man

In an article of February 12, in the Russian weekly Zavtra, strategic and military experts warned that the protests against Ukraine government for not joining the EU Association, then after that joining the EU itself, had produced a situation in Ukraine; a split into two, those who are pro and those who are contra, even in the security forces of Ukraine, may result in a coup, such a coup would result in a fratricidal war in Ukraine and would constitute a serious "strategic threat to the Russian Federation." If such a coup happens in Armenia, and the pro advocate of union with EU win, then the consequences for Armenia would be grave, for this same reason Russia would NEVER allow such a coup in Armenia. And we see recently Armenia enacting laws that the Army can intervene if the situation goes out of hand in Armenia. Tartars & Turks are praying day & night for such catastrophic events to happen in Armenia. As Ukraine, the strategic and military experts have concluded that should such a pro-West coup succeed in Ukraine, the consequences for Russia would be: 1- Loss of Sevastopol as the base of the Russian Federation's Black Sea Fleet -2 Purges of Russians in eastern and southern Ukraine, producing a flood of refugees 3- Loss of manufacturing capacities in Kiev, Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov where contract work is done for the Russian military 4- Suppression of the Russian speaking population by forcible Ukrainianization 5- The establishment of US and NATO military bases in Ukraine, including in Crimea and the establishment of training centers for terrorists who would be set upon the Caucasus, the Volga Basin, and perhaps Siberia. 6- Spread of the orchestrated Kiev protests into non-Russian ethnicities in cities of the Russian Federation. The Russian strategists conclude that they "consider the situation taking shape in Ukraine to be catastrophic for the future of Russia. And thereby the danger of escalation conflict in the region.

EU Association suggests goods, capital and services without the right to free movement. No such restrictions in case of the Customs Union The expected economic affects of Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union 17.Feb.2014 Hasmik Dilanyan Public Radio of Armenia Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union (CU) and the Single Economic Space (SES) will have a positive effect on its economy. This conclusion was suggested in a recent report entitled “Armenia and the Customs Union: Assessing the Economic Effect of Integration” published by Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Center for Integration Studies. Economist Ashot Tavadyan, who headed the research group, met with reporters today to present the expectations from Armenia’s membership in the Customs Union. He said it is the best choice for Armenia now as it provides conditions for the growth of the GDP and improvement of the trade balance. According to him, Armenia will enjoy all the possibilities offered by the Customs Union, particularly with regard to direct investments in its infrastructure and production, a decrease in energy prices, as well as a better environment for Armenian labor migrants, which altogether could secure a 4 % additional GDP growth. Tavadyan said about $0.5 million will be invested in the North-South railway project, another $200 million will be spent on the roads. Regarding Armenia’s relations with the EU, he said “Europe suggests goods, capital and services without the right to free movement.” “There are no such restrictions in case of the Customs Union,” the economist added.

I forgot to put the link to the "interview" article, here it is: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-considine/interview-on-scholars-spi_b_4751632.html

Armenian Church to Celebrate Feast Day of St. Sarkis the Warrior Published on Feb 03, 2012 http://www.armenianchurchwd.com/news/armenian-church-to-celebrate-feast-day-of-st-sarkis-the-warrior/ In the Armenian Church Calendar, the Feast Day of St. Sarkis the Warrior falls on Saturday, February 4. St. Sarkis (Sergius) the Warrior is one of the most beloved saints among the Armenian nation. Together with his 14 soldiers-companions, he was martyred for the sake of his Christian faith. During the period of reign of the king Kostandianos the Great (285-337) St. Sarkis, being very courageous, was appointed the prince and General in chief of the region of Cappadocia bordering Armenia. When during the period of reign of the king Julianos the Betrayer (360-363) the persecutions against Christians started by God’s will St. Sarkis and his only son – Martyros, came to live in Armenia, and the Armenian king Tiran, grandson of Tiridates, received them very well. From Armenia St. Sarkis and his son went to Persia, and started serving in the army of the Persian king Shapouh as the captain of regiments. Become aware of the fact that Sarkis was Christian the king Shapouh ordered him to worship the fire and offer sacrifice to the heathen gods. But the captain immediately refused to obey the order saying, “We should worship one God - the Holy Trinity, which has created the earth and the heaven. Whereas fire or idols are not gods and the human being may destroy them.” After these words the saint destroyed the temple. The annoyed crowd fell on the saint and his son. First the son of the saint was martyred. The saint was put into prison and remaining unshaken in his faith was beheaded. After the martyrdom of the saint light appeared over his body. 14 soldiers-companions of the saint also were martyred for the sake of Christian faith. Later St. Mesrop Mashtots brought the relics of the saint to the village Karbi and the Church of St. Sarkis was built over his relics. According to one of the folk stories upon return of their victorious battle Captain St. Sarkis and his 39 soldiers-companions celebrated their victory in the royal palace, When all of them were drunk and went to sleep, the king ordered 40 young women to kill the brave soldiers. 39 of the women obeyed the order and killed the soldiers, whereas one of them seeing the handsome and peaceful face of sleeping Sarkis fell in love with him and instead of killing kissed him. Getting up and seeing what had happened St. Sarkis straddled his white horse and taking the young woman with him smashed the gates of the city, brought up violent snow-storm and left the city. It is because of this folk story that people in love started to consider St. Sarkis their intercessor and protector. St. Sarkis always helps and supports all young people asking his help and support. The feast of St. Sarkis the Warrior and his soldiers-companions is celebrated not only by means of church rites and prayer, but also folk traditions. On the day of the feast young people pray asking the saint to make their prayers audible to God. The day before the feast young people eat salty cookies and relate the appearance of their future bride or bridegroom in their dream to eating of the salty cookie. After eating the salty cookie they eat nothing else and pray waiting for the dream. Seeing future bride or bridegroom in the dream is the result of the wonder worked thanks to sincere faith. There are many miracles and folk traditions related to the saint. On the night preceding the feast of St. Sarkis the faithful people place a tray full of gruel before the door believing that while passing near their door at dawn St. Sarkis will leave his footprint on the gruel symbolizing the fulfillment of their dreams. People in love present each other cards, flowers or sweets on the occasion of the feast.

Oh yes, I believe Armenians have long stopped such worship since some 4000 years ago, thanks to Armenian heroic legendary leaders, among whom was Vahagn of course. Not only in Armenia but this worship of dragon or serpent-like beings, according to legends, was in many parts of the world, from Mexico, America to Middle East and Asia. Here is a drawing of them, carving in stone similar to this drawing was done by Sumerians and the drawing is taken from those Sumerian/Assure engravings: http://cryptozoologynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Reptoid-270x270.jpg And according to legends, those kind of serpent-beings lived in separate communities, mostly hidden from humans and their favorite food was human flesh, specially human tenderloins (fatty buttocks). Those beings were tall and strong and humans were afraid of them and sometime worshiped them, until humans like Vahagn showed up and eliminated them. Till then we can speculate that humans, as a bargain with them for their own safety from them, were presenting them with human sacrifices as food for them, and sometimes leaving those human carcases by the water-springs to be picked up by those serpents into their residence and some say into their space-ship. As to animal dragons, those animals still exist in Pacific Asia, they are not eaten because they taste and smell awful: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/THhYecUiBII/AAAAAAAAUT8/NeU8tQssrlg/s320/dragon.jpg

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom can not stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. If members of Hyeforum rise up against themselves and they are divided, that forum cannot stand, but is finished. If the Armenian homeland remains divided, and if the parties in them remain divided, that land will not stand unless it remains tied with cords with the bigger Russia. The Azerbaijanis know very well those unity rules and they act and work according to that. Armenians yet to learn those rules.

