Author: Kanayan Tamar

BOXE
Ce soir à Halle (Allemagne), l’Arménien Leon Harth affronte le Russe
Murat Gassiev pour le titre européen IBF des lourds

Ce soir à Halle (Allemagne) en boxe l’Arménien Leon Harth, de son vrai
nom Lévon Hakopyan, né à Armavir (Arménie) en 1988, qui combat sous
les couleurs de l’Allemagne tentera de s’emparer du titre de champion
d’Europe IBF des poids lourds. L’Arménien, invaincu en 9 combats
professionnels sera opposé au champion d’Europe au géant Russe (1,92m)
de 20 ans Murat Gassiev (17 combats, 17 victoires). En cas de
victoire, Leon Harth deviendra champion d’Europe IBF des poids lourds.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 30 août 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

LAUSD Will Not Renew Gulen-Linked Schools’ Charters

Wednesday, August 27th, 2014

The Gulen-affiliated Magnolia Science Academy 6 in Palms will not have
its charter renewed

LOS ANGELES–The Los Angeles Unified School District Board on Tuesday
voted unanimously to not renew the charters of two schools operating
under the Gulen-affiliated Magnolia Science Academy.

The Magnolia Academy 6, a middle school in Palms and the Magnolia
Science Academy 7, an elementary school in Northridge, were both
slated to be shut down after an LAUSD audit deemed them insolvent
based on IRS standards due to a $1.7 million deficit and charged
financial misappropriations by the school administrations. The audit
also found that the school had
However, in late July LA Superior Court Judge Luis A. Lavin granted an
injunction in order to not disrupt the student community, but ordered
a strict investigation into the finances of the MERF and the Magnolia
schools. Lavin’s ruling means that the schools will remain open after
Tuesday’s vote but their charters will not be renewed for operation
beyond that.

This ruling comes a week after the Joint Legislative Audit Committee
called for a statewide audit of the Magnolia Science Academies of
California, which runs 12 tax payer-funded charter schools in the
state that have ties to the Gueln Institute, affiliated to the Turkish
cleric Fettulah Gulen.

The audit, requested by State Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, brings
forth major concerns of misappropriation of tax payer funds of the 12
Magnolia charter schools and their parent company, the Magnolia
Education and Research Foundation (MERF).

“Charter Schools play an important role in the public education system
by delivering a high quality education to our students. I am deeply
troubled that public education funds are being abused by the Magnolia
Academies. It was important to bring this request forward to ensure
that our tax payer dollars aren’t being misspent, at the expense of
the students, and the taxpayers who support public education.” said
Nazarian.

On the national level, Gulen-affiliated schools have come under
investigation for questionable financial practices, to filling teacher
positions with often unqualified people brought in from Turkey.

Gulen-affiliated charter schools in Arizona, Louisiana, Pennsylvania,
Texas and New Jersey have been under investigation by the FBI since
2011.

L’Orient-Le Jour, Liban
29 aout 2014

Édouard Pertian, chantre des humbles et de la nature

Portrait

Sorti de l’ombre et de la folie, Van Gogh de l’Arménie profonde depuis
l’ère soviétique jusqu’à nos jours, Édouard Pertian chevauche presque
un siècle de tourmente et de quête existentielle. En tendant toujours
vers la sérénité et la paix.

Edgar DAVIDIAN | OLJ

Une histoire de vie digne d’un roman. Un roman hugolien, balzacien,
tolstoïen ou tout simplement . Entre ombre et lumière,
déchéance et reconnaissance publique, brimade et quête éperdue, une
vie d’errance, de privation et surtout de refuge dans la peinture. Ce
serait un peu Van Gogh, dans toute sa déroute de traversée humaine, au
pays de Grégoire l’Illuminateur. Telle est la bouleversante histoire
du peintre Édouard Pertian.

Exil, misère, solitude, aliénation, damnation et salvation se côtoient
dans son pinceau frémissant de tension, imbibé d’une certaine révolte
et pourtant tendu vers la sérénité et la paix. En couleurs vibrantes
et flamboyantes. Sur fond de contrastes violents et de lignes
tourmentées. Dans des paysages d’une simplicité désarmante où
chevauchées fantastiques d’alezans aux crinières folles épousent les
dômes des églises abandonnées à flancs de coteaux aux herbages
desséchés.

Édouard Pertian, c’est ce cri entre la désespérance des hommes et la
mansuétude de Dieu, c’est ce regard entre le délabrement des villages
de bout du monde et le réconfort auprès des animaux aussi perdus que
les vivants. C’est ce chant de la terre entre cycle des saisons et la
résignation des gens humbles.

Mais on revient toujours aux origines pour expliquer une oeuvre, une
création. Celle de cet artiste, né en 1930, en pleine horreur et
dictature staliniennes, dans les quartiers les plus putrides d’Erevan,
porte déjà l’empreinte de la souffrance et du désarroi.

