Badanegan Doun and Camp Armen (Պատանեկան Տուն) 2

One day, Levon Nalband, who received his secondary education in Anjar, says:
- "Sir, on this forehead (showing his forehead) will be written Saint Levon."
He was saying this, because one of the boys had behaved inappropriately, and severely punished. His brother was sent to a Priest School, he was sent to Camp Armen (Badanegan Doun), where, later on he was elected as a committee member. Later on, he emigrated to Germany with his newly created family.
It's really great, in one year, the boys start to speak Armenian, they write and they read. Patriarch Shnorhk's translated 4 gospels are laid on the table at the Church's entrance, each for 1 lira. Levon has 10 lira, his father gives visits, coming from Gemereg, once a year. His wife is in a governmental hospital and her situation is not good. Levon says:
- "Sir, can I take 10 books from these, with my 10 liras?"
- "What are you going to do?", I ask.
-"During the summer, when I go to the country, I will distribute them there, my mother's brother is not a believer, he will go to hell, if he reads, perhaps he will believe and be saved."

Badanegan Doun and Camp Armen, Hrant Guzelian

*Translation by R. Chil.

"THEY HAVE STOLEN THE NIGHTS OF BAGHDAD FROM US"

In an interview with Juan Michel (*), a prominent Iraqi Christian shares his views on the situation in the violence-plagued country.

"I come from a wounded Iraq and a severely wounded Baghdad," said the man in black habit standing in front of some 130 silent church representatives from six continents gathered for a peace conference on the Middle East. "The situation in my country is tragic," the man continued. "We were promised freedom, but what we need today is freedom to have electricity, clean water, to satisfy the basic needs of life, to live without fear of being abducted."

The man addressing the World Council of Churches (WCC) 18-20 June international conference "Churches together for peace and justice in the Middle East" in Amman, Jordan was Baghdad's Armenian Archbishop Avak Asadourian, primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church (See of Etchmiadzin) in Iraq.

Asadourian was in Amman representing the Council of Christian Church Leaders in Baghdad. Created in June last year, it is a body made up of 17 church leaders, including two patriarchs, from four Christian families: Catholic, Oriental and Eastern Orthodox and mainline Protestants. The Armenian primate is its general secretary.

Why did Baghdad's church leaders establish this council?

To take care of our faithful in these difficult times and to keep in touch with other Christian bodies. The Council presents the needs of our people to humanitarian organizations and channels their help.

What is the situation of Iraqi Christians today?

The situation is the same for all Iraqis, Christians or Muslims, and it is a tragic one. Bullets do not discriminate between religions. Every day terrorist attacks are targeting people who could be the cornerstone of a new Iraq: professionals, physicians, and engineers. And this is resulting in an across-the-board brain drain, which is a shame since it takes decades to train qualified people.

Are Christians being targeted because of their religion?

Not as such, except lately when Christians living in a certain area of Baghdad have been ordered to leave or be killed. The violence is targeting everyone in the same way. Of course, in a context of complete lawlessness, some thugs do whatever they want. They can threaten you, kidnap or kill you.

Recently, two Christian priests, one Orthodox and the other Chaldean, were killed. In my church, 27 members have died because of the violence since 2003. Although not personally targeted, they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Another 23 members have been kidnapped. Since many Christians are relatively well off, they become targets for possible ransom, just like well-off Muslims do.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, some 1.2 million people have fled Iraq since the start of last year. What about the Iraqi Christians?

Before the war, Christians made up some 7-8% of the population. Today, they are 3-4%. Christians are also moving north within the country, to relatively safer areas. The churches are emptying. In my own church, we used to have some 600-700 faithful worshipping every Sunday. Today, they are 100-150. The reasons are several: they might be afraid of going out, but they also might simply not have petrol in their cars - queues at gas stations are three to five kilometres long - or they might have moved out of Baghdad.

What were Muslim-Christian relations like before the war and what are they like today?

We Christians were in the country before Islam arrived, especially in the northern part. But faith-based distinctions were never an issue: Sunni, Shia, Christian. Our relationships were very amicable. These differences only became an issue after the war started.

However, we work to maintain bridges. We have twice visited the country's most prominent Shia cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, as well as the Sunni leadership. And I want to give credit where credit is due. High-ranking Muslim clerics deserve credit for their efforts in trying to prevent the present conflict from evolving into a full-blown civil war.