James 3:8 "no human being [without God's help] can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison" The tongue to the physician is merely a two-ounce slab of mucous membrane enclosing a complex array of muscles and nerves that enable our bodies to chew, taste, and swallow. Equally significant, it is the major organ of communication that enables us to articulate distinct sounds so we can understand each other. Researchers tell us that each person will open his/her mouth an average of 700 times in a day. In those 700 times, you will use an average of 18,000 words. Those 18,000 words would translate to about 54 printed pages. That means that in one year, an average person would fill 66 books of 800 pages each. Every year you write with your words 66 volumes. So stop and ask oneself: “ What are the contents of the 66 books that your are writing each year? What do these books tell the world about you? No wonder Jesus said, “By your words you will be condemned and by your words you will be justified.” James 3:5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. James 3:9-12 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father God, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

In the same convention of Yerkrapah Volunteer Union the president said: “Azerbaijan has neither the capacity, nor the possibility to unleash large-scale war,” Armenian President Serzh Sarsgyan said at the 10th convention of the Yerkrapah Volunteer Union, noting that the meeting takes place at a time, when there is “neither war, nor peace.” “The Azerbaijani authorities are trying to create an impression that the struggle for Karabakh continues. Servicemen and civilians continue to die at the line of contact. These actions have nothing to do with war, this is simple manslaughter,” the President said. “These killings aim to escalate the situation and keep the flame of hatred towards every Armenian and the whole Armenian nation burning,” he said adding that there is another objective of burning the bridges of peace, excluding the opportunities of understanding between the Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples, preventing the two peoples from pardoning each other and preparing for peace. “Today we have free Armenia and free Artsakh, which should become even freer. We have a great desire to live, and live well. No murderer is able to interrupt the millennial-long path of the Armenian nation,” the President said. http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/02/15/serzh-sargsyan-azerbaijan-has-neither-the-capacity-nor-the-possibility-to-unleash-war/ 15 Feb. 2014

‘Armenian Architects of Istanbul’ exhibition on display online 15.Feb.2014 http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/02/15/armenian-architects-of-istanbul-exhibition-on-display-online/ Photos are here: http://www.archmuseum.org/Gallery/Photo_62_1_armenian-architects-of-istanbul-in-the-era-of-westernization.html Website is here: http://www.archmuseum.org/Gallery/armenian-architects-of-istanbul-in-the-era-of-westernization_62.html Istanbul Modern’s 2010 exhibition “Armenian Architects of Istanbul,” featuring photos of architectural structures made by Armenian architects during the rule of the Ottoman Empire, can now be seen online on the Turkish Museum of Architecture’s website, Tiday’s Zaman reports. A joint effort between the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency, the International Hrant Dink Foundation and the Solidarity Association of Architects and Engineers (HAYCAR), the exhibition was on display at the Istanbul Modern from Dec. 9, 2010, to Jan. 9, 2011, as part of the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture program. Now, art lovers who missed the exhibition can visit the virtual museum to have a look — www.archmuseum.org in English and www.mimarlikmuzesi.org in Turkish. The show is on the website under the heading “Armenian Architects of Istanbul in the Era of Westernization.” Curated by architect Hasan Kuruyazıcı, the exhibition highlights the role of Armenian architects in shaping Ottoman İstanbul during a Westernization process that took place from the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century. Photos of more than 100 buildings by 40 Armenian architects, from churches to mosques and hospitals to municipal buildings, are being showcased. ================ http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/175916/ PanARMENIAN.Net - Istanbul Modern's 2010 exhibition “Armenian Architects of Istanbul” featuring photos of architectural structures made by Armenian architects during the rule of the Ottoman Empire, can now be seen online on the Turkish Museum of Architecture's website, Today’s Zaman reported: www.archmuseum.org A joint effort between the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency, the International Hrant Dink Foundation and the Solidarity Association of Architects and Engineers (HAYCAR), the exhibition was on display at the Istanbul Modern from Dec. 9, 2010, to Jan. 9, 2011, as part of the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture program. Now, art lovers who missed the exhibition can visit the virtual museum to have a look -- www.archmuseum.org in English and www.mimarlikmuzesi.org in Turkish. The show is on the website under the heading “Armenian Architects of Istanbul in the Era of Westernization.” Curated by architect Hasan Kuruyazici, the exhibition highlights the role of Armenian architects in shaping Ottoman Istanbul during a Westernization process that took place from the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century. Photos of more than 100 buildings by 40 Armenian architects, from churches to mosques and hospitals to municipal buildings, are being showcased. The architecture of Istanbul would be unimaginable without the Balian family - a dynasty of famous Ottoman imperial architects of Armenian ethnicity. For five generations in the 18th and 19th centuries, they designed and constructed numerous major buildings, including palaces, kiosks, mosques, churches and various public buildings, mostly in Istanbul. The nine well-known members of the family served six sultans in the course of almost a century and were responsible for the westernization of the architecture of the then-capital city. The Balians used Western architectural techniques and designs; they did not, however, disregard traditional Ottoman elements. The most important and largest construction built by members of the family was Dolmabahce Palace, which is considered to be one of the world's finest palaces of the 19th century. Most of their buildings are still in use and registered as historical monuments. Another illustrious architect of Istanbul was Mimar Sinan (15 April 1489 - 17 July 1588) the chief Armenian Ottoman architect and civil engineer for sultans Suleiman I, Selim II, and Murad III. He was, during a period of fifty years, responsible for the construction or the supervision of every major building in the Ottoman Empire. More than three hundred structures are credited to his name. He is also considered one of the world's first earthquake engineers. Sinan’s masterpiece is the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, although his most famous work is the Suleiman Mosque in Istanbul. He headed an extensive governmental department and trained many assistants who, in turn, distinguished themselves, including Sedefkar Mehmed Agha, architect of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. He is considered the greatest architect of the classical period of Ottoman architecture, and has been compared to Michelangelo, his contemporary in the West.

Sirusho sings ''PreGomesh '' at Tashir of 2013 Nomineted "for Best Female Artist at the World Music Awards" Sirusho is also nominated for Best Song for her song “PreGomesh.” “Being nominated for the Awards is already a big achievement for us,” Sirusho said on her Facebook page.

