PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: info@armenianorthodoxchurch.org
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: nian.htm
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I GRANTS THE MEDAL OF "ST. MESROB MASHDOTS" TO HAGOP
BALIAN
A special event to celebrate the work of Hagop Balian, writer and
editor-in-chief of the literary "Pakin" publication was held in the
Catholicosate of Cilicia on November 21 under the auspices of His Holiness
Aram I. Community representatives and religious officers attended the event.
In his opening remarks Father Sahag Yemishian underlined that for centuries
Armenians have preserved their identity and survived as Armenians. As an
active supporter of Armenian culture, the Catholicosate of Cilicia has not
remained passive towards those individuals who have, in various ways,
contributed to the preservation and development of Armenian cultural and
national values. Father Yemishian asserted that Hagop Balian was the sort of
intellectual and Armenian persona, who became a speaker for Armenian
culture.
The keynote speaker, Garo Hovhannesian, presented a brief biographical
sketch of Balian, focusing on his contribution to Armenian literature and
culture. Hovhannesian stressed that one of Balian’s primary concerns has
been the Armenian language, a fact that is reflected in all his articles.
"For him, the Armenian Language is before anything else a national ideology,
without which the nation does not exist," said Hovhannesian, adding that in
the "Mayrenin Hayrenik" volume published on the 1600th anniversary of the
creation of the Armenian alphabet, Balian discusses the various issues of
the Armenian Language. The speaker observed that for Balian the Diaspora,
particularly in the present, is an urgent issue, given that "historical
experience showed that the philosophy of returning to the homeland remained
on paper." Hovhannesian added that Balian’s aim was to transform the
Diaspora into the guarantor of the nation’s survival.
Hovhannesian underscored that the role of intellectuals and particularly
Armenian intellectuals is notable in the Balian’s writings. He points out
that Balian is an exceptional intellectual, who is brave, bald and has his
unique style and manner in discussing issues. The speaker concluded his talk
with the following thought. "Hagop Balian: the committed intellectual. A
true intellectual. A phenomenon."
A well-prepared cultural program was presented after the lecture, featuring
the performance by Zakar and Camilla Keshishian of two musical pieces from
Khatchadour Avedissian’s repertoire.
In his address, His Holiness Aram I assured that in his work, Balian did not
pay his dues to individuals, positions or interests, but to values. "He
guarded values, pursued values, served for values and aimed at perfecting
out national, cultural, educational and spiritual values in the life of our
nation," stressed the Pontiff, adding that for Balian, "Armenia, the Church,
the Diaspora, Armenian culture and the Armenian school were values about
which he spoke, for which he suffered and about which he spoke." Said His
Holiness: "He was sometimes extreme in his viewpoints but always remained
respectful, polite and realistic."
His Holiness assured that "what is being honored today is no the person, but
those values which Hagop Balian served." He pointed out that today we face
the need for intellectuals, those who express opinions and positions,
critics who provide constructive criticism, people with realistic
approaches, not those with shallow and one-sided opinions. Criticism begins
with self-criticism, emphasized His Holiness. "We need that kind of people
both in Armenia and the Diaspora," he stressed, adding that through
criticism our culture evolves, our homeland becomes strong, our church grows
and our nation experiences progress.
Addressing Balian, His Holiness said: "It is with this realization, with
this responsibility that you became an intellectual, a teacher, the servant
of Mesrob Mashdots, St. Gregory the Illuminator and all the intellectual and
spiritual giants of our history."
The Pontiff then decorated Balian’s chest with the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s
"St. Mesrob Mashdots" medal. Bishop Norayr Ashekian read the Pontiff’s
Letter of Blessing, which was later handed to Hagop Balian.
Taking to the stage, Balian pointed out that such events become forums for
the expression of pan-national content towards those people who overcome
what is shallow, what is immediate, what serves their interests and the
desire to boast; those people who serve with loyalty to the course of
Armenian identity and its preservation.
Concluding his remarks, Balian expressed his gratitude to the Pontiff and
added that he would succeed if the Armenian Language, letter and books enter
every Armenian Home.
##
View the photos here:
tos/Photos329–.htm
*****
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.