A LETTER OF CONCERN ABOUT THE FUTURE
A1 Plus | 21:40:55 | 15-10-2004 | Politics |
“During the session of PACE Monitoring Commission a young man was
spreading leaflets in the doorway, by the way, the ones printed in
Armenia. It is disgraceful. Chechens can spread such leaflets against
Russia”. Tigran Torosyan, Armenian Delegation head in PACE made such
a statement a few days ago.
Michael Danielyan, Chairman of Helsinki Association, commenting on
the words of Torosyan said it was an open letter and not a leaflet. “I
wrote an open letter to all the sides interested. I have written that
Jaskernia’s report runs counter to the reality. There are shortcomings,
which can harm the future of Armenia. As a citizen, I am alarmed at
the development of our state and for the future of my children. I
have never hidden that I wrote a letter and there is nothing bad in
that. Our social organizations are set for such activity, but they
don’t do their job. They just pretend to be devoted to the nation. I
love my homeland more and I am anxious for the future of my state”.
We asked Danielyan how he treated the comparison with the Chechens. “It
is good. If the Chechens write such letters, it means they worry for
the future of their country, too”.

Kocharyan, Levitin discuss development of transport
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
October 14, 2004 Thursday
YEREVAN, October 14 — Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin met
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan on Thursday to discuss a wide
range of issues relations to bilateral cooperation.
Special attention was riveted to the development of the transport
infrastructure, the presidential press service told Itar-Tass.
Kocharyan stressed that the Russian-Armenian inter-governmental
commission on economic cooperation was an important mechanism of
relations between the two countries. The commission has always worked
effectively, the president said.
A meeting between Igor Levitin and Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan touched on the soonest technical re-equipment and resumption
of the activity of enterprises, which had been handed over to Russia
to pay debts.
According to the Russian minister, concrete agreements reached during
the meetings in Yerevan will be added and then discussed as part of
the commission’s session to be held in Moscow.

Russia, Armenia considering cargo shipments by Caspian Sea
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
October 14, 2004 Thursday
YEREVAN, October 14 — Russia and Armenia are looking into the
possibility of using the maritime route between Astrakhan in the
delta of the Volga and the Iranian Caspian port of Enzeli for cargo
shipments, alternative to land haulage across the Russian-Georgian
border, Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin said here Thursday.
As he addressed a news conference upon the end of talks in Yerevan,
Levitin quoted experts as saying the Caspian route is “shorter and
less expensive”.
“For this, we’ll have to settle some formalities with the Iranians,”
he indicated.
He also mentioned the closure of the Verkny Lars border-crossing post
on the Russian-Georgian state border.
“The goal of the measures underway there is to deny the entry to the
cars and people, who may do things like that ones that occurred in
Beslan,” Levitin said.
“But this will not affect in any way the cargos and people that have
nothing to do with terrorism,” he said.
That is why a decision was taken a few days ago to open Verkhny Lars
again, he indicated.
The automobile jam has been liquidated by now,” Levitin said.

THE RELATIVES OF THE AMERICAN MURDERED IN ARMENIA ARE IN PANIC
A1 Plus | 21:25:46 | 15-10-2004 | Social |
American specialist Joshua Haglund has been teaching in the Foreign
Languages University after Valeri Bryusov within language program
of USA Secretary of State since last September. On May 17 Haglund
was murdered in his apartment in Yerevan. His corpse was found in
the courtyard of the building where he appeared while pursuing those
having stabbed him.
Joshua’s mother and two brothers have held a press conference in
“Armenia Now” Information Centre. Together with other sons Joshua’s
mother arrived in Armenia since they are alarmed for neglect over
disclosure of the murder. USA Embassy and Police keep silence.
According to the rumours spread, Joshua’s office period in Armenia
was expiring and on the eve of returning to the homeland he was
killed since he had been an agent of Central Investigation Agency of
USA. There are other versions regarding murder because of jealousy
or personal relations. The relatives of the murdered man announce
that he was of untraditional sexual orientation.
They also informed they had met Armenian General Prosecutor and
USA Ambassador to Armenia who had assured that disclosure of murder
was prior. We asked if the relatives of the murdered person didn’t
trust USA Embassy to Armenia. They said they did but they had arrived
in Armenia in person to support disclosing of the crime, to study at
the scene what in fact could have happened with their relative.
