THAT’S ALL
A1 Plus | 20:10:53 | 09-11-2004 | Politics |
After four hours in session, The Prosecutor General’s Office handed
down its unprecedented decision to dismiss isolated case on the
October 27 terrorist act masterminds because of lack of evidence.
Pressure group condemns Azeri speaker’s remarks on Armenian MPs’ planned visit
Assa-Irada
9 Nov 04
Baku, 8 November: The Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) has made
a statement on Azerbaijani Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov’s comments about
Armenian MPs’ planned visit to Baku [to attend the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly’s Rose-Roth seminar on 26-28 November]. The KLO statement
alleges that Alasgarov is betraying Azerbaijan’s national interests
as he wants to see Armenian MPs in Baku this month.
“One of the main Armenian foreign policy goals is to make sure that
its aggression is forgotten. So, Armenia is trying to build relations
with Azerbaijan in every field. The speaker’s behaviour is making
contributions to the interests of the aggressor,” the statement reads.
In its end, the statement condemns the speaker for his attempts to
cooperate with aggressor Armenia and his desire to see the Armenian
legislators in Baku.
Manila Times, Philippines
Nov 8 2004
DOUBLETAKE
Upholding the child’s dignity
By Eric F. Mallonga
TWO years ago, at the UN General Assembly Special Session on
Children, His Serene Highness, Prince Albert of Monaco formally
proposed the recognition of the most serious crimes against children
as crimes against humanity. The proposal had its roots in the
recommendation to the World Association Children’s Friends, or
Association Mondiale des Amis de L’ Enfance (Amade), by its
Philippine chapter. HRH The Princess of Hanover fully supported the
move so that highly organized criminal syndicates exploiting children
for commercial sex, slavery, bonded labor, organ harvesting, military
conscription, armed conflict and targeting children for military
objectives could be held criminally accountable before international
tribunals. With qualification of crimes against humanity, even
monarchs, presidents, and prime ministers cannot invoke sovereign
immunity from accountability for involvement in such abominable
crimes.
At the Makati Shangri-La Hotel colloquium held under joint
sponsorship of Amade-Philippines, Virlanie Foundation, and
Development Academy of the Philippines, UP Law Professor Harry Roque,
a Master of Laws cum laude, specialist in International Humanitarian
Law from the University of London, expounded on the necessity for a
progressive evolution of world humanitarian law. As stressed by
Roque, international crimes of genocide, war crimes, crimes against
aggression and crimes against humanity evolved because of the need to
proscribe conduct that denies dignity to human beings owing to their
basic humanity. Genocide, torture and slavery are international
crimes because they contravene basic standards by which human beings
should be treated under laws of humanity. The Amade proposal to
qualify the most heinous crimes against children as crimes against
humanity is consistent with the universal pattern that seeks to
uphold the dignity of human beings under all conditions, whether in
times of war or peace.
But simple recognition of these crimes within the international
sphere may remain a principle that eludes enforceability. The UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child may have radically provided for
the recognition of children’s rights but it remains an unenforceable
document because there is no recognized international tribunal
through which the rights of children can be adjudicated and sanctions
can be imposed upon the violators. Thus, the logical progression to
strengthen existing recognition of rights to protection of
defenseless children is the punishment of crimes through
international tribunals. However, the recognition of international
tribunals is a fairly recent initiative.
According to Roque, the League of Nations, at the end of the First
World War, tried to convene an international tribunal to try grave
breaches of the laws and customs of warfare. Nations were aghast over
the use of weapons of mass destruction, which did not distinguish
between civilian and military targets as well as the deaths of more
than one million innocent Armenian civilians, mostly children, at the
hands of invading Turks. This original initiative did not succeed
because of a legal objection interposed by the United States.
Pursuant to their concept of legality, war crimes could only be
prosecuted if there is a domestic penal law defining war crimes.
Consequently, America also argued that such prosecutions could only
be held before domestic judicial tribunals. The same problem arose at
the end of the Second World War. Despite existence of nonderogable
treaties protecting civilians and prohibiting warfare that produce
superfluous injuries or unnecessary sufferings, 10 million civilians,
mostly Jews, died in Europe, and another seven million died
elsewhere, including Asia.
