FALL IN TEMPERATURE DOES NOT DAMAGE AGRICULTURE
YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The fall in temperature fixed in Armenia
on April 4 did not damage fruit gardens. Noyan Tapan’s correspondent
was informed about it in the RA Ministry of Agriculture. It was also
mentioned that fall in temperature is also expected during the coming
two days, on April 5 and 6. But they found it difficult to answer,
how it will affect the agriculture.
Come on, speak
Yerkir/arm
01 April 05
It is too early to speak of tangible results of the hearings held
on the Karabakh issue in the Armenian National Assembly. There is
still time to discuss proposals and learn lessons from constructive
criticism.
At this point, however, we can speak of another ‘result’ — equally
important: once again, the Karabakh hearings revealed how many real
political forces and politicians we have.
If a political party or a politician has nothing to say about the
top issue of our people and state, then what are their political
ambitions and expectations based upon? How do they see themselves
playing a role our political and public life?
In an “odd” coincidence, it was exactly from their mouths we had been
hearing ardent speeches with predictions-accusations-condemnations
regarding the Artsakh issue. It was the right place to speak out;
why didn’t you do so? If you had suggestions, why didn’t you make them?
If you knew the best solution, why didn’t you propose it? If you
wanted to criticize, why didn’t you do so? And if you are silent at
this crucial time, when are you going to speak out? Now wouldn’t it
be more ethical to remain silent on this issue after this?
Preservationists and former parishioners want sale of Nashua church stopped
Foster’s Daily Democrat, NH
Sunday, April 3, 2005
NASHUA, N.H. (AP) – Preservationists and the former parishioners of
a Catholic church want the New Hampshire Supreme Court to stop the
church’s sale to another religious group.
A developer hopes to buy St. Francis Xavier Church in Nashua for $1
million and donate it to the Armenian Orthodox Church.
The case’s core legal issue involves interpreting a trust that governs
the church’s stewardship. It requires the Catholic diocese to act
in parishioners’ best interests and forward money from the sale to
their new parish. Lower court judges have said the diocese is so far
meeting those re-quirements and the sale should go forward.
An attorney representing the sale’s opponents said asking the Supreme
Court to hear the case is “the last hurrah.”
The Catholic Diocese of Manchester closed the church in 2003.
Armenian community in Upper Garabagh should be considered Azeri citizens”
Baku, April 2, AssA-Irada
Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers should meet frequently
to achieve results in the “Prague talks”, Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov said.
“If the Prague talks” are suspended or yield no results, a new
situation with settlement of the Upper Garabagh conflict will
emerge.” Mammadyarov said he could not elaborate on whether military
operations will be launched, saying that the conflict will not be
solved through military action.
“We should consider the Armenian community in Upper Garabagh the
citizens of Azerbaijan. From this point of view, there is a need for
maintaining peace in Azerbaijan’s territory” the Minister said.*
KFSN, CA
last updated: 4/2/2005
March For Humanity Begins in Fresno
April 2, 2005 – A group of young people are marching to the state capitol
with the goal of raising awareness about the Armenian genocide.
They began their 19-day journey in Fresno on Saturday.
Along the way, they’ll distribute fliers about the deaths of 1.5 million
Armenians, who died at the hands of the Turkish government.
They’ll wrap up the march with a rally at the state capitol, to thank
California lawmakers for officially recognizing the genocide.
The Turkish government still denies it ever happened.
Georgian and Armenian leaders discuss energy, CIS and Russian bases
Imedi TV, Tbilisi
2 Apr 05
The Georgian and Armenian presidents [Mikheil Saakashvili and Robert
Kocharyan] have already left [the ski resort of] Gudauri. After
arriving in Tbilisi, the Armenian president’s motorcade will go
straight to the airport and Robert Kocharyan will leave for Armenia.
The two presidents made no comments for the press in Gudauri. However,
the secretary of the [Georgian National] Security Council talked to
journalists about the details of their meeting. Gela Bezhuashvili said
that the energy sector was one of the main topics discussed at the
meeting. It has been decided that Georgia will start importing
Armenian electricity from autumn. Saakashvili and Kocharyan also
discussed the prospects of the CIS.
The issue of [Georgia’s Armenian-populated] Akhalkalaki District and
the Russian military base there was another important topic discussed
by the presidents. Gela Bezhuashvili said that in this respect
Kocharyan’s position was goodneighbourly and that the Armenian
president was not going to interfere in Georgia’s domestic affairs.
