annannimusss

Bible study, we are now doing it on a weekly basis at St.Paul Fresno, us youth are taking the bull by the horns and doing it. And our youth organization the ACYO is going through a major change to make sure that we do more bible studies, and more christian education. This is coming directly from Surpazan! http://www.acyo-wd.org/

A good way to find out is to ask your parish priest. He can direct you in the right direction, or tell you.

*****? Oh God, the most disgusting thing in the world! Never will I ever eat that smelly disgusting looking thing that is *****!

It depends on three main things. Firstly, the home where the language is taught, and where Armenianess is taught. Second, the friends of this person. If this person has Armenian friends and is around things that are Armenian, and events, this person will have the identity enforced. Thirdly, this is the Armenian church, the religion and history of our people through the last 1700 years gives us a unique identity that many should be proud of but many aren't. And when I hear kids at the Western Diocese Armenian Church Camp say that they go to SUNSHINE BIBLE CHURCH , I feel that these kids lose a part of themselves when they don't know the Hay Mer, or simple little things about the church.

Basha, what my family calls me. And how people differenciate me from other Sarkis-Sako's. Ok, cmon start complaining about my name Basha, I am waiting fro it.

Soorp Sarkis, Aram Asatryan? Why isnt he listed, he is the best after Adiss after all.

Albright and Cohen Answer Tough Questions on Genocide Below are excerpts from the press conference held this week announcing the formation of the Genocide Prevention Task Force. For a full description, see article on front page. Q: Aram Hamparian (ANCA / Armenian Weekly) How do you reconcile your work in trying to build a moral American sentiment, an unconditional consensus against genocide, when just very recently both of you signed letters urging America not to recognize the Armenian genocide? A: [5 second pause] Secretary Madeleine Albright Well, first of all, I think that this commission is basically about the future, as we both said. We want to look at ways to try to prevent genocide and mass killings. That is the purpose of this commission. And I also think that every former Secretary of State and the [current] Secretary of State recognized terrible things happened to the Armenians, a tragedy. The letter was primarily about whether this was an appropriate time to raise the issue. A: Secretary William Cohen First of all, it wasn’t a tough question, it was a good question and it’s one that we should address head on. The fact is that all the former Secretaries of State, former Secretaries of Defense were concerned about the human suffering that took place between 1915 and 1923. It was also a very deliberate decision to say that we are engaged in warfare at the moment. That we have our sons and daughters who are at great risk and that we felt that to have the resolution brought before the full floor might result in reactions on the part of the Turkish government that could place our sons and daughters in greater jeopardy. So it was a very practical decision that was made. This is not to say that we overlooked what took place in the past and, in any way, are absolving anyone from what took place in the past. But, rather, to say that we can look back and have some lessons learned but say from this point forward, what do we do? How do we marshal public opinion? How do we marshal political action? How do we generate the will to take action in a society that has been reluctant to do so in the past? . . . This is the way that will preclude things that have taken place in the past from taking place in the future. Q: Elizabeth Chouldjian (ANCA / Asbarez Armenian News Service): If we’re saying that this isn’t the right time to acknowledge the Armenian genocide, does that mean that you’re essentially arguing that for political expediency purposes we shouldn’t be taking action on future genocides because of what it could mean to U.S. interests? A: Secretary Cohen We’re saying there are no absolutes in this. We are going to try to set forth a set of principles that will serve as a guide and hopefully that guide will allow political leadership in this country and elsewhere. This is not something where the United States is advocating unilateral action. What we’re talking about is the United States taking a lead in helping shape public opinion, certainly domestically but also internationally. That will involve multiple considerations, multiple political factors that have to be taken into account. What we’re saying is that this is an endeavor that’s worthwhile, we intend to pursue it, and hopefully we’ll be successful in preventing mass killings and genocides in the future as a result. A: Secretary Albright I also do think that it’s very important to recognize the fact that even if terrible things happened in the past they do not need to happen in the future. And that is what this is about. In no way does it put a house keeping seal of approval on anybody’s behavior. Q: Reporter [name unknown] It sounds as if both of you are saying that ‘if our friends do it, it’s not genocide, if our enemies do it, it is genocide,’ with relation to the Armenian genocide. So, for example, a professor at the University of Haifa in Israel says he believes a genocide is ongoing in Gaza and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank. But you folks wouldn’t agree with that because Israel is our friend and, therefore, we couldn’t say that about Israel. And we can’t say that—I just heard you Secretary Cohen, if I could summarize—we can’t say that about Turkey and the Armenian genocide because ‘our boys and girls are in harm’s way.’ So if we’re going to define genocide by who does and not by what it is, I think your commission is in trouble. A: Secretary Cohen Well I don’t think either one of us have made that statement. I don’t know that the UN has declared that genocide occurred in the Armenian situation. So, we’re trying to look forward rather than backwards and the issue of whether genocide is taking place in the West Bank or in Gaza certainly will be part of the task force looking at that as well. There is an element of pragmatism. If someone else’s son or daughter is in harm’s way, that’s a factor that I, as an American citizen, and I, as a former Secretary of Defense, have to take into account, and would. I think anyone serving in public office necessarily has to have a set of balancing factors to take into account. It’s not an absolute. This will not be a document that says, ‘this is when the line is crossed and this is the action we will take.’ These are going to be guidelines. I think they, in themselves, will serve a very valuable purpose because it will help to at least raise the issue to a level of both domestic and international concern. Hopefully stirring action that will prevent them from taking place. That is our goal. A: Secretary Albright Let me just speak to this because I think that you have pointed out why this is difficult. These are issues people have talked about a long time and they may come out in statements and then, ultimately, when you’re in the government (as we both have been) and you have to make very tough decisions, you have to look at the overall picture. I think we have to admit that. Otherwise, we’re not going to get off the ground here. These are very, very hard issues. I definitely would not accept your definition that if friends do it it’s okay, if enemies do it it’s not. I find that just an unacceptable premise. I do think that it is very important to keep in mind what this task force is going to do. It is going to set forth guidelines for practical action by, primarily, the United States government. Which is why we want to present it by the end of next year. And the point here is, and I’ve been in enough discussions where you can have all kinds of emotional arguments about why something is wrong and then you never get it off the ground, because you ultimately have to take practical action. And that is what’s happening in the United States about Darfur at the moment, where people need practical steps in order to deal with that. And that is what this task force is going to do. We’re not going to, I hope, get ourselves into emotional appeals because that does not work. Q: Nareg Seferian (Armenian Reporter) As has been previously mentioned, the two of you have personally worked towards ensuring that the United States government does not take a stand recognizing the Armenian genocide. How can you provide credibility that your recommendation will be of practical use to the United States in its foreign policy and will not be just words on a piece of paper that will be acceptable, but which the U.S. will not follow up on because it’s simply not politically expedient? A: Secretary Cohen You talk about political expediency. As Secretary of Defense, I had responsibility for every man and woman who is serving in our armed forces. And, yes, I would have to take into account whether or not I was placing them in greater jeopardy in order to go back and make a declaration about something that happened back in 1915 and 1923. I would have to weigh that. Frankly, I think the former Secretaries of Defense, Republican and Democrat alike, all came to the same conclusion: We would not put our men and women in greater danger under these circumstances. Now, does that mean that we are not in a position to look forward in saying, ‘Here are some of the things that have happened in the past, here are some of the things we did not do in the past, here are some things we think need to be done in the future.’ And future leaders will have to take into account the same sort of moral considerations. There is no absolute right or wrong. It’s not all black and white. We’re going to have to take these into account. You as a private citizen, will be in a position to say, ‘Here is a document issued by this esteemed group. What do you Mr. President, what do you Mr. Secretary intend to do about atrocities currently taking place in x country?’ ... So I think that we are certainly in a position, having dealt with ethnic cleansing in the past, to take that experience as well as what took place in Armenia, as well as what took place in Rwanda, now in Darfur, and say, ‘This is how we have to move in the future.’ A: Secretary Albright Let me also say, I think it’s important that you know what we actually meant in the letter and I think that all the former Secretaries, in fact, while we were Secretaries recognized that mass killings and forced exile had taken place. And that we also said that the U.S. policy has been, all along, for reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia on this particular issue. I do think that one of the things this task force will ultimately recommend is that the parties to the problem have to acknowledge what happened and I think that is part of what the issue is. ... We are trying to put this within a context that will make practical activity at the time something that the U.S. government can undertake. There is not one answer to it all. And that is one of the things we are going to be looking at. I honestly think that is essential that we make clear that this task force is about the future, about preventing genocide and also looking at what the circumstances are. http://hairenik.com/armenianweekly/pol11170701.htm

Does anyone have any other songs with Aznavour singing in Armenian? Note: Sako I merged your Aznavour topic here, also post #185 is the same as your link

One of my favorite songs, and it is with Aznavour singing in Armenian!

