Author: nina hovnanian

CYPRUS: A SOLUTION OR DISSOLUTION?
By Andreas C Chrysafis

Feb 16, 2012

In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, a famous phrase asks: “To be, or
not to be, that is the question!” That question is also valid when
it comes to the Cyprus issue: to negotiate, or not to negotiate,
that is the question? It is one of the most perplexing questions
faced by tiny Cyprus in its effort to maintain its independence and
territorial integrity against adversaries.

To negotiate with Turkey – a powerful and aggressive enemy at that –
simply means to negotiate under the intimidation of another military
attack – in theory Cyprus is still at war! A losing scenario indeed!

However, if the existing talks continue, it will certainly indicate
that the government is prepared and willing to accept a solution to
dissolve the Republic of Cyprus.

That dissolution will be based on some type of partition and will
certainly abandon the preservation of the nation’s sovereignty. Under
those terms, it will also forsake thousands of refugees’ rights to
return back to their homes.

Not to negotiate, poses additional pitfalls: Turkey constantly
threatens to put its “Plan B” into action. What that means is the
official (illegal by international law) declaration of a new Turkish
Cypriot state under the auspices of Turkey. When that happens, some
Muslim countries will certainly recognize the new “state” and that
would set the beginning of no return.

The other obvious move is that Turkey would declare unilaterally the
extension of its own boundaries to include the occupied area as a new
province of the mainland. Strategically planned, it will then proceed
to import thousands of Anatolian settlers (one million figures have
been mentioned) to change the demographic character of the island;
the Islamization of Cyprus will then be unstoppable! Legal or not,
the winner keeps all -Might then becomes Right!

Negotiating under those terms: one is doomed if one does, and doomed
if one doesn’t – a Euthyphro Dilemma!

Faced with such a gloomy predicament, Cyprus, instead of introducing
a strong foreign policy armed with a tough political strategy to
keep exposing Turkey for what it really is, has chose a passive
concessionary course of action. An error of judgment by any accounts!

That bad decision was taken a long time ago and has haunted the nation
ever since! In fact it is maintained to this day with no government
ever having dared to consider correcting it.

That was: to start negotiating territorial concessions and offering
special privileges to an ethnic minority group, such as the Turkish
Cypriots living on the island. Yet, those same principles and land
concessions did not apply to any other minority group such as the
Maronites or the Armenians or any others. Double standards never work,
especially when it comes to citizenship!

Today, a Cypriot government shows its willingness to accept a solution
based on Bi-Zonal, Bi-Communal Federation (whatever that means –
for it does not exist elsewhere in the world) and reward Turkey’s
invasion and its ethnic cleansing.

If that happens without the full support of the people, the
consequences in future do not look bright. Under those terms, a
social conflict could flare up amongst those who may feel betrayed –
especially the refugees – and civil unrest could trigger off mayhem
for years to come.

There is documented evidence to show that foreign interests caused
the entire tragedy in Cyprus – and continue to do so today – by
strategically separating the two communities and putting the blame
on the victims.

This serves Turkey’s neo-Ottoman policy perfectly well. Its strategy
has always been: “create a situation, prolong it long enough and that
problem no longer poses to be a problem!”

Hitler, on the 22, 1939 used the example of the Turkish massacre of 2
million Armenians, to justify his own genocide against 6 million Jews.

He said: “Who after all speaks today of the annihilation of the
Armenians!”

Turkey maintains the same old policies and repeated its ethnic
cleansing brutality again in 1974. This time against Cyprus, by
forcing 230,000 Greeks Cypriots out of their lands and confiscating
their properties.

Going back in history, in November 1918, (not long ago in historical
terms) in an Ottoman Parliament Assembly Session, three Ottoman
deputies raised the issue of the murdered 550,000 Greeks, the expulsion
of 250,000 Greek Christians and the death of 250.000 conscripted
into Labour Battalions indicating that one million Greeks had been
victims to the Ittihadist policies. Eye-witness accounts claimed that:
“rivers of blood flowed in the streets”.

Making matters worse Ban Ki-moon’s special UN envoy, Mr. Downer, has
also put a spanner in the works by declaring publicly that the “Greek
side” will take over the EU Presidency in July 1, 2012. Newspapers
in the UK have also begun to use similar phraseology.

Such statements of spin are not simply pulled out of the hat! They
are politically motivated, aimed to spread doubts as to the legitimacy
of the Republic of Cyprus.

All considered, Turkey has cleverly and successfully managed to alter
its international bad reputation – under the very noses of the Cyprus
government – and now stubbornly refuses (the only country in the world)
to recognize the legitimacy of the Republic. As a generous paymaster,
Turkey spends billions each year sponsoring Think tanks, newspapers,
online services, governments and industrial conglomerates to spin
the Cyprus issue in favour of its political goals.

Dealing with Turkish intransigence is no easy matter. One may say it’s
impossible! In fact, the Turkish side has not offered a single item
as a concession on their own part with the exception of claiming that:
“we are lucky the Turkish troops did not occupy the entire island”.

Under those conditions, the invader will finally be rewarded and keep
its trophy of conquest and ultimately legalize its military occupation!

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu wrote in 2001: “Even if there was
not one single Muslim Turk over there (Cyprus), Turkey would have to
maintain a Cyprus question. No country could possibly be indifferent
to an island like this, placed in the heart of its (geographical)
location”.

This is what Cyprus is faced with; a constant provocation by a
well-orchestrated offensive plan backed up by armed troops.

Turkey plans to maintain the occupied area as an extension of its
territories and now threatens, provokes and demands a share of the
natural gas found within the sovereign rights of Cyprus’ Exclusive
Economic Zone.

Turkish threats cannot be ignored but the main question comes down to:
Who will stop them?

If Cyprus is to remain a free nation, it needs to make bold decisions
and start to act like a nation that will do anything to protect its
own interests in line with all other nations instead of worrying
as not to offend outsiders. Today, there are too many adversaries
nibbling away at its own existence.

However, the discovery of natural gas could provide the leverage it
needs; that is, if used wisely!

First and foremost, the negotiations should be set-aside until the
present political climate changes. The removal of Turkish troops is
paramount in finding any kind of peaceful and lasting solution.

Failing that, all attempts will be in vein! The present route is
entering the nation into a dark future with no guarantees of success.

This however can change if radical decisions are taken. It is possible
to make new political and defence alliances with other powerful
nations; introduce an offensive policy; bring in One-Man-One Vote
based on the Rule of Law and establish a Parliamentary Voting System
that offers equality and opportunities for all citizens irrespective
of ethnicity or social status and certainly without special privileges
to minority ethnic groups. Democracy and Meritocracy can be the only
right answer!

IRAN-ARMENIA RAIL LINK ‘REALISTIC’ FOR RUSSIA

16.02.2012

Armenia – Vladimir Yakunin (second from right), chairman of Russia’s
state-run rail network, speaks to journalists in Yerevan, Tigran
Avetisian

Russia remains interested in an ambitious project to build a railway
connecting Armenia to neighboring Iran despite “problems” created by
Tehran’s deepening standoff with the West, according to the head of
the state-run Russian rail network, RZD.

“We think that this project has realistic chances of implementation
but that could be done only within the inter-state framework and
doesn’t depend only on us,” Vladimir Yakunin said at the end of a
visit to Armenia late on Wednesday.