The Philippine Supreme Court, despite the objections of the
Americans, ruled in Yamashita v. Styler that since nonderogable
treaties have been proven grossly insufficient to implement norms of
International Humanitarian Law, the individual should, and could, now
be made criminally accountable for his criminal acts under customary
norms of public international law. The latter was sufficient legal
basis for prohibiting grave breaches thereof. General Yamashita, the
feared Tiger of Asia, was thus convicted for war crimes, including
instances committed in the province of Batangas where the Japanese
Imperial Army specifically targeted children. The Japanese Kempeitai
were known for their atrocious behavior, specifically for hurling
infants into the air and sticking their bayonets into the descending
bodies of the babies.
America, however, has remained recalcitrant. It rejects the Rome
Statute on the International Criminal Court. It refuses to recognize
that crimes against children are crimes against humanity. It rejects
the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It denounces any
submission to the United Nations on vital decisions that aspire only
to establish world peace and prosperity.
With such stance, innocent children in Iraq and Afghanistan will be
murdered with impunity, as thousands of innocent children were
similarly massacred by American troops at Pampanga, Samar, Bud Daho
and Bud Bagsak. With such recalcitrance, children born crippled at
former American military bases in Angeles and Olongapo cities will
continue to suffer and die, with impunity. Sadly, children will
remain collateral damage – without any real recourse for vindication of
their rights – in America’s `moral’ war.
A1 Plus | 14:08:21 | 03-11-2004 | Social |
ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT DRAGGING ITS FEET IN MAKING FINAL DECISION ON
ARMENTEL
Armenian government will convene an extraordinary session on Wednesday
to discuss its further steps on ArmenTel.
The government decided last week to waive its recent order on putting
in force its recent decision on changes in ArmenTel’s license.
It was decided last week to postpone the decision enforcement for 10
days. The government gave time to justice ministry for submitting
proposals.
The justice minister will give a news conference after Wednesday’s
session.
Zenit News Agency, Italy
Nov. 1, 2004
Holy See Neutral on Turkey’s Entry Into European Union
Depends on EU Criteria, Says Vatican Official
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 1, 2004 (Zenit.org).- The Holy See does not have an
official position on Turkey’s entrance in the European Union, and
considers that the decision must be made according to EU rules.
In an interview with the Turin newspaper La Stampa, Archbishop Giovanni
Lajolo, Vatican secretary for relations with states, clarified that “in
the case of adherence, Turkey must satisfy all the political criteria
set forth at the Copenhagen Summit in December 2002.”
These criteria include the complete guarantee of human rights as well
as full individual and corporate religious freedom, “founded on the
dignity of man.”
In particular, the prelate analyzed the situation of religious freedom
in the country, and stressed that “not only must it be guaranteed at
the level of the Constitution, legislation and administration, but must
also be effectively protected in the concrete aspects of the social
fabric.”
Those who are opposed to Turkey’s entrance into the European Union
generally think that such a decision might weaken the cultural unity of
the Continent. Those who promote it believe that it would give the
Muslim world an example of integration into the Western world.
Archbishop Lajolo said that these arguments show that “what is at stake
is of transcendental relevance, and therefore it is very understandable
that some European governments wish to be supported in their decision
by a referendum.”
“Anyway, the Holy See is not afraid of an enlargement of Europe: John
Paul II has spoken on several occasions of a united Europe from the
Atlantic to the Urals. It is critical that the New Europe have profound
inner cohesion,” the archbishop said.
Archbishop Lajolo added that “more attention should be paid to states
that are already candidates, such as Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, as
well as Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Armenia — countries that have an
old and great culture.”
“And the list could continue with other states of the Balkans, such as
Serbia and Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania, which Europe cannot do
without and to which the Holy See also feels very close,” he concluded.
ARMENIAN METALLURGY ON NEW LEVEL
Pres. Kocharian Stated
Azg/am
27 Oct 04
Number of enterprises operating in Armenia increased this year. The
Neolita stone-working factory and Energokomplex Ltd. and Armenian
Molybdenum Production Complex are among those new. Pres. Robert
Kocharian stated after visiting the Complex that it releases products
of high quality.
The Neolita stone-working factory operates due to Russian-Armenian
Yuri Sarkisianâ~@~Ys investment of $2 million and 100 thousand. Yuri
Sarkisian, shareholder of 75 per cent of shares of the factory, assured
that the production will increase in near future and they will begin
cutting onyx in Artsakh soon. The production of the factory is being
exported to Russia and USA. Sarkisian is going to open a furniture
store in Yerevan but the market needs to be inspected yet.
