New Year’s Eve fireworks injured 6 in Armenia

New Year’s Eve fireworks injured 6 in Armenia

January 03, 2014 | 18:31

YEREVAN. – The fireworks injured six people in Armenia on the New
Year’s Eve, Armenian Police press service informs Armenian
News-NEWS.am.

The citizen Kamo K, born in 1958, was delivered to the Chambarak
hospital with an injury of left hand. The man told the police that he
was injured by the firework explosion.

Arthur G., born in 2008, was taken to the hospital in Bazum with the
similar injury. The boy’s father told police that Arthur was injured
in an explosion of the fireworks.

Another call was received in Tumanyan Police Department. Yeghishe V.,
born in 1981, was injured in the explosion of pyrotechnic.

A similar call was received by the Police Department of Taron. Hrayr
E., born in 1997, was taken to the hospital with the injury by
pyrotechnic product.

Arsen S., born in 1981, and David M., born in 2000, were both injured
by the fireworks.

All cases are under investigation.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Armenia will not face consolidation of pro-western political forces

Armenia will not face consolidation of pro-western political forces –
political analyst

January 03, 2014 | 12:23

YEREVAN. – Consolidation of solely pro-western of pro-Russian
political forces in Armenia is not possible among the main
parliamentary and non-parliamentary opposition forces, says political
analyst.

There are a few political groups that have exclusively pro-Russian or
pro-Western position, Sergey Minasyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

`Even the most pro-Western parties, for instance Heritage, at the same
time have a tough position on Karabakh issue,’ he noted.

The political analyst did not exclude radicalization of civil society,
as the players are mainly financially dependent on Western donors.

`This is quite possible and natural, but I think no major
consolidation will happen. Even if it happens, it will not play a
decisive role in the political life of Armenia,’ Minasyan concluded.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am
News from Armenia – NEWS.am

2013 a year of expectations for Armenians of Javakhk – Shirak Torosy

2013 a year of expectations for Armenians of Javakhk – Shirak Torosyan

January 03, 2014 | 15:17

YEREVAN. – 2013 was a year of expectations for Armenians of Javakhk in
the context of recent parliamentary and presidential elections in
Georgia, head of Javakh Union Shirak Torosyan toldArmenian
News-NEWS.am.

New political forces that came to power voiced problems concerning
Armenians in their campaign programs.

`I cannot say that this campaign promises were fulfilled considerably,
but there are prerequisites for implementation, thus 2013 can be
called a year of expectations,’ he said.

A number or problems, in particular those concerning interference of
law enforcers into the public affairs of Javakhk’s Armenians, was
solved.

`The atmosphere of fear was softened, it is a considerable
achievement,’ Torosyan emphasized.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Les Azerbaïdjanais dans le monde entier vont prouver que le « génoci

PRESSE AZERBAIDJAN
Les Azerbaïdjanais dans le monde entier vont prouver que le « génocide
arménien » est en fait un mythe

`Il y a de grands efforts en cours à travers le monde visant à prouver
que le `génocide arménien` était en fait un mythe` a déclaré le
Président du Comité d’Etat azerbaïdjanais des affaires avec la
Diaspora Nazim Ibrahimov à l’agence de presse azérie Trend le 30
décembre.

` Les Arméniens ont depuis longtemps élaboré des plans sur la
reconnaissance du génocide arménien. En 2015, ils vont célébrer le
100e anniversaire du soi-disant génocide arménien` a-t-il ajouté.

Il a déclaré que le Comité d’État et les organisations de la diaspora
azerbaïdjanaise ont entrepris un certain nombre d’activités afin
d’empêcher les activités des arméniens.

`En fait, les victimes du génocide n’étaient pas Arméniens. Elles
étaient Azerbaïdjanaises et les Turques. Ce travail sera poursuivi en
2014` a-t-il noté.

`Cette question nécessite des activités plus larges des organisations
de la diaspora. Nous, le Comité d’État, coordonnons le travail` a
déclaré Ibrahimov.

Il a dit que même si les Arméniens réalisaient quelque chose, ce ne
sera pas un indicateur de leur force.

`Peut-être que les Arméniens vont réaliser quelque chose. Leurs
patrons, les Etats sympathisants vont mettre en `uvre ces politiques
et ont leur intérêt. Mais cela ne montrera pas la faiblesse de la
diaspora turque.

La Campagne « Justice pour Khodjali » a lieu dans plusieurs Etats du
monde à l’initiative de Leyla Aliyeva, vice-présidente de la Fondation
Heydar Aliyev », a déclaré Ibrahimov.

Il a souligné que des parlements ont déjà reconnu les faits du 26
Février 1992 comme un génocide, ce qui signifie la destruction du
`mythe arménien.`

Il a dit que la destruction du `mythe arménien` va conduire à la
destruction du mythe du « génocide arménien ».

vendredi 3 janvier 2014,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

Une nouvelle force politique préconisant l’intégration européenne es

ARMENIE
Une nouvelle force politique préconisant l’intégration européenne est
née en Arménie

Apparemment, la première force politique avec un objectif clair de
rechercher l’intégration de l’Arménie avec l’Union européenne est en
train d’émerger dans le pays. C’est ce qu’a déclaré le président du
Yerevan Press Club Boris Navasardyan, qui a durant quatre ans
coordonné la Plate-forme nationale arménienne du Forum de la société
civile du partenariat oriental.

La plate-forme nationale a demandé face à l’échec des autorités
arménienne d’anticiper de nouvelles élections présidentielles et
législatives. La plate-forme a dit qu’elle entrait ainsi dans la voie
politique.

