Author: Chatinian Lara

ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS: IT IS HIGH TIME FOR ARMENIA TO DISPLAY INDEPENDENCE AND STOP TRAILING DEVELOPMENTS

ArmInfo
2009-10-16 15:14:00

ArmInfo. It is high time for Armenia to display independence and
stop trailing developments, David Shakhnazaryan, Representative of
the Armenian National Congress, told media on Friday.

"I am presenting the proposals that I promised to present when it
is time to ratify the Armenian-Turkish protocols. I think it will
be difficult for the parliament to reject these proposals because I
suggest the parliament to pass a law prohibiting discussion of the
Armenian Genocide-related issues by the Armenian- Turkish historical
subcommission," Shakhnazaryan said. He is sure the authorities have
no reason to reject the given proposal otherwise it will mean that
they are going to discuss Genocide issue with Turkey. In addition,
Shakhnazaryan suggests the Armenian parliament to ratify the protocols
the first not waiting for the Turkish party to do that. Armenia must
set a condition that its ratification will become null if Turkey fails
to ratify the protocols within 2 months. "If the Armenian authorities
reject these proposals, it will mean that the Armenian-Turkish
relations depend on Karabakh conflict settlement. I propose this not
as a ANC representative but as a citizen of Armenia," he said.

As regards the Armenia vs. Turkey football match in Bursa,
Shakhnazaryan said: "Journalists were a real Armenian factor in the
stadium and not the authorities that were exultant over each goal of
the Turkish team."

Presidents of Armenia and Turkey Serzh Sargsyan and Abdullah Gul
watched the Armenia vs. Turkey qualifying match in the Turkish town
of Bursa on October 14. The game ended 2:0 in favor of Turkey.

Armenia and Turkey signed the "Protocol on the establishment
of diplomatic relations" and the "Protocol on the development of
bilateral relations" in Zurich on October 10. To come into effect
the protocols must be submitted to the respective Parliaments for
the ratification on each side. Armenia and Turkey have no diplomatic
relations and their border was closed in 1993 by Ankara.

UAR HELPS ARMENIANS OF RUSSIA TO HAVE A FREE MEDICAL EXAMINATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2009 20:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Union of Armenians of Russia plays an important
role in providing medical assistance to the Armenians living in
Russia, Professor Arnold Adamian said during a round table in Yerevan
today. According to him, around 2000 Armenians have been examined
for free by the best specialists in Russia. There are many doctors
who go to villages to help those who need medical assistance.

As the academician of the Department of Natural Sciences of the RA NAS
Vilen Hakobyan said, "Turkey is trying to drive a wedge in relations
between Armenia and Diaspora. We must do everything to prevent it".

He also touched upon cooperation between Armenia and Russia in
education sphere. "We have to do a lot to preserve the Armenian
language of in the Armenian schools in Russia, as well as to return
the Russian language to our schools," the academician said.

40-YEAR-OLD FOUNDATION WINS A CARNEGIE FOR KOC FAMILY

Today’s Zaman
17 October 2009, Saturday

The Vehbi Koc Foundation’s 40 years of philanthropic work have won
the Koc family a prestigious Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.

Carnegie Medals of Philanthropy are awarded every two years to one
or more individuals who "have dedicated their private wealth to the
public good and who have sustained their philanthropic activities."

The awards are named for Scottish-American businessman Andrew
Carnegie. The Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy is a prize that is
conferred jointly by the over 20 institutions Carnegie founded around
the world and is known as the "Nobel Prize of philanthropy." The
medals are awarded in a different city every year.

Koc Holding Honorary Chairman Rahmi Koc, the son of Vehbi Koc,
accepted the award on behalf of his family at an award ceremony
held at the New York Public Library on Thursday. Speaking there, he
summarized his feelings with the following words: "This is without
a doubt one of the most important moments of my life." Saying that
it was of great symbolic importance for the Vehbi Koc Foundation
to be recognized with such an award in its 40th year, he said:
"Andrew Carnegie’s words on how it’s more difficult to spend money
wisely than to earn it were frequently repeated by our father, and
they became our guide in philanthropy. As his children, we continued
his legacy and his philosophy."