Cette peinture aux humeurs moroses et grises déplaît au système
stakhanoviste. On corrige sans ménagement le récalcitrant qui ne se
plie pas aux diktats de l’art soviétique prônant le bonheur des
ouvriers dans le travail acharné et la gloire à un État déifié. Mais
Édouard Pertian, impertinent coloriste, impénitent rêveur et
incorrigible dissident, se dérobe et retourne à Gond, son quartier de
misère et de miséreux.

Il vit d’expédients et peint tout ce qui lui tombe sous la main. Une
frénésie créative pour survivre, respirer, garder la tête hors de
l’eau, éviter la folie absolue, échapper au sort funeste de suicidé de
la société. Sur son chevalet nomade, car il se jette sur les routes,
il ressuscite les pierres et les pierrailles des masures, aborde des
paysannes devisant avec leurs fichus et haillons, croise un
violoncelliste qui joue en pleine rue devant des chiens indifférents
ou médusés, prie dans des églises isolées aux nefs branlantes,
surprend des hameaux calfeutrés au coeur des verdures indisciplinées,
médite devant des cerisiers en fleurs, blancs comme les voiles d’une
mariée.

Richesse et pauvreté, éclat du jour et décomposition des mes privées
de lumière, telle est cette peinture d’une grande vigueur. Une
peinture sans sophistication, mais originale et intense par son
impressionnisme décapant. Une peinture où les branches des arbres,
même au printemps, ont des torsions et des contorsions d’une demande
de la dernière grce. Témoignage éloquent d’une Arménie en prise avec
l’histoire. On ne passe pas impunément l’écran du temps et encore
moins les changements des systèmes politiques.

Aujourd’hui, au gré d’une rencontre fortuite, à plus de 80 ans, pris
en charge par un galeriste libanais, Édouard Pertian a largement
dépassé les frontières du pays de l’Araxe. Et ses toiles sont sous les
spots des cimaises de Pékin à New York, en passant par Buenos Aires,
Montréal, Beyrouth et Las Vegas. Un repêchage salué avec enthousiasme
par la presse et le public.
Ses déshérités, ses natures ombrageuses et joyeuses à la fois, son
spleen nihiliste, ses carrioles d’un autre temps, ses variations de
thèmes de personnages démunis et sa faune domestique, entre
caquètement, cavalcade, miaulement et aboiement, révèlent un monde
touchant. Au plus près de la simplicité et du dénuement. Dans un
lyrisme aux horizons souvent plombés malgré l’image d’une échappée
belle. Avec une splendeur au naturel et une inébranlable foi en un
Dieu bienveillant. Le tout nimbé, avec éclat, d’humilité, de dignité
et de beauté.
Le pinceau d’Édouard Pertian est celui d’un vrai chroniqueur rural.
Dénonciateur, certes, mais profondément humain. Tout en teintes
fauves, veloutées, hérissées, douces, caressantes. Comme le parfum
d’une nostalgie indéfinissable. Tel un feu de bois qui rassure et
réchauffe.

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Aug 28 2014

Could a Euromaidan happen on Yerevan’s Republic Square?

28 August 2014

After the events of the last decade in Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and
Ukraine, experts have started serious talks about colour revolutions
in the South Caucasus. Some analysts say that the West is mobilizing
opposition media, NGOs and politicians to open a new anti-Russian
front in the Transcaucasus.

The term “democracy” in Armenia has long been exploited for
information wars. For quite a while, Washington has been hesitating
whether to support President Serzh Sargsyan or put bets on the
opposition. After the victory of Sargsyan in early presidential polls,
it seemed that the power was in the hands of a politician loyal to
Moscow. However, it is hard to say that Armenia has a pure pro-Russian
position. Sargsyan himself is trying to gain the support of both
Russia and the U.S.

Three years ago, on September 3, it seemed that Yerevan had taken a
pro-Russian path, that the mood in the republic was not that clear.
U.S.-financed structures promoting democratic values are collecting
political information and training civil activists too intensively.

According to the Center for World Journalism and Research, the work of
non-governmental organizations in Armenia has reached a grand scale in
recent years. The Justice Ministry has registered thousands of NGOs.

After the collapse of the USSR, the Armenian Assembly of America, a
structure related to the State Department and the Armenian lobby in
the Congress, has been in the avant-garde of American influence in
Armenia. Leader of the Assembly Raffi Hovannisian studied and worked
in the U.S. In 1991, Hovannisian became the first foreign minister of
independent Armenia. By the way, Westerners integrated into the
Armenian political elite pretty fast: State Department apologist
Zhirayr Liparytyan became the president’s chief advisor, Sepukh
Tashchyan, the supervisor of economic reforms, became the energy
minister, Vagram Nersisyants, the executive director of the
All-Armenian Bank, became the World Bank representative in Armenia.

Offices of the U.S., UK, France, Germany, Poland and Switzerland
finance several humanitarian projects in Armenia today. Their goals
are to protect human rights, develop mass media, organize conferences
and round-table conferences, student and scientific exchanges, share
specialists’ experience.