Փետրուար 15-ին, Հայց. Առաքելական եկեղեցին կը նշէ Ս. Սարգիս զօրավարի տօնը: Ս. Սարգիս զօրավար հայոց ամենէն սիրուած սուրբերէն է: http://www.horizonweekly.ca/upload_files/wysiwyg/folder-15-02-2014/Sarkis.jpg Ըստ աւանդութեան, Ս. Սարգիս Բիւզանդիոնի Մեծն Կոստանդիանոս կայսեր (285-337) կողմէ կը նշանակուի սպարապետ` Հայաստանի սահմանակից Կապադովկիոյ մէջ: Քրիստոնեայ զօրավարը կը քանդէ հեթանոսական մեհեանները եւ կը կառուցէ եկեղեցիներ, կը տարածէ քրիստոնէութիւնը: Յուլիանոս Ուրացողի թագաւորութեան օրով (360-363) կը սկսին Քրիստոսի եկեղեցւոյ դէմ հալածանքները: Ս. Սարգիսն իր որդւոյն Մարտիրոսի հետ կ՚ապաստանի քրիստոնեայ Հայաստանի մէջ, ուր կը թագաւորէր Տիրան արքան: Տեղեկանալով, որ Յուլիանոս մեծ զօրքով կը շարժի դէպի Պարսկաստան, Հայոց արքան, որպէսզի իր երկիրը զերծ պահէ յարձակման վտանգէն, Սարգիսին կը յորդորէ ծառայութեան անցնիլ Պարսկաստանի թագաւոր Շապուհի մօտ: Շապուհը սիրով կ՚ընդունի զօրավարին եւ զայն կը նշանակէ զօրագունդի հրամանատար: Պարսիկ զօրավարներէն շատեր, տեսնելով Սարգիսի բարեպաշտութիւնը եւ իր աղօթքներով գործած հրաշքները, կը հրաժարէին հեթանոսութենէ եւ կը դառնային քրիստոնեայ: Սակայն Շապուհ իր մօտ կանչելով Սարգիսը իրմէ կը պահանջէ պաշտել կրակը: Զօրավարը կը մերժէ եւ թագաւորին դիմաց կը կործանէ կրակի բագինը: Զայրացած կրակապաշտ ամբոխը կը յարձակի Ս. Սարգսի եւ իր զաւկին վրայ: Տեղւոյն վրայ կը նահատակուի չաւակը՝ Մարտիրոսը: Ս. Սարգիս կը բանտարկուի եւ անսասան մնալով իր հաւատքի մէջ` կը գլխատուի: Նահատակուելէն ետք, Ս. Սարգիսի մարմնին վրայ լոյս կ՚իջնէ: Ս. Մեսրոպ Մաշտոց Ս. Սարգիսի մասունքները կը տեղափոխէ Կարբի գիւղ (Աշտարակի շրջան), ուր կը կառուցուի սուրբին անունը կրող եկեղեցի: Հետագային, Ս. Սարգիսի տօնը վերածուեցաւ երիտասարդներու օրհնութեան օրի, իսկ մեր օրերուն, ան կը նշուի, որպէս երիտասարդ սիրահարներու տօն: Ս. Սարգիսի տօնը եւ Ս. Սարգիսի պաշտամունքը, մեծ ժողովրդականութիւն ունէին հայերուն մօտ, յատկապէս՝ երիտասարդներուն։ Ս. Սարգիսի տօնը նշելու հաստատուն օր չկար. անով կը սկսէր Բարեկենդանը, որուն անմիջականօրէն յաջորդող Մեծ պահքի 49 օրուան շրջանը կ՚աւարտէր Զատիկով։ Այսպիսով, անուղղակիօրէն կապուելով 35 օրուան շարժականութիւն ունեցող Զատիկին հետ, Ս. Սարգիսի տօնը նոյնպէս կը շարժէր 35 օրերու ընթացքին, նշուելով Յունուար 18էն մինչեւ Փետրուար 23 երկարող այն Շաբաթ օրը, որ տուեալ տարուան Զատիկի տօնէն ճիշդ 63 օր առաջ էր։ Ինչպէս որ անունը ցոյց կու տայ, տօնը նուիրուած էր շատ սիրուած Ս. Սարգիսին, որուն անուան պաշտամունքին շուրջ հայերուն մօտ բազմաթիւ աւանդութիւններ պահպանուեր են։ Այդ աւանդութիւններէն մաս մը անոր անձնաւորութեան շուրջ են, միւսները՝ սրբանալէն յետոյ անոր կապուած գործերու մասին են։ Ս. Սարգիսի տօնը անցեալին (եւ այսօր) կը նշուի գլխաւորաբար ընտանեկան շրջանակի մէջ։ Կը սկսի Երկուշաբթի օր սկսող պահքով։ Պահք բոլորն ալ կը պահէին, բայց երիտասարդներուն մէկ մասը ուխտ ընելով լրիւ կամ միաժում ծոմ կը պահէին։ Առաջինի պարագային ենթական միայն ջուր կը խմէր, իսկ միաժում ծոմ պահողը օրուան մէջ կ՚ուտէր միայն մէկ անգամ, մութը կոխելէն ետք։ Ս. Սարգիսի պահքի օրերուն արգելքներ ճշդուած էին ոչ միայն ուտելիքին վրայ, այլեւ՝ աշխատանքի որոշ տեսակներուն, մարմնի խնամքին վրայ։ Այսպէս այդ օրերուն արգիլուած էր լուացք ընել, ճախարակ մանել, գործ ունենալ բուրդի կամ մազի հետ... Հայկական կարգ մը գիւղերու մէջ Ուրբաթ օր կը սկսէր պահքը քակելու պատրաստութիւնը, իսկ երեկոյեան հանդիսաւոր ձեւով կը քակէին պահքը՝ փոխինդի գնդիկները ուտելով։ Փոխինդը կը շաղէին մեղրաջուրով կամ շաքարաջուրով, ընտանիքի անդամներուն թիւով գնդիկներու կը բաժնէին՝ երեկոյեան ուտելու համար։ Որոշ տեղեր այդ գիշեր յատուկ բաղարջ կը թխէին, առանց թթխմորի եւ աղի։ Խմորը երբ գունդի կը վերածէին, ապա զանոնք բանալով առաջինին վրայ կը շարէին ընտանիքին հարստութիւնները խորհրդանշող առարկաներ (դրամ, միրգ, պանիր, եւ այլն...) ու կը ծածկէին խմորի երկրորդ շերտով եւ կը թխէին։ Առաւօտեան բաղարջը կը շերտէին ընտանիքի երեխաներուն թիւով եւ կը բաժնէին։ Իւրաքանչիւր բաժինէն ինչ որ դուրս գար, այդ երեխան կը ժառանգէր համապատասխան հարստութիւն։ Այսպէս միրգին տէրը կը ժառանգէր այգի, պանիրինը՝ անասուններ, դրամը՝ հայրական տունը... եթէ այդ առարկաները աղջիկ զաւակներուն բաժին իյնար, անոնց ամուսինները կը դառնային այգեպան, հովիւ կամ կալուածատէր։Ս. Սարգիսի տօնը խնճոյքներ, խաղեր կամ այլ տօնահանդէսներ չունէր։ Միայն որոշ շրջաններ, ծոմ պահող հարսնցուներուն փեսացուներու ընտանիքէն զանազան անուշեղէններ կը ղրկէին իբրեւ նուէր։ Իսկ հարսնցուին ընկերուհիները կը հաւաքուէին միասին վայելելու համար համեղ անուշեղէնները։ http://www.horizonweekly.ca/news/details/31666

Lezgi people have been divided into two, one part lives in the south of the Dagestan which is part of Russia and the other part lives below on the other side of the border between Dagestan and Azerbaijan. "This division of people is a form of discrimination and racism that has become a policy of Azerbaijan" said an Armenian; in the same way Azerbaijan is working for dividing the Armenians living in Artsakh from Armenia. Lezgis are powerless to establish their unity but the Lezgis living in Dagestan would like to see a Lezgi homeland, within the Russian Federation, is established there for them. Russia may fulfill their wish but Azerbaijan is strongly opposed since the Lezgi people would consider then unification with south Lezgistan occupied now by Azerbaijan. The moral of this report: If Artsakh is given back to Azerbaijan, as Azerbaijan is requesting, Armenia will be divided forever and unity lost.