Joshua’s relatives have met his friends, students and intimate
persons. But the relatives didn’t wish to release any information to
journalists what they had learnt after various meetings.
At the press conference the relatives asked journalists to provide
them any kind of information.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Georgia to block traffic from Russia through uncontrolled tunnel
By Eka Mekhuzla
ITAR-TASS News Agency
October 14, 2004 Thursday
TBILISI, October 14 — Georgian authorities will not allow passenger
buses and cargoes to enter the country through the Roksky tunnel, said
Mikhail Kareli, governor of a region bordering Georgia’s breakaway
province of South Ossetia.
“It is impermissible that cargoes and passengers enter Georgia
through this tunnel, a territory not controlled by authorities of
the country. There are official customs posts for this,” Kareli said,
commenting on the situation near the village of Ergneti in the area
of the South Ossetian conflict, where two passenger buses en route
from Russia to Armenia were stopped a few days ago.
The buses were blocked on the grounds that passengers had papers
showing that they had passed customs and border control at the Georgian
check post Kazbegi.
According to the Georgian side, the buses entered Georgia through
the Roksky tunnel controlled by South Ossetian authorities, although
Tbilisi declared this stretch of the Georgian-Russian border closed.
All cars, passenger buses and cargoes coming from Russia to Georgia
must be checked at Russia’s post Verkny Lars and then at Kazbegi.
Both checkposts are located near the Georgian border with North
Ossetia, Russia’s republic bordering South Ossetia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia not to make deal with Itera
RosBusinessConsulting Database
October 14, 2004 Thursday
The Armenian government refused to acquire 10 percent of the shares
in ArmRosGazprom owned by the Russian company Itera because the
deal proposed by Itera was unprofitable, the press secretary of the
Armenian Energy Ministry reported. According to ARMINFO news agency,
she also declared that the Armenian government would not sell its 45
percent of the shares in ArmRosGazprom.
As reported earlier, Itera is holding negotiations on selling a
10-percent stake in Armrosgazprom. According to a source close to
the company, Itera is going to sell it for $30m because the company’s
authorized capital amounted to $280m.

Agency WPS
What the Papers Say. Part B (Russia)
October 14, 2004, Thursday
THE CAUCASUS BOOMERANG
SOURCE: Nezavisimaya Gazeta-Dipkurier, No. 12 (75), October 2004, pp.
1, 11
Anatoly Gordienko, Roman Ukolov
It’s a trend: waves of retaliatory violence sweep Russia in the
wake of every major terrorist act. There is another trend as well:
this anger is usually directed against people from the Caucasus. The
atrocity in St. Petersburg, where skinheads murdered a Tajik girl, is
probably the only exception. Usually, however, it is people from the
Caucasus who become the target. In the wake of the February bombing
in the Moscow metro, skinheads smashed up several stores belonging
to people from the Caucasus and battered a dozen newcomers. There
were many more attacks like that after the Rizhskaya explosion and
the tragedy in Beslan. Just about everyone – Armenians, Azerbaijanis,
Georgians – were attacked. Dzhamshid Amirov of Azerbaijan, a lawyer
with Mosyurtsentr, was murdered in Moscow. Forensic experts say
that Amirov was repeatedly stabbed. Moreover, Russian provinces are
following in the wake of Moscow skinheads and bigots. Several cafes
owned by Armenians and Azerbaijanis were smashed up in Yekaterinburg.
One was killed, two hospitalized. A teenage gang assaulted and
battered an Azerbaijan in Surgut on September 23. Shortly before
that, local skinheads attacked six people from the Caucasus. Three
died in the fight, and three were injured. Blood is usually shed
in such incidents, but not necessarily. Three summer cafes burned
down at Ostankino Park in Moscow not long ago. Specialists say it
was arson. The owners of the cafes, who are from Azerbaijan, deny
that the underworld was involved. Witnesses saw groups of aggressive
youths in the vicinity shortly before the incident.
Similar incidents took place in Uglich, Krasnoarmeisk, and some other
Russian cities and towns where existence of skinheads had never
even been suspected. The incident in Moscow metro in September is
particularly revealing. Youths aged 16 to 20 entered a train carriage
and assaulted a Tajik, an Azerbaijan, and an Armenian – screaming
“This is for the terrorist attacks!” Some of the assailants were
detained, criminal charges were laid. How many similar incidents have
never made it to public awareness is anyone’s guess.