His older sister, Semahat Arsel, who administrates the foundation,
called the award "a blessing from God to us." Other recipients
of the award this year included New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg;
former Citigroup CEO Sanford Weill and his wife, Joan Weill; and
Intel cofounder Gordon Moore.

The fact that Armenian-American Vartan Gregoryan, a member of the award
coordination committee, wrote a letter of congratulations to Koc ahead
of the Carnegie ceremony, which took place after major protocols were
signed between Turkey and Armenia last week, is being viewed by some
pundits as a show of support from the Armenian diaspora in the United
States for dialogue between Turkey and Armenia.

Accompanying Koc in New York were Arsel and Koc’s sons Mustafa,
Omer and Ali Koc. He said in his speech that he was greatly honored
to accept the award on behalf of his family and country.

The honorary chairman of Koc Holding explained how his father was
affected by philanthropic foundations during a 1946 trip to the US.

"My father would say: ‘In this country, you have to give back a segment
of what you make to the community. These structures can be in the form
of equipment or scholarships.’ … Immediately after the Second World
War, he saw that there were large foundations behind major hospitals,
universities and museums in the US. The love of humanity had been
institutionalized; he was greatly affected by this," he said.

When Vehbi Koc returned to Turkey, his son explained, he tried to
establish a foundation, but the nation lacked the necessary legal
framework. "For 23 years, he worked without tiring with different prime
ministers, governments and parliamentarians to create such a law. In
the end, he was successful and established the first foundation in
Turkey, which carried his own name."

The Vehbi Koc Foundation is headed by Rahmi Koc’s older sister, Arsel,
and is known for its support of education, health and culture.

EU proposes macroeconomic help for Armenia, Georgia

Reuters
Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:48am EDT

BRUSSELS, Oct 16 (Reuters) – The European Commission has proposed providing
100 million euros ($149.2 million) of macroeconomic assistance to Armenia
and 46 million euros to Georgia, the EU’s executive arm said on Friday.

The aid to Armenia — a loan of up to 65 million euros and a grant of up to
35 million euros — would support an adjustment programme agreed with the
International Monetary Fund to help the country through the global crisis,
the Commission said.

The assistance to Georgia is part of a European Union package of up to 500
million euros to help the economy after the country’s conflict with Russia
last year. It will also support an IMF adjustment programme, a Commission
statement said.

The proposals must be formally approved by the 27 EU states. (Reporting by
David Brunnstrom; Editing by Dale Hudson)

THE STORKS HAVE LEFT WITH THE PROMISE TO RETURN
Lena Nazaryan

2009 /10/12 | 18:00

The white storks that have made the village of Apaga their summer
home are now preparing for the arduous flight to warmer climes in
anticipation of the coming winter. When a pair of storks leaves
their massive nest, village residents will find their missing odds
and ends, a missing shoe, a child’s toy or even a garden tool, in the
maze of branches above. During the ensuing winter months, villagers
will forget all about the inconveniences that the storks create and
long for their return, a good omen for the year to come.

Arayik Afrikyan, a resident of Apaga in the Armavir Marz, proudly
points to a thirty year-old stork nest atop his house. The home owner
has given up repairing the cracks in the walls due to the sheer weight
of the nest but hasn’t decided to remove it. "What can I do? The
birds have wrecked the roof. They’ve built their nest right atop the
water pipe and refashion it every year," complains Mr. Afrikyan. He
ten smiles and says that four baby storks were born this year. When
his wife also began to voice her litany of complaints, I asked why
they didn’t remove the nest. "Those are our storks up there. We’ve
practically grown up together," Arayik replied. "Next year I’ll repair
the roof. I’ll build a platform to raise the nest on," he explains,
seeking to console himself that in this fashion his roof will be out
of harm’s way.

Village residents are loathe to destroy a stork’s nest even when it
gets so heavy that it threatens their homes and property. They complain
and curse the birds but will never remove a nest themselves. If a
nest has to be removed they get others to do the dirty work.

"White Stork" project protects existing nests

Starting in 2005, the American University of Armenia’s "Hakobyan
Ecological Center" has been conducting its "White Stork" research
project. The nests are protected by staff members and village residents
whose homes or trees have been chosen by the birds as nesting sites.