Armenia gets assistance from: USAID, the Eurasia Partnership
Foundation, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC),
London-based British Council and the Department for International
Development (DFID), Germany’s GTZ, International IDEA, the
International Organization for Migration (IOM), World Vision Armenia,
NDI, IREX, the Environmental Public Advocacy Center (EPAC), the Open
Society Institute (OSI).

NGOs are closely connected to the government, offering grants for some
structures. Distribution of governmental grants is under the control
of a monitoring group which includes functionaries of the presidential
administration and officials of partner organizations. In 2010-2012,
31 organizations got governmental grants worth $1.2 million.

NGOs are involved in foreign political processes. USAID finances the
Support Armenia – Turkey Rapprochement project. USAID initiated grants
worth a million dollars for Armenian organizations, individuals, and
companies within the framework of programs for normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations. The Eurasia Partnership Foundation,
Yerevan Press Club, International Center for Human Development, Union
of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia are involved from the
Armenian side.

The Eurasia Partnership Foundation (a branch of the Eurasia Fund of
the U.S.) is active in projects related to mobilization of political
activity, formation of alternative media and protection of religious
minorities. By 2008, Eurasia spent over $15 million on grant programs
in Armenia.

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) assists such organizations
as the Helsinki Association, the Helsinki Committee of Armenia, the
Caucasus Center for Peacekeeping Initiatives, the Vanadzor Bureau of
the Helsinki Civil Assembly, the Committee for Protection of Freedom
of Speech, investigative journalists.

The Helsinki Association received a grant worth $62,250 last year to
organize monitoring and information support for protection of human
rights. In 2010-2013, America allocated $205,350 to the organization.

The Helsinki Committee of Armenia is actively speaking out against
Eurasian integration of Armenia. It received $46,474 in 2010 to
consolidate civil society on the grounds of freedom and democracy in
rural areas of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Caucasus Center for Peacekeeping Initiatives was receiving NED
support for promotion of cooperation and mutual understanding in civil
society in the Caucasus in 2010-2013.

The Vanadzor Bureau of the Helsinki Civil Assembly considers Moscow’s
membership in Eurasian projects unconstitutional. It received $131,650
from the NED. The Bureau is also supported by Human Rights Watch,
Amnesty International, the Civil Society Institute, Transparency
International.

The Vanadzor Legal Clinic project got $9,985 from the American Bar
Association. The project to strengthen human rights in the Armed
Forces of Armenia got $20,280 from the U.S. embassy in Armenia. The
project of institutional development of the Vanadzor Bureau got
$161,520 from the Open Society Institute. The latter is a Soros Fund
founded in Armenia in 1997. It has already spent over $24 million in
Armenia.

The Committee for Protection of Freedom of Speech received $32,150
from the NED last year for monitoring state information sources. The
Committee needs to check websites of 52 state organs and regional
administrations. In 2010, the organization got $32,320.

The Investigative Journalists got $187,400, the Asparez Journalist
Club got $58,650, the Independent Network of Journalists got $83,200
for creating a negative image of Russian-Armenian cooperation.

Experts are confident that such financing and training to use
political technologies of this part of NGOs will give them a great
advantage among other public forces..

Many organizations have actively been operating in Ukraine.
Non-governmental and independent, they are connected to governmental
structures, special services or centers of foreign policy-formation.
The dependence of the human rights movements on their Western funds
and institutions has put them under control of donors’ political
goals.

Materials of the Center for World Journalism and Research were used
for the article.

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Aug 28 2014

Armenia at crossroads

28 August 2014 – 10:58am

By Victoria Panfilova, a Nezavisimaya Gazeta columnist, exclusively
for Vestnik Kavkaza

Iran and Armenia are two countries in some form of a blockade. Tehran
is suffering from sanctions imposed because of its nuclear program.
Communications of Yerevan with Azerbaijan and Turkey are blocked due
to the occupation of 20% of Azerbaijani territory in Nagorno-Karabakh
and seven surrounding districts. It seems logical that Tehran and
Yerevan try to help each other improve the situation. Iran has
recently offered Armenia to form a free trade zone (FTZ). The offer
will most likely be accepted. On the other hand, there are some
problems. Creation of a FTZ will have to match with Armenia’s joining
the Customs Union (CU) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU).

Washington did express disappointment at the sudden intensification of
Armenian-Iranian mutual interests a few years ago, at the peak of the
anti-Iranian sanctions, but it eventually turned a blind eye to the
developments. The U.S. considered that there would be nothing bad in
realization of projects of Yerevan and Tehran, considering the
complicated situation in Armenia. But there was another explanation to
the serenity in the U.S.: specialists there figured that the two
countries would achieve nothing. Both versions seem legitimate. The
cooperation was not intensive, although important for Armenia. U.S.
experts were right when they said that all the projects would remain
nothing more than projects.