Isn't her mom also Armenian? I thought she was. Anyway,Kim is an ugly Sharmoota!

There are no discrepencies. Sorry, I just don't see where you are coming from.

I meant there mentality,the way there mind works. And these poor people were an exeption, in a country filled with hate.

Avo47, but just imagine if this were to happen, the Ramgavars backing a Tashnag candidate, it would just be great.

Arpa, one of my dreams in life is to see the church become one again.

This makes me happy to hear this. We Armenians should be united, Ramgavars supporting a Tashnag Presidential candidate, this was unheard of just a few years ago. This just shows how far we have come.

DIASPORA-LINKED PARTIES REAFFIRM COMMON POSITION ON KARABAKH, GENOCIDE By Astghik Bedevian Two of Armenia’s oldest traditional political parties wielding considerable influence in the worldwide Armenian Diaspora have reaffirmed their common stance on the foreign policy agenda of Armenians despite differences that exist between them in issues related to domestic politics in Armenia. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun, ARF) and the Ramkavar-Azatakan (Liberal-Democratic) Party held a joint forum in Yerevan on Tuesday to discuss a wide range of issues related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the ongoing efforts aimed at ensuring an international recognition of the Armenian genocide, the rights of ethnic Armenians in Georgia’s Javakheti province, as well as internal political issues in Armenia. Representatives of both parties stated they have no differences on the problems of Nagorno-Karabakh and the genocide. Armenia’s oldest traditional party, Social Democratic Hunchakian Party, was also expected to participate in the forum, but refused at the last moment. Hunchakian, which also has large presence in the Armenian Diaspora, is known to have vocally endorsed ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosian’s bid to contest presidency in next year’s elections in Armenia. “We have the task of representing Armenian problems and Armenia in the world. These are issues where we can cooperate, but we can support different candidates. It can happen and there is no tragedy in it,” ARF Bureau representative Hrant Markarian said “We should have solidarity at least in pan-Armenian questions,” he added. “Rivalry between Dashnaktsutyun and Ramkavar-Azatakan has a long history. If we find the strength to sit down at a table and discuss issues common for both sides, it should also become an example for Armenia’s political life.” Dashnaktsutyun has declared its clear intention to field its own candidate in Armenia’s presidential elections scheduled for early next year. Its congress is due to pick a candidate between two nominees later this month. Vahan Hovannisian, one of the party’s nominees, said regarding Ramkavar-Azatakan: “An ideological rival has a greater value for us than competing with a featureless mass devoid of any ideology.” Vice-Chairman of the Ramkavar-Azatakan Party Asatur Devletian, for his part, did not exclude a scenario in which the emerging cooperation with Dashnaktsutyun will lead to their support for the party’s candidate at the presidential election. “It is not ruled out, but there has been no discussion and there is no decision on that yet,” he said. Devletian also said there is no decision on the unification of the Ramkavar-Azatakan structure operating in Armenia with former Karabakh defense minister Samvel Babayan’s Dashink party and Albert Bazeyan’s National Rebirth party. “A common meeting is needed for Ramkavar-Azatakan to make any decision,” he said, adding that the party currently based outside Armenia plans to relocate its central headquarters to Yerevan in the future. Both Ramkavar-Azatakan and Dashanktsutyun were founded in the late 19th century when Armenians lived under the Ottoman Empire. The two currently operate both in Armenia and in countries where the Armenian Diaspora is present. In 1917, Dashnaktsutyun was instrumental in the creation of the short-lived first Republic of Armenia which fell to the Soviet Bolsheviks in 1920. The party established itself within Armenian Diaspora communities after its leadership was exiled by the communists. Relations between Dashnaktsutyun and Ramkavar-Azatakan are known to have been cool outside Armenia during the years when Armenia was a Soviet republic stemming from differing attitudes towards the Soviet Union. The liberal Ramkavars strongly supported the then Armenian republic, while the socialist Dashnaks favored a tough anti-Soviet line. After the fall of the USSR both parties reestablished their branches in Armenia. http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniarepor...54AA3099150.ASP

And saying only Armenians, you are wrong. We have Ethiopians come to our church, and a few Ruskies. So again your point is incorrect. Those Church traditions you talk down on, are traditions that were around since directly after the death of Jesus. I challenge you to find anything in the Armenian Church Liturgy or theology or practices that is not Christian!