Yuri Sarkisian explains his desire to invest in the economy of Armenia
not only with the fact that he is Armenian and Armeniaâ~@~Ys liberal
tax laws but also Pres. Kocharianâ~@~Ys report on business given to
Armenian businessmen in St. Petersburg.
Speaking of the Energokomplex Ltd. and Armenian Molybdenum Production
Complex, Pres. Kocharian noted that the state has created good
environment for scientific progress and has removed all obstacles
on the way of producers. The factory has a wide range of production
and is engaged in carrying out orders (making anti-radiation locks)
of European Center of Atomic Research within the structure of MAGATE.
Head of the factory Karen Karapetian said that the factory produces
12 thousand tones of copper and they are going to double the
result. Products of the factory are exported to Japan, Germany,
Sweden, Italy and Austria.
Today the factory needs 100 employees. Robert Kocharian said that
the state is going to fully apply the scientific potential in order
to export products of high quality molybdenum.
By Nana Petrosian
–Boundary_(ID_5/onH5HZG7SHlMjJvKTM1w)–
PRESS RELEASE
Department of Armenian Studies, Haigazian University
Beirut, Lebanon
Contact: Ara Sanjian
Tel: 961-1-353011
Email: [email protected]
Web:
HAIGAZIAN UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF ARMENIAN STUDIES
invites to a lecture on
The History of the Armenians in the Orontes River Middle Valley
(in Armenian)
by
Hagop Cholakian
(Aleppo)
Friday, November 5, 2004 – 7:30 p.m.
Haigazian University Auditorium – Kantari, Beirut
N.B. Please accept this message as a personal invitation.
Hagop Cholakian is an educator, researcher and poet based in Aleppo,
Syria. His lecture at Haigazian University on the history of the
Armenian communities that have lived since the Middle Ages in the
north-western regions of the territory of modern Syria will be based on
parts of his doctoral dissertation, which he defended at the Institute
of Archeology and Ethnography at the Armenian National Academy of
Sciences in Yerevan in 2002.
Haigazian University is a liberal arts institution of higher learning,
established in Beirut in 1955. For more information about its activities
you are welcome to visit its web-site at <;.
For additional information on the activities of its Department of
Armenian Studies, contact Ara Sanjian at <[email protected]>
Le Monde, France
22 octobre 2004
Turquie : paroles, paroles… ;
HORIZONS DEBATS
par Robert Badinter
LE débat de l’Assemblée nationale sur l’ouverture des négociations
d’adhésion de la Turquie à l’Union européenne s’est avéré dérisoire
et confus. Dérisoire, parce que ce débat, bclé devant un Hémicycle
déserté faute de s’achever par un vote, ne pouvait déboucher sur
aucune décision politique. Confus, parce que l’exercice oratoire
auquel s’est livré le premier ministre n’a fait que renforcer le
sentiment d’ambiguïté sur la position de la France. Dans son
discours, M. Raffarin a martelé que « l’adhésion de la Turquie à
l’Union européenne n’est pas possible, ni aujourd’hui, ni demain, ni
dans les prochaines années », répétant que « ni l’Europe ni la
Turquie ne sont prêtes à l’adhésion ». Il ajouta : « L’avenir n’est
écrit nulle part. (…) C’est l’histoire qui tranchera » ( sic ). Et
conclut : « Adressons aux Françaises et aux Français un message sur
la Turquie en Europe : si un jour la question est posée, le peuple
est souverain, il en décidera… » « Paroles, paroles… », a-t-on
envie de s’exclamer, à l’instar d’une chanteuse célèbre !
Le président de la République a, lui aussi, tenu à multiplier les
propos apaisants à l’intention des Français inquiets de la
perspective de l’entrée dans l’UE d’un vaste Etat dont 97 % du
territoire s’étend en Asie mineure, et dont la population de 70
millions d’habitants dispose d’un revenu moyen égal à 25 % de celui
de l’Union. Il a souligné que cette perspective était lointaine,
qu’elle s’inscrivait à l’horizon 2015 – ou plus tard – et, surtout,
que les Français seraient maîtres de la décision ultime, puisqu’ils
seraient appelés à se prononcer par référendum.