According to the agreements, Armenia and Iran were to build a power
line that would supply Iranian border territories with electricity.
The sides agreed to build an oil pipeline from Iran to Armenia. The
Armenian border territories were to build a refinery with enough
output to make gasoline exports unnecessary for Armenia. As a gesture
of friendliness, Iran declared zero transit fees for Armenian
freighters. For some time it announced zero fees for Armenia at the
ports of Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf and Enzeli on the Caspian
coast.

“Unfortunately, things did not get any farther than words, not a
single project has been realized. Not even a single deal has been
signed, just protocols of intention that have remained intentions. But
the projects were interesting indeed,” Sevak Sarukhanyan, deputy
director of the Noravank Fund for Strategic Studies, told Vestnik
Kavkaza. In his opinion, the main problem was lack of money. Iran had
the financial burden in all the projects. Opportunities were probably
evaluated incompletely. “The funds needed were not found. Because of
international sanctions, Tehran had no opportunities for investments
abroad. The same sanctions were impeding attraction of investments. As
a result, it was all left on paper,” said Sarukhanyan.

In his words, Iran lost interest in Armenian electricity after a
couple of years. Concerning petroleum projects, they looked dubious
from the very start. Building a refinery is a very costly initiative,
in terms of financing and technologies. Pumping gasoline through the
pipeline is not a very clear idea, because Iran needs the fuel itself.

The same problem applies to freighting. The offer to lift fees on
roads and at ports was a good-neighbourly offer. The question is how
much freighting is needed to make a profit. No answer has been found.

“Of all the ideas in the package, I think that only construction of a
railway line to connect the railways of Iran and Armenia was topical.
However, that proposal will probably lose value if the
Qazvin-Rasht-Astara line connecting the railway networks of Iran and
Azerbaijan is implemented,” said Sarukhanyan. In that case, Tehran
will lose interest in access to Armenia, especially when the Abkhaz
railway that would give access to Russia through Georgia remains
closed. Iran will get access to Georgian Black Sea ports through
Azerbaijan, then to Russia or anywhere else.

The expert considers the idea to form a FTZ interesting and essential
for both countries. Firstly, Iran is still under pressure of the
sanctions and tries to liberalize trade relations with its neighbours.
Tehran calls it a policy of forming free trade zones and free
terminals, using them to bypass restrictions and barriers caused by
Western sanctions. Secondly, Armenia has reconsidered the situation in
Iran: trade turnover has been dropping in the last years. If they do
not boost trade, Armenian-Iranian economic relations will stay solely
in the energy sector.

“Formation of the FZT does not conflict with Armenia joining the CU
and the EaEU. You should not think that Iranian goods would start
entering the CU market without customs fees. It is a purely
Armenian-Iranian project and any Iranian product entering the CU from
Armenia will be given a fee,” supposes Sevak Sarukhanyan. In general,
according to the expert, Tehran and Yerevan need to do something in
the economic sector to make relations in the sector meet at least a
satisfactory level of bilateral political relations. Armenia and Iran
have been supporting each other on the world arena in many issues.
Although the support has not played a decisive role in resolving
issues, it established good-neighbourly relations. Now they need an
economic filling. “That is why we can assume that other offers will
appear after the proposal to form the free trade zone,” said
Sarukhanyan. The question of whether they will be implemented remains
open.

Nalbandyan’s Weird Reaction

Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments – 28 August 2014, 23:00

“We welcome the resolution of California Senate on recognition of
Independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

The more Azerbaijan continues to undermine the efforts of Armenia and
the international community aimed at the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the more new decisions and resolutions can
be expected paving way towards the international recognition of the
Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh,” runs the statement of the NKR Ministry
of Foreign Affairs stated after the resolution of California Senate
recognizing the independence of NKR.

Nalbandyan who holds the position of foreign minister of Armenia, is
saying something interesting. So what do we have? If Azerbaijan does
not hinder the negotiations, will the independence of Artsakh not be
recognized? And what is the purpose of Armenia which participates in
the negotiation? Isn’t the purpose the recognition of independence of
Artsakh? Isn’t it unimportant whether Azerbaijan hinders the
negotiations or not?

Couldn’t the minister of foreign affairs of Armenia be more creative
in his statement on the decision of California Senate (or at least he
could have googled better ideas in some term paper by a student of
international relations) than using the resolution of California
Senate to chide Azerbaijan for not being constructive.

What is the purpose of this urge of playing down on this act of state
level? Is this a conscious urge or is it already taking place
automatically?

The most important thing is that Nalbandyan knows very well that the
recognition of the Senate of California does not open up any way for
international recognition. This recognition has nothing to do with
either the number of U.S.A. states or the process of recognition by
the states.

This process is one of the sub-layers of the international policy. It
would be delusion and self-deception to mix up this later with
geopolitics. It is another issue that this issue has become a foreign
policy later for Armenia because geopolitics itself has been handed
over the Russia, including thanks to Nalbandyan.