Considered to be the closest neighbor to a nesting pair of storks,
Arayik Afrikyan fills out a questionnaire supplied by the Center
regarding the birds’ migratory patterns, brood size, etc. At the end
of the year he hands over the completed form to the researchers for
tabulation. In this fashion, local residents have kept tabs on some
996 stork nests in Armenia over the past few years. Each of the nests
is affixed with a plaque that reads "Protected". According to last
year’s survey, 680 nests had roosting pairs, 21 were inhabited by a
single stork and the rest went empty. Such statistics are necessary
not only to maintain healthy stocks of white storks in Armenia but
also serve as an indicator of regional pollution.

Storks have no natural predators. Pairs with broods will literally
throw out those chicks that are weak or ill from the nest in order to
maintain a healthy next generation. In areas where large numbers of
chicks are "pushed out" in this natural selection process, there is
a high probability that the young birds have succumbed to increasing
levels of pollution or industrial exhausts. Observations along these
lines require long-term scientific study.

Villagers keep tabs on stork behavior

"At first it was hard to convince people to follow-up and take notes
of the information we required. People in the villages are out working
in the fields all day and had other things on their mind. Sometimes
they forgot and sometimes they got angry that we were asking to do
all this for free. But we cajoled and coaxed them and spent time
with them in the fields, etc. In the end, the villagers cam around
and promised to help out," says Maro Kochinyan, a project staffer.

Storks usually build nests atop trees, house, electric pylons, and
even statues. There are some nests in Armenia that tip the scales at
one ton. With each passing year, the nests grow larger and heavier
since the birds constantly make repairs and additions. This is an
instinctual process because if the nest isn’t repaired the need to
lay eggs doesn’t arise.

Sometimes, nests perched atop electric pylons catch aflame. The larger
birds can fly to safety but the fate of the chicks is different. In
such cases, local resident call the Center for assistance.

The Center has also started to band young birds with identity rings
on their feet. So far some 200 young birds carry the "RoA Citizen"
band. The different numbers on the band allow researchers to track
the movements of individual storks.

It is a little known fact that storks usually change their nests every
year. Rarely do they return to the same nest site. Storks start to
migrate in groups to warmer climes by September and October. Many
rural areas in Armenia have already witnessed the migration of the
white stork. Longtime residents however are certain that they will
return next spring as they have done for time immemorial.

MG OSCE SEEKS TO USE RA-TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT FOR NKR CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.10.2009 17:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "RA-Turkish rapprochement Protocols’ signing process
was interesting and unpredictable," Director of Armenian Center for
National and International Studies, Richard Giragosian told a news
conference in Yerevan. According to him, Turkey was trying its best
to provide OSCE Co-Chairs’ presence at protocol signing ceremony
in an attempt to link RA-Turkish rapprochement with NKR conflict
settlement. Yet, Armenia and Switzerland prevented this from happening,
expressing their categorical protest. "Both Turkey and OSCE Co-Chairs
seek to use RA-Turkish rapprochement for NKR conflict settlement,"
Giragosian noted.

He also commented upon Russia’s passive attitude during Protocol
signing ceremony, noting that it might be explained by improvement
in Russia-Azerbaijan relations.

Addressing NKR conflict settlement issue, Giragosian stressed that
Azerbaijan has no sense of reality and does not understand Karabakh
will never be a part of it.

Commenting on RA President’s visit to Moscow, Giragosian said,
"The President himself is unaware as to the purpose of his visit".

Turkey’s PM: Armenia deal approval linked to Karabakh pullout
Erdogan says Turkey would not look favourably on the accords, signed in
Zurich on Saturday, unless Armenia withdraws from Azerbaijani land.

p?id=48301
Sunday, 11 October 2009 14:55

Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Armenia’s
withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan would help gain his
parliament’s approval for a peace accord signed between Turkey and
Armenia.

"We as a government paved the way for this co-operation, but whether or
not it will be applied is up to parliament to decide," he told a party
congress in Ankara.

Turkey would not look favourably on the accords, signed in Zurich on
Saturday, unless Armenia withdraws from Azerbaijani land, he said.

"If that issue is solved our people and our parliament will have a more
positive attitude towards this protocol and this process."