According to official data, crime police divisions of the Interior
Ministry throughout Russia have recorded 398 extremist groups,
totalling about 19,500 members. One hundred and nineteen of them
call themselves skinheads. Ethnic-related crimes are something law
enforcement agencies prefer to avoid. In fact, even the existence of
skinhead gangs was denied until recently. Off the record, however,
police admit the gravity of the problem.
An officer of the criminal police division of the Moscow Municipal
Directorate of Internal Affairs said, “An extremist or any other
organization exists when it has the boss, structure, charter, tasks,
and objectives. An organization like that may be outlawed, and its
leaders may find themselves facing charges. Otherwise, an organization
like that is referred to as “men from District 3” and looking for
leaders and ideologists there is a waste of time – there are only
implementators. Whenever there is no organization, there are but
“individuals” who express their protest against something in so ugly
a manner. Why they choose this particular form of protest is not a
question to us. The Criminal Code doesn’t say a word about shaven
heads. We cannot jail a person for shaving his head, can we?”
Invocation of Article 282 of the Criminal Code (incitement of
ethnic hatred) is another problem. More often than not skinheads or
whatever they call themselves are tried under articles pertaining
to hooliganism.
Vladimir Pribylovsky, president of the Panorama Information and
Surveys Center, says that ethnic groups as such do not fight one
another – only extremist gangs do. “Unfortunately, these gangs are
growing. According to various estimates, 40-50% of Russian citizens
are affected by xenophobia to some degree,” Pribylovsky said. Its
forms also vary. For example, the children of Moscow-based Chechens
graduate from universities and colleges but cannot find employment.
Some companies and organizations even request candidates to indicate
their ethnic origin in their job applications.
An opinion poll conducted in 128 Russian cities and towns, even before
the Rizhskaya bombing, shows that 46% of respondents support the idea
of tough restrictions on people from the Caucasus. In the wake of the
tragedy in Beslan, Yuri Popov, a member of the Moscow legislature,
proposed closing the city to people from “certain regions.” In fact,
statistics show that only 51% of crimes in Moscow are committed by
native Muscovites.
Raids against “foreigners” (particularly people from the Caucasus)
have become commonplace, something expected after every event related
– even remotely – to the Caucasus. Unfortunately, this intolerance
may backfire and generate aggression against the Russians in the
Caucasus. Raids under the slogan “Russia for Russians” breed extremism
in national republics and sovereign countries.
Eldar Kuliyev, adviser to the president of the Congress of Russian
Azerbaijanis, says there are about 200,000 ethnic Russians living
in Azerbaijan. “They are not bothered,” Kuliyev said. “Azerbaijan
cherishes the Russian language. Not a single Russian school was
closed there when Azerbaijan became a sovereign state. What is
happening here, in Russia, is unfortunately a sword that cuts two
ways. In every country there are people who don’t care about who
is truly to blame – people who act emotionally, on the spur of the
moment. Appropriate responses cannot be ruled out, particularly if
these processes continue in Russia gaining in scale.”
Translated by A. Ignatkin

Big Day Out organisers continue to attract biggest and best names
TUTAKI Denise
The Daily News (New Plymouth, New Zealand)
October 14, 2004, Thursday
HI-OCTANE trio the Beastie Boys has been named as one of the headlining
acts for next year’s Big Day Out.
Tickets for the event go on sale tomorrow and promoters say the line-up
solidifies the reputation of the Big Day Out organisers to produce
a series of events that offer intelligent, quality, energetic acts.
Powderfinger is one of the biggest acts to emerge across the ditch
in the last decade and has been booked for the 2005 Big Day Out. It
will perform live off the back of its forthcoming best of compilation
titled Fingerprints.
The duo of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, aka the Chemical Brothers,
returns again to the Big Day Out. Arguably the first arena-sized
group in the electronic movement, the Chemical Brothers keep the
crowd moving by working through unmissable samples from familiar
guitar riffs to vocal tags to various sound effects.
System of a Down is no stranger to our shores and has a reputation
as the thinking person’s metal troupe.
System of a Down is currently working on its fourth album and over
the last eight years has revived and revitalised heavy music with
its manic brand of post-everything hardcore.