Yakunin arrived in Yerevan to introduce Viktor Rebets, the new
executive director of Armenia’s national railway company managed by
RZD. He also met with President Serzh Sarkisian.

The Armenian and Iranian governments officially approved the railway
project in 2009. But they have yet to identify concrete sources
of funding for the 470-kilometer rail link that would mainly pass
through Armenian territory. Unofficial estimates of its total cost
have varied from $1 billion to $4 billion.

The Armenian side hopes that Russian firms will participate in the
railway construction and partly finance it. The Russian government
and RZD have not ruled out such possibility.

The Armenian and Russian transport ministries set up joint working
groups looking into the project after Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev’s August 2010 visit to Yerevan. Medvedev and Sarkisian also
discussed the issue when they met in Moscow in October 2011.

“We hope that with joint efforts by both Russia and Armenia as well
as some third countries we will, after all, manage to achieve a more
modern and perhaps even radically new system of communications for
Armenia,” Medvedev said during the talks in an apparent reference to
the would-be rail link.

Yakunin insisted that the project is feasible even though between
30 and 50 years would be needed to recoup the massive construction
expenditures. “And if that project is launched South Caucasus Railway
will definitely participate in its implementation,” he said, referring
to RZD’s Armenian subsidiary.

The Russian official noted that the tightening international sanctions
against Iran are creating “quite a bit of problems” hampering economic
cooperation between the Islamic Republic and other regional states,
including Armenia. “We believe that cooperation is much more effective
than any sanction imposed on Iran,” he said, echoing Moscow’s official
stance on the standoff over Tehran’s controversial nuclear program.

Richard Giragosian, a Yerevan-based political analyst, suggested on
Thursday that Russia is keen to use the project to “demonstrate its
power and influence in this region” and underline its opposition to
U.S. or Israeli military action against Iran. “It’s too soon to say
whether the project will start and finish but I see a new political
will from Moscow to take it more seriously,” he told RFE/RL’s Armenian
service (Azatutyun.am).

“This visit [by Yakunin] is about assessing what is needed for the
next step to make this more realistic both in terms of Armenia-Iran
and just in case the Armenian-Turkish diplomacy restarts,” Giragosian
said. “Politically this is more realistic than it has been before. The
real challenge will be whether there is a financial commitment from
Russia to make this a reality.”

The Armenian government regards China as another potential source
of funding for the railway construction. Transport Minister Manuk
Vartanian revealed in 2010 that Yerevan is seeking as much as $1
billion in Chinese loans for that purpose.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi discussed the issue with Prime
Minister Tigran Sarkisian during a February 2011 visit to Yerevan.

Sarkisian’s press office referred to “the Chinese side’s interest”
in the project but did not elaborate.

STEPANAKERT TO HOST CONFERENCE ON 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF KARABAKH INDEPENDENCE

news.am
February 16, 2012 | 16:22

YEREVAN.- Stepanakert, capital of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, will
host an international conference dedicated to 20th anniversary of
the Republic.

The conference held on February 17-18 will bring together MPs,
political analysts from Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as
experts from Russia, Germany, UK, Poland, Greece, the Netherlands.

They will discuss the Karabakh issue and the role of NKR in
international processes.

President of Nagorno-Karabakh Bako Sahakyan and Parliament Speaker
Ashot Ghulyan will address the participants.

The Armenian parliament’s delegation headed by Vice Speaker Eduard
Sharmazanov will participate in the conference.

The forum is organized with the support of Armenian News-NEWS.am.

MR MAYOR, PERFORM YOUR DUTIES

02:44 pm | Today | Social

This is Our City initiative has addressed a statement to Yerevan
Mayor Taron Margaryan on his Facebook page.

The initiative asks the mayor to call back the constructors and police
officers from Mashtots Avenue so as not to aggravate the situation.

“We also ask you to leave the activists protesting against an illegal
construction of kiosks at peace. Please, perform your duties and
pledges given to public. We are looking forward to your early reply,”
the group wrote on the mayor’s page.

ARMENIA’S RULING PARTY TO FORM MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT – MP

Tert.am
17.02.12

At his Friday meeting with journalists, Rafik Petrosyan, an MP of the
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), said that the ruling party would
form a majority in Armenia’s new parliament.

The latest local elections are evidence thereof – RPA representatives
won the elections in 31 out of the 39 constituencies.

The Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) is sure to be the second. It has
done much work over the past five years. The opposition Armenian
National Congress (ANC) will be the third. The mayor election in
Hrazdan showed this force has an electorate, Petrosyan said.

As regards the Rule of Law party, which is part of the ruling
coalition, is likely to be the fourth, he said.

“The Rule of Law party’s valuable asset is its cooperating in state
government. The RPA, PAP and Rule of Law are not going to wage a
fierce struggle, and the last-named will take advantage of the others’
image,” Petrosyan said.

The MP is sure that, as an old party, the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) will get the necessary 5%.

As regards the Heritage party, it will not get the necessary 5%
if it runs for parliament unallied.

ARMENIA CAN ANNUALLY PRODUCE 80,000 TONS OF COPPER – VALLEX GROUP

news.am
February 17, 2012 | 15:45

YEREVAN.- Armenia has a capability to produce 80,000 tons of copper
annually, said President of Vallex Group Valeriy Mezhlumyan.

The group is currently producing blister copper and exports it to
Europe. However, it is difficult to reach Europe’s production volume.

“We plan to produce for instance 100 tons of copper a year, while the
European companies create additional processing capacity for 300-400
tons. So, in order to be competitive in this area, we can only rely
on Armenian concentrates and the Georgian ones,” he said.

According to him, in the next 4 years the company intends to increase
the volume of copper production. Georgia presently produces 15
thousand tons of copper concentrate, while Armenia – about 30 thousand
tons. Moreover, in four years Vallex group plans to produce 30-40,000
tons of copper.

“In general, Armenia’s capacity can be estimated at 80 thousand tons
per year,” he emphasized.

In his turn, Vice-President of Vallex Group Gagik Arzumanyan noted
that modernization of the company’s production will be more effective
if sulfuric acid is obtained as a byproduct.

Vallex Group is Armenia-based group of companies including several
mining enterprises.

UN ” CASUS BELLI ” POUR LA TURQUIE
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 16 fevrier 2012

Le Senat a adopte lundi soir la proposition de loi reprimant
la negation du genocide armenien ; le texte avait ete vote par
l’Assemblee nationale le 22 decembre dernier. Ce scrutin ouvre une
periode de tension grave entre la France et la Turquie et le ministre
des Affaires etrangères, Alain Juppe, ne cache pas sa mauvaise humeur.

EN TURQUIE, le gouvernement, la presse et l’opinion sont revoltes
contre une loi qu’ils jugent injuste et ” raciste “. Les Turcs, deja
outres par la mauvaise volonte des Europeens au sujet de l’adhesion
de la Turquie a l’Union des Vingt-Sept et informes de l’hostilite
personnelle de Nicolas Sarkozy a cette adhesion, sont maintenant
exasperes par une initative parlementaire, soutenue, de toute evidence,
par l’Elysee, qui les transforme tous en delinquants potentiels
puisqu’ils nient la realite du genocide. En France meme, de nombreux
historiens ont mis en garde l’opinion contre l’ingerence de la classe
politique dans un dossier qui ne devrait appartenir qu’aux historiens.