En vérité, ces déclarations lénifiantes ne sont que leurre. Le choix
du chef de l’Etat est déjà fait. C’est un « oui » de principe à
l’adhésion de la Turquie. Son attitude, et celle du gouvernement,
aujourd’hui, ne sont destinées qu’à éviter que le mécontentement des
Français à ce sujet se porte sur la question, toute différente
pourtant, de l’adoption du traité constitutionnel, et qu’ils refusent
celui-ci faute d’avoir été saisis de celui-là.
Que la Turquie ait, en effet, vocation, pour le président de la
République, à entrer dans l’UE, non seulement ses propos, mais ses
choix, notamment au sein du Conseil européen, en témoignent. En fait,
c’est seulement à partir de 1997 que l’éventualité d’une candidature
de la Turquie a été réellement prise en considération par l’Union
européenne.
Dès le Conseil européen d’Helsinki, en 1999, il a été admis que la
demande de la Turquie serait jugée sur les mêmes critères que les
autres candidatures. C’était faire un grand avantage à la Turquie que
délibérément fermer les yeux sur ses caractéristiques propres : sa
situation géographique, son poids démographique, ses spécificités
culturelles et sociales. A-t-on débattu en France de cette approche
devant le Parlement, sinon devant l’opinion ? Jamais. En décembre
2002, le Conseil européen décida que, selon l’avis de la Commission,
« si la Turquie satisfait aux critères de Copenhague, l’UE ouvrira,
sans délai, les négociations d’adhésion avec ce pays ».
Cette décision du Conseil européen de 2002 n’était rien d’autre qu’un
« oui », sous condition suspensive à l’ouverture des négociations
d’adhésion avec la Turquie. Qu’elle remplisse cette condition et le «
oui » devenait définitif. La question essentielle, première – la
Turquie a-t-elle vocation à entrer dans l’Union européenne ? -, était
ainsi escamotée au profit d’une autre, seconde : la Turquie
satisfait-elle aux critères de Copenhague ?
Vainement déclare-t-on que l’admission d’une candidature n’est pas
l’admission dans l’Union, qu’il ne s’agit-là que de l’ouverture de
négociations avec le candidat. « Paroles, paroles… » Aucun
candidat, depuis trente ans, ne s’est vu refuser l’entrée dans la
Communauté. La voie peut être ardue, mais, une fois la feuille de
route tracée, l’issue est certaine. L’Etat candidat se retrouvera, à
plus ou moins longue échéance, membre de l’Union. Il en ira ainsi de
la Turquie comme de ses prédécesseurs.
C’est pourquoi l’évocation d’un référendum obligatoire pour la
ratification par la France du traité d’adhésion de la Turquie à l’UE
apparaît comme une mascarade. Car, après dix ou quinze ans de
négociations et d’efforts de la Turquie pour transformer sa
législation et absorber ce qu’on appelle l’acquis communautaire, il
sera impossible alors, pour la France, de dire non à ce pays sans
déclencher une réaction formidable d’indignation des Turcs et une
crise diplomatique grave. Le chef de l’Etat le sait bien. Cette
révision constitutionnelle annoncée, ce référendum obligatoire dans
dix ou quinze ans ne sont que poudre aux yeux. En réalité, c’est en
décembre, au prochain Conseil européen, que le pas décisif sera
franchi. On peut même dire que le choix a été déjà fait en 2002,
quand le « oui », sous condition suspensive, a été formulé à l’égard
de la candidature de la Turquie à l’Union.
C’était à ce moment-là que la question de principe – la France
doit-elle accepter que la Turquie entre dans l’UE comme membre à part
entière, ou préfère-t-elle la voie d’un partenariat privilégié ? –
devait être clairement posée et soumise au Parlement. Le président de
la République, par tempérament ou par commodité politique, s’est bien
gardé d’ouvrir ce grand débat.
Aujourd’hui, les hasards du calendrier font que, au moment où la
question de la ratification du traité constitutionnel va être soumise
au référendum, la question, toute différente, de l’élargissement de
l’UE à la Turquie apparaît sur le devant de la scène politique. Elle
ne pourra pas être refoulée par des précautions oratoires et des
habiletés constitutionnelles. Et il y a lieu de craindre que,
exaspérés par la perspective de l’élargissement de l’Union jusqu’aux
frontières de l’Arménie, de l’Irak, de l’Iran, de la Syrie, les
Français, se sentant abusés par leurs dirigeants et particulièrement
par le chef de l’Etat, rejettent le traité constitutionnel pour
exprimer leur refus de l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union.