Manvel Krigoryan calls for UNITY, the short video is in Armenian language

In this video the pilgrimage to St. Thaddeus monastery is shown with an area full of tents: http://youtu.be/qeL2CQ-KWPk The Saint Thaddeus Monastery is an ancient Armenian monastery located in the mountainous area of Iran's West Azarbaijan Province, about 20 kilometers from the town of Maku. The church is annually the gathering place of Armenians of Iran and even neighboring countries on the occasion of an annual ceremony. On the week beginning July 22, Armenians from the cities of Tabriz, Uremia, Tehran, Isfahan, Qazvin, and… converge at Qara Kelissa church in groups or as a family. In addition to Armenians, Assyrians and rarely Catholic families take part in the ceremony. One of the rituals held during the three-day pilgrimage is the baptism of Armenian children and youngsters because some believe baptism of their children at the first church of Jesus Christ and the martyrdom site of his apostles will bring blessings. Some parents also baptize their children with some vows and pledges and for this reason the age of those being baptized sometimes reaches 15 to 20. One of the 12 Apostles, St. Thaddeus, also known as Saint Jude, (not to be confused with Judas Iscariot), was martyred while spreading the Gospel. He is revered as an apostle of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Legend has it that a church dedicated to him was first built on the present site [of the St.Thaddeus Monastery] in AD 68. The ancient Christian historian Moses of Khorene tell the following story, considered a legend by most modern historiography. Thaddeus converted King Abgar V of Edessa. After his death, the Armenian kingdom was split into two parts. His son Ananun crowned himself in Edessa, while his nephew Sanatruk ruled in Armenia. About AD 66, Ananun gave the order to kill St. Thaddeus in Edessa. The king's daughter Sandokht, who had converted to Christianity, was martyred with Thaddeus. Her tomb is said to be located near the Ghara Kelisa [or the monastery]. According to Armenian Church tradition, the Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew traveled through Armenia in AD 45 to preach the word of God; many people were converted and numerous secret Christian communities were established there. More at: http://www.horizonweekly.ca/news/details/31693 February 14, 2014 IRAN REVIEW Firouzeh Mirrazavi

Dr. John Andrew Morrow, who is a Muslim or a convert to Islam and claims to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad through his grandson, Imam al-Hasan; and the author of the book: The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad With the Christians of the World --gave an interview recently in which for the first time something new is revealed about the Christian Genocide by the Turks, he says in the interview: "The Armenian and Greek Orthodox Christians of Jerusalem are custodians of covenants from the Prophet Muhammad, the Caliph 'Umar, Imam 'Ali, and Salah al-Din [saladin]. I speak not of fantasy, but fact and historical precedent. "When the Kurds decided to slaughter the Assyrians in the mid-nineteenth century, they first confiscated the Covenant of the Prophet with the Assyrian Christians. "When the Young Turks decided to massacre the Assyrians, the first thing they did was to destroy this covenant. While it is only a theory, the original copy of the achtiname [the Covenant], which was taken to Istanbul by Sultan Selim I in 1517, may have been deliberately destroyed at some point in history, perhaps by the Young Turks, in ritualistic fashion, prior to killing over one million Armenian Christians." Is this author telling the truth or trying to whitewash Islam? It's hard to tell. He does scholarly work.

“Odar” connection bolsters Armenian community by Tom Vartabedian published Friday February 07, 2014 http://www.reporter.am/index.cfm?furl=/go/article/2014-02-07--odar--connection-bolsters-armenian-community&pg=2&view=displaypageArticlePrint The next time you go by an Armenian church or community center take a good look around and you may notice something peculiar. Many of the top executive roles are being filled by "odars" who beckon the call to duty. Yes, they are non-Armenians who answer to the name of Smith, Jones and Rogers. Not that this is bad. In some cases, they are more Armenian than the spouses they married or the lineage they relinquished. Many enjoy the best of both worlds. A while back, I attended a Badarak in which the Hayr Soorp gave an entire sermon about our heritage being diluted by mixed marriages and encouraged his congregation to mobilize their own race by "sticking to their own kind." Most of those attending church that day took exception to his remarks. There were non-Armenians in the choir and even had roles on the altar. They were the ones who enhanced his church population, not diminished it. A month ago in Merrimack Valley, an Armenian church honored two individuals who were woven into the Armenian mainstream by spouses born into the race. Jeremy Oldham was ordained a sub-deacon at Sts. Vartanantz Church in Chelmsford while Pat Amboian was honored for her years of dedicated service and commitment. In Pat's case, her work throughout the general Armenian community remains exemplary, especially her role with genocide commemoration while husband John continues his role as an activist toward many causes. They make the perfect pair and are rarely seen apart. As for Oldham, he became attached 15 years ago after meeting his Armenian wife Denise Adamian. A barbequing stint at a church bazaar led to a role at the altar. In that capacity, he learned to perform different parts of the Holy Badarak at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Chelmsford. "Jeremy is truly a unique individual in terms of his dedication and determination to learn how to read classical Armenian and the various chants in our service," said Deacon Ara Jeknavorian, with whom he serves. "He certainly is a source of inspiration for others of his kind. We have a culture that's meant to be shared and appreciated by all humanity." When Oldham was baptized into the Armenian church at St. James shortly after proposing to his wife, his father-in-law Harry Adamian opted to serve as his godfather. "For me, it's been a series of invitations, each one carrying me a little further down the Armenian path," he brought out. "There was no turning back." He's become a Parish Council secretary and has attended Armenian school over the years to learn the language. Two children, Samantha, 10, and Harry, 7, are involved. His mother-in-law, Diana Adamian, lives with the family. "Learning the dialect and chants was daunting at first," he admits. "I had a hard time pronouncing the words and making the correct sounds. Many people helped me with the pronunciations. It's remained a work in progress." His ordination was truly a memorable day, being in front of a packed congregation and given the rites by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, primate. His pastor, Der Khachatur Kesablyan, was bursting with pride. In attendance was Oldham's family from North Carolina. "I'm hoping my next step will be a full deacon," he confirms. Amboian is Irish through-and-through. She's described as a "Jill-of-all-trades" inside the Armenian church, even serving as Parish Council chairwoman; She sings in the choir, taught Sunday School and remains a staunch performer on committees. "I'm grateful for the opportunity to embrace such a beautiful heritage," she has often repeated to others. "I may be considered an ‘odar' but I feel very Armenian." The first time Father Lenny Faris walked into Holy Cross Armenian Church in Lawrence, he was a young man working at his dad's grocery store where the late Rev. Fr. Vartan Avakian was a familiar customer. One day, he decided to investigate after hearing the sounds of a beautiful choir from an open window and began attending Sunday Badarak. His Lebanese background was no deterrent. The director (Mary Bogosian) invited him to join and he remained a part of the chorale for the next 10 years, learning how to read and write Armenian, pray as well. Through those fateful moments in his life, it led to a career with the church. He is now Rt. Rev. Archmandrite Leonard Faris, pastor of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Lowell --- a parish with 150 families comprised mostly of Middle Eastern faction. "Though we have no Armenian blood in our family, we have many Armenian friends," he points out. "I still remember my prayers in Armenian and can celebrate the Soorp Badarak with one of the Armenian priests." His closest friend was the late Rev. Vartan Kessabian. The two often visited one another and sermonized in each other's churches. "I have been inspired by His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan and His Grace Anoushavan Tanielian," he notes. "We're all spiritual brothers in Christ, committed to perpetuating our faith and heritage. I often think back to those earlier days and how they influenced my life." Hearing Karen Guzelian sing the Badarak on Sunday mornings at St. Gregory Church in North Andover, one would never know she was of Greek ancestry (Plakas) without an ounce of Armenian blood. She married an Armenian husband named Charles. You see her regularly. He seldom appears. The two children became woven into the heritage, thanks to her. Michael was ordained as an acolyte. Both he and sister Krista were part of the Armenian/Sunday School. Krista also sang in the choir before college. Karen served four years as a trustee member and taught Sunday school for many years. "My husband's glad to see his children involved with the heritage," she brought out. "The kids needed another influence in their lives and they found it inside an Armenian church." At one point, every major executive post inside St. Gregory Church was assumed by an "odar." Trustees. Men's Club. Ladies Guild. Bingo chairman when it existed. Today there's a scholarship in memory of two individuals --- David Brundage and Hector Bizios --- both of whom wed Armenians. Hector was indispensible with the Bingo mission, helping to raise thousands of dollars to nurture the upkeep. As for Brundage, nobody sold more Prelacy raffle tickets than this man, making the church his second home. A distinguished service award from the Prelacy was well deserved though modestly accepted. "The fact I'm not Armenian has nothing to do with my Christian spirit and love of God," he once proclaimed. Perhaps it was his 44-year marriage to an Armenian, the former Theresa Kalousdian, which detonated the spark. Or maybe it was his trip to Historic Armenia and a visit to the Island of Aghtamar and to the village of Hisanig, birthplace of his mother-in-law, which resulted in an article for The Armenian Review. And yes, there was that dash of humor which so often typified his nature. "People who are so wrapped up in themselves make small packages," he once said philosophically. "So what if my name didn't end in IAN. It's what's in the heart that counts and my heart rests with the Armenians."