Erdogan said earlier this year he would not open the border until
Yerevan ended its occupation of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan on Sunday criticised Turkey-Armenia deal to normalise ties,
warned against unilateral opening of the Turkish-Armenian border
without any progress on Armenia-occupied Karabakh region.

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic ties or economic relations since
Armenia declared its independence in 1991 and Turkey closed its border
with Armenia in 1993 after this country invaded the Upper-Karabakh
region of Azerbaijan.

In July 2008, the then Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan expressed
Turkey’s willingness to normalize relations with Yerevan.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul travelled to Armenia in September 2008
to watch the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier match between the two
countries upon an invitation by President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia.

After months-long Swiss mediated talks, Turkey and Armenia agreed about
a month ago on a protocol to establish relations and open the border.

Azerbaijani and Armenian officials are also holding talks for over a
year to find a settlement to the Upper Karabakh dispute.

Gul invited Sargsyan to watch the return match in Turkey on October 14.
However, It is still unclear whether Sargsyah will travel to Turkey.

FINNISH PM HAILS TURKEY FOR INITIATIVES
Reeta Paakkinen

Hurriyet Daily News
Thursday, October 8, 2009

The European Union is likely to welcome Turkey’s normalization talks
with Armenia and its recent democratic initiative, says the Finnish
prime minister, hailing these steps as positive signs. I believe this
will be positively received at the EU, Matti Vanhanen says Finnish
PM hails Turkey for initiatives

Turkey’s democratic initiative and its ongoing normalization talks
with neighboring Armenia are particularly positive signals, Finland’s
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said.

Speaking to Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review on Tuesday,
Vanhanen said the initiatives were likely to be welcomed by the
European Union. Turkey has three main problems with an international
dimension, Vanhanen said. "One of these is the Kurdish question,
another is the relations with Armenia and the third one, the Cyprus
issue. Out of these three, there has been notable progress in two
within a short period of time.

"I believe this will be positively received at the European
Union. Hopefully the agreement with Armenia will be signed," Vanhanen
told the Daily News in an exclusive interview.

Turkey and Armenia are expected to sign a protocol establishing
diplomatic ties between the two countries this weekend. Vanhanen was
in Turkey on Tuesday on a one-day visit with a delegation of eight
Finnish companies. During the visit, he signed a double taxation
agreement between Finland and Turkey and met with President Abdullah
Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Faster EU talks

Vanhanen said negotiations on Turkey’s membership in the EU could be
faster. "So far, the practice has been to open one negotiation chapter
per EU presidency, but the pace could be speeded up," Vanhanen said,
and reminded that although some parts of the European public and
decision-makers are opposing Turkey’s full membership in the EU, the
union has unilaterally decided to negotiate on a full membership. "
t even some leaders have made pretty skeptical statements about
Turkey’s future in the EU. But it is important to remember that
no official decisions on this have been made. The union has made a
unilateral agreement that Turkey is a candidate for full membership
and not any semi-status. The EU will keep its word," Vanhanen said.

On the other hand, Turkey also needs to keep its promises and
continue with the reform process. The first step Turkey should now
take, said Vanhanen, is to ratify the Ankara Protocol and open its
harbors to Greek Cypriot vessels. So far Turkey has not implemented
the protocol, preferring to see the issue of free movement as a part
of a comprehensive settlement on the divided island.

"Traffic is an important part of the EU entity, there cannot be
an exception in the case of Cyprus. Turkey should ratify the Ankara
Protocol and thus prepare the grounds for a comprehensive settlement on
the island because that needs to be resolved as well," Vanhanen said.

On the question of what Finland, as an EU member state, is doing to end
the political and economic isolation of Turkish Cypriots as promised
by the EU in 2004, Vanhanen, could not give concrete or practical
examples. "Finland is prepared to help [Turkish Cypriots] in the
negotiation process in all ways, and also the Turkish [side] knows
this," Vanhanen said. "When Finland held the EU presidency in 2006,
I worked a lot on this issue and learned how difficult the [Cyprus]
question is. Hopefully the United Nations-sponsored negotiations that
are now going on succeed," Vanhanen said.