Jusqu’à présent, la plate-forme a travaillé exclusivement dans la
sphère civile et était censé fournir la composante civile du
partenariat oriental. L’arrêt de la signature par l’Arménie d’un
accord d’association avec l’UE, a toutefois révélé qu’en Arménie il
n’y avait presque pas de force politique qui notamment préconise
l’intégration européenne du pays. Sauf pour les partis Héritage et
Démocrates Libres, toutes les autres forces politiques ne remettent
pas en cause la décision du Président Serge Sarkissian que l’Arménie
rejoigne le projet d’intégration eurasienne conduit par la Russie. La
plupart des partis de l’opposition ont limité leur critique et ne
reproche à Serge Sarkissian que de ne pas les avoir consulté avant de
prendre la décision.

La Plate-forme nationale accuse les autorités arméniennes de ne pas
être à la hauteur de leurs engagements au titre des accords avec
l’Europe. Navasardyan dit que, dans ces accords l’Europe a alloué
beaucoup de fonds au budget de l’Arménie pour des réformes
démocratiques, et la Plate-forme nationale a été mis en charge du
suivi et du contrôle de l’utilisation de ces fonds. Mais les
autorités, dit-il, n’ont pas permis à la plate-forme de surveiller
l’utilisation des fonds en question.

La plate-forme prévoit de tenir une réunion fin janvier. Navasardyan a
invité les autorités à assister à la discussion sur les mécanismes de
contrôle et de surveillance des fonds communautaires alloués au budget
arménien. Et si cela et d’autres conditions ne sont pas remplies, la
plate-forme va exiger des élections anticipées.

La Plate-forme nationale exige également que les autorités arméniennes
fournissent des explications quant à la base de leur décision de
choisir la voie eurasienne à la place de l’intégration européenne, des
précisions sur la constitutionnalité de la décision sur l’adhésion à
l’Union douanière, ainsi que des garanties pour la préservation de la
souveraineté de la politique étrangère actuelle de l’Arménie.

Par Naira Hayrumyan

ArmeniaNow

vendredi 3 janvier 2014,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

Crossroads E-Newsletter – January 2, 2014

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

Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord

In keeping with the Armenian tradition, the Feast of the Nativity and
Theophany commemorates the birth of Christ and His baptism by John the
Baptist. The Armenian Curch, among all of the Christian churches in
the world, has preserved to this day an ancient tradition that
predates the celebration of Christmas on December 25.

His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, Prelate, extends his heartfelt good
wishes to all for a New Year filled with the Light of our Lord
bringing love, peace, and harmony to all mankind. In his Christmas
message, `Christ, the Light,’ His Eminence describes Jesus as the
Light that gives life meaning. He writes, `If the miraculous events
surrounding the birth of Jesus revealed the blissful condition of new
life, our people were among the fortunate who made the supreme light
the center of their existence, purpose and meaning and with the
illumination of their souls and minds they gave their lives to God’s
plan of salvation. During these days when we celebrate the birth of
Jesus, we must not turn it into a plain and ordinary celebration-with
food and drink, and an occasion to exchange gifts. Jesus visits us
again with love and peace, and with the same message of compassion and
charity. All who continue their pious lives with the hope of a
brighter life remain on the same road to salvation.’

Read Archbishop Oshagan’s Christmas message in Armenian
() and English
().

CATHOLICOS ARAM ISSUES CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

His Holiness Aram I issued his Christmas Message, `Unto You Is Born a
Savior.’

The Catholicos said in part,

`He who was born in a manger in Bethlehem was not an ordinary man.
Nor was he a mere prophet. He was God’s only Son. . . . Jesus was the
Messiah awaited for centuries.

`Today Christ is born again if we are prepared to accept Him as our
Savior. Today the angel again gives us the heavenly message, if we are
ready to hear it.

`Dear children of Armenia, You are the true children of the people who
first bowed down before the Baby Jesus…. What a great honor and what
a sacred obligation! During happy and sad times always remember the
angel’s heavenly message, Unto You Is Born A Savior, and be renewed
and strengthened by the faith of Bethlehem.’

WE WISH YOU A BLESSED AND HOLY NATIVITY

This Sunday, January 6, is Christmas. The Armenian Church has remained
faithful to the celebration of the Nativity and Epiphany on January
6. All Christians celebrated Christmas on January 6 until the
mid-fourth century when the Roman Church separated the two events,
celebrating the birth on December 25 and the baptism and visit of the
magi on January 6 (thus the twelve days of Christmas).

On Christmas Eve a solemn Mass is celebrated, preceded by readings
taken from various parts of the Bible about the birth or the coming of
the Messiah. The third chapter from the book of Daniel is read,
usually by a deacon and three young men representing Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, the youths who would not renounce their faith
in spite of torture. Following Christmas Eve services, traditionally
choir members would go from house to house singing hymns, spreading
the Good News of the birth of our Savior.

On Christmas day, after the Divine Liturgy, a special service is
performed
symbolizing the baptism of Jesus, which was a turning point in His
life and the beginning of His ministry. This service, which is called
Blessing of the Water (Churorhnek), commemorates the Baptism and the
Manifestation of Christ recognizing Him as the true Son of God.

Light sent from the Father, you came down from heaven and became flesh
from the Holy Virgin; you are the Lamb of God and Son of the Father.

Today you appeared in the cave as Savior and accepted adoration from
the magi and seeing you the shepherds said: You are the Lamb of God
and Son of the Father.