Its disparate tastes, which range from Jaco Pastorius and Slayer to
the Beatles and traditional Armenian folk music, have ensured System
of a Down will always be a band less than ordinary.
Locals The D4, Misfits of Science, Trinity Roots and Steriogram all
take to the stage, joined by Aussie heroes Grinspoon and the John
Butler Trio.
Brit-pop landed itself new heroes in the new millennium thanks to
the popularity of quartet The Music. Comprised of school chums, the
Music emerged from the suburbs of Leeds in 1999 and by 2001 it had
been hailed as the best unsigned band in Britain. It has been signed
along with one of the most innovative and audacious artists to come
out of the UK in recent years, Mike Skinner.
Skinner is the mastermind behind The Streets, whose debut Original
Pirate Material saw him tap into a potent mix of hip hop, rap, garage
and glam-inspired rock. With a follow-up released this year, A Grand
Don’t Come for Free, The Streets has received myriad critical acclaim
across the musical spectrum.
All-female rockers The Donnas have been described as a cross between
the Ramones and the Runaway. Formed in 1993, the Donnas are now
veterans, with nine albums tucked under their belts.
Donna A, Donna F, Donna C and Donna R gained a cult following and
considerable media attention in the late 90s when they scored a record
deal straight out of high school.
Other Kiwi acts the Bleeders, drum and bass outfit Concord Dawn and
Shihad have also been signed.
Tickets for the event, to be held on Friday, January 21, are available
through Ticketek or at Energy FM, Raw Music and Sounds.
A second line-up of artists will be announced next month.

PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; [email protected]
Website;
October 15, 2004
************************************************
THE PRIMATE PRESIDED OVER THE CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF HOLY TRANSLATORS
On Sunday October 10, Bishop Bagrat Galstanian presided over the Holy
Badarak held in St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral of Montreal on
the occasion of the feast of Holy Translators, which is also designated
by the Primate as Day of Blessing of Cultural Workers. This year’s
category of cultural workers consisted of authors of books.
At the termination of the Divine Liturgy Rev. Fr. Vazgen Boyadjyan,
Pastor, invited 15 authors of books to advance before the Altar,
where Primate Galstanian addressed them in the spirit of the Holy
Translators, who built up the Armenian Golden Age in the 5th century
and left the most enduring legacy of the Armenian identity. After the
authors read the Oath of Cultural Workers, the traditional ceremony
of blessing was conducted, as the Primate touched the head of each
author by his Cross.
Following the ceremonies, the congregation gathered in the Marie
Manoogian Hall, where a program dedicated to the Holy Translators
was organized by the editorial board of Pourastan, the church’s
periodical. MC. Dr. H. Arzoumanian talked briefly about the profound
changes in the Armenian people’s spiritual life that started with
St. Gregory the Illuminator in 301, embedded by St. Mesrob Mashdots
(the inventor of the Armenian alphabet) in 404, and peaked by the
Translators (5th Century), who laid the foundations of the Armenian
spiritual and cultural identity for the following thousands of years.
The first speaker was Ms. Armine Keushgerian, a scholar and author,
who reminded that October has been designated as the month of culture,
and talked about the foremost translator Yeznig of Goghpa. The
translators, she said, were not merely transferring a text from
the Greek original into Armenian, but they were also scholars,
theologians and educators. The second speaker, Mr. Nourhan Ouzounian,
a noted intellectual, spoke about different translations of the Bible,
quoting international experts who designate the Armenian translation
as “The Queen of Translations”. The speaker then deliberated on the
first printing of the Armenian Bible in Amsterdam by Vosgan Yerevantsi
in 1666, shortly after Gutenberg’s invention of the print. A short
program of three songs were rendered by the church’s children’s
choir directed by Mr. Varoujan Markarian. Fr. Vazgen thanked the
participants and Bishop Galstanian gave his blessing. A reception by
the Parish Council followed.
* * *
ART WORK POSTERS DONATED BY MR. & MRS. KERIM AND LOUISA KERIM
Long time members and sponsors of Canadian Diocese and Holy Trinity
Armenian Apostolic Church of Toronto Mr. & Mrs. Kerim and Louisa Kerim
have donated artwork posters to the Diocese of the Armenian Church. The
posters are prints of limited editions of Mr. Kerim Kerim’s artwork
called Revival of the Decorative Art of Armenian Monumental Khatchkars.