Un debat de dix ans.

Le debat ne date pas de l’annee dernière. La France a reconnu le
genocide armenien en 2001. Une proposition de loi qui reprimait la
negation de tout genocide a ete adoptee par l’Assemblee en 2006,
mais, sur intervention du gouvernement, elle n’a pu etre soumise
au Senat en 2008. Treize ans auparavant, l’historien americain
Bernard Lewis affirmait que, pour qu’il y ait genocide, il faut
qu’un gouvernement ait concu le projet de detruire un peuple, comme
ce fut le cas du Troisième Reich et du peuple juif. Lewis ne pensait
pas que le gouvernement de Turquie (” Jeunes-Turcs “) etait implique
dans le genocide armenien qui a eu lieu d’avril 1915 a juillet 1918
et s’est traduit par l’elimination de quelque un million deux cent
mille Armeniens d’Anatolie. La thèse de Lewis, exposee en 1993, fut
decriee, mais soutenue par des historiens comme Madeline Reberioux et
Pierre Nora, lequel n’a pas change d’avis : il a averti les Francais,
a plusieurs reprises, depuis deux mois, des consequences negatives du
melange des genres, action politique et recherche historique. Trente et
une personnalites, dont Claude Lanzmann et Serge Klarsfeld, affirment,
pour leur part, que ” le legislateur ne s’est pas immisce sur le
territoire de l’historien “.

Tous ces arguments sont servis avec une once de componction et avec
la distance que doit prendre le chercheur. Ils n’en traduisent pas
moins l’une de ces vives passions que nourrit chacun de nos debats de
societe. Car, après tout, dans le cas de la Shoah, la France a adopte
une loi pour punir le negationnisme et le revisionnisme. Pourquoi,
dans l’absolu, ne devrait-elle avoir une position identique sur la
negation des autres genocides ? Peut-etre parce que les historiens
sont divises sur le genocide armenien, les uns estimant qu’il reunit
tous les elements qui en font un precurseu du genocide juif, les autres
comparant plutôt le conflit opposant les Turcs aux Armeniens a ce qui
s’est passe en Yougoslavie entre Serbes et Croates, entre musulmans
et chretiens. L’etalonnage de ces evenements tragiques de l’histoire
est embarrassant : les peuples victimes d’un genocide n’ont pas envie,
quoi qu’on en dise, de porter cette qualification en sautoir ; mais
ceux a qui on la conteste croient la meriter, a tort ou a raison.

LE DEBAT SUR LE NEGATIONNISME PORTE EN REALITE SUR LE GENOCIDE LUI-MÊME

En revanche, il est impossible de separer la loi recemment adoptee du
contexte electoral. Bien qu’on comprenne mal que la majorite actuelle
ait pris tant de peine et de risques pour s’assurer le vote ” armenien
” (pas plus de 200 000 suffrages), ce n’est pas un hasard si la
proposition a surgi dans la majorite a quelques mois du premier tour.

Le plus surprenant, c’est qu’elle ait souleve un debat très vif,
avec des prises de position tranchees, aussi bien a droite qu’a gauche.

C’est ainsi que des senateurs socialistes, pourtant conscients de la
man~uvre engagee par l’UMP, sont restes fidèles a leur conviction
et ont vote pour le texte, alors que la majorite au Senat a bascule a
gauche en septembre dernier. Il n’en reste pas moins que l’on n’aurait
jamais dû soumettre la politique etrangère de la France a un calcul
electoral et que les consequences de la colère turque risquent d’etre
très prejudiciables a notre pays. De toute facon, il est infiniment
preferable que les Francais votent au nom de ce qu’ils croient bon
pour la France, plutôt qu’en fonction d’un quelconque particularisme
ou de l’interet d’un groupe.

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:

February 15, 2012

VARTANANTZ

Tomorrow, February 16, the Armenian Church commemorates Vartanantzthe
war between pagan Persia and Christian Armenia in 451. The king of
Persia ordered all Christians under his rule to abandon Christianity
and embrace Mazdeism. The Armenian clergy and ruling princes refused
to abandon their faith. As recorded by the historian Yeghishe, the
soldiers took an oath to fight the enemies of truth: We are ready for
persecution and death and every affliction and torture for the sake of
the holy churches which our forefathers entrusted to us by the power
of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby we were reborn to the
one hope of faith by baptism in Christ Jesus. In the same fashion we
wish to renew ourselves by torments and blood. For we recognize the
Holy Gospel as our Father, and the apostolic catholic church as
Mother. Let no evil partition come between us to separate us from her.

The clergy supported the soldiers, and Yeghishe records the speech
given on the priest Ghevond on the eve of the battle where he says,
You all know that in former times, when you went out to war you had
the custom that priests would always be in the camp, and at the hour
of battle, relying upon their prayers, you would leave them in a safe
place. But today bishops, priests, and deacons, singers of the psalms
and readers of Scripture, each in his own canonical rank, like armed
men ready for battle, wish to attack with you and smite the enemies of
the truth.

Vartan Mamigonian was the leader of the Armenians in the battle of
Avarayr, and although outnumbered, the Armenians put up a valiant
defense. Vartan and many of his soldiers were killed, but the Persians
suffered greater casualties and with this battle they realized the
strong commitment the Armenians had for their Christian faith.

The struggle against Persian rule continued for more than thirty
years. In 484 Vahan Mamigonian, nephew of Vartan, successfully
negotiated the Treaty of Nvarsag, the first document in history
granting religious freedom and home rule.

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN PRESIDES OVER SERVICES

AND CELEBRATIONS IN NORTH ANDOVER

Archbishop Oshagan presided over the consecration and blessing of the
new altar and baptismal font at St. Gregory Church of Merrimack
Valley in North Andover, Massachusetts, last Sunday. The
multi-celebration included the 42nd anniversary of the parish.

The consecration and blessing culminated more than six years of
planning and preparation, and raising funds. For many months services
were conducted in Jaffarian Hall, which was renovated in 2007, to
complete the renovations in the sanctuary. Assisting the Prelate at
the altar was the churchs pastor, Rev. Fr. Karekin Bedourian, who
praised the congregation for its vision for the future of the parish.

Archbishop Oshagan said, Our ancestors escaped genocide and created a
better life through God. They built churches before securing their own
homes. The Prelate was heartened to see 50 school children seated in
the front pews and he urged them to keep the Armenian heritage and
culture intact.

Archbishop Oshagan, flanked by Rev. Fr. Karekin Bedourian (left), and
Archpriest Fr. Vazken Bekiarian, with the altar servers and special
guest Rev. Lenny Faris, pastor of St. George Antiochian Orthodox
Church of Lowell.

Standing in front of the new baptismal font which was consecrated are,
left to right, sub-deacon Mgo Kassabian, Rev. Fr. Karekin Bedourian,
Archbishop Oshagan, and deacons Avedis Garavanian and John Saryan.

Archbishop Oshagan honored the Building Committee for distinguished
service.

VICARS 40th ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION

TO BE CELEBRATED ON MARCH 25

The 40th anniversary of the ordination of Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian,
Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy, will be celebrated on Sunday,
March 25. His Grace will celebrate the Divine Liturgy Sunday morning
at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, where he served as the
parish priest for many years. This will be followed by a celebratory
banquet at Terrace on the Park in Flushing, New York.