Having seen the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, John cried out
saying: This is the Lamb of God and Son of the Father.
(From the Canon for the seventh day of Theophany according to the
Liturgical Canons of the Armenian Apostolic Church).

NATIVITY AND EPIPHANY SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan:
On Christmas Eve Day, Sunday, January 5, His Eminence will preside at
Morning Services at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York; His
Eminence will preside at the Christmas Eve Divine Liturgy services at
Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey.

On Christmas Day, Monday, January 6, His Eminence will celebrate the
Divine Liturgy, deliver the sermon and officiate the Blessing of Water
Service at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City.

Vicar General, Bishop Anoushavan:
On Christmas Eve Day, Sunday January 5, His Grace will preside at
Morning Services at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey;
His Grace will preside at the Christmas Eve Divine Liturgy services at
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City.

On Christmas Day, Monday, January 6, His Grace will celebrate the
Divine Liturgy and Blessing of Water Service at St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York.

REV. FR. BOGHOS TINKJIAN IN PHILADELPIA

Last Sunday, December 29, Very Rev. Fr. Boghos Tinkjian celebrated the
Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon at St. Gregory the Illuminator
Church in Philadelphia. The Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, presided over
the service. A member of the Cilician brotherhood, Hayr Boghos is
currently furthering his studies in California.

During his visit to the Philadelphia parish Archbishop Oshagan spoke
with the Sunday school students as he visited some of the
classes. Alicia Handian, an 8th grade Sunday school student wrote the
following about the Prelates visit: `On Sunday, December 29, Oshagan
Srpazan visited the younger students at St. Gregory Church in
Philadelphia. He spoke to the children about Christmas and told them
how much he loved them. He taught them what it takes to be a good and
devoted Christian and a child of God: one has to follow Jesus’ steps
by praying hard, working hard, being charitable, and loving
others. Srpazan ended by saying that he hopes one day he can visit
with us again. So do we!’

V. Rev. Fr. Boghos Tinkjian with his aunt and cousins, the
Dekermenjians and Nalbantians, in Philadelphia after the Divine
Liturgy.

Oshagan Srpazan visits with Sunday school students.

THREE EVENTS AT STS. VARTANANTZ (NJ)

Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey, celebrated three
special events recently, namely, the Christmas Pageant offered by the
Nareg Armenian School; The Feast of St. Stephen’s honoring deacons of
the church; and the Christmas Pageant offered by the Sunday School.

On Sunday, December 22, students of the Nareg Saturday Armenian School
held its Christmas party and luncheon. His Grace Bishop Anoushavan,
who celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon, attended
the Christmas celebration to everyone’s delight, offering his fatherly
blessings, encouragement, and best wishes.

Bishop Anoushavan, Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian, Yeretzgin Ani, and Santa
with board members, director, staff and students of the Nareg Armenian
School.

On Sunday, December 29, following the Divine Liturgy, Sts. Vartanantz
Church celebrated the Feast of St. Stephen, the first deacon and
Proto-martyr. The deacons who serve the altar, Dn. Zohrab Zakarian
(choirmaster), Dn. Kostan Charkutian, Dn. Hagop Tekeyan, Dn. Harout
Takvorian, and Dr. Dn. Vahan Kouyoumdjian, wore crowns in honor of
this special day. Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian, pastor, congratulated and
thanked the deacons and choir members for their service and
dedication.

Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian with his deacons and acolytes.

On Sunday, December 29, after the Divine Liturgy, the Sunday School of
Sts. Vartanantz Church held its Christman Pageant and
luncheon. Parishioners enjoyed the special program prepared by the
students.

Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian, Yeretzgin Ani, and Santa, with the
administration, staff, PTA and students of the Sts. Vartanantz Sunday
School.

ST. SARKIS PARISHIONERS OF DOUGLASTON GATHER TO PRAY FOR FELLOW
ARMENIANS IN SYRIA

On Saturday afternoon, December 28th, St. Sarkis Church took the
initiative to devote the final Saturday of the year to pray against
the violence that the world witnessed in 2013, and to pray for the
devastation to our Armenian communities in Syria.

Under the Auspices of His Eminence, Archbishop Oshagan, Prelate, and
His Grace, Bishop Anoushavan, Vicar General, along with Father Nareg
Terterian, Pastor of St. Sarkis Church a beautiful prayer service was
conducted.
Nearly 75 parishioners gathered in our Sanctuary and prayed together
for peace and against violence. Prior to the start of the service, Der
Nareg Terterian welcomed parishioners with his opening remarks,
thanking those in attendance, for devoting their final Saturday of the
year to pray together for our brothers and sisters suffering in Syria.
The community then prayed the vesper service of the Armenian Church.

His Eminence, Archbishop Oshagan, Prelate, also gave a message to our
parishioners. He spoke from his heart about the ongoing suffering and
devastation our brothers and sisters are facing in Syria on a daily
basis. He brought a reality to the horrific situation many of us
living in America cannot even begin to imagine. He spoke of peace in
our American lives as opposed to that of those in Syria, saying ” We
take peace for granted in the United States, where in Syria it is a
matter between life and death.”

” While it may seem easier to donate our money to relief funds, he
said, our people in Syria need our Hope and Prayers. His Eminence,
invited all to join together in singing Der Voghormya and conclude
with the Lord’s Prayer.

Following the beautiful service, parishioners gathered together in a
Fellowship Hour. A lovely table of cookies, cakes and various
desserts were graciously donated by Mrs. Sitta Oranjian.

Archbishop Oshagan leading the special prayer service.

BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for Sunday, January 5, Christmas Eve, Divine Liturgy
are: Titus 2:11-15; Matthew 2:1-12; Dismissal: Luke 2:8-14.

Bible readings for Monday, January 6, Christmas and Epiphany are:
Titus 2:1-15; Matthew 1:18-25; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4; Matthew 3:1-17.

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea,
proclaiming, `Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This
is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, `The voice
of one crying out in the wilderness: `Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.” Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with
a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild
honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to
him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized
by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he
said to them, `You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the
wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say
to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God
is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now
the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that
does not bear
good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

`I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful
than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He
will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is
in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his
wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable
fire.’

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by
him.
John would have prevented him, saying, `I need to be baptized by you,
and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, `Let it be so now; for
it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he
consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from
the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the
Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice
from heaven said, `This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well
pleased.’ (Matthew 3:1-17)

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

MEMORIAL DAY

Tuesday, January 7, the day after Christmas, is Memorial Day. As is
the custom in the Armenian Church, the day after each of the five
great tabernacle feasts is a Memorial Day. Traditionally, the Divine
Liturgy is celebrated on Memorial Day and afterwards the faithful go
to the cemetery to honor their loved ones and have their graves
blessed.

THE HOLY FATHERS

This Saturday, January 4, the Armenian Church commemorates the Holy
Fathers Basil, Gregory of Nyssa, Sylvester of Rome, and Ephrem the
Syrian.

St. Basil, called the `Great,’ was an exceptional leader who helped
spread Christianity. At the age of 26 he gave up his wealth and became
a monk, and dedicated his life to serve the people, by establishing
hospitals, hostels, and public kitchens to feed the needy. He was a
talented writer and many of his prayers are used in the Armenian
Church and other eastern churches. At a time when a solitary life of a
hermit was considered to be spiritual, he instead urged monastic
communities believing that no one is totally self-sufficient.

St. Gregory of Nyssa was the younger brother of Basil, and friend of
Gregory of Nazianus. He was educated in Athens and influenced by the
writings of Origen and Plato. He was a professor of rhetoric, but
became disillusioned
with his life as a teacher and became a priest. He served as Bishop of
Nyssa and Archbishop of Sebastia.

St. Sylvester served as the Bishop of Rome during the era of
Constantine for more than twenty years. During the time of his service
many great churches were built. He took part in the negotiations
concerning Arianism at the Council of Nicaea.

St. Ephrem the Syrian lived in Mesopotamia (Syria) during his entire
life.
He was baptized at age 18 and he served under St. James of Nisibis. He
is credited for introducing hymns in public worship services. He
visited St. Basil at Caesarea and upon his return he helped ease the
famine during the winter of 372-73 by distributing food and money to
the poor and needy. He was a prolific writer and his work, written in
Syriac, was immediately translated into Greek, Armenian, and Latin.

LITURGICAL CALENDAR POSTER

The 2014 color poster of the Liturgical Calendar of the Armenian
Apostolic Church is now available at the Prelacy. At a glance, one can
see the cycle of feasts and fasts and seasons of the Armenian Church
year, which begins on January 6, 2014.

An added feature this year is a list of `Basic Facts’ about the
Armenian Church’s liturgical year. This 27×36 inch poster belongs in
every Sunday school classroom.

To order, please contact the Prelacy at 212-689-7810 or at
[email protected]. The cost of the poster is $5.00 plus
shipping and handling.

THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
(Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee[ANEC])

Death of Vahan Terian
(January 7, 1920)

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the lyrical production of
Vahan Terian marked a new era in Eastern Armenian poetry. He was
hailed by Hovhannes Tumanian as the most original poetical voice of
his age, and his works closed the first period of modern Armenian
literature.

His real name was Vahan Ter Grigorian. He was born on January 28, 1885
in the village of Gandza, in the region of Akhalkalak (Djavakhk),
today in Georgia. He departed to Tiflis, where his elder brothers were
studying, in 1897. He learned Russian with them and prepared to enter
the Lazarian Oriental Institute in Moscow. He was admitted in 1899 at
the Institute, where he met and befriended several young people who
would become important public and literary figures, such as Alexander
Miasnikian, Poghos Makintsin, Tsolak Khanzadian, and others. He
graduated in 1906 and entered Moscow University.

However, Terian had already engaged in revolutionary activities, as a
sympathizer of the Bolshevik branch of the Russian Social Democratic
Party. Soon after entering the university, he was arrested and briefly
jailed in the prison of Butirka in Moscow.

After his liberation, he published his first volume of poetry,
Twilight Dreams, in Tiflis (1908). It was very well-received by
readers and critics for its originality. Sadness and pain, spring and
love, the homeland and its fate were some of the markers of his
poetry, which became the basis for many songs still interpreted
today. He married Susanna Pakhalova in 1911 and published the first
volume of his collected poetry, titled Poems, in 1912, where he
gathered also works written after 1908. He left Moscow University in
1913 and went to St. Petersburg University, where he majored in
Oriental Studies.

His wife died in 1916 after giving birth to a daughter, who did not
survived. In the same year, the first signals of tuberculosis appeared
in the poet. Terian went to the Caucasus for treatment, but the first
Russian Revolution (March 1917) prompted him to abandon the region and
return to St. Petersburg. He became a close collaborator to Stalin,
the future strongman of the Soviet Union.