Boosting trade relations

One of the purposes of Vanhanen’s one-day visit to Turkey was also to
promote closer trade relations between Finland and Turkey, and sign
a tax treaty between the two countries. Trade volume between Turkey
and Finland currently stands at 1 billion euros. "The tax treaty
now signed prevents [all forms of] double taxation, representing an
important step in bilateral relations. I hope that we will also soon
sign an investme s naturally affecting the investment appetite of
Finnish firms in Turkey," Vanhanen said.

Finnish firms are particularly interested in Turkey, not only because
of the country’s growth potential but also because of its growing role
in the region, Vanhanen said. "Whenever we inquire local businesses
where they would like to have a prime ministerial visit combined
with the presence of a business delegation, Turkey is always on the
top of the list. There is notable interest in Turkey among Finnish
business circles."

EDWARD NALBANDIAN PARTOOK IN THE SITTING OF THE CIS FOREIGN MINISTER’S COUNCIL

armradio.am
09.10.2009 11:53

The recurrent sitting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers took
place in Chisnau (Moldova) on September 8. The Armenian delegation
was headed by Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

Issues on the agenda included promotion of cooperation in the
humanitarian field, intensification of collaboration in the fields
of security and migration policy, etc.

The Ministers approved of and presented to the affirmation of the
CIS heads the project of the call for the 65th anniversary of the
victory of The Great Patriotic War.

The participants of the summit affirmed the agenda of the CIS Council
of Foreign Ministers.

October 8, 2009
MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE THIS SATURDAY IN NEW JERSEY

Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the Mid-Atlantic regional
conference which will take place this Saturday, October 10, at
Sts. Vartanantz Church, 461 Bergen Boulevard, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
The conference will begin at 10 am and continue through to 5 pm.

Hagop Khatchadourian, chairman of the Prelacy’s Executive Council,
will provide a brief overview at the beginning and lead any unforeseen
questions at the end. Panel discussions will be led by Raffi Ourlian,
Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, John Daghlian, Dn. Shant Kazanjian, and
Harout Misserlian.

PRELATE WILL PRESIDE OVER 84TH ANNIVERSARY OF NEW BRITAIN PARISH

Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Connecticut on Sunday where he will
preside over the 84th anniversary of St. Stephen Church of New
Britain/Hartford. The Prelate will celebrate the Divine Liturgy,
deliver the sermon, and preside over the anniversary banquet, which
will take place at Indian Hill Country Club in Newington, Connecticut.

VICAR IS ATTENDING WCC MEETINGS IN GREECE

Bishop Anoushavan is in Greece, where he is attending the World
Council of Church’s Faith & Order Plenary Commission, "Called to be
the One Church," at the Orthodox Academy of Crete. As the
representative of the Oriental Orthodox Church he is chairing the 9th
session on "Tradition and Traditions." The meetings began October 6
and will continue until October 14.

75th ANNIVERSARY OF SPRINGFIELD/INDIAN ORCHARD PARISH

On September 27, Archbishop Oshagan presided over the 75th anniversary
of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Springfield/Indian Orchard.

NALG SEMINAR NEXT SATURDAY

The National Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG) will sponsor a
seminar on Saturday, October 17, at the Prelacy offices, 138 E. 39th
Street, New York City.

The seminar will begin at 9:30 am and will include a report of NALG
activities and reports from individual Ladies Guilds. Archbishop
Oshagan will open the conference with a prayer and his message to the
NALG. Discussions will focus on by-laws updates and recommended
changes, the role of the Guilds, and how the Guilds can be
strengthened. The seminar will begin at 9:30 and end early afternoon,
with a lunch break at noon.

IN MEMORIAM: YN. PATRICIA SARKISIAN DAGLEY

We note with sadness the passing of Yeretzgin Patricia Sarkisian
Dagley last Thursday after a three-year battle with cancer. She was 50
years old. Yeretzgin was the wife of the late Rev. Fr. Haroutiun
Dagley who at the time of his death in 2002 was the pastor of St.
Gregory of Narek Armenian Church in Richmond Heights, Ohio. Yn. leaves
behind two children, daughter Sona (age 15) and son Sarkis (age 11).

We extend heartfelt condolences to her children, her mother Zarry
Sarkisian, her siblings Sharon Sarkisian Dardarian and George
Sarkisian, and to her brother-in-law Dn. Nishan and Mrs. Carolyn
Dagley. Dn. Nishan, who serves on the altar of St. Gregory Church of
Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts, is the brother of the
late Der Haroutiun.

