduction of the best available technology:
The Project includes the introduction of advanced sustainable energy
techniques, compliant with international best practice. The reduction
in the use of mercury-based lighting fixtures will reduce
environmental hazards at landfills. Better illumination of the Yerevan
streets will improve road safety, potentially reduce crime rates and
contribute to improving social behaviour in the city.
Transition benchmarks include:

(i) replication of LED-based street lighting solutions in at least two other
municipalities in the country, or in the wider Caucasus region if necessary to
find sufficiently large municipalities.
(ii) replication of multi-year performance-based street lighting
contracting to the private sector in at least two other municipalities
in the country or in the wider Caucasus region if necessary to find
sufficiently large municipalities.
Expected transition impact rating
Moderate/Good with Medium Risk
The client : The Borrower will be the Republic of Armenia.
Implementation of the investment will be the responsibility of Yerevan
Municipality s Street Lighting Company.
EBRD finance : A sovereign loan of up to US$ 4 million to be
complemented by a grant component of up to US$ 2 million to be funded
by an international donor (exact source to be confirmed).

Total project cost : The total project cost is estimated to be up to
US$ 7 million including technical cooperation.
Environmental and social categorisation, impact, and
mitigation : The proposed Project has been categorised B in accordance
with the 2014 EBRD Environmental and Social (E&S) Policy, as the
potential impacts are expected to be site-specific, readily i
Project completion date : 2016-12-31 12:00:00
Major organization : REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

Address : Armenia

Country :Armenia
Financier : European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD),

Financier address : European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

One Exchange Square
London EC2A 2JN
United Kingdom

Website : /
Tel: +44 20 7338 6794
Fax: +44 20 7338 7472
Email: [email protected]

Futuro Quotidiano, Italia
07 mar 2015

“ARMENIA, IL POPOLO DELL’ARCA”: IN MOSTRA LA RESILIENZA DI UNA CIVILTA’

Di Giulia Di Stefano il 7 marzo 2015

“I tre pilastri su cui si fondano i valori fondamentali della nostra
società europea, il mondo classico, quello cristiano e l’illuminismo
sono oggi sempre più a rischio: basti vedere quello che è stato fatto
dai terroristi dell’Isis ai capolavori del museo di Mosul. L’Armenia
ci insegna che occorre resistere a queste barbare minacce, con la
forza del pensiero e quella dell’anima”.

A parlare così, è Louis Godart, archeologo di fama internazionale e
Consigliere per la Conservazione del patrimonio Artistico del
Presidente della Repubblica Italiana, in occasione della conferenza
stampa inaugurale della mostra “Armenia, il popolo dell’Arca” al
Salone Centrale del Complesso del Vittoriano. La ricca esposizione di
reperti archeologici, codici miniati, opere d’arte ed illustrazioni
appartenenti all’antichissima civiltà armena sarà aperta al pubblico,
con ingresso gratuito, fino al 3 maggio prossimo e fa parte delle
iniziative per la commemorazione del centenario dal genocidio armeno,
che fu perpetrato nel 1915, dall’Impero Ottomano, ai danni di più di
un milione e mezzo di armeni residenti su suolo turco.

Un viaggio tra cultura e identità

Una mostra per testimoniare quello che sarebbe dovuto essere
annientato e che invece non solo ha resistito, ma ha anche continuato
a fiorire, proprio come i rami che germogliano dalla croce
nell’iconografia armena. “Armenia, il popolo dell’Arca” parla
innanzitutto della resilienza di una civiltà, votata nel corso dei
secoli a una continua diaspora e che non ha però mai perso la propria
identità, le proprie radici che affondano nel cristianesimo più
antico, in una commistione etnica e culturale tra oriente ed
occidente.

Articolata in sette sezioni, la mostra intende guidare il visitatore
in un viaggio affascinante attraverso reperti antichissimi, quali
capitelli e portali in pietra del V secolo d.C., oggetti preziosi come
la Croce con le reliquie di San Giorgio proveniente dal Museo di
Echmiadzin, codici miniati appartenenti alla Biblioteca dei padri
Mechitaristi di San Lazzaro di Venezia, tra cui il pregiato Vangelo
della regina Mlke risalente all’anno 862. Vera chicca della mostra è
l’Omiliario di Mush, manoscritto miniato del 1202 dalle incredibili
dimensioni e dal ragguardevole peso di 37 kg, le cui vicissitudini
novecentesche sono assurte a simbolo del coraggio e della resilienza
del popolo armeno: il prezioso codice fu infatti diviso in due parti e
così tratto in salvo dal monastero dei Santi Apostoli, nella valle di
Mush, da due donne armene in fuga dalle stragi compiute dagli ottomani
nel 1915. Non a caso anche Antonia Arslan, scrittrice e autrice del
bestseller “La Masseria delle Allodole”, nel 2012 dedicò il suo
romanzo “Il Libro di Mush” proprio a questa storia.

Genocidio, diaspora, integrazioni

Le ultime due sezioni espositive sono dedicate, rispettivamente, al
genocidio armeno del 1915 e ai rapporti tra l’Italia e l’Armenia. La
sala in cui viene ricordato il massacro portato avanti dall’Impero
Ottomano all’ombra della Prima guerra mondiale, sterminio spesso
dimenticato dall’opinione pubblica internazionale e negato ancora oggi
dallo stesso governo turco, è una sala buia, scarna, con al centro un
enorme schermo che illustra le mappe e i numeri del genocidio e della
diaspora. A disposizione dei visitatori, una serie di postazioni con
cuffie per poter ascoltare la lettura di alcuni brani di intellettuali
e politici primo novecenteschi che affrontarono pubblicamente e con
coraggio la questione del genocidio armeno: le parole di Antonio
Gramsci, Luigi Luzzatti, Filippo Meda rivivono per gli ascoltatori con
la voce dell’attore di origini armene Paolo Kessisoglu. Infine,
nell’ultima sezione, si parla di integrazione tra popolo armeno e
popolo italiano: una contaminazione che affonda le sue radici in
secoli lontani, a partire dal tardo Medioevo, con il fiorire delle
relazioni mercantili tra l’Italia e l’Oriente. Comunità armene nascono
e si sviluppano un po’ in tutto il paese, da Venezia a Livorno, da
Genova a Roma, da Padova a Napoli, con la presenza di artisti,
mercanti, monaci e scrittori che porteranno con sé, di volta in volta,
il loro genio e le loro tradizioni. Dalle pendici del biblico monte
Ararat, oggi geograficamente compreso entro i confini turchi ma da
sempre considerato nucleo originario della propria identità nazionale
dagli armeni, ai piedi del Campidoglio: il viaggio della cultura e
della civiltà armene sembra incredibile, misterioso, tortuoso e,
seppure a tratti confinato nelle pagine più buie della nostra storia
contemporanea, non è mai finito ed è potuto giungere fino a noi, oggi,
con la forza della memoria e della testimonianza.

Giulia Di Stefano