MUSICAL ARMENIA ON FRIDAY, MARCH 30

The Prelacys 2012 Musical Armenia concertthe 29th in the serieswill
take place Friday March 30, at 8 pm, at Carnegie Halls Weill Recital
Hall. For the first time in the series, the concert is taking place on
Friday evening, rather than the customary Sunday afternoon. Responding
to requests by loyal concertgoers, the program is scheduled for Friday
evening, providing those working in New York the opportunity to attend
the concert before returning home, and an opportunity for
out-of-towners to plan on a weekend visit to New York City, attending
Musical Armenia and then partaking in the many varied cultural events
in the City.

The featured artists this year are cellist Marta Bagratuni and pianist
Hayk Arsenyan. Ms. Bagratuni is currently a masters degree student at
the College of Music at Michigan State University, with a
distinguished list of accomplishments. Mr. Arsenyan holds a doctor of
musical arts degree from the University of Iowa, and is currently a
faculty member at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

Tickets for the concert ($25) are available at the Carnegie Hall box
office or through the Prelacy office, 212-689-7810, or by email at
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]).

BECOME A FRIEND OF MUSICAL ARMENIA

The Musical Armenia series began in 1982 and as noted above the 29th
concert in the series will take place Friday evening, March 30. The
series is dedicated to promoting young Armenian artists and to the
performance of music by Armenian composers. Over the past 30 years,
many of the performers have established solid professional
careers. Supporters have played a major role in the growth of the
Musical Armenia series.

If you would like to join in supporting this important endeavor,
please consider becoming a sponsor at any of the following levels:
$1,000 diamond; $500 platinum; $300 gold; or $200 gold. Please contact
the Prelacy by email at [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]) or by telephone at 212-689-7810.

PRELACY LENTEN PROGRAM WILL BEGIN FEBRUARY 22

The Prelacys Lenten Lecture series this year will focus on The Book,
the Bible (Asdvadzashoonch), reflecting on its various aspects in the
life of the Armenian Church and the believers. The Program will be
held on Wednesdays of Great Lent under the auspices of His Eminence
Archbishop Oshagan, the Prelate. It will include Lenten Service from
7:30-8:00pm, followed by lecture and Q/A from 8:00-8:45pm, and
conclude with table fellowship. The speakers will be His Eminence
Archbishop Oshagan, His Grace Bishop Anoushavan, Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi,
Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, and Dn. Shant
Kazanjian.

The Lenten program is sponsored by the Prelacys Armenian Religious
Education Council (AREC), the Prelacy Ladies Guild (PLG), and the
Ladies Guild of St. Illuminators Cathedral. The program will take
place at the Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City. For further
information, please contact the Prelacy at 212.689.7810 or
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), or the
church office at 212.689.5880.

For details, please click here (

).

CLERGY GATHERING IN NEW JERSEY CONCLUDES TOMORROW

Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan and Archbishop Khajag Hagopian presided
over the annual clergy gathering on the occasion of the Feast of
St. Ghevont (Leontius) and the Priests, that began on Monday, February
13 and will conclude tomorrow. This year the clergy from the Eastern
and Canadian Prelacies met at Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield,
New Jersey.

ST. HAGOP CHURCH IN RACINE CELEBRATES DYARNUNTARATCH

St. Hagop Church in Racine, Wisconsin, celebrated Dyarnuntaratch under
the leadership of Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian, on Sunday, February 12.
Children under the age of 12 were presented at the altar. After the
services the congregation took part in the traditional bonfire. This
was followed by a special soup fellowship, that included fun and
games.

Children under 12 years of age were presented at the altar.

Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian lights the Dyarnuntaratch bonfire.

EXHIBITION AT ST. ILLUMINATORS PASHALIAN HALL

The opening of an exhibition of paintings by notable artist Laura
Avetisyan organized by St. Illuminators Cathedral took place at the
Cathedrals John Pashalian Hall on Sunday, February
12th. Mrs. Avetisyan has been committed to the highest artistic
standards and to her motherland all her life. Late art critic Henrik
Igityan, founder of the Museum of Modern Art in Yerevan, lauded the
fact that Laura Avetisyan achieved recognition and appreciation in the
USA and yet she chose to reside in Yerevan. Laura Avetisyans works are
a part of permanent collections at numerous art galleries in the
United States, Europe and Armenia. The exhibition will run till
Sunday, February 19th.

Laura Avetisyan standing to the left of Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian with
exhibition attendees.

VISITING CLERGY AT THE CATHEDRAL

Rev. Fr. Mardiros Berberian, pastor of St. Kevork Armenian Apostolic
Church in Moscow, Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy at
St. Illuminators Cathedral on Sunday, February 12. Pictured above:
Rev. Fr. Mardiros Berberian with Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor,
and deacons.

BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for Sunday, February 19, Poon Paregentan (Eve of Great
Lent) are: Isaiah 58:1-14; Romans 13:11-14:23; Matthew 6:1-21.

Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by
them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the
hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may
be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their
reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what
your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and
your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to
stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that
they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their
reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door
and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in
secret will reward you.

When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do;
for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do
not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask
him.

Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your
name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as
we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of
trial, but rescue us from the evil one.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will
also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses.

And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for
they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting.
Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast,
put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be
seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your
Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moss nor rust consumes
and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:1-21)

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

).

150 FATHERS OF HOLY COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE

This Saturday, February 18, the Armenian Church commemorates the 150
Fathers of the Council of Constantinople, the second ecumenical
council convened by Emperor Theodosius in 381. This council confirmed
the work of the first council at Nicaea, and added five articles to
the Nicene Creed regarding the Holy Spirit, the Church, Baptism, and
Resurrection. The Council of Constantinople is one of the three
ecumenical councils recognized by the Armenian Church.

POON PAREGENTAN

This Sunday, February 19, is Poon Paregentan, the eve of Great Lent
(Medz Bahk). Poon means real or genuine, and distinguishes this
paregentan from others in the liturgical calendar prior to other
periods of fasting.

Poon Paregentan ushers the faithful into the Lenten period of fasting,
penance and reconciliation. During Lent the Church takes on a solemn
appearance. The altar curtain is closed starting from the evening of
Poon Paregentan, symbolic of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the
Garden of Eden. Holy Communion is not offered during Lent and the
faithful are encouraged to use this period leading to Easter as a time
of prayer and meditation to strengthen their faith.

GREAT LENT BEGINS MONDAY

Great Lent (Medz Bahk or Karasnortk) begins this Monday, February
20. Great Lent is the longest of the fasts in the liturgical calendar.
It begins on the Monday immediately following Poon Paregentan, and
continues for 40 days until the Friday before the commemoration of the
raising of Lazarus on the Saturday before Palm Sunday. A new period
of fasting begins during Holy Week.

Great Lent, a time of penance and devotion, is based on the 40 days
Christ spent in the wilderness following his baptism. Then Jesus was
led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the
devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was
famished (Matthew 3:1-2).

CILICIAN SEMINARY SEEKS ART FOR PERMANENT EXHIBITION

The Theological Seminary of the Holy See of Cilicia, which is located
in Bikfaya, Lebanon, is seeking to establish a permanent exhibit of
art at the Seminary.

Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, Dean of the Seminary, is asking the
worldwide community of artists and art collectors to consider donating
artwork for inclusion in the permanent exhibit.

Noting that the Seminary in Bikfaya is a distance from Antelias where
the Holy See is located, Archbishop Nareg seeks to establish a
permanent exhibit of art in Bikfaya for the edification and enjoyment
of seminarians, as well as the many visitors who come to
Bikfaya. Paintings must be between 50 x 70 cms and 80 x 100 cms. There
are no size limitations for sculptures. A brief biography of the
artist should accompany the artwork.

For more information, interested parties should contact the Dean at
(011-961-4) 980-060, (011-961-3) 486-943, or by email to
[email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]).

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

February 13-16Ghevontiantz Clergy Gathering, Eastern and Canadian
Prelacies, hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.

February 17St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Granite City,
Illinois, celebration of Dyarnuntarach, evening service at 5:30
pm. Procession and Bonfire at 6 pm. Agoomp at the Community Center
begin s at 6:30 pm. Special lecture, Great Lent and the Armenian
Tradition, by Rev. Fr. Stephan Baljian.

February 19Traditional Poon Paregentan Manti Luncheon and Program, at
St. Illuminators Cathedrals Pashalian Hall, New York City. Adults $25;
children $10.

February 26St. Illuminators Cathedral, New York City, presents a
lecture by Dr. Arthur Martirosyan on Child Protection System and
Problems in Armenia, at 1 pm. Refreshments will follow. For
information: 212-689=5880.

March 3Mid-Atlantic Regional Seminar for Sunday School teachers, 10 am
to 3 pm, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC)
at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.

March 3Hovnanian Schools 35th Anniversary Gala at Westmount Country
Club, Woodland Park, New Jersey. Honorees are Dr. John Apovian and
Mr. Hratch Kaprielian. Cocktail hour 6 pm; dinner and dancing 7:30
pm. Art Exhibition during cocktail hour. Entertainment by Kevork
Artinian and his band; Ara Dinkjian; and Yuri Yunakov. $175 per
person. For reservations, information or sponsorship contact at:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or
201-967-5940.

March 4Book reading and signing by childrens author, Talene Dadian
White, at 1 pm, in Pashalian Hall, St. Illuminators Cathedral, New
York City. Proceeds will benefit the Cathedrals Armenian Day and
Sunday Schools. For information: 212-689-5880.

March 9Annual Mark Kyrkostas Remember Me With Music concert of music
and dance will feature Ivy Adrian on the piano and the original
musicians of the Mark Kyrkostas Jazz Quintet, bass, Cosmo Steve
Mallard and flute, Anne Pollack. Joining them will be saxophonist
Arnold Lee and percussionist Lamy Istrifi. At the Armenian Society
Center, 39-03 Little Neck Parkway, New York, at 7 pm. Ample parking
and accessible by Long Island Railroad. For information: 718-428-5650.

March 11St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Granite City, Illinois,
Annual Membership meeting, on Sunday of the Steward, 12:30 pm.

March 17Mid-West Regional Seminar for Sunday School teachers, 10 am to
3 pm, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) at
St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan.

March 18Armenian Relief Society, NY Erebouni Chapter presents, Yeraz
Dance Ensemble, Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main Street, Suite 1,
Port Washington, New York, at 3 pm. For tickets ($25 & $35): Nairy,
631-922-3414; Loucine, 516-352-1069.

March 24New England Regional Seminar for Sunday school teachers, 10 am
to 3 pm, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC)
at St. Stephens Church, Watertown, Massachusetts.

March 25Celebration of the 40th anniversary of Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielians ordination to the priesthood. Save the date.

March 30Musical Armenia 2012 (29th concert of the series), sponsored
by the Eastern Prelacy and Prelacy Ladies Guild, 8 pm, Weill Recital
Hall, at Carnegie Hall, New York City. Featured artists: Marta
Bagratuni, cello (with Zhao Zhao Yank, piano); Hayk Arsenyan,
piano. Please note that this year Musical Armenia is on Friday
evening.

April 29Ladies Guild of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New
Jersey, will present the New Jersey premier of The Hye LegionThe
Gamavor, a musical true story performed by the actors and singers of
The Way We Were Ensemble. Light lunch and program following church
services. Adults, $20; Children, $10.

May 9-12National Representative Assembly of Eastern Prelacy, hosted by
Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island. Clergy conference on
May 9; full delegation May 10 to 12. Accommodations at Crowne Plaza
Hotel, Warwick, Rhode Island. Details will be forthcoming to parishes
and delegates.

May 11-12National Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG), 30th
anniversary celebration and annual conference in conjunction with the
National Representative Assembly, Crowne Plaza, Warwick, Rhode
Island. For information: Mary Derderian 781-762-4253.

May 4 thru May 24Sixteen performances in May (including matinee
performances on Saturdays and Sundays) of Herand M. Markarians new
play commissioned by the New York State Theater Institute,
Silence. With award-winning actress Lorraine Serabian. This story of
love, loss, and relentless search by a women for her son after the
Armenian genocide of 1915, is directed by Kevin Thomson. Performances
at the Shell Theater in the Times Square Arts Building, 300 West 43rd
Street, New York City. Reserve tickets now ($18): SmartTix.com or
212-868-4444. For information: [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]).

June 24St. Hagop Church, Racine, Wisconsin, annual Madagh Picnic at
Jonsons Park, Racine.

July 14Sts. Vartanantz Church Ladies Guild and ARS Ani Chapter,
Providence, Rhode Island, A Hye Summer Night VI dance, featuring
Hachig Kazarian, Richard Hagopian, Kenneth Kalajian, Jason Naroian, 8
pm to 1 am; $35 adults; $15 children 16 and under. At the Annunciation
Greek Orthodox Church, 175 Oaklawn Avenue, Cranston, Rhode
Island. Mezza will be served. Limited seating. For tickets and
information: 401-434-4467 (Joyce Bagdasarian); 401-354-8770 (Joyce
Yeremian).

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

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

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

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

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

TOP STORY February
15, 2012

Sts. Vartanants Day
A detail of St. Vartan Mamigonian from Krikor Khandjian’s 1981
masterpiece.

Sts. Vartanantz Day

Every year on the Thursday preceding Great Lent, Armenians worldwide
commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Avarayr (451 A.D.), in
which Christian Armenia, under the leadership of St. Vartan Mamigonian,
fought against the Persian empire, which aimed to convert the country
to Zoroastrianism.

On the field of Avarayr, outnumbered Armenian fighters faced a mighty
Persian army. St. Vartan and his companions saw a military defeat, but
their unyielding commitment to defend their faith ultimately thwarted
the Persians, and ensured that Christianity would endure in Armenia.
[4]
Click here to read more about the Battle of Avarayr, and download the
[5]Diocese’s iBook (see story below) to rediscover this historic battle
on a new, interactive platform.
Links:
4.
5.

Lent in the Armenian Church

Great Lent Begins Monday, February 20

The Armenian Church calendar designates Monday, February 20, as the
first day of Great Lent: the season when Christians consciously turn
away from worldly matters and make the effort-through prayer, fasting,
study, and introspection-to prepare for the spiritual drama of Holy
Week and Easter Sunday.

The Scriptural basis for Lent resides in the 40-day period Christ spent
in the wilderness following his baptism. In the words of St. Matthew’s
Gospel (4:12): “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness
to be tempted by the devil. And he fasted forty days and forty nights,
and afterward he was hungry.”