M. Chirac s’était indigné de ce que le président Bush se fasse le
premier champion de l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’UE. Il aurait été
avisé de s’interroger plus avant sur cette insistance, dont le
premier motif n’était certes pas de renforcer l’Union européenne, ni
de contribuer à la naissance d’une Europe-puissance, ce projet des
Pères fondateurs dont, aujourd’hui, on nous invite à faire notre
deuil.
NOTES: robert badinter, ancien ministre de la justice, ancien
président du Conseil constitutionnel, est sénateur (PS) des
Hauts-de-Seine.
Le Monde
19 octobre 2004
Si le Conseil européen revient sur sa parole, ce sera très grave »
Kemal Dervis, ancien ministre, député d’Istanbul, au « Grand jury
RTL-«Le Monde»-LCI »
Propos recueillis par Gérard Courtois, Ruth Elkrief et Pierre-Luc
Séguillon
Les inquiétudes provoquées en France par la perspective des
négociations d’adhésion de la Turquie à l’Union européenne vous
font-elles craindre que Jacques Chirac revienne sur ses engagements ?
C’est normal qu’il y ait débat. Et je pense que le président Jacques
Chirac, jusqu’à aujourd’hui, s’en est tenu à sa parole. Mais il faut
que les gens tiennent parole ; c’est la base de toute confiance.
N’êtes-vous pas déçu par les critiques exprimées en France à l’égard
de la Turquie ?
Les citoyens veulent comprendre ce qui se passe et ils ont raison. Il
faut leur donner des éléments et un peu de temps.
Beaucoup de responsables français suggèrent qu’un partenariat
privilégié serait préférable à une adhésion en bonne et due forme.
Qu’en pensez-vous ?
Le statut privilégié proposé par certains n’est pas un objectif de
négociation qu’on puisse accepter. Car personne n’arrive à définir ce
privilège : si c’est de ne pas voter au Parlement européen et de
n’avoir pas de voix au Conseil européen, ce n’est pas un privilège,
c’est une sorte de deuxième classe.
La Commission européenne elle-même, dans son rapport favorable à
l’ouverture des négociations, envisage que celles-ci puissent être
suspendues…
Ça ne me choque pas. Négocier ne veut pas nécessairement dire
aboutir. Je n’aimerais pas que cela arrive, mais la Turquie aussi
pourrait dire « On arrête » ; le droit est des deux côtés.
Que se passerait-il si le Conseil européen du 17 décembre ne fixait
pas de date pour l’ouverture des négociations ?
Si le Conseil européen revient sur sa parole, solennelle et unanime,
ce sera très grave. Il y a deux ans, il a décidé que les négociations
commenceraient « sans délai » en cas de feu vert de la Commission. Il
faut donc qu’elles démarrent le plus tôt possible, dans trois mois,
dans six mois après la décision du Conseil. Nous nous y attendons. Si
l’Europe revient là-dessus, il y aura un gros problème et une
réaction très forte en Turquie, très émotive.
La Commission estime qu’il faudra confirmer la solidité des réformes
démocratiques engagées en Turquie. Ce processus de réforme vous
semble-t-il irréversible ?
Ce n’est pas seulement le gouvernement, mais la nation turque tout
entière qui est engagée dans le projet européen et le projet de
démocratie approfondie. Ces réformes sont absolument sincères. Mais
c’est vrai que les habitudes ne peuvent changer du jour au lendemain.
Certaines lois ont été appliquées pendant des décennies. Il faut que
les juges, la police, tout le monde intériorise cette nouvelle donne.
Dans les années 1970, il y a eu un gouvernement de colonels en Grèce,
c’était encore le fascisme en Espagne et au Portugal, la dictature en
Europe de l’Est. Il y a eu beaucoup de progrès dans toute cette
périphérie européenne. Le message démocratique de l’Europe est très
puissant.
Un des points d’achoppement entre l’Europe et la Turquie est celui de
la reconnaissance du génocide arménien, en 1915- 1917. Contestez-vous
qu’il y ait eu génocide ?
J’aimerais saisir cette occasion pour exprimer une douleur profonde
pour les massacres d’Arméniens qui ont eu lieu pendant la première
guerre mondiale. Il faut reconnaître ces souffrances et exprimer un
très profond regret, sans oublier non plus les massacres de musulmans
de l’autre côté. Mais il faut dépasser ces mémoires historiques.
