Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

2009 HAD BEEN A TURBULENT YEAR FOR OUR NATION
DECLARED HIS HOLINESS ARAM I ON NEW YEAR’S DAY

A large number of Armenians attended the traditional New Year’s Day Liturgy,
at the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Antelias. Following the
liturgy, the clergy and the faithful, young and old, went to the Main Hall
of the Residence of His Holiness Aram I for his traditional Pontifical
blessing.

Very Rev. Krikor Chiftjian greeted the people and said that in line with the
Armenian tradition, people had come on this First Day of the Year to receive
blessings from His Holiness and hear his hopes for the nation as leader of
the Church and Nation.

His Holiness thanked God and expressed his Gratitude to Lord Almighty for
His gift of the New Year. He reiterated the hardships and upheavals the
Armenian people had been through during the past year and stressed the value
and importance of unity. He put the accent on a unified vision, regardless
of differences of opinion. He stressed that the Church, the Nation and the
Motherland are paramount and should be kept out of all personal and
factional interests. The New Year’s Day celebration came to an end with the
Seminary students singing the Cilicia anthem and members of the Brotherhood,
the clergy, representatives of national organizations and the people
receiving His Holiness’s blessings and the official Catholicosate diary.

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View the photos here:
tos/Photos423.htm#2
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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

FBI searches for stolen body of Greek Cypriot president

ATHENS, December 28 (RIA Novosti) – The U.S. Federal Bureau of
Investigation has joined efforts by Cypriot investigators to find the
body of the former Greek Cypriot president Tassos Papadopoulos, which
was stolen from his grave earlier this month.
A local police spokesman was quoted by Cypriot TV reports as saying an
FBI official visited Cyprus last week to collect information on the
crime.

"We are waiting for the FBI to determine what help we can ask it for,"
Mihalis Katsunotos said.

Thieves broke into the grave and took the body on December 11, a day
before the first anniversary of ex-president’s death.

The motive for the crime is unknown.

Marios Garoyan, the current leader of Papadopoulos’s center-right DIKO
party, condemned the crime as "heinous and terrible."

The spokesman denied reports by Cypriot media which said the body
could be taken out of the island or to the territory of the
unilaterally declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Papadopoulos died of lung cancer in Nicosia in 2008 at the age of 74.
He served as president from 2003 until February 2008, when he lost his
bid for reelection. He oversaw the Republic of Cyprus’s entry into the
European Union in 2004.

His funeral in December 2008 was attended by thousands of mourners,
including the Greek prime minister and foreign minister.

news.am, Armenia
Jan 1 2010

Stability – significant achievement of 2009: Zohrabyan

11:04 / 01/01/2010After March 1, 2008 events stability is the most
significant achievement of 2009 year, the head of RA National Assembly
Commission on European integration, Prosperous Armenia Party MP Naira
Zohrabyan told NEWS.am.

According to her, Armenia has all chances to enter the stage of real
political and economic stability in 2010. The MP also stressed
Armenia-Turkey reconciliation, as it is impossible to go on in the
21st century with close border. `I hail significant sport
achievements. Sport is a business card presenting the country
worldwide. Due to sport, Armenia goes head-to-head with world powers
and sport makes us famous,’ Zohrabyan said.

MP considers the most serious neglect of 2009 the fact that Armenia
failed to create atmosphere of consensus. `We should otherwise we will
reach no successes,’ she concluded.

A.G.

HRANUSH HAKOBYAN: NKR IS THE CONSCIENCE OF ARMENIAN NATION, ARMENIA IS THE HOPE AND DIASPORA IS THE HONOR OF EVERY ARMENIAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.12.2009 14:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The Ministry of Diaspora does not financially
supported by philanthropists, all programs of different governmental
agencies aimed at Diaspora cost AMD 1 billion," Armenian Minister of
Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan told the final press conference on December
29. She added, that the ministry’s budget will triple in 2010.

According to her, the productive activities of the Ministry in 2009,
largely predicated on the cooperation with various institutions and
organizations operating in Armenia and beyond.