During Lent we are called to follow the Holy Spirit to confront our own
`inner wilderness’-the realm of spiritual emptiness engendered by sin,
laziness, and vanity. Through prayer, fasting, Bible-reading, and
self-examination, we are given an opportunity to renew our commitment
to God, and gain the strength to work at being more loving, humble, and
gentle. [6]Click here to learn more about the Armenian Church
traditions concerning Great Lent.
Links:
6.

Every year the Diocese’s Christian Education staff produces a Lenten
family resource for distribution to families in our Diocesan Sunday
School programs. In past years, these resources have included
calendars, bookmarks, and Bible memorization charts.

This year’s resource is a Family Lenten Calendar, which features prayer
ideas, Bible verses, suggested daily activities, a Lenten glossary, and
more. A limited number of these resources are still available, and may
be requested by contacting Elise Antreassian, coordinator of Christian
Education, at [7][email protected].
Links:
7. mailto:[email protected]

Also this year, the Diocese will introduce a video series on Lent;
check our homepage next week for the first video in the series.

Scripture of the Week

Is 58:1-14
Rom 13:11-14:25
Mt 6:1-21

Prayer of the Week

Jesus, Wisdom of the Father, grant me wisdom, that I may, at all times,
think, speak, and do before you that which is good in your sight. And
save me from evil thoughts, words, and deeds. Have mercy upon your
creatures and upon me, a great sinner. Amen.

Upcoming Saints & Feasts

15 February: St. Vartan the Warrior and His Companions

18 February: 150 Fathers of the Holy Council of Constantinople (381
A.D.)

19 February: Great Barekendan

20 February: First Day of Lent

CHURCH NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

Blessing of Newlyweds at Holy Etchmiadzin
His Holiness Karekin II blesses a newlywed couple at Holy Etchmiadzin.

Presentation of the Lord Observed at Holy Etchmiadzin

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord to the Temple was observed at
Holy Etchmiadzin earlier this week. On Tuesday, February 14, His
Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, presided over the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

Following services, His Holiness blessed newlywed couples, and
encouraged them to remain involved in the life of the Armenian Church
and to pass on Christian values to future generations of Armenians.

The celebration was preceded on Monday, February 13, with a special
Antasdan service (Blessing of the Fields) at Holy Etchmiadzin.

DIOCESAN NEWS

Primate to visit the Armenian Church of Atlanta
The mission parish in Atlanta, GA, regularly gathers for the
celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

Leadership Meeting to be Held in Atlanta, GA

A weekend-long leadership workshop will be held at the Armenian Church
of Atlanta mission parish in Roswell, GA, on February 17-19.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate, will preside over the
workshop sessions, which will focus on the structure of the Armenian
Church, parish administration, fundraising and membership, and Diocesan
resources, among other topics.

In addition to the Primate, presentations will be made by the Rev. Fr.
Tateos Abdalian, the Diocese’s director of Mission Parishes; Dr. Raffy
Hovanessian, Diocesan Council member; and Dr. Sam Mikaelian, the
Diocese’s development coordinator. The Diocese’s Music Ministry
director, Maestro Khoren Mekanejian, will lead workshops for choir
members and altar servers.

On Sunday, Archbishop Barsamian will celebrate the Divine Liturgy. A
Great Barekendan luncheon will follow services.

Gevontians Day Celebrations

Ghevontiantz Day Observances

Each year on the Feast of St. Leontius (Ghevont) the Priest and His
Companions, clergy of the Eastern Diocese gather for the Divine
Liturgy. Earlier this week three regional gatherings were held in
Watertown, MA; Fair Lawn, NJ; and Greenfield, WI. In addition, the
feast day was observed at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary.

[8]Click here to view photos of this week’s observances.
Links:
8.

St. Ghevont is one of the great exemplars of the Armenian priesthood,
remembered for his courage and resolution at the Battle of Avarayr in
451 A.D. He and his brother clergymen stood with the Armenian soldiers,
under the leadership of St. Vartan Mamigonian, in defense of Armenia’s
continued existence as a Christian nation.

Armenian Church iBook

Download our new iBook

This Vartanantz Day the Eastern Diocese is proud to introduce the
first-ever Armenian Church iBook designed for the iPad. Hagop
Nersoyan’s `The Story of Sts. Vartanants’ is brought to life on your
iPad with interactive features, including photo galleries, video and
audio, an interactive map, and more.

This compelling digital book invites readers to revisit St. Vartan’s
stand against the Persian army in defense of Armenia’s continued
existence as a Christian nation. The book is free and available on
iTunes and the iBookstore. [9]Download it, and begin your adventure
today.
Links:
9.

St. Nersess Seminary online lectures

St. Nersess Seminary Offering Online Course

The Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, dean and professor of liturgical
studies at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, is teaching an online course
titled “Patristic Commentaries on the Armenian Divine Liturgy.” The
course explores how the fathers of the Armenian Church interpreted the
Divine Liturgy.

The weekly course is offered on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., and
is accessible via the seminary’s Global Classroom.

[10]Click here for more information.
Links:
10.

[11]Mesrob Mashdots Institute Sping Classes
Links:
11.

Learn Armenian with the Mesrob Mashdots Institute

The Eastern Diocese’s Mesrob Mashdots Institute, an Armenian language
course for adults organized by the Armenian Studies program of
the Diocese’s Department of Youth and Education, will begin its spring
semester on Wednesday, March 14.

The Mesrob Mashdots Institute offers sessions at beginner,
intermediate, conversation, and literature-appreciation levels. The
two-hour sessions are held at the Diocesan Center in New York on
Wednesdays.

The registration deadline is Friday, March 2. [12]Click here to view a
flyer for more information.
Links:
12.

Fund for Armenian Relief
CME participants at a recent cardiology workshop.

FAR’s CME Program Focuses on Cardiology

Last December, the Fund for Armenian Relief organized a two-day
intensive cardiology workshop for cardiologists working in Armenia’s
regional hospitals. Held as part of FAR’s Continuing Medical Education
program (CME), the workshop featured clinical case presentations and a
review of protocols by the country’s leading cardiologists.

The focus on cardiology will continue throughout 2012, which has been
announced as the `Year of Cardiology’ for the CME program. [13]Click
here to visit FAR’s blog and to learn more.
Links:
13.

The Continuing Medical Education program is made possible with the
support of the Armenian American Health Professionals Organization
(AAHPO). CME gives doctors access to free workshops and seminars at
Yerevan State Medical University and at leading medical centers in
Yerevan. More than 285 doctors have completed CME since its inception
in 2005.

Diocesan Center News

Diocese Seeking Development Director

The Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) is currently
seeking candidates for the position of Director of Development.

The Development Director will report to the Diocese’s Executive
Director. He or she will be responsible for planning and implementing
all fundraising strategies for the Eastern Diocese. Responsibilities
include the areas of donor research, cultivation, and solicitation;
leadership identification and planning; reporting to donors and the
public; among other areas.

Qualified applicants should have a bachelor’s degree (advanced degree
preferred) and a significant record of success in fundraising. Please
consult the job description and list of qualifications posted on the
[14]Eastern Diocese’s website.
Links:
14.