Terian participated actively in the second Russian Revolution of
November 1917, led by the Bolshevik Party, and the civil war that
ensued. As Armenian representative at the Commissariat of
Nationalities led by Stalin, he participated actively in the writing
of the decree on Western Armenia that was issued in January 1918 and
proclaimed its freedom of self-determination. As a member of the
Central Executive Committee of Soviet Russia, Terian was assigned a
mission in Turkestan in late 1919, but his illness had gotten worse
and the poet was forced to stop in Orenburg, in Russia, where he
passed away on January 7, 1920 at the age of 35. His daughter Nvard,
fruit of his relationship with Anahit Shahinjanyan, was born
posthumously, in April 1920.

The memory of the poet has been evoked in July in his birthplace with
a =80=9CDay of Terian Poetry’ since 1967, which gathers thousands of
admirers every year.

Previous entries in `This Week in Armenian History’ are on
the Prelacy’s web site ().

The tomb of Vahan Terian at the Pantheon in Yerevan’s Komitas Park.

THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE CORNER
(Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee[ANEC])

Do We Always Go Together?

This is what the final song of the famous musical Grease says: `We Go
Together.’ However, two quite different languages like Armenian and
English do not go always together. This is quite clear in the
word… `together.’

The English words `together’ and `gather’ are somehow related, as
their meanings point out, and it is logical to think that together has
evolved from the combination of to + gather.

The Armenian equivalent, Õ´Õ«Õ¡Õ½Õ«Õ¶ (miasin), is also a composite
word, but has an even deeper meaning. Its origin indicates a closer
relationship: two people who have not only come to gather, but have
been raised together. The first word, Õ´Õ« (mi), is the Classical and
Eastern Armenian form of `one’-Õ´Õ§Õ¯ (meg) in Western Armenian-and
the root of the word Õ´Õ«Õ¸Ö=82Õ©Õ«Ö=82Õ¶ (miootioon, `unity’) and the
second word, Õ½Õ«Õ¶ (sin), is the result of the substitution of a
vocal (this is technically called ablaut) from the original word
Õ½Õ¸Ö=82Õ¶ (sun, `to keep, to feed, to raise,’ from which we have
Õ½Õ¶Õ¸Ö=82Õ¶Õ¤/sunoont, =80=9Cfood, nourishment’). Thus, in the
beginning, to be miasin meant that one had been fed and raised with
someone else.

Now, while today miasin always implies `together,’ this does not mean
than every time we see `together’ in English we should automatically
think of miasin. Otherwise, we find ourselves in trouble.

One hears, for instance, `They live together.’ This is, of course,
Ô±Õ¶Õ¸Õ¶Ö=84 Õ´Õ«Õ¡Õ½Õ«Õ¶ Õ¯Õ=9AÕ¡ÕºÖ=80Õ«Õ¶ (Anonk miasin g’abrin),
and there is nothing wrong here. However, when we say `He has come
together with his family,’ the case is different.

Armenian has something that Latin had and, for instance, German still
has, but the English language has lost: noun declination
(Õ°Õ¸Õ¬Õ¸Õ¾Õ¸Ö=82Õ´, holovoom). These are the little particles Õ§ (e),
Õ« (i), Õ¸Õ¾ (ov), with the particular cases that =80=9Ctorture’ us
when we learn the paradigms of declination of various nouns.

One of the six cases of noun declination is called `instrumental
declination’ (Õ£Õ¸Ö=80Õ®Õ«Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ°Õ¸Õ¬Õ¸Õ¾, kordziagan holov),
which applies to the abovementioned sentence. The English with is an
indication of instrument, and thus, you should forget `together’ when
you render the sentence into Armenian. You may either say,

1)Ô±Õ¶ Õ«Ö=80 Õ¨Õ¶Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Ö=84Õ«Õ¶ Õ°Õ¥Õ¿ Õ¥Õ¯Õ¡Õ® Õ§ (An ir undanikin
hed yegadz e = He has come with his family),

or

2) Ô±Õ¶ Õ«Ö=80 Õ¨Õ¶Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Ö=84Õ¸Õ¾ Õ¥Õ¯Õ¡Õ® Õ§ (An ir undanikov
yegadz e = He has come with his family)

As we said in the beginning, yes, languages go together, but not
always.

Previous entries in `The Armenian Language Corner’ are on the
Prelacy’s web site ().

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET OUR ONGOING RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE ARMENIAN
COMMUNITY
IN SYRIA WHERE CONDITIONS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT.
THE NEED IS REAL.
THE NEED IS GREAT.

DONATIONS TO THE FUND FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF CAN BE MADE ON LINE.
TO DONATE NOW CLICK HERE () AND
SELECT SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF IN THE MENU.

The Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief is a joint effort of: Armenian
Apostolic Church of America (Eastern Prelacy); Armenian Catholic
Eparchy; Armenian Evangelical Union of North America; Armenian Relief
Society (Eastern USA, Inc.); Armenian Revolutionary Federation.

Thank you for your help

FROM THE BOOKSTORE…

PLUSH WHITE BAPTISMAL TOWELS

These beautiful snow-white luxurious baptismal towels are lovely to
use during an infant’s baptism and remains as a keepsake memento and
family heirloom. Both styles are embroidered in gold in Armenian with
the baptismal appeal: Havadk, Houys, Ser, yev Mkrdoutyoun. (Faith,
Hope, Love, and Baptism).

$75.00 each plus shipping and handling.

A SPECIAL `GIVE-AWAY’ SALE FOR CROSSROAD READERS

PURCHASE A COPY OF THE RECENTLY PUBLISHED
HISTORICAL ATLAS OF ARMENIA

This 110 page Atlas includes 30 maps, 174 photographs, and an
accompanying
CD with all of the maps. A great educational resource for everyone.
$40.00 plus shipping & handling

AND RECEIVE FREE:
Armenia in Ancient and Medieval Times
By Robert Bedrosian
A 94-page soft cover book suitable for students aged 9 to 13.

