Churches vs universities

[Boghos]

In a recent trip to Buenos Aires I had the chance to visit with a close friend from the local community. He proudly displayed pictures of the church his family built in Armenia.

 

Whereas I have nothing against religion, it is beyond doubt that one thing Armenia has in abundance is churches. Most much more beautiful than any of these new ones being built. Including the monument to stupidity being built in Yerevan.

 

If you pay a visit to Yerevan State University, where many of the people in this forum did at least their initial studies, you´ll be apalled. The rooms, the library, everything. A few hundred thousand dollar would go very far in that place, especially because in spite of immigration, we still have the brains.

 

Diaspora help is by itself a controversial topic. But given that resources are scarce, why can´t we have a coordinated effort to use them resources in the most effective way.

 

[ April 21, 2001: Message edited by: Boghos ]

[MJ]

Boghos,

 

As we have discussed before, and you have brought up once, we have a very parochial Diaspora. And our philanthropist are the outcome of that parochial mentality.

 

Every single provincial small town in the US has at least a couple of dozens of churches – almost more than the number of operating churches in Armenia. That becomes possible because they don’t build fancy churches, but quite modest. They don’t spend much money on the buildings, but rather they spend their money on preaching the Gospel, and enhancing the spirituality of the faithful. Clearly, where there are fancy churches and golden artifacts, there can be no God in those places. This is one of the major reasons why I am disgusted by the Armenian Church (as an institution).

 

As to Armenia and building monumental churches there, I think it is a border-line moronizm. They can easily lease facilities for two evenings a week, for their ceremonies, and may just have smaller facilities for conducting the daily rituals. That would cost much less, and they can bring together such facilities on every corner of Armenia. This would, obviously, serve much better the true purpose of the church, than constructing all those monumental buildings, which raises a question in my mind as what is the real purpose here?

 

As to the Yerevan State University, indeed, financially it is in a dire condition. Unfortunately, the arrogance and the stupidity of the University leadership, along with the arrogance and stupidity of some of the Diasporan Armenian leadership has resulted in the establishment of the obsolete American Armenian University, which is something at the level of an average American Community Colleague. It may take 50 years from this university to reach the level of professionalism, and to build the traditions comparable to those of the Yerevan State University. Instead of investing the money in the Yerevan State University, and restructuring it, so that to make a world class University out of it, for which there were enough foundations, their inability to come to an agreement on the principles from both sides has resulted in the dilutions of national resources.

 

If we are not our worst enemy, tell me about it…

 

[ April 21, 2001: Message edited by: MJ ]

[Azat]

You guys have to see the monstrosity that is being built right now in Glendale. And the rumor on the street is that they spent $10 million dollars.

 

In 2001 they are opening 3 Armenian churches in Glendale alone.

 

I have always argued that the 10 million that they spent on that church they could have spent on programs for the kids in the community, or the elderly. They have no activities.

 

Every single park in Glendale looks like a outdoor casino. They gather to gamble.

[Boghos]

And we seldom see our "philantropists" in hospitals, universities, museums.

 

What is with this people ?

[MJ]

Much like in Culcuta, they are "preserving" and "saving" our nation.

[Boghos]

Dear Martin.

 

You are quite right. We have discussed this topic before, perhaps in a bit different light. I think it is worthwhile revisiting it once in a while.

 

Even our churches, the old ones, were quite small. Even those built by princes and rich people. Maybe they were greedier .

[MJ]

Dear Boghos,

 

I stand ready to revisit this issue anytime.

[MJ]

Just how "stupid" they think God is?

[Boghos]

Maybe they prefer warmer weather .

[MJ]

And their current company...

[Azat]

I think they feel that this is their ticket in to heaven.

[Azat]

Sulamita,

here is the info on the first two that you also mentioned, and I have a call to my cosine who is involved with one of the churches in LA for the info on the third.

 

St. Kevork Armenian Apostolic Church

1434 West Kenneth Road, Glendale, California

Opened on Feb 18th.

 

St. Gregory Armenian Catholic Church

1510 E. Mountain Ave. , Glendale , California

It is already open for service, but the construction is not complete yet.

 

Source: The gentleman who told me about the 3 churches that are being built is Stepan Partamian of Armenian Arts. I have not contacted him, but will if my cosine is unable to provide the info.

 

[ April 27, 2001: Message edited by: Azat ]

[Nané]

Really? Where did you get this info? I only know about the "monstrosity" you mentioned which is a Catholic church and is named after "Griqor Lusavorich" (from what I heard). Another one opened on Kenneth - called "Surb Gevorq" It's a very small Apostolic Church. I don't know of a 3-rd one. Can you please give more info?

[Pilafhead]

If I can get my heathen ass out of bed on a Sunday morning, I'd like to start going to this one with my son. Our family has belonged to the sister churches of this one forever. Enough reason for me to continue.



My son would prefer this one. We've pretty much watched it being built and he claim he's going to marry his mommy there someday. He's either cute or a future psychotic.

[ April 27, 2001: Message edited by: Aghmug ]

[Pilafhead]

I thought this was the point of the AGBU. What are they doing?

[bellthecat]

I thought the "monument to stupidity being built in Yerevan" was being built as a private funerial chapel for AGBU generalissimo Louise Manoogian!


Steve

[Azat]

Sulamita,

I feel like I have to eat crow. I just got an email from Stepan and he said that the third church is in Burbank and it is called "The Arachnortaran in Burbank". I don't know much more about it. I will try to find out.

Azat