It is Mr. Kerim’s wish to give the donated posters as gifts to Sunday
School students and to the junior choir members for their regular
attendance and special achievements.
On behalf of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian we thank Mr. and
Mrs. Kerims and pray the Almighty God to grant them good health and
abundant blessings.
* * *
ARMENIAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL ORGANIZED BY THE DIOCESE
Upon the directive and instructions of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat
Galstanian, Primate the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada,
for the first time ever, an Armenian Cultural Festival has been
organized on the occasion of the Feast of Holy Translators. The
planned celebrations extend through this weekend.
On Friday night, the opening ceremony will be held at Marie Manoogian
hall of St Gregory the Illuminator cathedral. Mayor of the City of
Montreal. His Worship Gerald Tremblay as well as the President of
the Borough of Outremont Mr. Stephan Harbour will be the honorary
guests. Books about Armenian history, culture and art will be on
exhibition and for sale. The next day, Saturday, October 16, a
piano concert will be held at St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral
in Montreal (starting 19:30) performed by Souren Barry with the
participation of “Gomidas” Church Choir directed by Varoujan Margaryan.
* * *
BISHOP GALSTANIAN MET WITH LADIES’ AUXILIARY COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES
His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian met with the Ladies’ Auxiliary
Committee for Social Services together with the pastor of St. Gregory
the Illuminator Armenian Church Rev. Fr Vazgen Boyajyan.
The meeting was held upon the request of the Ladies’ Auxiliary on
Tuesday, October 12, 2004 at the Diocesan headquarters. The committee
members asked the Primate’s views and visions regarding the mission of
the Ladies’ Auxiliary. Serpazan talked extensively on the importance
of their mission, made several suggestions to further consolidate
their services and encouraged them to keep on serving our people. They
agreed to meet on a monthly basis in order to review the progress of
the reform plan.
* * *
PRAYER REQUEST FOR MARITSA RINA LALEYAN-YEMENIDJIAN
In August 2004 the Press Office of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church
Canadian Diocese requested the faithful to pray for the health of
Maritsa Rina Laleyan- Yemenidjian.
Mrs. Laleyan was in deep coma at Sacre Coeur Hospital in Montreal. The
family, friends and many other fellow Christians sent prayer notes
and caring thoughts to the Yemenidjian family.
Today, we inform you with deep spiritual joy that Mrs Yemenidjian’s
health has started to improve. We ask once again for your prayers
for her full recovery.
The power of prayer will bring miracles to Maritsa Rina
Laleyan-Yemenidjian. She is in need of our support through this
prayer request.
* * *
HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II DEPARTS FOR MOSCOW
On October 15, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, during a meeting with the Brotherhood
of Holy Etchmiadzin, announced that he was departing for the Russian
Federation to join the Armenian community of Moscow as they celebrate
the 75th Anniversary of the birth of His Holiness Alexey II, Patriarch
of Moscow and All Russia, head of the Russian Orthodox Church.
During his two-day visit to Moscow, the Catholicos of All Armenians
will also offer the service of Blessing the Foundation of the new Holy
Cross Armenian Cathedral and Diocesan Headquarters for the Armenian
Diocese of New Nakhijevan and Russia.
In the course of the meeting, His Holiness reflected on the recent news
that the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” religious organization has received
official registration by the state authorities of the Republic of
Armenia, and expressed his concern at the registration of yet another
totalitarian cult. His Holiness stated that attempts to justify the
registration of this destructive group are unacceptable, and regards
as disingenuous and unfair the accusations that the Armenian Church
and her clergy are weak and incomplete in their pastoral ministry.
“The Holy Armenian Apostolic Church has a mission to serve, and
notwithstanding all difficulties and challenges, will bring all of
her efforts to realizing that sacred mission in the lives of our
people”, stated His Holiness. The Pontiff of All Armenians expressed
his appreciation to all faithful sons and daughters of the Armenian
Church who have displayed concern and devotion regarding this issue.
Accompanying His Holiness during his visit to the Russian Federation
are His Grace Bishop Navasard Kjoyan, Vicar General of the Araratian
Pontifical Di ocese; His Grace Bishop Arshak Khatchatrian, Chancellor
of the Mother See; and Rev. Fr. Mushegh Babayan, Staff-bearer of
His Holiness.