OR

The following five workbooks FREE.
1. Elements of Armenian Church Architecture;
2. The Land of the Armenians;
3. My Origins: Discovering and Recording Family History;
4. Khatchkars: Armenian Stone Crosses;
5. Medieval Armenian Costumes: Paper Cut-Outs to color and display.

To take advantage of this special offer, or order baptismal towels
contact the Prelacy Bookstore by email ([email protected]) or
telephone (212-689-7810).

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

January 5-St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, Christmas Eve Concert
following the Jerakalouyts Badarak. Concert features Farmington
Community Chorus. Reception follows.

January 6-Ladies Guild of St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan,
presents Annual Christmas Luncheon and Program in Lillian Arakelian
Fellowship Hall.

January 6-Christmas celebration at St. Gregory Church, 158 Main
Street, North Andover, Massachusetts. Special program, `First-time
Impressions of Armenia,’ presented by students Victoria Kulungian and
Nairi Hovsepian, following Badarak and luncheon. All are invited.

February 1-Valentine’s Day Dinner Dance, St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York.

February 2-St. Sarkis Men’s Club, Dearborn, Michigan, presents Super
Bowl Party, at Lillian Arakelian Hall.

February 9-St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, Book Presentation by
Deacon Shant Kazanjian following the Divine Liturgy at Lillian
Arakelian Hall.

February 24-26-Annual Clergy Ghevontiantz Gathering hosted by Holy
Cross Church, 255 Spring Avenue, Troy, New York.

March 1-St. Sarkis Sunday School, Dearborn, Michigan, Poon Paregentan
Costume Party for everyone, at Lillian Arakelian Hall.

March 26-St. Sarkis Ladies Guild, Dearborn, Michigan, Mid-Lenten
Luncheon following the Lenten morning service, Lillian Arakelian Hall.

March 28-Musical Armenia Concert presented by Eastern Prelacy and
Prelacy Ladies Guild, at Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall, 8 pm.

May 13-17-Clergy Conference and National Representative Assembly, and
Annual Conference of the National Association of Ladies’ Guilds (NALG)
of the Eastern Prelacy, hosted by St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn,
Michigan.

June 1-Ladies Guild Annual Brunch, St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New
York.

June 1-St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, Toronto Children’s Choir
concert in the church sanctuary.

Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web
site.

To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add
[email protected] to your address book.

Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please
credit Crossroads as the source.

Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected]

http://www.armenianprelacy.org/
http://e2.ma/click/wd51d/4f4cee/cahl7
http://e2.ma/click/wd51d/4f4cee/s2hl7
http://e2.ma/click/wd51d/4f4cee/8uil7
http://e2.ma/click/wd51d/4f4cee/onjl7
www.armenianprelacy.org
www.armenianprelacy.org

Soccer: Armenia and Azerbaijan pairing was the last thing UEFA wante

World Soccer
Jan 1 2014

Armenia and Azerbaijan pairing was the last thing UEFA wanted

On November 28th in Nyon the draw for the under-19 European
Championship qualifiers due to be held next October threw up the match
that nobody wanted, the administrators dreaded, and that nobody in
European football seems willing to take responsibility for.

UEFA’s response has been to take the unprecedented step of re-drawing
part of the competition, side-stepping the problem rather than
confronting it. But then Armenia and Azerbaijan have long since proved
their relationship to be unmanageable on a footballing level, either
between themselves or by an arbiter, and since the first major
breakdown of relations back in 2006 the disasters have piled up.

The bitter gridlock between the two young republics that saturates the
frozen conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh mountain range continues to
cause headaches for diplomats and preserve personal tragedy for
civilians but football, true to its dogmatic hyperbole that it can
cause social groundswell like no other man-made force, has caused the
most conspicuous movements in recent years in this most static of
disputes, though none of them towards progress.

Frequent border skirmishes keep the stand-off on the periphery of
international attention but otherwise the conflict remains stagnant,
shoe-horned into the increasingly combustible quasi-Cold War agenda
between Russia and the West that has seen Kiev fall into civic
meltdown and threatens the economic recoveries of the recession
former-Soviet bloc. In the end war will probably be prevented in
Nagorno-Karabakh by what the two parties fear they have to lose
through belligerence. Football – its utility cowed and its governors
prosaic – looks set to continue to lose out also.

The pairing of Armenia and Azerbaijan for next year’s qualifiers
brought back uncomfortable memories of the last time the two sides
came out of the hat together for a previous under-19 match back in the
autumn of 2006. The crowd that day, buoyed by partisan strands of
Armenian Cypriots in Nicosia, reacted angrily to obscene gestures and
provocations made by the young Azeri players, storming the pitch to
confront the team in a disturbance that took police over half an hour
to subdue.

Since the match was played on neutral ground and the fans involved
couldn’t be proved in any official sense to be the responsibility of
the Armenian FA no charges were ever brought, but the incident augured
badly enough for next year’s qualifiers that the balls from the draw
were gathered up and tossed back into the hat.

Also clear from the Cyprus riot is how fervently the mutual
ill-feeling is felt amongst ex-pat communities, for whom the
Armenia-Azerbaijan divide – sometimes lazily framed as a
Christian-Islamic feud but actually bearing the hallmarks of the
struggles for self-determination that pock-marked the end of the last
century – forms a definitive part of a national identity.