May she rest in eternal peace.

BOOK READING & SIGNING AT ST. SARKIS (NEW YORK)

St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, is presenting a book reading
and signing this Sunday immediately following church services. The
book to be presented is Michael Bobelian’s Children of Armenia: A
Forgotten Genocide and the Century-Long Struggle for Justice. For
information contact the church at 718-224-2275.

ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT VISITS CATHOLICOS ARAM I

During his visit to Lebanon, H.E. Serge Sarkissian met privately with
His Holiness Aram I on two occasions. At these meetings the President
explained the reasons for the Armenia-Turkey agreement, and briefed
His Holiness on conversations with the representatives of Armenian
Diaspora communities.

His Holiness reminded the President of his own recent statement
regarding his position on this matter and appreciated the President’s
initiative to brief the Diaspora on the decision of the Armenian
government. His Holiness said, "Armenians in the Diaspora will not
compromise on issues of Genocide and compensation. The memorial chapel
in Antelias with the remains of one and a half million innocent men,
women and children, the victims of organized genocide by the Ottoman
Turkish government, is a constant reminder of our obligation to demand
justice and the recognition of the Genocide. As Catholicos of the Holy
See of Cilicia, I will honor the memory of the martyrs by continuing
to demand justice. The government of Armenia should continue to remind
Turkey and the international community that the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide is a must and not a matter of negotiation."

The President told the Catholicos that the issue of recognition of the
Armenian Genocide belonged to all Armenians and therefore, he
understood the anger of the Diaspora. However, he said, the
economic-political terms of the agreement were important for Armenia.
Before leaving His Holiness’ residence the President reconfirmed his
commitment to the cause of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
and ended his visit to Antelias by placing a wreath at the Chapel of
the Martyrs.

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN PARTICIPATES IN MEETING WITH ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT

Archbishop Oshagan was one of the participants at a meeting that took
place on Saturday, October 3 of community leaders with the President
of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan. The Prelate expressed his thoughts about
the Armenia-Turkey Protocols. Oshagan Srpazan raised two specific
issues. First the Pan-Armenian issue, because the Protocols concern
the entire Armenian people. "All Armenians are concerned about what
the future will bring and are following closely events in Armenia and
the Diaspora. It troubles me that these internal positions are causing
divisions, which brings me to the second issue which is local. This
issue can cause internal divisions among us." Furthermore, the Prelate
said there is no doubt that the Genocide is a fundamental issue for
all Armenians. "All the opinions we hear today are justified, but
there are also psychological factors. Our history has taught us that
in our political and diplomatic relationships sometimes we may
fail. This is the first official document signed between Armenia and
Turkey. We have to think again and be very careful before signing such
a document."

PRELATE WILL ATTEND OPENING OF GORKY RETROSPECTIVE AT PHILADELPHIA
MUSEUM

Archbishop Oshagan will attend a gala reception in celebration of the
opening of the Arshile Gorky retrospective at the Philadelphia Museum
of Art next Thursday evening, October 15. Prior to the reception the
invitees will have the opportunity to a preview of the exhibit which
is a major traveling retrospective celebrating the extraordinary life
and work of Arshile Gorky (1904-1948).

The first comprehensive survey of the work of this artist in nearly
three decades, Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective will open to the public
on October 21 and continue until January 10, 2010. The exhibition will
then travel to the Tate Modern, London (Spring 2010) and The Museum of
Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (Summer 2010).

Born Vosdanig Adoian around 1904 in an Armenian village near Lake Van,
Arshile Gorky witnessed as a young boy the genocide of the Armenians
by Ottoman Turkey. He eventually came to the United States with his
sister and settled in New York where he studied at the Grand Central
School of Art. He met and became friends with many of the city’s
emerging avant-garde artists, and he became an influential figure in
the movement toward abstraction that transformed American
art. Although Gorky’s life was tragically cut short, and in spite of
the loss of many paintings due to a fire in his studio, he left an
impressive body of work that secured his reputation as the last of the
great Surrealists.

The Philadelphia Museum, one of the largest museums in the United
States, is located in center city at 26th Street and the Benjamin
Franklin Parkway.

PETER BALAKIAN TO SPEAK TONIGHT IN NEW JERSEY

Noted author and renowned professor, Peter Balakian, who has written
extensively about the Armenian experience, will speak tonight at
Bergen Community College at 6 pm. Professor Balakian was invited by
the college’s Peace, Justice and Reconciliation Center and the Center
for the Study of Intercultural Understanding. His address will take
place in the Moses Family Meeting and Training Center (Technology
Education Center, Room 128) at the College, 400 Paramus Road, Paramus,
New Jersey. For information/reservations 201-447-9232.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for today, Thursday, October 8, are: Proverbs 4:2-27;
Jeremiah 15:19-20; 1 Corinthians 12:1-17; Matthew 9:35-10:1.

My child, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do
not let them escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For
they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their
flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the
springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious
talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze
be straight before you. Keep straight the path of your feet, and all
your ways will be sure. Do not serve to the right or to the left; turn
our foot away from evil. (Proverbs 4:2-27).

For listing of this week’s Bible readings click here (
4882/goto: elacy/PDF/dbr2009-10.pdf
).

FEAST OF THE HOLY TRANSLATORS

This Saturday, October 10, the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast
of the Holy Translators, one of our most popular feast days. There
are, in fact, two such commemorations in our liturgical calendar. One
is on the Thursday following the fourth Sunday after Pentecost, which
can occur in June or July, and on the second Saturday of October.

The October commemoration focuses on the creation of the Armenian
alphabet (406) and on the accomplishments of the Holy Translators.
Mesrob Mashtots, the founder of the alphabet, and Catholicos Sahak,
together with some of their students, translated the Bible. Schools
were opened and the works of world-renowned scholars were
translated. Their work gave the Armenian Church a distinct national
identity.

In modern times the entire month of October has been designated as a
"Month of Culture." Armenians throughout the Diaspora and Armenia mark
this with cultural events not only in remembrance of the past, but in
celebration of modern-day scholars, theologians, and translators.

Specifically remembered this Saturday, along with Mesrob are:
Yeghishe, a renowned student of Sahag and Mesrob, who served as
secretary to Vartan Mamigonian and wrote the great history of the
Vartanantz wars; Movses of Khoren, also a student of Sahag and Mesrob,
is revered as the father of Armenian history; David the Invincible was
a student of Movses. He received most of his education in Athens,
where he was given the title "Invincible" because of his brilliance in
philosophy; Gregory of Narek, who is considered the greatest poet of
the Armenian nation and its first and greatest mystic; and Nerses
Shnorhali, a great writer, musician, theologian, and ecumenist.

O God, through the holy teacher you bestowed on us of the north divine
and heavenly gifts, through his prayers have mercy on us.

O God, you bestowed on the sons of Torgom the divinely-inspired books
in letters revealed to Saint Mesrop in a vision; through his prayers
have mercy on us.

O God, you generously spread your heavenly knowledge and spiritual
wisdom in the churches of the Armenians by the holy translators, by
their prayers have mercy on us. (Canon for the Holy Translators from
the Liturgical Canons of the Armenian Apostolic Church)

ON LINE COURSE IN ARMENIAN IS INAUGURATED

As noted above October is a special month for Armenians. On the second
Sunday in October we celebrate the memory of the Translators of the
Holy Bible and other works. And although culture is an everyday
activity, during the month of October Armenian communities around the
world make a special effort to honor the memory of the Holy
Translators through various educational and cultural events.

Starting Monday, October 12, the Prelacy is making available an
on-line course in modern Western Armenian. The course was developed by
Dr. Thomas J. Samuelian with partial funding from the Prelacy. It is
accessible through the Prelacy’s web page. Anyone wanting to learn
Armenian can have access to it.

Also available are Dr. Samuelian’s pioneering text books: A Course in
Modern Western Armenian, (which comes with its companion book,
Dictionary and Linguistic Notes); and his popular Armenian Dictionary
in Transliteration. The books are available at the Prelacy Bookstore.