I have thought of a very easy explanation for the Iraqi Church saying the apostles St.Jude Thadeus, and Barthalemew are the founders of there Church. The two Apostles did not go strait to Armenia, they went all around, including Mesopotamia-Iraq, so your point is not valid. Unless they say that they martyered them there. And if you have such info, please give me a link, and the name of this church, if not, your whole hypothesis is wrong.

Well Turks are all animals, we all know that, inhumane beasts.

The official name of the church is the "Armenian Orthodox Apostolic Church"; "Gregorian Church" is not preferred by the church, as it views the Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew as the founders, and St. Gregory as merely the first official head of the church. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Apostolic_Church This is all you need to read, very easy to understand explanation.

Who We Are We are the One Holy Universal Apostolic Orthodox Armenian Church. We are the living body of Christ, the Christian Church of the Armenian people, the entire world-wide community of the Armenian nation. Founded in the first century by two of the Apostles of Jesus Christ, Saints Thaddeus and Bartholomew, we are one of the five ancient Eastern Oriental Orthodox churches. At the beginning of the fourth century, Armenia became the first nation in the world to declare Christianity as our state religion through the work of our patron saint, St. Gregory the Illuminator, and the decree of King Trdat III. As one of the oldest autocephalous national Christian churches, for more than 1,700 years we have steadfastly and devotedly followed Our Lord Jesus Christ, His teachings, the teachings of His Holy Apostles, Our sacred Church traditions, and the teachings of our graceful Saints and Church fathers. Our Church is One, in that our Lord Jesus Christ founded one Church. Having been founded by the one Lord Jesus Christ, the Church has one faith, one liturgy, one hierarchy. The Armenian Church is one in herself and one with the great Church of our Lord, since she accepts and keeps the Church’s faith, teachings and practices, "as once delivered to the Saints" and as defined by the first three Ecumenical councils of Nicaea in 325 A.D, of Constantinople in 381 and of Ephesus in 431. Our Church is Holy, because our Lord Jesus Christ made her Holy. The Armenian Church has produced many saints. Many of her members have been martyred and martyred for the sake of Jesus Christ. The first known Armenian saint and martyr is Saint Santoukht, the virgin daughter of King Sanatrouk. Our Church is Universal, because she shares in the universality of the great Church of Christ, and she herself has continued to exist in spite of very great hardships throughout the centuries. Further, all faithful may join the Armenian Church. Our Church is Apostolic, because it was founded directly by two of the twelve apostles, Saints Thaddeus and Bartholomew who ordained the first Armenian bishops. Our Church is Orthodox, because it has the true faith of Christ. We are a Church with over nine million faithful dispersed in every continent throughout the world. The head of the Church is Jesus Christ. The Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians is the worldwide spiritual leader of the Nation, for Armenians both in Armenia and in the Dispersion. He is Chief Shepherd and Pontiff to all Armenians dispersed throughout the world. The spiritual and administrative headquarters of the Church, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, established in 301 AD in the city of Vagharshapat, Armenia, seventeen centuries later continues to guide our devoted nation and people on the luminous paths of fulfilling the primary mission of our Church - leading people to God. http://www.armenianchurch.org/

Onnig,I have to respectfully disagree with you after reading all of your posts in this thread and the other ones. I belive that you are over simplfying everything. I would like you to make a list of things that are not "Christian" about the church, if you have time, or atleast the main points. Then I will ask my Der Hayr about all the points, and I will give you a very good response. I enjoy these sort of discussions, it is good to see where you come from,and your views.

This is the opinion of the Turkish Slave Mutafyan. He has to say these things.

I have never heard of this, I will ask around, my family is from Sudan and they might have heard about this.

I am happy for Kirk Krikorian. He is a Fresno boy like myself who has become a multi-billionaire who is helping his fatherland. I could not ask for more from him. He has also helped finance the Armenian old Age home here in Fresno, and a little known fact is that he is the one that gave a lot of money that helped to buy our church camp, that we are gonna be at next month for a retreat.