In this respect, the temptation to “clean up” total failures in one of
the sub-layers is big but the realities do not change, and the
international recognition of Artsakh depends on the activity that
Armenia and Artsakh will develop at the geopolitical level.

ARMENIE
Les Yézidis d’Arménie mobilisés

Communauté forte de 50000 membres la communauté yézide d’Arménie
exhorte le gouvernement à faire plus pour aider leurs coreligionnaires
qui sont menacés par les insurgés islamistes en Irak.

Quelques 400 000 Yézidis ont fui leurs maisons, soit pour trouver
refuge en Turquie ou en Syrie, ou la recherche d’un endroit sûr à
l’intérieur de l’Irak. Le sort de milliers de personnes dans les
montagnes de Sinjar a attiré l’attention du monde et a incité les
parachutages occidentaux de nourriture et d’eau.

Des nouvelles de leur sort ont suscité l’action chez les Yézidis d’Arménie.

>, a déclaré le
porte-parole. Il a dit que le gouvernement à Erevan envisagerait
d’envoyer une aide humanitaire aux réfugiés. Murazi a dit qu’après
avoir rencontré les membres de la communauté yézide, le vice-Premier
ministre Armen Gevorgyan a promis que 50000 $ seraient dépenser pour
l’aide humanitaire.

> a déclaré
Murazi. > .

Ruben Melkonian, chef adjoint du département des études orientales à
l’Université d’Etat d’Erevan, a déclaré que les Arméniens doivent
bouger et aider les Yézidis. >.

Murazi a dit que beaucoup des Yézidis déplacées serait contents
d’avoir la chance de se déplacer en Arménie, tout comme de nombreux
Arméniens chrétiens de Syrie l’ont fait. Mais il dit que le
gouvernement bloque parce qu’il n’y a pas d’arrangement de visa
accéléré en place avec l’Irak.

>, a déclaré Alik Namoyan, chef du village yézide de Mirak.

Expert on Armenian FM’s participation in Erdogan’s inauguration

14:09 28/08/2014 >> POLITICS

Turkish studies expert Hakob Chakryan does not think that Armenia
should not have agreed to attend the inauguration of Turkish
President-elect Erdogan at the Foreign Minister level.

At a meeting with reporters on Thursday, Chakryan said that such
events usually enable the participants to meet and talk to each other
and if Armenia sent a lower-level delegation, it would get isolated.

According to the expert, currently, the U.S. and EU are putting
pressure on Turkey because it refuses to normalize its relations with
Armenia.

If Edward Nalbandian did not go to Turkey, it would have negative
consequences in this context, he concluded.

Source: Panorama.am

California Senate recognition of Karabakh is significant event for Armenians

13:08, 28.08.2014

STEPANAKERT. – The California State Senate’s passing of the resolution
on the recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), or Artsakh,
is a major and significant event for all Armenians, NKR Presidential
Press Secretary Davit Babayan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

In Babayan’s words, NKR, Armenia, and the Armenian diaspora have been
making long efforts to achieve Karabakh’s international recognition.

“The California Senate’s passing of the resolution means that this
[US] state has finally accepted the independence of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. This is very symbolic; California
recognized Karabakh’s independence on the eve of September 2, the day
of the declaration of NKR’s independence. This is a gift from the
residents of California to the people of Artsakh,” he stated.

Babayan also noted that the passing of this resolution has introduced
a new quality to the process of NKR’s international recognition, since
the US State of California is comparable to the world’s largest
countries in terms of economic and demographic aspects.

“It can be said that one of the world’s major countries has accepted
Karabakh’s independence. This fact is a new impetus and opportunity
from the viewpoint of expanding the geographical scope of the
recognition of NKR’s independence,” he noted.

The NKR presidential spokesperson also expressed a view that the
recognition of NKR’s independence reflects the fact that Karabakh is
an established democratic state.

As reported earlier, the California State Senate on Wednesday passed,
by an overwhelming majority of votes, Assembly member Mike Gatto’s
resolution (AJR 32) on the recognition of the independence and
self-determination of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), or Artsakh.

AJR 32 encourages Artsakh’s continuing efforts to develop as a free
and independent nation and formally calls upon the President and
Congress of the United States to support the self-determination and
democratic independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710 or (973) 943-8697
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-686-0710
Fax: 212–779-3558
Email: [email protected]
Web:

** TOP STORY August 28, 2014
————————————————————
Jeremiah
The Prophet Jeremiah as depicted by Michelangelo.

** Jeremiah: Prophet of Sorrow-and Hope
————————————————————
The Armenian Church liturgical calendar designates today as the feast
of St. Jeremiah: one of the major prophets of the Bible.

Jeremiah received his prophetic calling in a time of great promise:
the reign of the godly king Josiah, during which a lost book of Moses
(eventually known as Deuteronomy) was re-discovered, and a movement of
spiritual renewal awakened among the Hebrew people.