* * *
HOLY ETCHMIADZIN ORDAINS AN UNPRECEDENTED NINETEEN NEW PRIESTS
Sunday, October 10, was a joyous day in the life of the Armenian
Church. During the celebration of Divine Liturgy, the vast St. Gregory
the Illuminator Mother Cathedral of Yerevan was filled with faithful,
family and friends, as nineteen deacons of the Armenian Church
were anointed and ordained into the Holy Order of Priesthood by
His Grace Bishop Arshak Khatchatrian, Chancellor of the Mother See
of Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness, Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided during this unprecedented
historic event. This marked the first occasion in memory that so many
faithful sons of the Armenian Church were ordained to the priesthood
at one time. In order to accommodate this large number of ordinates,
the ordination service was moved from the Mother Cathedral of Holy
Etchmiadzin to St. Gregory. Six of the deacons are graduates of the
Gevorkian Theological Seminary, one is a graduate of the St. James
Theological Seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and
twelve are the first graduates from the Accelerated Academic Course
for the Priesthood, under the auspices of the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin.
The Accelerated Academic Course for the Priesthood was a new program
in stituted by His Holiness more than two years ago to select
individuals with higher educations who wished to bring their service
to the Armenian Church and Nation as priests. The Course had strict
and difficult entrance requirements: The candidates must have the
recommendation of their Diocesan Primates, a minimum of a bachelors
degree from an institution of higher learning, and passed the entrance
and subsequent exams, maintaining exemplary grades throughout the
two and a half year program. The main target of the program was to
reach out to the rural villages and settlements that are in dire need
of priests. The first twelve graduates who became priests were among
the most highly educated of the students. Among them are an architect,
a physicist, a composer, a psychologist, an accountant, a historian,
scientists and instructors.
On the evening prior to the ordination, a public examination of the
candidates’ profession of faith was conducted in the Mother Cathedral
of Yerevan. The sponsoring priests testified for the spiritual and
religious training and virtues of the candidates. The candidates
unanimously rejected and anathematized the heretics and schismatics
and vowed to follow the true faith of Jesus Christ, the Apostles and
the Armenian Patriarchs. As a sign of their orthodox faith, they
recited the dogmatic creed of the Armenian Church, written by St.
Gregory of Datev, and vowed to remain faithful to the hierarchy of
the Armenian Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The following morning, during the Divine Liturgy, the candidates
ascended to the Holy Altar of the Cathedral with the recitation
of psalms. Rev. Fr. Vardan Navasardian, assistant to the Grand
Sacristan of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, had organized
a team of deacons to assist their brothers in their vesting. After
removing their stoles from each individual deacon, they were placed
back around the ordinates necks, and turning westward to the faithful,
they raised their hands as a sign of their renunciation from secular
life and devotion to a spiritual one. The ordaining bishop anointed
the foreheads and palms of both hands of each new priest with Holy
Chrism (Muron) and gave them new names. The faithful present awaited
each new name in hushed yet eager anticipation.
Deacon Artur Hovhanissian became Father Aristakes;
Deacon Hovhannes Baghalian became Father Vrtanes;
Deacon Ararat Nurijanian became Father Husik;
Deacon Arman Shahnazarian became Father Nerses;
Deacon Mher Ghahramanian became Father Gyut;
Deacon Arman Simonian became Father Norayr;
Deacon Husik Hayrapetian became Father Babken;
Deacon Hovhannes Vahanian became Father Moushé;
Deacon Gagik Babayan became Father Mashtots;
Deacon Haik Petrosian became Father Ghazar;
Deacon Artur Sargisian became Father Smbat;
Deacon Artur Dravants became Father Matteos;
Deacon Arayik Mkrtchian became Father Manuel;
Deacon Vahan Andreasian became Father Tovmas;
Deacon Karlen Ghazarian became Father Arakel;
Deacon Vladimir Galsdian became Father Yeznik;
Deacon Garnik Arakelian became Father Simeon;
Deacon Hovhannes Sargisian became Father Pavstos;
Deacon Vachagan Babayan became Father Anania;
Following their anointing, His Grace Bishop Arshak presented the
chalice used to prepare Holy Communion to the newly ordained priests,
transferring to them the power and right to celebrate the Divine
Liturgy and distribute the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ to
the faithful. While the kiss of peace was joyfully being distributed
among the thousands of faithful, His Holiness Karekin II led the
procession of bishops, members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin,
and visiting clergy from a number of dioceses, as they ascended
the bema and conveyed their congratulations by kissing the anointed
foreheads and hands of the new priests. In attendance for the service
were Their Eminences Archbishop Datev Sarkissian and Archbishop David
Sahakian of the Mother See; Archbishop Grigoris Buniatian, Primate
of the Armenian Diocese of the Ukraine; Archbishop Mesrob Krikorian,
Pontifical Legate to Central Europe; His Grace Bishop Arakel Karamian,
Primate of the Diocese of Kotayk; Very Rev. Fr. Derenik Davitian, Locum
Tenens of the Diocese of Gegharkunik; Rev. Fr. Archpriest Yeghishé
Sargisian, Dean of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary; Rev. Fr.