Are you experiencing the impact of clashing civilizations?

I don't see a clash of civilizations but a bungled war with tragic results for both sides. It seems to me that the occupying powers did not do their homework well. It is one thing to take over a country, and another thing to run it properly in order to allow people to be able to exercise freedom. Security is needed to make democracy viable. Democracy is not only a concept, but also a way of life. Today in Iraq, we need basic freedoms, like freedom from fear, freedom to work, to travel in order to satisfy basic needs. One of the tragic features of the current situation is the fact that they have stolen the nights of Baghdad from us.

What do you think would be a possible way out?

The occupying powers have to enforce the Geneva conventions and guarantee the security of the country. If they were able to bring about security, a lot of problems would be solved. Ours is a rich country. We have land, water, brainpower, the second largest oil reserves in the world - which ultimately instead of being a blessing has become a curse.

My message to my flock is: do not be afraid, but be careful. Confront this dire situation with optimism, and pray and work for a better future.

How could churches outside Iraq help you?

I wonder whether churches outside Iraq are speaking about this issue boldly enough to be heard. If they were able to advocate effectively with their governments, they should tell the occupying powers to fulfill their promises of a better life for Iraq. Promises of a bright future should now be substantiated. One key point in the story of the Good Samaritan is that he not only extended help, but his help was complete and effective.

Some US churches have been asking for a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. What do you think about this?

At this point in time, I don't know... It's a two-edged sword. Is it going to bring about peace or play into the hands of terrorists? But an occupation is never acceptable and is always something temporary that should eventually come to an end.

My message to churches outside Iraq, specially to those in the occupying countries, is: Help us to make life better for the Iraqi people, to alleviate its suffering, to keep their governments' promises for a better future in all walks of life, and ask for God's help in this humanitarian endeavor.

(*) Juan Michel, WCC media relations officer, is a member of the Evangelical Church of the River Plate in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

See the WCC press update on the 18-20 June international conference "Churches together for peace and justice in the Middle East" at: http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/all-news-english/display-single-english-news/article/1637/church-representatives-fr-1.html

Opinions expressed in WCC Features do not necessarily reflect WCC policy. This material may be reprinted freely, providing credit is given to the author.

Additional information: Juan Michel, +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org

Sign up for WCC press releases at:

http://onlineservices.wcc-coe.org/pressnames.nsf

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 347 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

School in France will be named after Hrant Dink

A private Armenian school in northern France is to be named after murdered Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrnat Dink, it was announced Tuesday.

The primary school, located in Arnouvilles-les-Gonese, is a private school that would be teaching in Armenian and French to pupils of Armenian origin.

Rachel Dink, widow of the slain journalist and human rights activist, is expected to attend the ceremony naming the school.

Chanitzagans Participate in the Church Banquet



Sunday, after the worship service at 11:30, already the chanitzagans and badanees were busy with re-arranging the seats of the hall, and preparing it for the banquet.
Many youth participated and were present and they helped before, during and after the dinner. On the program, the Badaniatz leader J. Kozman together with the pastor, Rev. H. Svajian announced the winning number of the Badaniatz lottery. The money gathered will be used to aid the needy youth in paying the fees for the annual camp.
During the banquet, M. Chilingirian and R. Chilingirian showed the pictures of the activities of Sunday School, Youth Group, Ladies Group, Young-adults, and the church.
The meal was delicious (Orza) and we enjoyed our time.

Courtship and Emotion

What is courtship?
It's dating with a purpose. It's friendship with possibility. It's romance chaperoned by wisdom. That's what I mean by setting a clear course for romance. It's not without risk, it's simply a way to be careful with the other person's heart while opening up your lives together to God's joyful best.

What is emotion?
As I was growing up, my dad taught me that an emotion is a physical expression of how we perceive the status of something that we value. Anger, gladness, fear, sadness, joy, jealousy, hatred are all combinations of our perception and our values.