Worldwide Faith News
[PCUSANEWS] No Subject
>From PCUSA NEWS <[email protected]>
Date Wed, 30 Mar 2005 16:02:24 -0600
Note #8683 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:
05165
March 29, 2005
Cross fertilization
Holy Land rife with Christian symbol of one and many meanings
by Alexa Smith
EAST JERUSALEM – In a mosaic-filled chapel in the corner of Holy Sepulchre
Church, Deacon Artur Harutyunyan is drawing an Armenian cross on a scrap of
paper.
Frustrated by his English, or rather, his lack of it, he draws
instead.
The cross is straight, its three edges upturned, like an inverted crown.
Sprouting from those curves are flowers, blooming wildly.
He looks up earnestly and says: “Yes, like lilies. Or flowers. Maybe
grapes on a vine. It is a symbol of life, yes? Sorry I don’t speak very well
English.”
He has a slight hint of a beard and big eyes. At first glance, he
looks like a priest in his black, cassock-like robe.
But Harutyunyan is a deacon in the Armenian Orthodox Church and he
serves here, singing the liturgy and giving impromptu lessons on the
symbolism of the cross.
That isn’t as simple as it sounds: Transforming an instrument of
torture into a symbol of life takes some doing, not to mention centuries of
theological wrangling.
Which is why Deacon Artur is so persistent, aided now by a young Pole
named Martin who has wandered into the chapel and overheard some of the
discussion.
“You can find in Armenian crosses the tree of life,” Martin says.
“I did not know that,” says Martin’s wife, Margaret, peering over
Artur’s shoulder at a symbol of infinity he is drawing at the bottom of his
sketch. He points out that the cross stands in the midst of eternity.
“And on Armenian crosses, there is no Jesus because Jesus has risen,”
he tells Martin, who duly translates.
The two Christian quarters of Jerusalem’s Old City are full of
crosses ¾ so many, in fact, that they all but disappear.
Rudimentary crosses are carved into the buttresses of ancient
churches, like St. James Armenian Church. More elaborate designs are
sculpted
in seemingly random stones facing the courtyard.
In the vast corridors of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, there are
only a few few ornamental crosses but one is large and dramatic, planted
firmly on the rock that tradition holds is Golgotha.
There are other, simpler crosses, etched in the pavement on the
rooftop chapel where the Copts worship. Others ¾ with the Greek letter X,
the
first letter of Christ’s name, cut into the center are chiseled into the
cement doorways of the Orthodox chapel at Calvary. Those crosses are
remnants
of the holy fire that the Greek patriarch carries from Christ’s tomb on
Orthodox Easter, this year May 1.
Still more crosses are painted above doorways. Another serves as a
hand-hold for pilgrims stumbling up a dimly lit stairway to a rooftop
chapel.
Another is wound in steel above an entrance to a monastery off of the
cathedral’s square central plaza.
They are so basic to Christian tradition, they almost go unseen. But
they are laden with centuries of symbolism culled by the world’s most
ancient
churches. All testify to life overwhelmed by death and violence, suffering
and pain.
The Jerusalem Cross is one of the most popular items in Christian
gift shops here. The design is built around a large, central cross with four
other crosses tucked into the joints where the two beams meet.
Ask a sales clerk what the cross symbolizes and you get a different
answer at every store. One says the four smaller crosses stand for the four
Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Another says the five crosses
represents the five kings of Europe who launched the Crusades against Islam
in the Middle Ages and murdered their way through Jerusalem. In these
England
is represented by the dominant cross, with France, Spain, Germany and Italy
getting smaller-scale recognition.
An italicized sign in a Christian gift shop in the Old City says the
crosses represent the five wounds of Christ. Some say the Jerusalem cross
symbolizes Calvary: One big cross and two smaller ones on each side.
A dozen sellers will tell you their interpretations, nod
appreciatively at alternative stories and say that the cross means all of
the
above.
But Father Eugenio Alliata, a Roman Catholic archeologist at
Flagellation Monastery on the Via Dolorosa, shakes his head. He says a
fellow
monk studied this in depth, and the original meaning – according to
fourth-century scholar Cyril of Jerusalem – is far more cosmic.
Jerusalem, represented by the stabilizing center cross, is the center of the
world. And it embraces the Earth with its arms – north, south, east and
west.
It is depicted in a fourth-century mosaic in Nazareth. By the fifth century
A.D., it is almost commonplace.
“It is symbolic, not realistic,” Alliata says.
Symbol, he says, is a potent force that early Christians understood.
“Crosses took many shapes from the beginning … and, in the beginning,
there
was no Christ on the cross,” he says.
Early Christians preferred representations of the cross to
naturalistic depictions of the crucifixion.