Send résumé and cover letter via e-mail to
[15][email protected]. Only those applicants meeting
the requirements for the position will be interviewed. The review of
applications will begin immediately.
Links:
15. mailto:[email protected]

PARISH NEWS

Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian
Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian was ordained to the holy priesthood in 1987.

Wynnewood, PA, Parish Honors Pastor

On Sunday, February 12, St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church of Wynnewood,
PA, honored its pastor, the Very Rev. Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian, on the
25th anniversary of his ordination to the holy priesthood.

Fr. Gulgulian celebrated the Divine Liturgy. Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Diocesan Primate, delivered the homily and presided over the
banquet following services.

During the banquet, remarks were made by the Primate, Archbishop
Yeghishe Gizirian, and the Rev. Fr. Hakob Gevorgyan. Archbishop
Barsamian presented Fr. Gulgulian with a plaque in recognition of his
milestone. The program also featured musical performances.

Check our website next week for an article and photos.

St. Vartanants Church, Chelmsford
Zarouhi Alice Bogosian (center) was honored in Chelmsford, MA, last
month.

Women’s Guild Member Recognized in Chelmsford, MA

On Sunday, January 8, parishioners of Sts. Vartanantz Church of
Chelmsford, MA, gathered to celebrate Christmas and to honor
parishioner Zarouhi Alice Bogosian as `Woman of the Year.’ The Rev. Fr.
Khachatur Kesablyan, parish pastor, presided over the event, which drew
175 people.

Women’s Guild chair Mrs. Milka Jeknavorian served as the master of
ceremonies. Mrs. Nancy Kassabian, a member of the Women’s Guild Central
Council, addressed Mrs. Bogosian on behalf of the Central Council. Mrs.
Bogosian was awarded a `Certificate of Appreciation’ signed by
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate, and a plaque of
gratitude from the Sts. Vartanantz Women’s Guild.

Mrs. Bogosian has been a member of the Women’s Guild for more than 60
years. She has also served in the church choir. In reflecting on this
year’s Diocesan theme of lay ministry, Fr. Kesablyan said that Mrs.
Bogosian has truly answered God’s call through her involvement in the
Armenian Church. He presented her with a khatchkar from Armenia on
behalf of the parish.

The luncheon was prepared by the Women’s Guild. The program also
included performances by the parish Armenian School students.

St. James Church ACYOA
ACYOA Seniors at the Friday Night Supper Program in downtown Boston.

Watertown ACYOA Seniors Perform Service Project

On Friday, February 10, the ACYOA Seniors of St. James Church of
Watertown, MA, performed a service project at the Friday Night Supper
Program in downtown Boston.

Under the guidance of Maria Derderian, parish youth minister, the young
people helped serve a meal to some 150 people. Later they cleared
tables, washed dishes, and cleaned the hall. In addition, the ACYOA
members assisted the Boston organization in organizing items donated to
its clothing drive.

A group dinner and reflection session followed the volunteering
experience.
Armenian Church of Baton Rouge
Fr. Tateos Abdalian with children at St. Garabed Church in Baton Rouge,
LA.

Parish Assembly Held in Baton Rouge, LA

Parishioners at St. Garabed Church mission parish of Baton Rouge, LA,
gathered for their monthly celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday,
February 12.

The Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian, the Diocese’s director of Mission
Parishes, visited the community last weekend. He met with the choir on
Saturday morning to review the music of Holy Week in preparation for
his visit on Easter. The church recently acquired a new organ-a gift
from St. Kevork Church of Houston, TX-and the local choir has been
preparing for upcoming feast days.

On Sunday, Fr. Abdalian celebrated the Divine Liturgy. The annual
Parish Assembly followed services. Sami Khobrossi was elected to the
Parish Council. Cyn D. Reynaud and Khatchig Moutafian were re-elected
for another term.

Upcoming parish events include a Great Barekendan dinner and an
Armenian Martyrs Day program. For more information, contact Fr.
Abdalian at [16][email protected].
Links:
16. mailto:[email protected]

Upcoming Parish Events

St. Vartan Cathedral | New York, NY
Sts. Vartanantz Day will be observed at New York’s St. Vartan Armenian
Cathedral on Thursday, February 16. The day’s events are being
organized under the auspices of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America, with the participation of the Knights and Daughters
of Vartan Mid-Atlantic Region.

Beginning at 6 p.m., a Festal Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in the
St. Vartan Cathedral. The Vartanantz activities will continue at 7:30
p.m., with dinner in Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium of the
Diocesan complex. This will be followed by a program featuring
presentations by students of the Diocese’s Khrimian Lyceum and a
performance by the Shnorhali Choir of Holy Martyrs Church of Bayside,
NY. For information, call (212) 686-0710.

St. John Church | Southfield, MI
St. John Church of Southfield, MI, will host a Great Barekendan event
on Sunday, February 19, at 12:30 p.m. in the church hall, to benefit
its Baku Memorial Monument fundraising effort.

Enjoy Armenian food and music by Harry Hovakimian. A live auction will
be held featuring Armenian paintings and other items. [17]Click here to
view a flyer.
Links:
17.

St. Hagop Church | Pinellas Park, FL
St. Hagop Church of Pinellas Park, FL, will host a Winter Bazaar on
Sunday, February 19, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Enjoy Armenian food and music, crafts, games for children, and other
activities. [18]Click here to view a flyer for more information.
Links:
18.

Holy Cross Church | Union City, NJ
The Women’s Guild of Holy Cross Church of Union City, NJ, will host a
Lenten luncheon on Wednesday, February 22, at 12:30 p.m. [19]Click here
to view a flyer for more information.
Links:
19.

Armenian Church of Southwest Florida
The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at the Armenian Church of
Southwest Florida mission parish on Sunday, February 26, at 1 p.m.
Services are held at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Bonita Springs, FL.
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, the Diocese’s Ecumenical Director, will be
the celebrant. A Lenten luncheon will follow in the Parish Life Center.

For more information, contact Parish Council chair Carole Meghreblian
at
(239) 348-3804, or via e-mail at [20][email protected].
Links:
20. mailto:[email protected]

YOUTH NEWS

ACYOA Lenten Retreat
ACYOA Juniors at a retreat last year in Contoocook, NH.

ACYOA Juniors Retreats Begin Next Week

Beginning next week Jennifer Morris, the Diocese’s Youth Outreach
coordinator, will facilitate weekend-long regional retreats for ACYOA
Juniors. Below is a schedule of upcoming retreats. To register, contact
your parish pastor or youth minister.

February 24-26 Michigan and Ohio (Chardon, OH)
March 2-4 New England (Contoocook, NH)
March 9-11 Wisconsin and Illinois (Ingleside, IL)
March 17-18 Florida (St. Petersburg, FL)
April 13-15 New York, New Jersey, and the Mid-Atlantic (Stony Point,
NY)
April 21-22 Texas (Dallas, TX)

Summer Camps

Register for Summer Camp

The Diocesan Summer Camp season is less than five months away. Below
are important dates for this year’s program:

St. Vartan Camp, Ararat Youth and Conference Center, Greenville, NY
Staff Training: Wednesday, June 27 – Saturday, June 30
Session A: Sunday, July 1 – Saturday, July 14
Session B: Sunday, July 15 – Saturday, July 28
Session C: Sunday, July 29 – Saturday, August 11

Hye Camp, Camp Hickory, Ingleside, IL
Staff Training: Wednesday, July 25 – Saturday, July 28
Camp Session: Saturday, July 28 – Saturday, August 4

St. Vartan Camp online registration is available for campers (CIT and
staff applications are available for download). [21]Click here to
register now. Hye Camp applications will be available for
download beginning March 15.
Links:
21.