Sinon, on ne rend pas service à la paix. Or l’idée forte de l’Europe
est justement qu’elle est une puissance de paix.
PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER – October 14, 2004
VEHAMAYR OVSANNA SARKISSIAN
IS LAID TO REST IN CANADA
Last week we received the news of the passing of Vehamayr Ovsanna
Sarkissian, the mother of Catholicos Karekin I, of blessed memory. The
viewing (Dangark) and funeral services took place October 4 and 5 at Holy
Trinity Armenian Church in Toronto. Vehamayr celebrated her 100th birthday
less than two months ago.
Archbishop Oshagan conveyed his condolences to her family on behalf of the
Eastern Prelacy.
RECEPTION FOR PILLARS OF THE PRELACY
THIS SATURDAY IN NEW YORK
A reception for the Pillars of the Prelacy will take place this Saturday
evening, October 16, at the Prelacy, 138 E. 39th Street, New York City. A
large number of Pillars from the Northeast are expected to attend the event,
which is meant to express thanks and appreciation to the Pillars.
PRELATE WILL VISIT NEW BRITAIN
PARISH THIS SUNDAY
Archbishop Oshagan, Prelate, will visit the St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic
Church in New Britain, Connecticut, this Sunday, October 17. His Eminence
will officiate at the Divine Liturgy and attend the church’s 79th
anniversary celebration. The parish will honor the memory of its founding
fathers. His Eminence will present a Certificate of Merit to parishioner
Shirley Kevorkian and a Junior Achievement Award to Richie Meyer.
LIFE AND WORK OF ARCHBISHOP MESROB ASHJIAN
WILL BE REMEMBERED TOMORROW EVENING
In less than two months the first anniversary of the passing of His Eminence
Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian will be marked with appropriate requiem services
in all Prelacy churches. Here in New York, where he served as the leader of
the Eastern Prelacy for twenty years, his life and work will be remembered
in a Memorial Tribute tomorrow evening, October 15. The program will take
place at St. Peter Church, 619 Lexington Avenue (at 54th Street), at 7:30
pm.
Organized by the Hamazkayin of New York, the tribute is under the auspices
of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. The commemoration will feature
addresses by Dr. Ashot Melkonian, Director of the Institute of History of
the Academy of Sciences in Armenia, and the Honorable Judge Sarkis Teshoian,
who served as chairman of the Prelacy’s Executive Council during the
Archbishop’s tenure.
The cultural portion of the evening will feature the well-known singer
Hasmik Mekhanedjian and Janet Marcarian on the organ. Mrs. Arevig Caprielian
will deliver the opening words of welcome and Dr. Herand Markarian will
serve as the master of ceremonies.
Perhaps the most poignant portion of the program will be a video
presentation of the “Life and Work of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian.” The video
presentation was prepared with the use of archival still photographs and
videos. It is narrated in the words of the Archbishop, in his own voice.
Archbishop Oshagan will deliver the concluding message and the benediction.
For information: 718-459-2757.
NEW ENGLAND AREA RETREAT: WE ARE FAMILY
WILL TAKE PLACE NEXT WEEKEND
We remind our readers in New England that the regional retreat, We Are
Family, will take place on Saturday, October 23, at the E. Kent Swift Estate
in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, sponsored by the Armenian Religious
Education Council (AREC). For information contact your local parish.
NEW ENGLAND EDUCATORS SEMINAR
NEXT SATURDAY
The New England Educators Seminar sponsored by the Armenian National
Education Committee (ANEC) will take place next Saturday, October 23, 2 pm.
The seminar is hosted by the Mourad School of Providence, Rhode Island. The
theme is Teaching Armenian and History and Teaching Methods for the
Non-Armenian Speaker. For information contact the ANEC office, 212-689-7810.
FIVE SESSION COURSE ON THE LITURGY
BEGINS MONDAY
The first of the five-session course on the Divine Liturgy will take place
this Monday, October 18, and continue on the first and third Mondays of the
month, for a total of five sessions. The course is presented by Dn. Shant
Kazanjian, Executive Director of the Armenian Religious Education Council.