Boy Meets Girl; By Joshia Harris

Chanasser (Ջանասէր) April-May 2007 Issue

Բովանդակութիւն՝
  • Մայիսեան Յաղթանակներ, Բայց..... Երուանդ Հ. Քասունի
  • Հաւատքով Կրկնենք՝ Օրհնեալ է Յարութիւնը Քրիստոսի..... Վեր. Դոկտ. Փօլ Հայտօսթեան
  • Տէր Յիսուս Ինչո՞ւ Խաչուեցաւ..... Վեր. Աւետիս Պոյնէրեան
  • Ծաղկազարդ՝ Պատրաստակամութիւնը Զոհողութեան..... Վեր. Րաֆֆի Մսըրլեան
  • Հաւատքով եւ Ոչ Թէ Կասկածանքով..... Հրանդ Կիւզէլեան
  • Հայ Աւետարանական Նահատակներ եւ Հերոսներ..... Վեր. Պարգեւ Ն. Տարագճեան
  • Յովհ. Խոճա Հայտօսթեան (1876-1966)..... Երուանդ Հ. Քասունի
  • Քելէ Էրթանք Մըր Էրկիր _ Արաբկիր..... Զաւէն Խանճեան
  • Ցեղասպանութեան Ազդեցութիւնը Հայ Կնոջ Վրայ..... Ժանէթ Քասունի
  • Բարսեղ Չաթոյեան. «Աչքերովս Տեսայ Պատմութեան Ամենամեծ Ոճիռը...»
  • Կանայի Կովուն Պատգամը..... Վեր. Յովհ. Սարմազեան
  • Թուրքիայ _ Վերջին Տեղեկագիրները..... Թարգ.՝ Եւնիկէ Եապուգեան
  • Եղիշէ Չարենց..... Մ.Հ.
  • 12+1=1..... Մօրուս Հասրաթեան
  • Հրանդ Տինքին..... Սեւան Հանէշեան
  • Մօրուս Հասրաթեան, Յուշաբեկումներ_Արցակ ُԷջեր_Եւ... Ե.Հ.Ք.
  • Հայ Աւետարանական Կեանք
  • Մահագրութիւն՝ Տիկ. Արաքսի Գերպապեան (1930-2007)..... Վեր. Սերոբ Մկրտիչեան
  • ԼՈՒՐԵՐ Հայաշխարհէն

Kocharian honors slain Turkish Armenian Editor

By Gayane Danielian http://www.armenialiberty.org

President Robert Kocharian publicly honored on Monday the assassinated Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink with a posthumous state award granted each year to prominent individuals in recognition of their contribution to Armenian culture and science.
Dink was among 18 writers, artists, and scientists awarded this year from a special presidential endowment set up with the help of French-Armenian philanthropist Robert Bogossian in 2001.
Kocharian singled out the late editor of the Istanbul-based Armenian weekly “Agos” for special praise as he addressed a solemn award-giving ceremony in his office attended by Dink’s wife, daughter and brother. He cited Dink’s contribution to “restoration of historical justice, mutual understanding between peoples, freedom of speech, and protection of human rights.”
“It was a big loss for our people,” Kocharian said of the editor’s shock assassination. “I want to assure members of his family that we will always remember Hrant Dink, that Armenia is also a home for his family, that we are always happy to see them in Armenia,” he added.
Dink’s widow Rakel was given a standing ovation as she received the $5,000 prize from Kocharian. “We will find the power to endure our pain,” she said in a brief speech.
Dink was shot dead outside the “Agos” offices in Istanbul last January by a young ultranationalist Turk furious with his public references to the 1915 mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide. The murder was universally condemned in and outside Turkey and led to an unprecedented outpouring of sympathy for Dink, his family and Armenians in general by tens of thousands of ordinary Turks. But it also provoked a nationalist backlash, raising questions about the security of the country’s small Armenian community.
Speaking to RFE/RL, Rakel Dink said she and other members of her family are not yet considering leaving Turkey despite mounting security concerns within the embattled community. Asked whether they might eventually emigrate to Armenia, she said: “It could happen, but there is no such urgency now.”
Last Thursday Turkish prosecutors called for a prison sentence of up to three years for Dink’s son Arat, who now edits “Agos,” and his colleague Serikis Seropyan for republishing a 2006 interview in which his father made a case for genocide recognition. They accused the two men of “denigrating Turkishness.” Hrant Dink was given a six-month suspended sentence on the same charge several months before his assassination.
At a court hearing in Istanbul, Arat Dink accused judges of contributing to his father's death by making him a target thanks to their high-profile judicial proceedings. "I think it is primitive, absurd and dangerous to consider as an insult to Turkish identity the recognition of a historic event as a genocide," he said, quoted by the Anatolia news agency.
Source: RFE/RL, 18 June 2007
(Photolur photo: Rakel Dink pictured during the ceremony).