For more information, contact Jennifer Morris, the Diocese’s Youth
Outreach coordinator, at [22][email protected].
Links:
22. mailto:[email protected]

Khrymian Lyceum
Dr. Anny Bakalian (right) and Gilda Buchakjian during last week’s
lecture at the Khrimian Lyceum.

Khrimian Lyceum to Mark 25th Anniversary

Dr. Anny Bakalian, associate director of the Middle East and Middle
Eastern American Center at the City University of New York, was invited
to speak at the Diocese’s Khrimian Lyceum on Saturday, February 11. Dr.
Bakalian spoke to students, parents, teachers, and guests about her
recent trip to historic Armenia. [23]Click here to view photos.
Links:
23. !i=1712907026&k=d7BQpPq

Following the lecture, the students rehearsed for their upcoming
celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Khrimian Lyceum. The
celebration will highlight the lyceum’s focus on Armenian art, dance,
theater, and writing. A special issue of the Khrimian Lyceum yearbook
will be published on this occasion.

The Khrimian Lyceum is a language and cultural program for Armenian
students ages 12-18. For more information, contact Gilda Buchakjian,
the Diocese’s Armenian Studies coordinator, at (212) 686-0710, ext.
148.

THE INDEPENDENT

Working as a jail torturer ruined my life

Patrick Cockburn on the former soldier who has joined the political
prisoners he tortured in Turkey’s Mamak prison by suing the generals
who led a regime of terror

Patrick Cockburn
Wednesday 15 February 2012

A former Turkish soldier, Dogan Eslik, is suing the generals who
seized power in Turkey in a military coup in 1980 and tortured
hundreds of thousands of people. He claims his experiences in Ankara’s
dreaded Mamak Prison dehumanised him, turned him into a monster, and
have effectively ruined his life. He joins thousands of other
complainants filing charges against those they hold responsible for
torture and murder.

What makes Mr Eslik’s legal action different from the others is that
they are suing because they suffered torture while he is one of those
who inflicted it. Today he is full of remorse at his past career as a
torturer. Claiming he was compelled by threats of being beaten
himself, he says that his emotional well-being has been permanently
destroyed, he has received psychiatric treatment, and he was so
traumatised that he has never been able to marry.

Called up to do his military service, Mr Eslik was made a prison
warden in Mamak Prison in 1982 and received special training from
officers in methods of inflicting pain. He is now filing charges
against the retired Generals Kenan Evren and Tahsin Sahinkaya, the
leaders of the junta which staged the coup and established a reign of
terror in Turkey at its most intense between 1980 and 1983.

“My reason for filing charges is because I was stopped by the junta
from serving in the military,” Mr Eslik told the Zaman
newspaper. “They broke our mind, our will and made us beat inmates
like animals.”

The history of barbaric punishments inflicted by the state on
opponents continues to mark Turkish society. Of the four military
coups since 1960, the most repressive was that of 12 September 1980. A
quarter of a million people were arrested and tortured according to
Amnesty International, while Turkish human rights organisations say
the true number is two or three times as great.

They list 37 different techniques used by the torturers including
electric shocks, whipping of the feet, hanging by the arms and legs
and the use of high-pressure water. Some 419 people are suspected of
being tortured to death in custody in 15 years after the coup and
thousands more were maimed for life. Many disappeared and their bones
are still being found in secret cemeteries.

Torturers have begun to admit what they did, though often claiming it
was under duress. Kamil Altiman, a private soldier who was a warden in
Mamak, says “many young people, intellectuals and writers were
jailed. My friends and I only carried out the orders we were given,
but we never supported torture.”

One victim, Yasar Yildirim, recalls how the chief warden at Mamak
ordered prisoners into the yard and then set German Shepherd dogs to
attack them. “The torture lasted for 45 minutes,” says Mr
Yildirim. “What disturbed me most was the fact that the prison warden
gave the order for the dogs to attack us as he was sipping is tea.”

With so many of the perpetrators and victims of torture still alive,
memories of past repression add hatred and fear to contemporary
Turkish politics. The army has not wholly abdicated its political
role. “Demilitarisation will take a long time,” says Cengiz Aktar,
professor of political science at Bahcesehir University. “It has taken
30 years in Spain which in many ways is similar to Turkey.”

A difference between the two countries is that in Turkey many are
unconvinced that the brutal repression of the past is ancient
history. Army generals are accused of plotting a coup as recently as
2009. Murat Belge, professor of comparative literature at Bilgi
University, argues that popular opposition is still not strong enough
to prevent a fifth military takeover of the Turkish state, though he
wonders if the army still has the organisation to carry out a coup.

He sees hopeful signs that at least some senior officers “don’t like
the way the army behaved with the Kurds – all those murders and
criminal actions – and want a cleaner state.” He believes that
revelations about secret military meetings and plots to plant bombs in
mosques as a provocation show there are those in the officer corps
struggling to prevent another coup by leaking information to the press
or the police.

But many doubt that the old ruling élite of army, security forces
and judiciary ever left power, despite the three electoral victories
of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) since 2002. They see signs
of the continuing influence of this “deep state” everywhere. The most
glaring of these came on 17 January when a court decided, ignoring
evidence to the contrary, that the murder of Turkish Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink in 2007 had been the work of a few young men and
had not involved state personnel.

In power for almost a decade, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has
a decreasing incentive to eliminate “the deep state”, punish the
perpetrators of past crimes, and cut back the army’s independent
power. The military and the AKP seem to have reached an
accommodation. “Reform is only half done and that is very dangerous,”
says Professor Aktar. He fears that the security forces are not
permanently defanged “but the government is happy because it knows
that the military are not going to act against [it].”

Past progress on human rights was significant. The AKP came into power
10 years ago saying there would be “zero tolerance for
torture”. Allegations are still made, but the incidence of
mistreatment is nothing like it was previously. On the other hand, 99
journalists, 60 per cent Kurdish, are in jail along with 500 students
and 3,000 Kurdish politicians, activists and protesters.

Guilt by association, along with collective punishment, continues to
fill jail cells. Though these tactics are demonstrably
counter-effective, the Turkish state is once again acting as the
recruiting sergeant for the insurgents of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party
(PKK), an organisation that looked a few years ago as if it was being
marginalised. The war in Kurdish south-east Turkey is heating up again
and incidents like the killing of 34 Kurdish villagers, 19 of them
children, by Turkish air force jets near the Iraqi border on 28
December, brought Kurdish anger to boiling point.

For the moment, the prospects for democratic change are not good and
reforms may never be more than half completed. Ece Temelkuran, a
journalist who wrote about the 19 Kurdish children killed in the air
strike, was forced out of her job. Mr Erdogan threatened those who
used the word “massacre” to describe what had happened. Free
expression is under sustained attack.
Not all developments are negative. Torturers and torture victims now
speak of what happened in the past. Some of the perpetrators are being
pursued. But the apparatus of state repressionwas never dismantled and
is once again showing alarming signs of life.