Within the passing year the ministry implemented cooperation projects
with UNDP Armenian office, Writers’ Union of Armenia, Armenian Chamber
of Commerce, Noravank Foundation. Cooperation with several institutes
of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia was also productive.

Collaboration with AGBU resulted in establishing Virtual College,
and today 400 people from different countries study the Armenian
language and literature, history and culture.

Another important program is implemented jointly with the Yerevan
State University: 11 students are specializing in Diaspora studies.

"The Ministry of Diaspora managed to ensure permanent presence of
Diaspora representatives in Armenia, and turn into regularity the
cooperation between Armenia and Diaspora," Ms. Hakobyan said.

"7 million representatives of Armenian Diaspora are Armenian
Ambassadors in more than 100 countries and if Nagorno Karabakh
Republic can be regarded as the conscience of our nation, the Republic
of Armenia is the hope, while the Diaspora is the honor of every
Armenian," she concluded.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Karine Abalyan
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

December 28, 2009
___________________________________________

FOUR CLERGY APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), recently appointed four priests to serve parishes in
Waukegan, Ill., Cheltenham, Pa., Cleveland, OH, and St. Paul, Minn.

The four priests – Rev. Fr. Paren Galstyan, Rev. Fr. Hagop Gevorgyan, Rev.
Fr. Martiros Hakobyan, and Rev. Fr. Hratch Sargsyan – completed their
studies in Armenia and were ordained there prior to their arrival in the
U.S., with the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, and at the invitation of the Primate.

They spent the last few years interning with clergy in the Eastern Diocese
to learn more about the Armenian Church of America and to prepare to serve
the local Armenian communities.

Rev. Fr. Paren Galstyan, who has been named interim pastor of St. George
Armenian Church of Waukegan, is a native of Vedi, Armenia. He studied at the
Vaskenian Theological Seminary in Sevan, the Gyumri Theological Seminary,
and the Gevorkyan Theological Seminary at the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin.

Following his graduation in 2006, he was ordained into the holy priesthood
by Bishop Anooshavan Jamgochyan at the Holy See. He remained at Holy
Etchmiadzin, serving its chancellery until his departure for the U.S. in
2007.

In the Eastern Diocese, Fr. Paren interned at St. James Armenian Church of
Evanston, Ill. He assumed the position of interim pastor of the Waukegan
community in November 2009, after the Primate announced the appointment
during the parish’s 50th anniversary celebration.

Fr. Paren is married to Yn. Lusine Galstyan. They have two sons, Grigor and
Aren.

Rev. Fr. Hagop Gevorgyan will begin serving as the pastor of Holy Trinity
Armenian Church of Cheltenham on January 2, 2010. He is a graduate of the
Vaskenian and Gevorkyan seminaries in Armenia. Fr. Gevorgyan also studied at
the Oriental Churches Institute in Germany, and while still a deacon, he
worked as the administrator of the storehouses of Holy Etchmiadzin’s
Treasury and Pontifical Residence.

He was ordained into the holy priesthood in December 2007 by Bishop Marcos
Hovhannesian. In February 2008, Fr. Hakob traveled to New York and began his
internship at St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church of White Plains,
under the guidance of the Rev. Fr. Karekin Kasparian.

At the same time, he enrolled in English language courses at Concordia and
Manhatanville colleges, and completed the Clinical Pastoral Education
Program at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY.

Fr. Hagop Gevorgyan and Yn. Anna Gevorgyan have one son, Narek.

Rev. Fr. Martiros Hakobyan will serve as the pastor of the St. Gregory of
Narek Armenian Church of Cleveland. His appointment begins on January 2,
2010.

Fr. Hakobyan studied at the Gyumri Theological Seminary and the Gevorkyan
Theological Seminary, and held several positions at the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin prior to his ordination into the holy priesthood by Archbishop
Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Eastern Diocese, in June 2007. He then served
at Yerevan’s Holy Trinity Church while continuing his studies at the
American University in Armenia.