But the pious king died in battle; his successors were weak and
profligate; and Jeremiah’s generation saw its worst fears realized:
the conquest of their holy city, Jerusalem, and the bitter exile of a
nation from its homeland.

Jeremiah documented his painful experiences in the Old Testament book
of his name, as well as in the aptly titled book of Lamentations. As a
result, he became known to the ages as the `weeping prophet.’

Yet even in defeat, Jeremiah was something other than a voice of
doom. To his people he spoke with the words of God; and they were
words of hope, not despair.

Click here () to learn more.

** Scripture of the Week
————————————————————

Is 9:8-19
2 Cor 1:1-11
Mk 4:35-40

** Prayer of the Week
————————————————————

Heavenly King, grant me your kingdom which you promised to your
beloved, and strengthen my heart to hate sin and to love you only and
to do your will. Have mercy upon your creatures, and upon me, a great
sinner. Amen.

** Upcoming Saints & Feasts
————————————————————

2 September: Holy Prophets Ezekiel, Ezra, and Zechariah, Father of John the Baptist

4 September: St. John the Forerunner and Job the Righteous

** CHURCH NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
————————————————————
Armenian Church in Myanmar
St. John the Baptist Armenian Church in Yangon, Myanmar.

** An Armenian Outpost in Yangon
————————————————————
Today’s
BBC News Magazine features a profile of Myanmar’s historic Armenian church.

Built in the mid-19th century, at the height of the Armenian presence
in southeast Asia, St. John the Baptist Church is now the last vestige
of the Armenian merchant community that once thrived in Yangon,
Myanmar’s largest city.

Still, a handful of local residents are determined to keep the church
open and to preserve the badarak in this all but forgotten Armenian
outpost. `We’re part Armenian,” parishioner Rachel Minus told the BBC,
`and this church and its services mean a lot to us.’

Click here
()
to read the article on BBC’s website.

** DIOCESAN NEWS
————————————————————
Boyajian Youth Choir Directors program
Gregory Zohrabian, a participant in this year’s BYCDP, looks through
the Divine Liturgy pew book during the group’s visit to the Diocesan
Center.

** Boyajian Youth Choir Directors Program
————————————————————
The Sacred Music Council of the Eastern Diocese concluded its annual
=80=9CBoyajian Youth Choir Directors Program’ (BYCDP) at St. Nersess
Seminary last week. Six young candidates participated in the week-long
program to study Armenian Church hymns, language, liturgical
traditions, and conducting. This year’s focus was on the requiem
service and hymns related to the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy
Cross.

Sacred Music Council chair Dn. Rubik Mailian led the program, teaching
music ministry, vocal music, and basic conducting gestures. Other
members of the Sacred Music Council who assisted Dn. Mailian were the
Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Rev. Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan, and
Maestro Khoren Mekanejian. The Rev. Fr. Gomidas Zohrabian supervised
the young people during their stay at St. Nersess Seminary.

On Wednesday, August 20, program participants traveled to the Diocesan
Center in New York to meet with Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan
Primate. Archbishop Barsamian commended the students on their
dedication to learning the sacred music of the Armenian Church and
encouraged them to play an active role in their parish choirs.

The BYCDP is a three-year program to prepare young musicians for music
ministry in the church. Click here
()
to view a gallery of photos.

FAR
Young artists in Tavush.

** Nourishing Minds Through Art
————————————————————
More than 300 children in Armenia’s Tavush region are now taking part
in a program of extracurricular activities-including Sunday School
classes, sports, dance, crafts, and art classes-thanks to the Fund for
Armenian Relief’s `Breaking the Cycle of Poverty” program.

In art class, the children have learned to make still-life drawings,
paint scenes from nature, and knit colorful scarves and hats. Their
artwork is regularly displayed at FAR’s regional office in Berd. Click
here
()
to read more on FAR’s blog.

The `Breaking the Cycle of Poverty” program was established by the
Mardigian Family Foundation through the largest-ever contribution made
to FAR. The five-year project addresses malnutrition, unemployment,
poverty, and infrastructure weaknesses in Armenia’s northeastern
province.

Diocesan Director Search

** Search for Diocesan Director of Administration
————————————————————
The Eastern Diocese is searching for candidates for the position of
Director of Administration.

Based in New York City, the Director of Administration will be
responsible for the management and operations of the Diocesan Center;
management of the administrative, operations, and business staff; and
coordination of Diocesan programs, in accordance with the directives
and policies established by the Primate and Diocesan Council.

Click here
()
to view a complete job description and list of
qualifications. Qualified applicants should send resume and cover
letter to the Primate’s office at the e-mail address
[email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]?subject=Diocesan%20Director%20Applicant)
.

** PARISH NEWS
————————————————————
St. Gregory of Narek Church, Cleveland, OH
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian blesses grapes on the Feast of Assumption
in Cleveland.