14/Feb/2014 Panorama.am reports that: "The president of Iran, Hassan Rouhani will soon visit Armenia," the ambassador of Iran to Armenia, Mohammad Reisi said in an interview with ArmNewsTV channel. The ambassador Reisi referring to the Azerbaijan's ambitions towards Iranian territories, particularly noted, "The Azerbaijani officials who raise such questions know that if it comes to historical demands many other similar issues can be raised. If that happens the sovereignty of many countries, including Azerbaijan can be put into question."

Inclusion of Abkhazia and South Ossetia into customs union is important precedent for Nagorno-Karabakh – Armenian lawmaker Feb. 2. 2014 YEREVAN, February 14. / ARKA /. Russian president Vladimir Putin’s decision to treat unrecognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as subjects of the Customs Union is an important precedent for Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Gagik Minasyan, head of an Armenian parliament committee on finance and budget issues from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, told a news conference today. As previously reported by Russian news agency RIA Novosti, on December 22, Putin signed laws on ratification of trade agreements with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. According to Minasyan, these laws in fact have removed all customs barriers between the Russian Federation and the two breakaway Georgian provinces and the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, not recognized by two other members of the Customs Union- Kazakhstan and Belarus as independent republics- have become the territory of the Customs Union. Minasyan said that this fact has become an important precedent for Armenia in the context of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. Speaking at a Customs Union summit late last year that approved a ‘roadmap’ for Armenia’s accession to the trade bloc Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev expressed reservations about Armenian membership because of the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. “The question of the Custom Union’s border, where it will pass in Armenia, remains open. Therefore, we will sign the roadmap with the colleagues but with a special opinion that will be reported to the Armenian side,” Nazarbayev said at a meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Belarus’ Aleksandr Lukashenko in reference to Armenia’s border with the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and the absence of any Armenian customs posts there. According to Minasyan, Nazarbayev’s reservations applied similarly to Abkhazia and South Ossetia. He said after Armenia joins the Russia-led trade union Nagorno-Karabakh will also be part of it, even being not recognized by Belarus and Kazakhstan, as is the case with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This, according to him, will mean an economic recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Minasyan said also that Armenian leaders have repeated that Armenia will not tax goods coming from Karabakh even after joining the trade bloc. - See more at: http://arka.am/en/news/economy/inclusion_of_abkhazia_and_south_ossetia_into_customs_union_is_important_precedent_for_nagorno_karaba/#sthash.pADfV1jm.2M8iPMGM.dpuf

Ric Gazarian had his own way to help the orphans of Armenia, in the article "A world traveler and humanitarian" Feb. 10, 2014, by Tom Vartabedian, we read: All said and done, it's Gazarian's work in Armenia that has set him apart. He spends months volunteering at the Zatik Orphanage and an after-school group in Yerevan. He also spent eight months volunteering at an orphanage and homeless shelter in Thailand. But it's the Armenian experience that has left him with an indelible impression. His first visit in 2003 came with his dad. It was a pleasure trip. He met an Armenian woman working at the hotel who encouraged him to work for USAID, thus planting a seed. Gazarian already had a traditional career in the financial industry, but no vacation time per se. He hooked up with Jason Demerjian, founder of the Armenian Volunteer Corps, and moved to Yerevan the following year, renting a studio apartment in the center of Yerevan on Sayat Nova Street. Gazarian soon found himself at Zatik Orphanage caring for 120 children (ages 6-18) and teaching them English. His efforts were also being spent at the Manana Center, an after-school group where children learned about photography, journalism and film. As a gesture of gratitude, he organized a Zatik Fest --- a carnival for the kids with horse rides, cotton candy, ice cream, clowns, music and a moon bounce. Since 2003, Gazarian has made annual trips to Armenia to spend time at Zatik and Manana. And each time, the Zatik Fest is part of his itinerary. Every dram comes out of his pocket. "When they turn 18, it becomes more difficult to stay in touch with the children," he notes. "They leave the orphanage and proceed on their own across the land. Facebook and e-mail make it easier to stay connected. Last year, I hooked up with 10 former students and we spent the day bowling." A moment he'll never forget was visiting an 18-year-old graduate in her new home after being placed out of Zatik. As she gave Gazarian a tour of her room, there was an enlarged photo of the two of them covering the wall. It was taken the day of a Zatik Fest in 2005. "The lesson is important, small gestures can mean a lot," he points out. "Take the time to make the extra effort, the extra phone call, the extra e-mail and extra visit. It pays off in the end." Like others making return trips to Armenia, Gazarian is impressed with the building that's taken place --- the trendy European-city look in Yerevan. "What really matters is seeing how people live and prosper with so much less than the average person in America," he says. His work "7000 KM to Go" traces a 17-day journey he took in 2010 where he drove from Budapest to Yerevan. The rally called "Caucasian Challenge" went through 11 countries covering the 7000 kilometers. "We were competing against 10 other teams," he recalled. "When I learned about the rally and saw that it ended in Yerevan, I knew I had to participate." His team raised $9,000 for the Armenian Volunteer Corps. The real winners were the children of Zatik and Manana. More: http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2014-02-10-a-world-traveler-and-humanitarian-

Study: Armenians have genetic links to Italians and Chinese Relations with modern-day Iranians, Georgians and Turks confirmed by Emil Sanamyan Published: Friday February 14, 2014 http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2014-02-14-study-armenians-have-genetic-links-to-italians-and-chinese Washington - A newly released study of human genetic history offers new insights into relations of Armenians with nations of the world, including significant presence of Armenian-like DNA in as far-flung populations as Italy, Russia's North Caucasus and even China. "A Genetic Atlas of Human Admixture History" was published in the Science magazine on February 14 and an accompanying map posted. The study - prepared by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, Oxford University and University College London (UCL) - looked at genetic samples from 1,490 individuals in 95 populations across the world, including Armenia and most of its neighbors. "When individuals from different groups interbreed, their offspring's DNA becomes a mixture of the DNA from each admixing group," researches note in the summary of the article. "Pieces of this DNA are then passed along through subsequent generations, carrying on all the way to the present day" allowing researchers to establish genetic histories of nations over millennia. Perhaps most striking is the significant presence of Armenian-like DNA in several Italian populations, particularly that of Tuscany (10.7 percent); only English and German samples show greater affinity to Tuscany's. The study also shows notable Armenian genetic links to populations in southern Italy (6 percent) and Sicily (about 4 percent). The findings appear to point to migrations from Armenia possibly as early as Byzantine re-conquest of Italy in the 6th century or as late as the collapse of the Armenian kingdoms and the emergence of the Florentine republic in the 11-12th centuries. Armenians' other far-flung genetic connections include the Han of northern China (3.9 percent), Persian-speaking Hazara of Afghanistan and Pakistan (3.7 percent) and Indian Jews (3 percent), all most likely a result of the activity of Armenian merchants along the so-called Silk Road in the 11th-13th centuries. Not surprisingly, some of the greatest genetic affinity to Armenians is found in their immediate neighborhood. Lezgins, who inhabit northeastern Azerbaijan and southern portion of Russia's Dagestan, had the largest share - nearly 14 percent. Samples from among Armenia's immediate neighbors, showed the following Armenian connections: Georgia - 12 percent; Turkey - 10 percent and Iran - 7.5 percent; Azerbaijani sample is not part of the published study. There are also significant Armenian connections with the population of Cypriots (but not the mainland Greece), the Druze (who have shunned intermarriage for centuries) and the Adygei of Russia's northwestern Caucasus. Findings from the study's Armenia sample point to anticipated ties to Iranians (23 percent of the Armenia sample genetic material) and Georgians (11 percent). There also appears to have been significant genetic input from Poles and Lithuanians, at 8 and 7 percent, respectively. Authors, however, are uncertain about specific admixture events in the genetic make-up of modern Armenians.