Fr. Hakobyan came to the Eastern Diocese in January 2008. He interned at St.
James Armenian Church of Watertown, Mass., under the leadership of the Rev.
Fr. Arakel Aljalian. While in Massachusetts, he also studied at the New
England School of English in Cambridge.

Fr. Martiros Hakobyan and Yn. Hasmik Hakobyan have one son, Jirair.

Rev. Fr. Hratch Sargsyan has been assigned the pastorship of the St. Sahag
Armenian Church of St. Paul, effective January 7, 2010.

Fr. Sargsyan studied at the Vaskenian Theological Seminary, where he also
served as the assistant at the nearby Soorp Arakelotz Church, and later
continued his studies at the Gevorkyan Theological Seminary. Parallel to his
studies, he prepared radio broadcasts on religious topics, served as a
deacon at Yerevan’s Holy Trinity Church, and was the general secretary at
the Department of Interchurch and Ecumenical Relations at the Holy See. In
addition, Fr. Sargsyan studied English at the American University in
Yerevan.

He was ordained into the holy priesthood by Archbishop Vicken Aykazian,
Legate of the Eastern Diocese, in June 2007. Following his ordination, Fr.
Sargsyan became pastor of St. Hovhannes Church in Sisyan, Armenia.

Coming to the Eastern Diocese in 2008, Fr. Sargsyan interned at St. John
Armenian Church of Greater Detroit, under the leadership of the Rev. Fr.
Garabed Kochakian. In Detroit, he also completed the Clinical Pastoral
Education Program at Sinai-Grace Hospital, and studied English at Wayne
State University.

Fr. Hratch Sargsyan and Yn. Naira Azatyan have two daughters, Tatev and
Mane.

###

Photo Attached: Diocesan Vicar Very Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Najarian (at center)
with Rev. Fr. Hagop Gevorgyan, Rev. Fr. Martiros Hakobyan, Rev. Fr. Hratch
Sargsyan, and Rev. Fr. Paren Galstyan.

Why don’t Armenians love theater?

"A1+"
December 26, 2009

Legendary actor Sos Sargsyan was greeted with warm rounds of applause
during a meeting with the new generation of actors at the "Narekatsi"
cultural center. Sargsyan’s first advice to them was to be honest and
sincere in theater and life and to develop the right taste.

"Intellectuals must play a role in society. Actors must know what to
do. They must be goal-oriented, reserved and must take into account
the example that they set for society. After all, there is a sense of
taste and if there is such taste, there is also art," said Sargsyan.

As far as the current morals and manners in theater are concerned, Sos
Sargsyan says that the reason for the current situation is that the
new generation was not sufficiently educated.

"There are many young irresponsible artists today. They star in soap
operas and I look at that as a way of making money. But actors who are
always in the public eye must have a sense of responsibility and know
how far they can go," said Sargsyan.

According to him, the new generation lacks the awareness that they are
the proprietors of their country. Nevertheless, actors are optimistic
because they see today’s youth as progressive, knowledgeable and
patriotic. Sargsyan only advised future actors to communicate with the
world and take everything that is useful.

The great actor said that he was concerned about the lack of Armenian
plays. "Unfortunately, we don’t have playwrights like Sundukyan,
Paronyan and Shirvanzade. I understand that dramaturgy is a difficult
genre and that it requires a lot of time which current writers don’t
want to spend. But it is necessary to do everything to let Armenians
see what Armenian national theater is," said Sos Sargsyan.

According to the actor, actors are not the only ones to blame because
there is a lack of deserving audiences. "Once I said that Armenians
don’t love theater and people got offended. But that’s the truth.
Armenians today don’t want to go through the trouble of sitting in a
theater for two hours to see a play. It is boring for them. Being a
spectator is also a profession. There is no connection if spectators
don’t have the same feeling as the actor does," said Sargsyan.

Sos Sargsyan said that 2009 was a successful year for his Pan-National
Theater. "We put on 4 plays and we have more and more audiences," said
Sargsyan.

In the end, the actor wished that the dreams of the new generation of
actors come true in the year to come.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN: YSU IS OUR PEOPLE’S PRIDE AND GLORY

Aysor
Dec 25 2009
Armenia

Armenia’s President Serge Sargsyan, a chair of the Academic Council
of the Yerevan State University, today participated in the annual
session which focused on summing up the works in outgoing year.

President Sargsyan said the outgoing year was special as the University
had celebrated its 90-th anniversary.

"The Yerevan State University is our people’s pride and glory, our
science and education’s leader, whose more than a hundred thousands
alumni became founders of new science spheres both in the Soviet
Republic of Armenia, and modern Armenia," said President.

"This is a duty for all of us to save and develop traditions to be
advanced with interests of our nation and state," he added.

The YSU Academic Council was also attended by 60 members, including
Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan, Minister of Diaspora
Hranush Hakobyan, Minister of Territorial Administration Armen
Grigoryan, Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan, president of the National
Academy of Science Radik Martirosyan, and other members.

Assessors considered YSU 2008-2009 Report, and approved a budget for
2010 and the 2010-2014 Strategic Development Plan.

ARMENIA TO HOST EXHIBITION-CONTEST DEDICATED TO ST. SARKIS HOLIDAY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
25.12.2009 19:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Ararat Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church
(AAC), the World Artists Association and the Artists’ Union of Armenia
have declared an exhibition contest dedicated to St. Sarkis holiday.

Contest topics include "Love for God", "Love for Homeland", "Love for
Parents" and "Mutual Love". The best work in each sphere (graphic art,
painting, sculpture, decorative art) will be awarded.

Participants should submit their works to Artists’ Union from 7 till
15 January.

On January 30, 2010, all Armenian churches named after St. Sarkis will
serve liturgy to celebrate the holiday dedicated to the patron of love
and youth. Priest will bless all young people and give them postcards.

NO OVERLOADING IN ZVARTNOTS DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Aysor
Dec 24 2009
Armenia

In Zvartnots airport the flights will be realized by their usual
schedule. As the press secretary of the RA aviation Nelly Cherchilyan
mentioned the Airport will not work with the overloaded regime and
there are not going to be realized additional flights.

At present 40 – 50 flights are being realized annually in the Zvartnots
airport. As for the charters they probably will be added.

This year the privilege is given to Dubai and Egypt.

The amount of the passengers will be added. Especially will be
activated the inflow of the Armenians.

This year 656527 people have been transported during the 11 months
of this year.

GETTING THEIR DUE: NEW EXHIBIT HONORS ARMENIAN-AMERICAN SOLDIERS OF WORLD WAR I
By Andre Coleman

Pasadena Weekly
ail/getting_their_due/8202/
Dec 24 2009

A past Pasadena mayor and a former assistant city manager have teamed
up to honor Armenian-American heroes of World War I.

Ed Aghjayan, who served as assistant city manager in Pasadena from
1985 to 1990 before heading to Anaheim, where he served as city
manager until 2000, worked with Bill Paparian, an attorney and former
Marine who served on the City Council from 1987 to 1999, to bring to
Pasadena Central Library "Légion Arménienne: The Armenian Legion
and Its Heroism in the Middle East," a traveling exhibit developed
and prepared by the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA),
located in Massachusetts.

The exhibit, which tells the story of the 5,000 men who fought with the
Allies in World War I and later risked their lives again in defense
of Armenian human rights, will be on display in the library’s Great
Hall through Jan. 17.

A reception co-sponsored by the Western Region of the Armenian Rights
Council of America and the Pasadena Chapter of the Armenian National
Committee will be held at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 3 in the Wright Auditorium
of the Pasadena Central Library. The public is invited.

"The United States had not even entered the war and these guys left
their homes — most of them from the eastern part of the United States
— and volunteered," Paparian said. "There was a pivotal campaign that
they took part in that led to the victory of the British and French
forces in Palestine. All of that is in the exhibit. This is a great
exhibit. I really hope people come out and see it." — André Coleman

The Pasadena Central Library is at 285 E. Walnut St., Pasadena. For
more information, call (626) 744-4060.