** Cleveland Parish Welcomes Ecumenical Director
————————————————————
St. Gregory of Narek Church of Cleveland, OH, welcomed Archbishop
Vicken Aykazian, the Diocese’s Ecumenical Director, on Sunday, August
17: the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother-of God. Archbishop
Aykazian celebrated the Divine Liturgy and performed the `Blessing of
Grapes’ ceremony. He was assisted by the Rev. Fr. Hratch Sargsyan,
parish pastor.

Later that afternoon, an ecumenical prayer service was held with the
participation of local church leaders and clergy. The prayer service
was organized as part of St. Gregory Church’s 50th anniversary
celebration.

The day concluded with the annual church picnic featuring Armenian
food, games, and activities for kids. Click here
()
to view photos.

Ecumenical Prayer Service in Chicago
Fr. Aren Jebejian at Chicago’s interfaith service last week.

** Prayers for Peace in Chicago
————————————————————
On Monday, August 18, the Very Rev. Fr. Aren Jebejian, pastor of
St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Chicago, IL, took part in an
interfaith prayer service in downtown Chicago.

Fr. Jebejian read Psalm 50 at the service, which drew more than 400
participants to pray for peace and to condemn the violence in the
Middle East and the recent turmoil in parts of the United States.

The service was organized by the interfaith organization Council of
Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago.

Bible Study

** Reading Luke in Cheltenham
————————————————————
`What did two disheartened followers of Jesus talk about as they
departed Jerusalem after the crucifixion? And what gave them the
courage to return?’

Such questions were the focus of a four-week summer Bible study on the
Gospel of Luke at Holy Trinity Church in Cheltenham, PA. Led by the
Rev. Fr. Hakob Gevorgyan, parish pastor, and Nancy Basmajian, the
parish’s director of adult Christian education, parishioners worked
together in small groups to explore passages from Luke’s gospel.

Reading the story of the Road to Emmaus along with the parables of the
Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son, the Bible-study group drew out a
common thread in Luke’s gospel on the nature of discipleship and the
spiritual journey of following Christ, being transformed by him, and
committing oneself to his mission.

`I enjoyed this series because of its challenging questions and the
opportunity to hear other people share their views,’ remarked parish
council treasurer Don Paretchan, who attended all four sessions. `I
also came to realize the importance of one’s faith journey.’

Bible study at Holy Trinity has become a regular feature of parish
life. A six-week study on the Gospel of Mark is planned for the fall.

Garen Sendjian
Armenian basketball talent Garen Spendjian.

** Full Court Press to Cairo
————————————————————
In a follow-up to a story we ran in December 2012 about the
establishment of the Armenia Basketball team, the Diocese’s newsletter
has received word that team member Garen Spendjian has accepted a
position with the El Shams team of Cairo, Egypt.

Spendjian is a parishioner of Holy Martyrs Church of Bayside, NY. Most
recently he played on the Republic of Armenia’s national basketball
team as it prepared to take part in Europe’s Fédération Internationale
de Basket-ball (FIBA) competition. Under the leadership of head coach
Carl Bardakian, Spendjian and his Armenian teammates traveled to
Yerevan last summer to begin training for the FIBA event.

Now Spendjian is preparing for his new life in Egypt. Click here
()
to read more about his career in the Armenia Basketball team
newsletter.

Concert in Minnesota
Karo Avakian at St. Sahag Church.

** An Evening of Opera in St. Paul
————————————————————
St. Sahag Church of St. Paul, MN, hosted an evening with Los
Angeles-based opera singers Nadima and Karo Avakian on Saturday,
August 23. The couple gave a moving performance of arias by Puccini,
Dvorak, and Spendiaryan, among other composers.

On Sunday, the Avakians sang in the church choir during the
celebration of the Divine Liturgy by the Rev. Fr. Tadeos Barseghyan,
parish pastor. Click here
()
to view photos.

Upcoming events

** Upcoming Parish Events
————————————————————

St. Mark Church | Springfield, MA
St. Mark Church of Springfield, MA, will host its annual Armenian Fest
on Sunday, August 31, from 12 to 7 p.m. on church grounds.

Enjoy shish kebob, losh kebab, and chicken; Armenian sweets; and other
traditional favorites. Entertainment will include performances by the
Ansbigian Armenian band and the September Girls of Wilbraham. For
information, call the church at (413) 783-5793.

Holy Martyrs Church | Bayside, NY
Holy Martyrs Church of Bayside, NY, will host its annual Oceania
Street Festival on Saturday, September 6 (from 12 to 8 p.m.), and
Sunday, September 7 (from 12 to 6 p.m.).

The festival features Armenian food, street vendors, dance
performances, games for kids, a raffle, and other activities. The
Vosbikian Band will entertain guests on Saturday, and the Onnik
Dinkjian band will perform on Sunday. Click here
()
to view a flyer for information.

Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church | Providence, RI
Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence, RI, will host its annual
picnic on September 13 and 14.