Rather, it was a boat with a mast, like a cross but not a cross. Or a
male figure standing with his arms stretched out to his sides. Or a letter
of
the ancient Hebrew alphabet, x, or the Greek symbol, T.
“When we represent the cross. we don’t represent a historical (event)
… but the meaning,” Alliata says in a rich Italian accent.
Eastern Christians, he says, have always been more at ease with
symbol, while Westerners lean toward realistic representations – embodied
best in the contemporary Catholic crucifix, which appeared for the first
time
on the door of St. Sabina’s Church in fifth-century Rome.
“Early Christians did not represent Jesus in this way: A dead man on
a cross,” the priest says. “(Maybe) it was too hard to understand the
meaning. … It says this is real history, not mythology. This is something
that happened, really.”
But the meaning of the Catholic cross cannot be graped by seeing only
the moment of death, Alliata says. The faithful must remember the entire
story of Jesus. “The meaning,” he says, “is positive. In the suffering of
this man we see the salvation given by God to all humanity.”
Twenty-eight-year-old Deacon Calistos is standing inside the Holy
Sepulchre’s chapel at Golgotha, helping pilgrims light candles to illuminate
petitions made literally at the foot of the cross.
He is eager to talk about the ornate Greek Orthodox cross, with icons
where the beams cross – usually images of Jesus’ mother Mary and St. John,
his beloved. And the sculpted top of the cross, which depicts God the
Father.
At the foot, typically, is a skull and crossbones, symbolizing death.
It is all about life, the journey of faith.
“The cross,” Calistos says, “is like the soul of each person.
Vertically, it shows how the spirit goes to God, how our heart is dedicated
to Him. And horizontally, it shows love for others. Jesus opened his hands
on
the cross to take in the world.
“It really is the two commandments: Love God with all your heart and
soul and mind. And love your fellow human as yourself.”
For Calistos, who says he no longer has a surname, the symbolism in
the cross is rich and deep and rewards study with insight.
The skull at its base is gruesome, of course. But the blood of Jesus
on the cross washes it away, cleansing even the first sin. Scanning it from
bottom to top illustrates how the human spirit passes from death to life. As
Deacon Calistos says: “All the way up. … If you look at this cross … it
says everything. The passion. The resurrection. All of his life comes to
your
mind.”
The suffering it shows, Calistos says, helps Christians find the
strength to carry on, to carry their own crosses because the life of mercy
and love thay have chosen guarantees pain in a harsh world.
And the icons help people pray, he says.
“When you look at a picture of your mother, your father, someone
close to you – but they are far away – it helps you feel something
different,
even if they are not so close,” he says, and it is much the same with Mary,
St. John, Jesus. Or God.
The cross is a symbol that Orthodox integrate into worship. When
Greek Orthodox children are baptized, they are dunked three times into the
Baptismal font. The sign of the cross is then made all over their tiny
bodies, the hands, the belly, the toes, the chin, the forehead, sealing the
Baptism.
Congregants cross themselves in worship, beginning at the head,
saying, “God is powerful.” Then the belly, saying, “God is immortal.” And
the
right shoulder: “God is merciful,” remembering the thief on the cross who
asked to join Jesus in Paradise.
A Kyrie Eleison (God have mercy) is said as the penitent touches the left
shoulder, remembering the unsaved sinner at the cross.
“The cross,” Calistos says, “is a symbol of victory against death,
against evil.
When you study the cross, it represents life.”
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The Scotsman, UK
March 29 2005
Flynn Looks on the Bright Side
From Paul Walker, PA Sport, Vienna
Brian Flynn insisted there were plenty of positives for his Wales
Under-21 side to reflect on despite their unfortunate 2-0 defeat in
Austria last night.
The UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifier at Neusiedl Am See, some 40
miles from Vienna, was a torrid affair at times, poorly refereed by
Armenian Ararat Tchagharyan.
He missed two blatant penalties for fouls on exciting Oxford
youngster Craig Davies, but showed a red card to Craig Morgan for a
mid-air challenge that was mild in comparison with much of the rough
stuff being meted out by the hosts.
Roman Kienast scored early on and Jurgen Samuel near the end when
Wales were down to 10 men, but had it not been for a fine display
from Austrian keeper Ramazan Ozcan, the Welsh would surely have got
something the game.
Boss Flynn said: `There were lots of encouraging things, lots of
ability and another small step for us.
`But that is how it will be until the qualifiers for the 2008
European Championship start, then we will see how far we have climbed
up the ladder.
`But I certainly feel that we have managed a couple of rungs in these
last two games with Austria.
`There have been several plus points and several good personal
performances.’