Encouragements from Our Readers

Just days ago, we received an email from Alec:

"I would like to congratulate you all on this impressive website; I really enjoyed it; specially the sense of humor and the marketing touch given to it. Keep maintaining it!"

Thanks Alec, for your personal feedback :) I know that you've been closely following this website. I hope that we can keep up the quality work and be of good cheer for our readers.

To Be an Armenian in Turkey...

By Vahan Isaoglu
Translated by the Weekly Translation Team

It is a strange feeling to be an Armenian in Turkey.

Even though after the so-called assassination of Hrant Dink, thousands of
people shouted "We are all Hrant, we are all Armenian," even though many
others mistook that slogan for something else, it really meant "We are all
human."

It is a strange feeling to be an Armenian in Turkey. In fact, one can hardlyget there just by shouting.

To be an Armenian in Turkey is to be asked to prepare topik1 by friends who know. It is telling the government official your name and getting a peculiar look from him, then being asked "Are you Armenian?" with a scornful stare. It is having your name misspelled everywhere. During military service, to be an Armenian in Turkey is to be asked by your friends to say kelime-i
shahadet2 ("just for once").

And yet, it is to fall in love with the Maiden's Tower3, to be absorbed in thought watching Istanbul from the Galata Tower4.

To be an Armenian in Turkey is to have children who read anti-Armenian remarks in their school books; it is to have no answer when they ask what it means. To be an Armenian in Turkey is to be mentioned as "an Armenian friend.but a really nice fellow."

And yet, it is to sing Turkish classical music from the heart at a table with fish, with raki5, with midye dolma6.

To be an Armenian in Turkey is to be called by some friends on some occasions, who say "Don't worry, they are ignorant. We know you, we love you."

To be an Armenian is to hesitate to say your name when you meet someone, and when you do, it is the habit of trying to guess what the other person is thinking from his or her face.

It is to brood over what you are going to tell your children if they hear the ministers calling a terrorist leader an "Armenian seed."

To be an Armenian in Turkey is to be asked what you think about the French laws. It is to have to start your answer with a "so-called." To be an Armenian in Turkey is to be unable to become a dustman, unable to become a civil servant.

And yet, it is to remember how much you love Turkey, when you throw simit7 to the seagulls on a ferry.

To be an Armenian in Turkey is to have non-Armenian teachers placed in your schools-teachers who are told by some "important" people to be their "eyes and ears."

It is to find a subtle way to discourage your children from wanting to be governors or ministers when they grow up. It is to have to convince them to be something else, without breaking their hearts, without explaining everything. Because to be an Armenian in Turkey is to be unable to become a policeman, a civil servant, a deputy, an army officer, even though you are a Turk. Unlike Turks in Germany, who can be all those things.

And yet, eating arabasi8 soup, watching Hababam Sinifi9, loving cig kofte10 is to be Armenian.

To think, to produce, to be an artist is to be Armenian.

Whenever the idea of emigration comes up, it is to think how much you love this place.

To be timid like a pigeon.

And yet, it is to proudly sing the Independence March11 every morning and shout "Happy to be a Turk" in a Turkey where you don't have a say.

Only when a Turk of Armenian descent becomes a civil servant or army officer will I believe that I am regarded as a Turk. Until then, I'll be singing Edip Akbayram's Aldirma Gonul12.

That's what it is to be an Armenian in Turkey-to be attacked by some when you sing Sari Gelin13 in Armenian, and then say "never mind" and start singing it in Turkish. And, sometimes, it is to lie on the street with a hole in your shoe, eternalizing your ideas, making thousands of people learn to sing Sari Gelin in Armenian.

In short.

It is not an easy thing, to be an Armenian in Turkey. And yet it is beautiful, different as much as beautiful. It's a love affair, to be an Armenian in Turkey.

When you are told to "leave if you don't like it," it is to say, "And yet, this is my country as well."