Enjoy live Armenian music and dancing under large tents on church
grounds. Dinner on Saturday night will feature kheyma; on Sunday
guests will be served chicken. Armenian shish and losh kebab will also
be available.

Click here
()
to view a flyer. For more information, visit ,
or call the church at (401) 272-7712.

Holy Trinity Church | Cambridge, MA
Holy Trinity Church of Cambridge, MA, will host the Trinity Family
Festival on Sunday, September 14, from 12 to 5 p.m. on church grounds.

Join the parish for an afternoon of food and fellowship. The day will
feature traditional Armenian food, music by the Greg Krikorian
Ensemble, face-painting and other activities for children, and a
`tavloo challenge.’ The blessing of madagh will take place at 4 p.m.

Click here
()
to view a flyer for information, or contact the church office at (617)
354-0632, or via e-mail at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
.

St. Vartan Cathedral | New York, NY
Registration and the first day of St. Vartan Armenian School will take
place Saturday, September 20, at 10 a.m. Classes are geared towards
children ages 2 to 14, with bi-lingual sessions available. For
information, contact the school principal Shakeh Kadehjian at (718)
729-7265, or e-mail [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

St. Thomas Church | Tenafly, NJ
The Kirikian Armenian Saturday School of St. Thomas Church of Tenafly,
NJ, will resume classes on Saturday, September 20. The school offers
Armenian language and culture instruction. Registration for new
students will be held on the first day of class. Click here
()
to view a flyer for information.

Church of Our Saviour | Worcester, MA
The Church of Our Saviour of Worcester, MA, will sponsor its 21st
annual Charity Golf Outing on Monday September 22, at the Sterling
Country Club in Sterling, MA. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. An
awards banquet will follow the day’s tournament. Sponsorship
opportunities are available. Click here
()
to learn more and to download registration materials.

** YOUTH NEWS
————————————————————
Jerusalem Students at St. Nersess Seminary
Nanar Nakashian and Dikran Enoyan with Archbishop Khajag Barsamian.

** Jerusalem Students Spend Summer at St. Nersess
————————————————————

Two students of the Sts. Tarkmanchatz School of Jerusalem’s Armenian
Patriarchate took part in the annual summer conferences at St. Nersess
Armenian Seminary this year.

Nanar Nakashian and Dikran Enoyan joined dozens of other summer
conference participants for Bible study sessions, daily worship,
lectures from clergy and lay leaders, Armenian language instruction,
as well as sports and outings.

This is the ninth year of the unique program, which gives students
from Sts. Tarkmanchatz School an opportunity to study at St. Nersess
Seminary during the summer months. The program was created and
continues to be organized by the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of
St. Nersess Seminary.

Click here
()
to visit the seminary’s website and to read more.

** EVENTS
————————————————————
Upcoming Events at the Zohrab Information Center

** Fall Series at the Diocese’s Zohrab Center
————————————————————

The Diocese’s Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center has announced
its fall schedule of cultural events.

The series opens on Wednesday, September 10, with the screening of the
film Garod (`Yearning’) by Frunze Dovlatyan. Released in 1990, the
film explores such topics as nationalism and genocide through the
lives of villagers on the Armenia-Turkish border in the 1930s. Writer
and filmmaker Christopher Atamian will give a brief introduction at
the September 10 screening.

Other events scheduled for the fall include discussions of Armenian
architecture, a talk on the canonization of the martyrs of the
Armenian Genocide, an evening of poetry, and a presentation on the
Armenian community of Azerbaijan. Click here
()
to view the full schedule.

Prayer Services at St. Vartan Cathedral

** Come Pray at St. Vartan Cathedral
————————————————————

Beginning on Tuesday, September 2, morning and evening prayer services
will take place every Tuesday through Friday at St. Vartan Armenian
Cathedral, under the leadership of the Very Rev. Fr. Mamigon
Kiledjian, cathedral dean, and clergy of the Diocese.

The Morning Service (Aravodyan zham) will begin at 8 a.m., and the
Evening Service (Yeregoyan zham) will begin at 6 p.m. Each service
will last 30 minutes and include psalmody, prayers, and hymns.

All members of the Armenian Church, along with their friends, family,
and work colleagues, are warmly invited to join in the Armenian
Church’s prayer to Jesus Christ our Lord.

Bike for Independence Day

** Ride for Armenian Independence
————————————————————

St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral and the Permanent Mission of the
Republic of Armenia to the United Nations will host a bike ride in New
York in observance of Armenia’s Independence Day next month.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, September 20, beginning at 9:30
a.m. Riders will proceed from 34th Street to West 12th Street and
return to the cathedral for lunch.

Vasken Melikian, Lebanon cycling champion and Guinness World Record
holder for towing a car by bicycle the farthest distance, will be the
day’s featured participant.

The event is free, but prospective participants are asked to RSVP by
Wednesday, September 17, by contacting Maria Barsoumian at the
Diocesan Center at (212) 686-0710, ext. 136, or at
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .