Category: News

The Uniting Church in Australia has formally acknowledged that the Armenian massacres and forced deportations constitute a genocide.

The UCA is the third denomination at a national level to acknowledge the genocide that took place 100 years ago.

Carried out during and after World War I under the Turkish Government, the genocide was implemented in two phases – the wholesale killing of the able-bodied male population and subjection of army conscripts to forced labour.

This was followed by the deportation of women, children, the elderly and infirm on death marches leading to the Syrian desert.

Driven forward by military escorts, the deportees were deprived of food and water and subjected to periodic robbery, rape, and massacre.

The total number of people killed as a result has been estimated at 1.5 million. A further one million were displaced.

Rev. Dr Krikor Youmshajekian from St Andrews Longueville Uniting Church  and former minister at the Willoughby Armenian Evangelical Uniting Church of Sydney addressed the Assembly.

“In the years of 1915-1918, the Armenian people were under the grip of annihilation and the brutal plans of genocide – but God saved this first Christian nation from being wiped out, said Rev. Dr Youmshajekian.

Rev. Dr Youmshajekian said that many countries and many communities in Australia had been involved in providing support, relief, food, and safe places for the Armenian people to live.

“By accepting this proposal the assembly will keep the story of the first Christian nation alive,” he said, giving thanks to the many Uniting Church congregations who had held liturgies to commemorate the genocide.

Rev. Dr Chris Walker, National Consultant for Christian Unity Doctrine and Worship, told the Assembly that it was deeply fitting for the Uniting Church to make give this acknowledgement as the Armenian people mark the 100 year anniversary of the Genocide.

Rev. Dr Walker acknowledged that both the World Christian Council and the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA)had made statements acknowledging the massacre that took place and the suffering of the Armenian community.

“Accepting this proposal would be an act of ecumenical solidarity with the Armenian people who have suffered so much and continue to do so.”

After the proposal was adopted a prayer was offered by the NSW Moderator Rev. Dr Myung Hwa Park, both sung and spoken in Korean and English.

The 14th Assembly has also agreed to:

• commend the NSW and SA governments in acknowledging the Armenian Genocide and encourage the Federal and other state governments to do the same
• affirm the value of recognising a date on or near the anniversary of the Armenian genocide, as a day of observance and commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.
• Request the National Consultant Christian Unity, Doctrine and Worship to prepare

– Haigazian University is celebrating its 60th Anniversary on October 3rd with a black-tie Gala fundraiser and a performance by Grammy award-winning tenor and conductor Plácido Domingo in the title role of Woody Allen’s production of Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi.” The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles will play host to the evening’s celebration which will be co-chaired by Harry Nadjarian and Tina Segel.

Speaking of the upcoming celebration, Mr. Domingo expressed words of welcome and nostalgia.   “My mother, who was a wonderful singer, studied with an Armenian vocal teacher, so I have had a lifelong admiration for the Armenian Community’s rich tradition of music and performing arts. I am proud to welcome you to [the] LA Opera and I look forward to a wonderful celebration with you in our home.”

The evening will begin with a champagne and Lebanese mezze pre-reception for Haigazian guests, followed by two stunning performances by the incomparable Domingo—first, on stage, to sing the title role in Woody Allen’s production of the near-century old opera, “Gianni Schicchi” after which he will take to the podium and conduct Franco Zeffirelli’s production of Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci.”

Following the performances, the evening will continue in the prestigious Grand Hall where guests of the Anniversary Celebration will dine and mingle during the Gala Supper.

Honorary Committee members include Governor George Deukmejian, Baroness Caroline Cox, Vartan Grigorian, and Joyce Philibosian Stein.  More special guests to be announced.

Haigazian University may be half a world away in Beirut, Lebanon, but its influence and purpose is felt globally.  With many of its founding roots planted in the United States, the University has been preserving Armenian culture and preparing future educators in the Diaspora for nearly 60 years.  This upcoming Anniversary is a celebration of both the School and all for which it stands.

 

 

 

“The peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict remains a priority for the European Union. The European Union supports the negotiations aimed at settling the conflict led by the OSCE Minsk Group,” President of the Council of the European Union Donald Tusk said at a joint press conference with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

“We support further dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including at the highest level – at your level Mr. President. It is critical to respect the ceasefire strictly, to exercise restraint on actions and statements, and to create an atmosphere conducive to progress in the conflict settlement,” Mr. Tusk said.

“I’m confident there is no alternative to the peaceful settlement. If we want to reach a peaceful settlement, all players in this risky game should refrain from any aggressive elements and rhetoric, because words, speeches and rhetoric have implications on politics, and sometimes dramatic ones,” he said.

As for Armenia choice not to make use of the European Union’s offer of an Association Agreement including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, Tusk said “this is a choice that the European Union fully respects.”

“We still stand ready to deepen our relations by working together to open markets and by advancing on democratic reforms, economic growth, regional integration, a better business-investment climate, and sustainable development. In short a broad reform agenda,” he stressed.

“We have just successfully completed the first stage of discussions on a new, comprehensive bilateral agreement. In this agreement we have identified areas for future cooperation. The EU Member States are already discussing the mandate for these negotiations,” the EU President said.