TRADITIONAL GATHERING OF HOMENETMEN SCOUTS http://westernprelacy.org/wp-content/gallery/dyarnentarach2014/dsc00685-1.jpg CELEBRATING THE FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD SERVICE AT ST. MARY'S CHURCH IN GLENDALE http://westernprelacy.org/ Feb. 14, 2014 On Thursday, February 13, 2013, the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord to the Temple (Dyarnentarach) was celebrated in Prelacy Churches with eve of the feast service, the blessing of the four corners of the world (Antasdan), and lighting of the bonfire. H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, presided over the service at St. Mary’s Church in Glendale. Former Prelate of the Aleppo Prelacy, H.E. Archbishop Souren Kataroyan, who is visiting the Prelacy, delivered the sermon. Rev. Fathers Vazken Atmajian, Gomidas Torossian, Ardak Demirjian, Nareg Pehlivanian, Khoren Babochian, and Ghevont Kirazian. participated in the service. Executive Council Chair Mrs. Rima Boghossian and Vice-Chair Mr. George Chorbajian were in attendance, as were Homenetmen Regional Executive members, Scouting Council members, and scouts. The ceremony began with evening service, followed by Dyarnentarach eve service during which the Prelate was led in a procession around the church blessing the faithful and specifically infants and children. Reciting the following words of Simeon the elder, “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation” (Luke 2:9-30), Archbishop Kataroyan conveyed the message of the feast, that our Lord Jesus Christ was taken to the temple for presentation as the eternal light Who would illuminate our spirits and as Christ Who would pave the path of light for sinners. After the sermon the Prelate presided over the blessing of the four corners of the world service (Antasdan), after which His Eminence brought forth a lit candle from the altar, symbolizing Christ as our Light, from which faithful lit their candles to take home and spread the Light of Christ within their surroundings. During this moment parents brought forth their children to present them to the altar in the example of Mary presenting Christ to the Temple. At the conclusion of the service the Prelate and participating clergy headed to the courtyard for the lighting of the traditional bonfire during which nationalistic and traditional songs were sung. It is a long-standing tradition for Homenetmen members to join the Prelate for a reception at Armenak Der Bedrossian Hall following Dyarnentarach services. OPENING CEREMONY AND BLESSING OF ARARAT HOME "AVAKIAN" WING On Saturday, February 8, 2014, the official opening and blessing of the new "Avakian" wing of Ararat Home in Mission Hills took place conducted by leaders of the Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, and Evangelical Churches. H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, participated in the ceremony. His Eminence was accompanied by Archbishop Yeprem Tabakian, Rev. Fr. Boghos Tinkjian, Archpriest Fr. Nareg Pehlivanian, and Rev. Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian. The ceremony began with the blessing of salt and bread and continued in the reception room with the home blessing prayer. The blessing concludedwith the benediction by the Prelate. During the dinner Homenetmen scouts presented the Prelate with a hand-made gift of the knot of Solomon as a token of gratitude. His Eminence presented prayer cards to all the guests. Remarks were delivered by Homenetmen Regional Executive Chair Mr. Garnik Abrahamian, Executive Council Chair Mrs. Rima Boghossian and scouting representatives. The evening came to a close with the Prelate’s message. His Eminence blessed and commended Homenetmen members for their devoted service, expressed appreciation for the continuation of tradition, and called on the scouts, the heirs of the faith of our forefathers, to radiate the light of Christ through their continued service to our church and nation. The reception concluded with the benediction by the Prelate.

Travel website presents Artsakh as Nagorno Karabakh Republic; Azerbaijan outraged 13:12 14.02.2014 http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/02/14/travel-website-presents-artsakh-as-nagorno-karabakh-republic-azerbaijan-outraged/ Azerbaijan is going to appeal to the tripadvisor.com tourism website for presenting Artsakh as “Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The website, playing the role of a database about countries, tourist facilities and hotels in Russian, English, Arabic, French and other languages, provides information about hotels and tourism opportunities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic for travelers. Head of the Promotion Department of the Culture and Tourism Ministry Vugar Shikhmammadov told APA that the Ministry is developing an appeal to tripadvisor.com in this regard. He also said that the hotels marked on the website should be licensed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism according to the legislation of Azerbaijan: “We will ask them to remove hotels currently operating without a license in Nagorno-Karabakh from the website.” Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesman Elman Abdullayev told APA that the issue is being investigated: “The relevant diplomatic mission has received instructions.

Gagik Mianasyan: Nagorno Karabakh will also be part of Customs Union 17:20 14 by Hasmik Dilanyan Public Radio of Armenia “The Customs Union is overwhelmingly an economic structure, but today’s circumstances allow us to insist that it has a political component, as well,” Gagik Minasyan, head of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs, told reporters today. He explained that it is connected with the Nagorno Karabakh. “The Nagorno Karabakh Republic and the Republic of Armenia are states with an extremely high level of integration,” Minasyan said, adding that it’s crucial to decide the issue of Nagorno Karabakh in case Armenia joins the Customs Union. Gagik Minasyan recalled the Armenian President’s statement that there could never be a customs border between Armenia and Karabakh. He drew attention to an important event that took place at the end of 2013. On December 22 Russian President Vladimir Putin ratified two international agreements, eliminating all customs duties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In fact, the territories of these two unrecognized states were recognized by Belarus and Kazakhstan as areas of the Customs Union, Minasyan said. According to him, this is an important precedent for Nagorno Karabakh. “The heads of state, who previously stood against Nagorno Karabakh’s accession to the Customs Union, have actually got used to the idea. That means, when Armenia joins the Customs Union, NKR will automatically become part of the CU, although unrecognized by Kazakhstan and Belarus, as it was the case with Abkhazia and South Ossetia,” Minasyan said.

This is a good travel blog with good photos of Armenia http://roadharma.com/ Next a lousy article by a British man after visiting the Armenian village.. Here are some photos of Gosh village in the link http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3864232 And here is the lousy article The Mayor of Gosh by Maxim Edwards on Jan 22, 2014 http://souciant.com/2014/01/the-mayor-of-gosh/ The tourist season had long since left Gosh. It packed its souvenirs and memories and returned to Yerevan, squeezed into a vacuum-packed minibus. At least that’s how I got here. Gosh, a village of just over one thousand people, at the end of a small valley in Armenia’s heavily wooded Tavush Province, is known for its twelfth century monastery of Goshavank, burial place of the founder, monastic scholar Mkhitar Gosh. Known as Nor Getik, the monastery and surrounding settlement was renamed in his honour after his death in 1213. Gosh. There’s a pattern here, in response to which I issue a trigger warning for abysmal puns on the village’s name. It was raining in Gosh; the forest paths to peaceful Lake Gosh in the mountains are not advisable in such weather. Two Russian tourists, mother and daughter, decided not to risk it (their expensive new boots might get wet,) and sat despondently in Hotel Gosh prodding at their late lunch. The Hotel reception doubles as a village shop in the autumn and winter months, from which one can dive into boxes of biscuits, bottles of shampoo, and all manner of necessities while admiring the magnificent monastery of Goshavank through the drizzle. Gosh experiences that particularly British bad sort of weather. The heavens open and a humid, cloying mist seeps into the soul – smug, evasive, and intangible. I was almost homesick. That was how I came to meet the former – recently deposed – Mayor of Gosh. Fifty-something Hovsep leaned over the bar, his elbow resting in a tray of the village shop’s biscuits (chocolate, two hundred dram,) his face illuminated by the television’s glare. Hovsep glared back, puzzled. The news was like that. The anniversary of Kristallnacht, a typhoon in the Philippines, and the Day of the Skulls festival in Bolivia. We made small talk. “Six million of them, it’s unbelievable… why did Hitler kill the Jews?” I wasn’t quite sure. “Perhaps because they refused to finance the war?” “Many were killed. Jews, Roma, Communists, pacifists, the disabled, homeless, drug addicts…” “Listen,” (I did) “you or I could lose the roof over our heads, you or I could lose our minds. But to be a drug addict? Narkotika? That’s a crime. An addict is worse than an animal.” La Paz flickered into life on the television screen. A beaming Bolivian cradled a skull in her arms. The interviewer waved a microphone at her, and an explanation followed in Spanish, dubbed into Russian. The skull grinned, its first time on the big screen, and lost for words. “The Jews were a clever people.” The past tense confused me. There was some subterranean meaning to it, or perhaps a slip of the tongue. I had become very uncomfortable, and not entirely because of the bar stool. I remembered a toast at a khorovats gathering with colleagues outside Yerevan. “Armenians love when they are loved.” “So are the Armenians.” Chess grandmasters, the genius of Mashtots, a well-worn list of my favourite, eminent –yans. I’d done this before, with a smile, a few choice phrases with an awful accent. Better still, I meant it. The Mayor of Gosh laughed at me. “Clever? Armenians aren’t clever! The country is emigrating. The price of vegetables even increases every year, and what’s being done about it? When Saakashvili came to power, he rounded up all the thieves, all the cheats, and told them to leave the country or go to jail. Let’s have that happen here.” We walked out onto the porch, and to the monastery of Goshavank in the rain. In search of wisdom, perhaps. A new statue of Mkhitar Gosh sits at the monastery’s entrance. His legal code formed the basis of canon and civil law in Bagratid and Cilician Armenia, and as far as afield as Poland and Lithuania. Mkhitar Gosh, their giver of law (‘though not order,” remarked one villager.) From the depths of Goshavank, a priest, recently arrived from Dilijan, sang and laughed with all his might. These walls were built to echo. Some generous soul had left him a few thousand Uzbek Som in the donations box, and one worn out US dollar. The granite writhed in the monastery walls. By the Chapel of St. Gregory stands one of the finest examples of an Armenian Khachkar in the country. They call it aseghnagorts, the needle-carved. When in Yerevan, I sometimes take a detour past a Khachkar carver’s workshop on Arami Street. It’s a mesmerising process to watch, though my Armenian friends tut under the whine of the electric power tools. “It’s just not the same.” “Goshavank saves us,” sighed Hovsep, crossing himself. “It’s why we’ve all stayed here.” It seemed, nevertheless, a secular remark. Returning to the village square, two mud-encrusted Russian tourists crossed our path. They had seen three Khachkars on the crest of a nearby hill, but had never reached them. Ominous and anonymous, they stood just out of reach – at least, until summer. They might meet the occasional bear, though there was nothing to fear, at least, not for them. “Unlike us, bears don’t kill for pleasure.” We left Gosh to its devices, literary and otherwise, and the monastery receded behind us. A sign, “Gosh,” in Latin and Armenian scripts, with a red slash across it, marked the end of the village. Gosh was no more. According to Hovsep (and it seems, only Hovsep), the word Gosh had referred to an open palm in the Armenian vernacular of Mkhitar Gosh’s lifetime. Gosh had meant kindness, as Mkhitar gave his bread to the hungry and grain to the poor. At a garage on the road to Dilijan we stood in silence as the jeep’s natural gas canister was refilled, drinking instant coffee in the rain. “You know, Maxim-jan, I’m not a nationalist. Some people want to return all Western Armenia to us, but what good would that do? We’d move to Karin (Erzurum) or Van, find no work there, and then end up in Rostov. I want to stay here, in Dilijan or in Gosh.” “…and there are more than ten million Kurds in Western Armenia, and less than three million of us. Armenia would become Kurdistan overnight. (That, of course, would never do.)” Hovsep had business in Dilijan, and we parted at the town’s bus station. “We didn’t say anything,” wrote William Saroyan, “because there was such an awful lot to say, and no language to say it in.” As the former Mayor of Gosh drove away, I found myself lost for words. In particular, for exclamations. ------------------------------------------------------- P.S. The Armenian government is renovation the Goshavank, recently they added a big statue of Mkhitar Gosh in stone, sitting on a chair, at the entrance of the monastery after his name. The previous name of the monastery was "Nor Ghetik" or "Ghetik" which means small river in Armenian, "ghet" is river and "ghetik" is small river in Armenian. When 'Ghetik" was destroyed by an earthquake in 1188 Mkhitar Gosh took part in rebuilding the monastery. after his death in 1213 the monastery and the village were renamed in his honor. Mkhitar Gosh was a scholar, stateman, scientist, law giver, and theologian. He had a school there and was engaged in teaching. The last time I was there, inside the main church at the monastery, I met a local old woman who pointed me to book shelves made by stones and that all the manuscripts there were burned by the mongols (or the Arabs) when they passed from there. Mkhitar Gosh is also the author of numerous fables and parables.