Mkrtich Proshian, Dean of the Vaskenian Seminary of Lake Sevan;
members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin; visiting Armenian
priests from the United States and Europe; visiting clergymen from
sister Churches and denominations; deacons and seminarians.
Also in attendance for this special occasion were benefactors of the
Mother See, Mr. and Mrs. Haroutiun Arslanian, from Beirut, Lebanon,
as well as the “Holy Etchmiadzin Ladies Society” of Beirut, Lebanon.
* * *

“Jews Believe That It’s Right To Spit At Servants Of Other Religions”
Samuel Avitar Assures
Azg/am
16 Oct 04
A group of young Jews attacked an Armenian clergyman during a
religious procession in Jerusalem on October 10. One of the Jews spat
at Archbishop Nurhan Manukian leading the procession then slapped him
and threw his mitre on the ground. Archbishop Nurhan hit the rogue
back and as a result a scuffle began.
It’s interesting that the Israeli police guarding the procession
was there while this mean assault took place. Police even detained
archbishop saying that he hit the attackers back. The fact rose
Jerusalem’s Armenian community’s indignation.
Palestinian Wafa news agency immediately responded to the assault
(more details in Azg Daily October 13 issue). The Israeli Haaretz
touched open the issue on October 12 and Istanbul’s Nor Marmara
Armenian newspaper on October 13.
The Haaretz notes that not only the youth but also older Jews spit at
Christians and that Greeks and Armenians alike put up with this fact.
Hence, those rogues, young and old, aim not at Armenians but all
Christians. But still the attitude towards Armenians is unique. Daniel
Rasing, head of the Center of Christians’ and Jews’ Reconciliation,
says in the Haaretz that Armenian clergymen do not dare to look out of
their homes during days of Jewish Purim. Samuel Avitar, ex-counselor
of Jerusalem’s mayor on Christian affairs, defined this attack as a
“disgrace” and added: “I try to do something but all in vain as Jews
are sure that clergy is created to be spat at”.
Though archbishop Nurhan informs Nor Marmara saying that “Armenian
clergy of Jerusalem are accustomed to such an attitude and try to
ignore it, they cannot ignore this last incident”. In this case the
only alternative is to leave the Holy City.
Having this perspective in their minds, Jews go even further. This was
not the first time Armenians were attacked. Still in January archbishop
Torgom Manukian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, complained deputy
interior minister of Israel Abraham Porazi that “the Jews rail and
spit at Armenians when they walk down the streets”. Porazi tried to
find out “why government doesn’t take measures to hold extremist Jews
back from abasing the Armenian patriarch and Armenians?” “We don’t
have enough means to guard every priest”.
Haaretz covered this issue on January 13. Jerusalem’s
Patriarchate again turned to the minister of interior in April but
vainly. Apparently the minister had no means to provide the police
with, as the attacks still occur. We can understand that the ministry
may falls short of means but what should we think about the policemen
guarding the procession of October 10? What was their mission if not
securing the clergy?
There may be only answer: police backs those attacks on the Armenian
Patriarchate, Armenian clergy and community in order to win interior
minister’s approval. We may conclude that those rascals are encouraged
by the state and that the attacks are organized on a state level.
What can we expect of a state citizens of which think that it’s right
to spit at servants of other religions?
By Hakob Chakrian