Whether on a football pitch in Nicosia or a diplomatic summit in Minsk
– from where Russia, France and the US still sporadically try to
arbitrate the war – the shockwaves from Nagorno-Karabakh resonate far
beyond the enclave’s modestly picturesque foothills.

Those few that still populate the mountains – the 2006 estimate of
138,000 is wilting as young Armenians migrate en masse from the
shrinking agricultural economy into urban Russia – have their lives
coloured by the memory of the 30,000 or more that perished in the war
that followed the break-up of the Soviet empire.

Both Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan suffered a refugee crisis, and
the mass displacement that occurred as each became inhospitable no-go
zones for persecuted minorities is still felt today, as thousands in
surrounding villages continue to stare up into the hills at their
homes being used to house occupying forces.

A return to all-out conflict seems unlikely, in spite of border
clashes that have recently become so frequent that US Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton showed up in Yerevan last year to make the case
for détente. The Azeri state has been slowly growing its armed forces
in terms of investment and personnel but the most immediate threat is
being felt by the hamstrung economies of Armenia and the Karabakh
region, for which the isolation imposed by the stand-off continues to
stymy any real hope of desperately needed modernisation.With
diplomatic tensions high but willingness to take action low it’s small
wonder that the most visible demonstrations in recent years have been
made through football.

Or, rather, a lack of it. A few months before the trouble in Cyprus
the 2006 CIS Cup was rocked when Armenian champions Pyunik refused to
face Azerbaijan’s Neftchi Baku in Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium on
security grounds, claiming the safety of the club’s players and fans
couldn’t be guaranteed.

Neftchi countered and so too did the organisers who gave written
assurances that extra provisions would be made to minimise any risk of
unrest, but Pyunik rejected the plea and flew home on the morning of
the match.

The Russian Football Union was bullish in its response: `Such actions
do not represent football, which aims to unite not divide people.’ A
year later when the senior national sides were due to meet in
back-to-back Euro 2008 qualifiers the Azeri refused to face an
Armenian team on home soil, in spite of the latter volunteering to
foot the bill for security in both fixtures. Azerbaijan offered to
play the games on neutral territory, Armenia vetoed the proposal and
UEFA played the only card it had left and simply cancelled both
matches.

For the Azeri the prospect of hosting the Armenians was akin to
welcoming the sporting representatives of an occupying force, which
for a nation that keeps its citizens in check by pedalling an almost
Stalinesque cult of personality via a fiercely nationalist regime was
never likely to receive moral or political sanction.

In the end the cancelled matches and subsequent lost points had little
impact on the outcome of qualification. Armenia had just taken seven
points from three tough games and would have fancied themselves for
six more, but a solitary draw against Serbia in their final five games
meant they finished well adrift of the cut-off for the finals. But
five years of rapid progress has seen the team come within two points
of a play-off berth in each of the last two qualifying campaigns and
six lost points would represent a major blow in future competitions as
Armenia seek to become just the fourth former-Soviet state to make it
to a major finals.

The feeling in some corners is that UEFA need to work harder to find a
football-based solution – it would be a shame if progress were to be
hindered by the feuding of two states who feel so penned in by
circumstance that football is the only outlet for exercising their
frustrations.

But Armenia and Azerbaijan have been in check for so long now it’s
hard to see a way out for either side, even if the will was there.
Armenia’s military clout is dwarfed by the Azeri and no offensive
could realistically happen without being sanctioned from Moscow, yet
the hostilities continue to shackle fiscal recovery.

On the other hand Azeri president Ilham Aliyev knows that the longer
Nagorno-Karabakh remains occupied the more pressure falls on him to
stand up for national pride – but at the risk of derailing the only
former-Soviet economy to have remained untouched by the global
recession and inviting hostility from Russia. It seems a shame that
the footballers won’t get their chance to show the diplomats it’s not
all about one-upmanship.

By Robert O’Connor

http://www.worldsoccer.com/247/armenia-and-azerbaijan-pairing-was-the-last-thing-uefa-wanted

L’Arménie va tripler la production de vin en 2020

ARMENIE
L’Arménie va tripler la production de vin en 2020

La production de vin devrait tripler d’ici 2020 a déclaré Hayk
Mirzoyan, directeur du Fonds de développement de l’industrie.

Selon lui, au cours des six premiers mois de 2013 la production de vin
a bondi de 42,4% à 2,4 milliards de drams. Il a déclaré que ces
chiffres inspirent l’espoir que les vignobles vont réussir à tripler
la production de vin en 7 ans.

Il a déclaré que l’exportation de vins arméniens en grande partie vers
la Russie, les autres pays de la CEI, l’Europe et les Etats-Unis a
également fait un bond de 56 pour cent par rapport à l’année
précédente à 790 millions de drams.

Selon le Service national des statistiques, au cours des huit premiers
mois de 2013 la production de vin a connu une hausse de 33 pour cent
en glissement annuel pour atteindre près de 3,5 millions de litres.

mercredi 1er janvier 2014,
Stéphane ©armenews.com
`637

http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article

Echec d’une tentative d’assassinat au Haut-Karabagh

POLITIQUE
Echec d’une tentative d’assassinat au Haut-Karabagh

Un général à la retraite qui était le principal candidat de
l’opposition à la dernière élection présidentielle du Haut-Karabakh
aurait découvert une bombe artisanale sous sa voiture, ce qui pourrait
correspondre selon les autorités à une tentative de l’assassiner.

Le procureur de Stepanakert a indiqué que la bombe qui n’a pas explosé
avait été fixée dans la partie inférieure de la voiture avant que sa
présence n’ait été remarquée par le général Vitaly Balasanian dimanche
soir. Les agents de la force publique alertés par lui ont désamorcé le
dispositif contenant 600 grammes de matière explosive.

« L’auteur inconnu … n’a pas finalisé son acte criminel pour des
raisons indépendantes de sa volonté , « peut-ont lire dans un
communiqué publié par le procureur.

La déclaration indique également qu’une enquête pénale a été ouverte
en vertu des articles du Code traitant de tentatives de meurtre et de
possession illégale d’armes. Aucune arrestation n’avait été signalée
lundi soir.

Balasanian n’a fait aucune déclaration publique sur l’incident. Selon
l’un de ses proches, Hayk Khanumian , militant de l’opposition au
Karabakh, c’est un miracle que la bombe n’a pas éclaté. ` Le général,
ainsi que d’autres personnes qui l’accompagnaient l’ ont remarqué et
ont appelé la police `, a-t-il dit au service arménien de RFE / RL (
Azatutyun.am ).

Balasanian , 54 , a été un ancien commandant de premier plan lors de
la guerre du Karabakh de 1991-1994 avec l’Azerbaïdjan. Membre du
parlement du Karabakh , il a multiplié ces dernières années ses
critiques contre la direction actuelle du territoire contesté. Il a
contesté Bako Sahakian , le président sortant Karabakh , à la suite
d’une élection présidentielle qui s’est tenue en juillet 2012.

Selon les résultats officiels du vote , Sahakian a remporté un second
mandat avec 66,7 pour cent des voix , tandis que Balasanian obtint
32,5 pour cent. Le général a mis en question le décompte officiel ,
disant que le vote était `libre, mais pas juste. `

Balasanian , qui n’est affilié à aucun parti politique , a annoncé des
plans pour mettre en place son propre groupe d’opposition peu de temps
après le scrutin présidentiel. Toutefois , il s’est ensuite abstenu de
le faire pour des raisons inconnues.

Karabakh est doit tenir ses prochaines élections législatives en 2014.

mercredi 1er janvier 2014,
Ara ©armenews.com

http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article-115

ISTANBUL: Settlement process is the new Turkey’s visa

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Jan 2 2013

Settlement process is the new Turkey’s visa

MARKAR ESAYAN
[email protected]

The peace talks with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that started
in 2009 meant the state abandoned its 35-year-long approach on how to
deal with the issue. While this was hard enough, in fact something
more than this was done.

Making a new deal with the Kurds based on equality meant the state
would destroy the backbone of the mindset created by the Committee of
Union and Progress (CUP) in 1913 and subsequently adopted by Mustafa
Kemal Atatürk in the 1924 constitution.

This, however, would lead to a problem: Would people want to be
regarded as equal to the Kurds and all the others? This was an
important problem, because the state would be formed on the answer to
this question.

In fact, it is as if we have returned to the critical period between
1919 and 1924. As is known, Atatürk promised autonomy and federation
for the Kurds in this period. The first parliament and the first
constitution in 1921 were based on quite democratic principles.

The achievement of unity required a legitimate basis for Atatürk’s
leadership. The Kurds were also accomplices in the Armenian massacres
of 1915. The main argument raised by the CUP just before 1915 was that
if the Armenians were not annihilated, they would cooperate with the
Russians and drive the Turks and Kurds away from Anatolia. The Kurds
were fooled by this argument; as a result, they were used to eliminate
their historical neighbors.

So why was this promise made to the Kurds during the establishment of
the new state, and why was it forgotten? In the critical period up to
the consolidation of Atatürk’s leadership, the Kurds were fooled by a
promise of equality. In 1925, the state started a policy of violence
and repression against the Kurds. And this never ceased; this policy
remained in effect up until 2009.

What the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) was trying to do
with the settlement process was address this historical trauma and
base the relationship on mutual trust and equality. To do this, the
state apparatus established by the mindset of 1924 had to be abandoned
and replaced with a brand new approach.

Actually, the fact that 40,000 people died in the 35-year-long
conflict and the parties were unable to defeat each other shows that
Turks and Kurds are meant to be together. However, the Kurds do not
accept coexistence through assimilation or partial measures, including
development programs in the east. They demand institutionalized
equality through a transformation of the mindset and approach. The
formula here is the mutual needs of all social segments in Turkey that
tie them together, a new institution and establishment that will
introduce a social contract through a new constitution and bring the
state up to the present day. These are the main terms of the deal
between the state and PKK leader Abdullah Ã-calan. The remaining things
are technical issues.

Now this initiative is meeting with serious resistance from the
pro-status quo circles in Turkey and the world. There is still a
nationalist approach which suggests that the PKK should be finished
first and then forced to sit at the negotiation table. The PKK may be
a terrorist organization. But the reason for its emergence is the
policy of discrimination. Therefore, it enjoys wide popular support.
Former Chief of General Staff İlker BaÅ?buÄ? said, `We finished the PKK
five times in 26 years.’ This was true, but the PKK was never truly
finished.

A paradigm shift in the state to deal with the PKK and Kurdish issues
was inevitable, so what the government did was right. The steps taken
may be insufficient. But the path is right. Other cases in the world
prove this. However, the fact that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an
is being targeted now shows that the real issue is the settlement
process, because the final exit from the old Turkey and its power
balance depends on the achievement of a Turkish-Kurdish settlement.

http://www.todayszaman.com/columnist/markar-esayan_335573_settlement-process-is-the-new-turkeys-visa.html