Russia, Our Best Friend By Nerses Amirian, Toronto, 7 February 2014 http://www.keghart.com/print/3106 For centuries Armenians dreamed of having their own state and after each national tragedy and slaughter hoped it would be the last time. My paternal grandparents dreamed of an independent Armenia but didn’t see its birth. I consider myself a lucky Armenian: I saw the emergence of an independent Armenia; what my ancestors hoped for centuries became true in my time. My father, who doesn’t speak Armenian, says to me after each visit to the motherland: "Son, I feel that my soul is nourished and I can’t live without this feeling.” Despite the negative narrative among many Diaspora Armenians who turn their back to their ancestral land and the non-stop propaganda that Armenia is ruled by oligarchs, that depopulation will mark the end of the country, that the president is a crook, etc, I feel Armenia is intelligently managed in the turbulent Caucasus, a buffer zone and an extension of the Middle East. One of the latest arguments in the Diaspora is that Russia is a threat to Armenia and that Moscow plans an Armenia without Armenians. I hear these arguments from Diaspora Armenians who live in the West and most of whom haven't visited their homeland, lack solid information about Armenia and cannot understand that there is an Armenia because Armenians are considered by Russians as loyal friends, an ancient Christian people who are Russophile and have contributed to Russia in many fields and still continue to do so. Those who want Armenia destroyed hope Armenia becomes anti-Russian. Thus they spread their anti-Russian propaganda. In 2008 Russia didn’t abandon South Ossetia--one of the tiniest nations anywhere, with no oil or other natural ressources. Their only asset is their loyalty to Russia. In 2008, during the August War with Russia, Georgia received arms from many Western countries. Western private militias fought side by side the Georgian army. At the end Russian tanks were closing in on Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. It was only through President Sarkozy's intercession that the life of Georgian President Miheil Saakashvili was saved. The Georgian leader had been called ‘son’ by U.S Secretary of State Colin Powell while Georgia was praised as a 'model' country by the Europeans and Americans for its intention to join the EU or NATO. At the end of the war, Georgia was once again humiliated and as a result of the war Georgia lost Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In recent centuries Georgia has survived thanks to Russian protection. But this fact is no immaterial to Georgians. Millions of Georgians live in Turkey. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's family originated in Georgia. Georgians who live in Turkey are Islamized and only a few can speak a sprinkling of Georgian. If a conflict emerges between Turkey and Georgia these Georgians will side with Turkey because their Sunni faith keeps them loyal to Turkey. Samuel Huntington stated that religious or ethnic affiliation shape peoples’ perception of different conflicts. Why, for example, was NATO member Greece unenthusiastic about the bombing of the Serbs by NATO forces in 1999? The reason is simple: Serbs, like the Greeks, are Orthodox Christians and have an affinity to the Byzantine Empire just, like the Greeks. To which civilizational group does Armenia belong? Are we western like the British or Islamic like the Libyans? As Eastern Christians we belong to the Orthodox world headed by Russia. Russia is the only superpower which cares about the fate of Eastern Christians, just as it cares for the wellbeing of Syrian Christians. International relations are, in general, based on interests. States have long-term agendas; they follow them right or wrong. But what if states also have a subconscience and memory? Syria is home to a Russian naval base in Tartus, a city on the Mediterranean. People can say that it's because of the base and arms sale that Russia doesn’t abandon Syria. I agree. But let’s look back to the 1990s when the Soviet Union broke apart. People mocked "Evil Empire" Russia. People said it was "Bangladesh with nuclear weapons". Even the tiny Chechens defeated them and created their own independent state. Even "Slavic Orthodox Brother" Bulgaria, which also owes Russia its independence from the Ottomans, declared Russians were no more welcome. Sofia joined NATO and became a member of the European Union. Experts predicted that following the Chechens' victory more secessionist nations would emerge within the multinational Russian state and that Russia was doomed to collapse. What was the Syrian approach to Russia in those years? They kept the Russian naval base in their country and continued their warm relations with Mosow. I propose Syria is so dear to the ‘’Russian state memory” that Moscow will not abandon it just like Damascus didn’t abandon Russia in the latter's vulnerable years. Propositions to transfer the base to Cyprus (the Greek part) or the multi-billion Saudi bribe to bring down Assad didn’t influence Russia. It didn't compromise its friendship and rejected the ‘Libyan scenario’. In Istanbul some years ago an Ossetian official told me that President Yeltsin of Russia was so embarrassed by the negative attitude of Western leaders toward Russia that he stated: "I will find such a man [as my successor] that nobody among will ever dare laugh at us.’’ Myth or reality? President Yeltsin, the sad image of Russia during that country's years of vulnerability, selected Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin to replace him in 1999. Under Putin Russia recovered and found its place in the world. He stopped the looting of his country, re-organized the economy, boosted the military power and reasserted its territorial integrity. Russia rose from the ashes like the phoenix and refound its glory. It is once again a respected superpower. The Bear is back. But Russia is an enigma to Armenians living in the West. We are mostly ignorant about Russia's history and what it is today. We know about the evil Communists, the gulags, the state atheism of Soviet times. Most of us don't know that Moscow is the Third Rome: after the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks Russia became the main center of Eastern Christianity. The coat of arms of the Russian state is the double-headed Byzantine Eagle. (Some Armenologists say that the symbol was imported by Byzantium from Armenia). Russia is the continuation of the Eastern Roman Empire, aka the Byzantine Empire. It was the Byzantines (Armeno-Greek missionaries Cyril and Methodius) who converted the Russians to Orthodox Christianity in 988. It is a country where the cathedrals are more majestic than those of Italy. Communist rule was a rupture in Russian spirituality. Tsar Nicholas II wanted to reconquer Constantinople and save the Armenians and other persecuted Christian subjects of the Ottoman Empire. Earlier on, when the Russian army reached (1878) Hagia Stephanos, a province of today’s Istanbul called Yesilkoy, Western Powers such as Britain, France and Germany interfered and convinced the Russians that the Ottomans would no longer persecute their Christian subjects. The Russian army withdrew. We know what Sultan Abdul Hamid II, the Young Turks, and Ataturk did following the withdrawal of the Russians. For more than 200 years the West has protected the Ottomans when Russia defeated them over and over. Even today no Western state cares for the plight of Christians in the Middle East. Saddam Hussein was an irrational and brutal leader but Iraqi-Christians, including the Armenians, lived a comfortable life and were not oppressed. Before the American invasion, Saddam Hussein sent his Chaldean Foreign Minister Tarek Aziz to the Vatican. Aziz met Pope Paul John II and begged him to act as an intermediary. The pope tried to convince the U.S and the other members of the Western coalition to find a peaceful solution. His efforts were in vain. Only a shadow of Christianity remains in Iraq. Around 15,000 Armenians still live in the country. How can one forget the mass slaughter (1922) of the Greeks and Armenians of Smyrna (now Izmir) by the Kemalist forces as British and French navies, docked at the city, idly watching? Armenians remember the French rescuing one part of Musa Dagh’s Armenians and taking them to Port Said in Egypt. That was the only help that we got. We were betrayed over and over by the West and our blood fed rivers. Some Armenians would say "the Russians betrayed us, too. They retreated from Van in 1915.’’ It was the Soviets who retreated, not the Russians. When civil war broke out (1917) in Russia, the Tsarist army was urged to retreat to defend the regime. The Tsarist army lost and the Bolsheviks succeeded. If there was no Bolshevik Revolution, Armenians would have been saved by the Russian army and the Ottomans wouldn't have dared launch the Genocide. The Bolsheviks killed millions of people and the majority of their victims were ethnic Russians. Despite Lenin’s treachery, Soviet rule saved Eastern Armenia and Armenians later acquired high positions in the Soviet state. Nothing remained of Western Armenia. Russian Communism is gone. Russia has a Patriarch named Kiril who can tell to Putin during a tete-a-tete: "If you abandon the Christians in Syria, we won’t support you anymore.” And Putin heeds the patriarch’s advice. There's no way a Western leader would take into consideration the opinion of a Christian spiritual leader in defense of the Middle East's Christians. For me, as an Armenian, Russia is the bearer of light. The great Russian people have always defeated warrior tribes surrounding their country and managed to create a great civilization. They defeated the Mongols, Napoleon, the Turks, and with the help of other Soviet republics beat the Nazis. Russians have kept the secret of survival which the Byzantines forgot. Russia has the best missile technology and more nuclear warheads than the United States. Russia is the saviour of many nations (Serbs, Bulgarians, Ossetians) who suffered from tyranny. It was the Russians who saved the Jews from Aushwitz in 1945. As an Armenian, I am thankful to this great nation. Do Armenians of the West know of the strongest Armenian Diaspora? The strongest Armenian Diaspora is not in the Unites States or in France but in Russia. Its members are ministers, generals, billionaire businessmen, scientists, media personalities, university professors. Did the one-million strong California Armenians have a Secretary of State of Armenian origin? They had Governor Deukmejian or House Member *****yan but they never had a cabinet minister. Russia’s current foreign minister Sergey Lavrov is half-Armenian. Russia is the talisman "kismet" of Armenians just as the United States is for Israel. I thank the Armenian government for erecting the United Cross Monument in Yerevan, symbolizing the Russian-Armenian brotherly relations which was unveiled during President Putin’s December visit to Armenia. Armenia has no bigger friend than Russia. Despite Russia's selling of weapons to Azerbaijan, I have confidence in Russia's friendship--a friendship based on self-interest, knowledge, and sentiment. America also armed Saddam. The West sold chemical weapons to Iraq. Americans promoted him as the leader of the Arab World. Where is Saddam now?