MONDAY IS COLUMBUS DAY

This Monday, October 12, is Columbus Day, a holiday celebrated in many
countries in the Americas, commemorating the date of Christopher
Columbus’s arrival in the New World in 1492. A sailor on the Pinta
sighted land early in the morning of October 12, 1492, and a new era
of European exploration and expansion began. The next day the ninety
crew members of Columbus’s three-ship sleet (Nina, Pinta, and Santa
Maria) landed on the Bahamian island of Guanahan, ending a voyage that
began ten weeks earlier from Palos, Spain.

President Franklin Roosevelt first proclaimed October 12 a national
federal holiday in 1937. Since 1971, during that era when the dates of
holidays were moved (in the U.S.) to create long weekends, Columbus
Day has been commemorated on the second Monday in October, which this
year happens to fall on October 12. FROM THE BOOKSTORE…. JUST
ARRIVED

ARMENIAN MINIATURES: FROM THE MATENADARAN COLLECTION

Published this year, this beautiful oversize book is full of
information and color reproductions. All of the text is in English.
There is a comprehensive introduction by Lilit Zakarian and other
articles on Early Armenian Miniatures; Miniatures of Armenia Major;
Miniatures of Communities Abroad. 304 pages, with 232 color
reproductions. $80.00 plus shipping and handling.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT THE BOOKSTORE BY EMAIL AT [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) OR BY TELEPHONE AT 212-689-7810.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
October 10–Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference for Pastors, Boards of
Trustees, and NRA delegates at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
October 11–84th anniversary banquet of St. Stephen’s Church, New
Britain/Hartford, Connecticut at Indian Hill Country Club, 111 Golf Street, Newington, Connecticut, at 12:30 pm. For information contact the
church office at 860-229-8322.
October 15-18–Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Food Festival
and Bazaar.
October 16-17–Annual Fall Fair Bazaar, St. Gregory Church, North
Andover, Massachusetts, Jaffarian Hall, 10 am to 8 pm.
October 17–National Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG) annual
conference at the Prelacy offices in New York City. Details will follow.
October 18–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Intercommunal Cultural
Celebration at Holy Trinity Church, Cheltenham, PA.
November 1–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Sunday School Halloween
Party.
November 6–"On the Road," by Levon Shant, presented The Theater Group
of Hamazkayin, New York, directed by Dr. Herand Markarian. Sponsored by the Armenian Relief Society Mayr Chapter, this performance is a benefit for
St. Illuminator’s Armenian Day School. Performance begins at 8:35 pm at the Armenian Center, 69-23 47th Ave., Woodside, New York. For tickets ($25)
contact Sonia at 718-961-9550 or Alice at 516-676-6167.
November 6-7–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Food
Festival.
November 6-7–St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 53rd
annual bazaar, 10 am to 9:30 pm at the ACEC, 47 Nichols Avenue, Watertown. Delicious lamb, losh and chicken kebab, kheyma, kufta and yalanchi. Meals
served from 11:30 am to 8:30 pm. Armenian pastries, gourmet foods, arts & crafts, auction, raffles, and more.
November 7–Christmas Holiday Craft Fair, St. Gregory Church, North
Andover, Massachusetts, Jaffarian Hall, 10 am to 4 pm.
November 7 & 8–Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island,
largest Armenian Fest in New England. Saturday from 12 noon to 10 pm. Sunday 12 noon to 8 pm. Rhodes-on-the-Pawtucket, 60 Rhodes Place (off Broad
Street), Cranston, Rhode Island. Kebobs and kufta dinners, pastry, raffles and more. Performance by the Armenian school dance group. Live Armenian
music * dancing. For information, 401-831-6399.
November 14–Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, 45th anniversary
celebration.
November 20-21–Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts,
Fall Fest 2009, Friday, November 20, 5 pm to 8 pm; Saturday, November 21, 10 am to 5 pm. Armenian delicacies and dinners. For information
508-852-2414.
November 20, 21, 22–Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey)
Annual Bazaar and Food Festival. Saturday night dancing with "Onnik Dinkjian"; Sunday traditional kavourma dinner.
December 5–Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
annual bazaar. Come one, come all.
December 20–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Sunday School Christmas
Pageant.
December 31–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Seroonian Community
Center New Year’s Eve celebration.
December 31–Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey), New
Year’s Eve Dinner-Dance. Details to follow.
Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web site.
To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox, add [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to your address book.
Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please credit Crossroads as the
source.
Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about their major events to be
included in the calendar. Send to: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])