For details go to:
ORDINATIONS IN ANTELIAS
The ordinations of Dn. Serop Terterian and Dn. Vatche Bozoyan will take
place this Saturday and Sunday, October 16 and 17, in the Cathedral of St.
Nishan in Beirut, Lebanon. Bishop Kegham Khacherian, Prelate of Lebanon,
will officiate over the ordination services. The newly ordained clergymen
will subsequently serve within the Eastern Prelacy.
CATHOLICOS ARAM I RECEIVES HIGHEST
HONOR FROM CHURCH OF SWEDEN
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, received the
highest award given by the Church of Sweden, during a dinner given in his
honor in Uppsala, Sweden on October 2. The award was presented by the head
of the Church of Sweden, Archbishop K. G. Hammar.
In presenting the award, Archbishop Hammar said, Only three individuals have
received this award, and you are the fourth. We decided to present this
award to you in recognition and appreciation of your important contribution
to the worldwide Ecumenical Movement.
DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION AMONG RELIGIONS
ESSENTIAL FOR THE WORLD TODAY, SAYS ARAM I
Hundreds of students, professors, and Swedish citizens attended a lecture
delivered by His Holiness Aram I, at the University of Uppsala, Sweden. His
Holiness lectured on inter-religious dialogue and its effect on the
Ecumenical Movement. He noted that dialogue and cooperation among religions
is essential for the world today. His lecture centered on three main points:
Living Together, Conferring Together, and Working Together.
His Holiness was invited to visit Sweden by the Church of Sweden. During his
visit he attended high-level meetings with the head of the Lutheran Church
of Sweden, Archbishop K. G. Hammar.
FORMER MAYOR OF STEPANAGERT
WILL VISIT THE PRELACY
Maxim Merzoyan, the former mayor of Stepanagert, will visit Archbishop
Oshagan this Saturday afternoon, October 16, at the Prelacy offices in New
York City. Antranig Kasbarian, Nagorno-Karabagh Program Director for the
Tufenkian Foundation, Inc, will accompany the mayor.
CHRISTMAS IN THE BIG APPLE:
THE PRELACY WILL SPONSOR FAMILY CONCERT
Is it too early to talk about Christmas? Probably, because here at
Crossroads we are generally more concerned with immediate happenings. But it
is not too early for you to mark December 4 on your calendar, the date of a
Family Christmas Concert featuring Nvair and Taline, sponsored by the
Prelacy at the Alliance Francaise in New York City. For details go to:
HOLY EVANGELISTS: MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, JOHN
This Saturday, October 16, the Armenian Church commemorates the Holy
Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the authors of the four gospels.
The word comes from the Greek euangelos, meaning a messenger (or angel)
bringing good news.
As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the
tax office; and he said to him, Follow me. And he rose and followed him.”
(Matthew 9:9).
St. Matthew is considered to be the patron of the mission of the Church. The
Gospel attributed to him closes with this command by Jesus to his disciples
and followers: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, and the
eternal words, And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
St. Mark through his gospel narrative is considered to have had significant
influence on the advancement of Christianity. Although the Gospel according
to Mark is a narrative of the life of Jesus, theologians consider it to be a
virtual handbook of discipleship. The overriding message is that being a
Christian is not only believing in Jesus Christ. More importantly, it is
living according to the example set by Jesus.
St. Luke is the author of the third gospel and the Book of Acts. He is
considered to be the patron of physicians and artists. The Gospel according
to Luke is greatly concerned with Jesus as the healer of a broken world.
Luke is also noted for his concern for the poor, the marginalized, women,
and social outcasts. His Gospel does not end with the Resurrection, but
rather continues with Pentecost and the eternal presence of Christ in the
world.
St. John, often called the Beloved Disciple, is the author of the Fourth
Gospel and the Book of Revelation. Jesus entrusted his mother to John on the
day of the Crucifixion.
Perhaps the most famous verse in his Gospel is, For God so loved the world
that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish
but have eternal life, (John 3:16). According to tradition John outlived
the other twelve disciples. He escaped martyrdom and was sent into exile on
the island of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation.
AND FINALLY.
Since we are discussing biblical authors, we leave you this week with the
following about biblical authors and venues:
The Bible was written,
In the Wilderness by Moses.
In the Palace by David.
In the Field by Amos.
In Babylon by Daniel.
In Jerusalem by James.
On the Road by Paul.
In Prison by Paul.
In Patmos by John.
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