“One important area in our cooperation is to make it easier to travel between Armenia and the European Union. I welcome the good progress made by Armenia on the Mobility Partnership. The effective implementation of the Readmission and Visa Facilitation Agreements that entered into force in January 2014 is a crucial condition to start talks for a visa liberalization dialogue. A visa-free regime is the final goal. I am hopeful that the next step can be taken in the coming months, if this pace of work continues,” he added.

Tusk assured “Armenia can count on the European Union’s continued support to advance on a whole range of political and social reforms, and to improve the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

“The European Union supports the work of civil society in Armenia and I encourage a closer involvement of the civil society in the reform process to broaden the perspective and ensure common ownership. This year is decisive for our relations,” Donald Tusk said.

Mr. Tusk thanked for the possibility to visit the Armenian Genocide Memorial. “This was my second visit, and was as moved as during my first visit,” he said.

Armenian midfielder Gevorg Ghazaryan has joined the Portuguese team Maritimo.

“I am very happy for my contract with Maritimo and I am sure we will have great season . I am thankful to have the opportunity to work with this team,” Ghazaryan said in a Facebook post.

Gevorg Ghazaryan was officially presented as a reinforcement of the Maritime Sunday.

49 times Armenian international, having faced Portugal last month, is the first player from the country to act in the I League.

Speaking to MarítimoTV, the attacking midfielder said he hopes to “win many games, scoring many goals and be very successful” in green-red club.

Ghazaryan previously played in Greek Kerkyra and Olympiakos. The 27 year old also played for Ukraine’s Metalurh Donetsk and the Shakhter, Kazakhstan, after he left Pyunik, Armenia.

Greek banks are reopening after three weeks of closures sparked by the deadlock over the country’s debt, the BBC reports.

Athens reached a cash-for-reforms deal aimed at avoiding a debt default and an exit from the eurozone.

But many restrictions remain, including a block on money transfers abroad, and Greeks also face price rises with an increase in Value Added Tax (VAT).

Meanwhile, Germany has said it is prepared to consider further debt concessions to Greece.

President of the European Council Donald Tusk visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial today to pay tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims.

Donald Tusk laid a wreath at the eternal fire and toured the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute

 

Former speaker of Russia’s State Duma lower parliament house Gennady Seleznyov has died in the age of 67, Seleznyov’s son-in-law Andrei Andreyev told TASS late on Sunday.

He said Seleznyov had been seriously ill in the past several months. “Medics did their best but his heart stopped beating overnight on Sunday,” Andreyev said.

The father who raised more than half a million dollars to help raise his Down syndrome baby boy has been accused of spending the money on himself, the reports. 

New Zealander Sam Forrest had the heartfelt sympathy of people across the globe when his Armenian wife abandoned him and their baby Leo just one week after he was born on January 21 in her home country where disability is considered shameful.

But since the $600,000 was raised for their son, his wife Ruzan Badalyan has reunited with her family in New Zealand and now a family friend claims there are hundreds of thousands of dollars that have vanished.

The fact Mr Forrest is now $600,000 richer thanks to the money that was raised for Leo, is not the reason why Ms Badalyan changed her mind, she told 3News. She is just delighted to be reunited wither her son.

‘It was the happiest day,’ she says. ‘He was so small, so cute. I remember I hugged him. He started making some noises. He was so cute. I was very happy.

She has asked not to be judged by New Zealanders – it has not been revealed exactly where in the country they are living – but that they can just be left alone to get on happily as a family.

Egypt’s Coptic Pope Tawadros II prayed on Sunday in Lebanon’s Armenian Orthodox Church for the slain victims of the Armenian Massacre at the hand of the Ottoman Empire, Ahram Online reports.

The pope also prepared the holy Chrism, an anointing mixture of virgin olive oil and other herbs that date back to biblical times, along with the Armenian Catholicos Aram I.

The pope landed in Lebanon on Friday and is scheduled to return home by midweek, Coptic Orthodox Church Spokesman Fr. Boulas Halim told Ahram Online.

Pope Tawadros’ visit included a meeting with the Copts of the Levant.

This is the second time Tawadros prepared the holy Chrism since his ordination in November 2012. The first time was in April 2014 at St. Pishoy Monastery.

Last April, Tawadros flew to Armenia to participate in the hundredth anniversary of the Armenian genocide in the capital Yerevan.

 

At the time, Tawadros said his visit represents pure religious support from the Coptic Church to its brotherly Armenian Orthodox church and is not political.

In the Armenian Church the Holy Muron is prepared and blessed every seven years. The ceremony this year acquired a special meaning because it symbolized the anointment of the one-and-a-half million martyrs of the Armenian Genocide and the recommitment of Armenians to the cause of demanding justice on their behalf.

The ceremony, which was held on Saturday evening at the St. Mary’s Monastery in Bikfaya, was attended by Heads of Churches, ecumenical guests, diplomats, official representatives, pilgrims arriving from different dioceses in North and South America, Europe, Iran and the Arab countries, and the faithful in Lebanon. The ceremony began with a procession towards the Martyrs Monument where the ritual was held. His Holiness walked towards the monument under a canopy held by four laymen, who represented the Diaspora. They followed two bishops who carried the case that contains the relic of the right hand of St. Gregory the Illuminator. Four bishops carried containers of the Muron that had been brought from Holy Etchmidadzin, the old Muron from the Catholicosate of Cilicia, and the essence of rose and balsam. Twelve other bishops led the way.