And Flynn added: `Apart from the first 20 minutes when we didn’t
settle well, we did not have any problems and their second goal was
not a true reflection on the game.
`But when Craig Morgan was sent off we had to change things and it
was unfortunate we couldn’t get the goal we needed to really spark
us.’
Tough Wrexham defender Morgan will now miss the next three games
against England, Poland and Germany in the group.
He said: `I still don’t know what I got the red card for, it’s the
first time I have been sent off for Wales and the referee didn’t even
speak a word of English to be able to tell me what it was for.
`I jumped for the ball and we collided, that is about it. It was very
unfortunate because were were doing really well in the match at that
point.’
Lewis Price made an early error to gift Austria their first goal, and
Flynn said: `He came into the dressing room at the break and
apologised, but there were a few things going wrong in front of him
for the boy to get the chance in the first place.
Flynn added: `Sometimes in football you don’t get what you deserve
from a game and this was one of those occasions.
`We played better in this game than when we beat Austria at Merthyr
Tydfil last week, but we just couldn’t get the rewards for our
efforts.
`I actually didn’t see what Morgan was sent off for but I’ve known
him for years and he is an honest boy. I will talk to him later about
it.’
`ARMENIA LOSES ITS PRO-RUSSIAN ORIENTATION’
Azg/arm
29 March 05
Mediamax agency informed that Ariel Cohen, senior expert at the
Washington based Inheritance Fund, doesn’t exclude that Russia “will
assist Armenia to destabilize the situation in Nagorno Karabakh.” He
said that “a very unpleasant process for Russia is taking place in the
South Caucasus.”
“Both the government and the population changes its preferences in the
foreign policy, turning to EU and NATO. According to the recent polls,
the majority of Armenia’s population calls for membership to NATO and
the latter’s participation in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.
They are for Armenia’s membership to EU, as well. Thus, Armenia is
gradually losing its pro-Russian orientation. In order to counteract
and neutralize this tendency, Russia applies some directions of its
policy. Firstly, Russia supports construction of Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline. The second factor is the so-called soft power, i.e. the
Russian culture. This year is declared Russia’s year in Armenia, and
presidents Putin and Kocharian will display the influence of the
Russian culture in Armenia in all the possible ways. The third and the
most important factor is Russia’ s assistance to the Armenians in the
Nagorno Karabakh issue that is of vital importance for them,” Ariel
Cohen said.
He believes that “Now, the US and Russia are playing quite a more
drastic game than they did 2-3 years ago.” “Besides, the situation is
very complicated for Russia, as it would like to have equally good
relations with both Azerbaijan and Armenia. Here, again, the Nagorno
Karabakh issue is put forward,” he stated.
“If Russia took a final choice and decided “to play” against the USA,
I think it is quite possible that Russia assists Armenia in
destabilizing the situation in Karabakh issue, by hindering the
opening of Baku-Tbilisi-Jehyan pipeline,” Ariel Cohen said.
YEREVAN MUNICIPALITY DID NOT INVITE PHILIPP KIRKOROV
YEREVAN, MARCH 28. ARMINFO. Yerevan Municipality has not invited
Philipp Kirkorov, Vice Mayor of Yerevan Arman Sahakyan has told
journalists.
He says that CJSC “Manukyan” has invited the Russian singer and the
Municipality supports the concert as it is authorized to do. Sahakyan
has no data on this CJSC, except the one that it is engaged in
organization of concerts. Sahakyan notes that the invitation of
singers to Yerevan is not an issue for politicization. It is a
question of culture, he says. As regards the prevention of the
concert, the Municipality is not empowered to do it. Moreover, taking
into account the fact that this year is announced a Year of Russian in
Armenia, we must expect many singers and the Yerevan Municipality is
to support their concerts. It should be noted that 25-30% of the
tickets for Kirkorov’s concert have been sold. Arman Sahakyan himself
does not like Kirkorov’s creative work.
To note, recently the youth and the students of Armenia Have protested
against arrival of the well-known Russian singer Philipp Kirkorov in
Yerevan. 30 youth and students organizations have sent a relevant
letter to the event organizers on the initiative of ARF Dashnaktsutyun
Students Union “Nikol Aghbalayan,” the ARFD Youth Wing and the Youth
Union of Armenia. The authors of the letter explain their demand by
the evident anti-Armenian and moreover pro-Turkish position of Philipp
Kirkorov, which has been displayed in a recent incident with an
Armenian journalist. In particular, Kirkorov insulted her in public
and spoke slightingly of her origin. The youth and student
organizations add that to prevent the concert they reserve the right
to take practical steps.