Haigazian Rocket Society: Lebanese Scientific Pride at Haigazian University

On Tuesday, February 22, 2011, the replica sculpture of Cedar 4 was installed in the Mugar Garden of Haigazian University, in tribute to the 50th Anniversary of the Haigazian Rocket Society, and in conjunction with the documentary film being directed by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige, which examines the Lebanese Rocket Society and its contribution to science.
The truck carrying the rocket sculpture, led by an escort of Lebanese security forces, left Dbaye highway in the morning, passing through Dora and Fouad Chehab highways, arriving to its final destination in Kantari, to land on its base in the Haigazian University Mugar Garden.
The directors Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige, with Abbout Productions offered the sculpture of the “Cedar 4” rocket to Haigazian University, as a token of appreciation to the scientific team back then, for their pioneering role in the field of rocketery. The replica was commissioned by the Sharjah Art Foundation for Sharjah Biennial 2011. Cedar 4, was a three stage rocket that was launched on November 21st in 1963, reaching an altitude of 200 km and covering a distance of 600 km.
After unveiling the sculpture, in the presence of students, faculty, staff and journalists, President of Haigazian University, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, offered a short speech, thanking the directors and producers of this project. He emphasized on the pioneering role Haigazian Rocket Society played in the early 60’s, in the field of rocketry. Haidostian said that this moment is “a day of memory awakening” in the sense of the scientific advancement of human civilization, and that the Middle Eastern talent can also be put to practice in the Middle East and not only abroad, and to make our world and country a better and constantly developing home.
In their turn, both Directors Hadjithomas and Joreige emphasized on the scientific purpose of the project, which was initially aimed at promoting science and research. They shared with the audience their vision in offering this sculpture pointed towards the sky, representing faith in science and research, and hope in art and creativity in broadening our scope of imagination.
It is worth noting that Haigazian Rocket Society started in the early 60’s, under the leadership of Mathematics professor, Manoug Manouguian, and the active participation of the Haigazian College Rocket Society students. The first rocket was launched in 1961.
The scientific developments led to the expansion of this project, having the Lebanese Army with its liaison General Yousef Wehbe and various other researchers joining in, and hence leading to the establishment of the Lebanese Rocket Society.

Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director

Widow of Turkish-Armenian journalist remains steadfast since murder

Pastor Gilbert Leonian of the Armenian Protestant Bible Church in Marseille tells the Daily News how Rakel Dink, widow of slain Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink, has coped since her husband’s murder. The pastor adds that he himself has changed since the killing, saying, ‘The seeds of peace sewn by Hrant Dink are now sprouting inside me’

A strong faith has helped the widow of slain journalist Hrant Dink endure the four years since she lost her husband, according to a French pastor close to the bereaved. He also said the murder has paradoxically worked to change his views on Turkey.

Rakel Dink, who was the wife of the murdered Turkish-Armenian journalist, delivered a powerful speech at her husband’s funeral, lamenting how “murderers are raised from babies.” “If you pay attention to the text, you see that she seeks shelter in God despite pain and sorrow. You will hear the voice of a true believer. Rakel, our dear daughter, is such a strong and faithful woman,” Pastor Gilbert Leonian of the Armenian Protestant Bible Church in Marseille recently told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.

Leonian knows Rakel Dink well, and since Hrant Dink’s murder on Jan. 19, 2007, the widow has had relations with the church in Marseille even though she remains a member of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

“Rakel is a member of our congregation, but I do not want to stress her name and talk much about it,” Leonian said, relating Rakel Dink’s story to the Daily News.

Racing to the crime scene

As soon as he received news of the murder four years ago, Leonian said he called Rakel Dink in Istanbul and that she was too overcome with grief to speak. As such, Leonian said he immediately called Pastor Krikor Ağabaloğlu, the religious leader of the Armenian Protestant Church at Gedikpaşa, in Istanbul.

“I was helpless. I wanted to be there and help Rakel,” said Leonian. “I talked to Ağabaloğlu. He was on his way to the murder scene. I warned him to be careful because [a year before] Priest Andreas Santaro was murdered in Trabzon. Missionaries were facing danger. Krikor insisted on a trip to the crime scene. He said: ‘I, as a religious leader, am not in a place to think of myself. I have to be with Rakel.’ I understood him very well. If I were him, I would’ve done the same thing.”

‘Hrant showing the way’

“Rakel’s pain is naturally deeper than ours,” said Leonian. “But our son Hrant left a tremendous gap inside us which is impossible to fill. I don’t think anyone from now on will continue as courageously as he did. His heart was pounding for friendship and peace. Hrant was removing prejudices.”

Having lost a big part of his family during the 1915 events in eastern Anatolia, Leonian said he had had many prejudices against Turkey, much like many others in France’s large Armenian diaspora.

Leonian said he was forced to push his prejudices aside on his first visit to Turkey in 1999 as he rushed to help victims of the Aug. 17 Marmara earthquake that coincidentally occurred on the night of his arrival.

"It was my first time in Turkey and with Turkish people. Then, the Dink murder took place. Pain surfaced again. In the name of friendship, however, Hrant has left something beautiful and I, as a man of religion, decided to claim this heritage and now walk on his path,” Leonian said.

The pastor also said he attended a conference with a high-ranking figure from Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate – whose name he chose to withhold for privacy reasons – and added that they prayed together at a Paris church for the Turkish and Armenian peoples.

“The seeds of peace sewn by Hrant are sprouting now. I hope they will sprout in all of us,” he said.

Rakel meets Hrant

Rakel Dink is a member of one of Turkey’s largest Armenian clans, the Varto, also known as Vartan, of Southeast Anatolia. Born in the present-day province of Şırnak, Rakel Dink and several other children from the clan were located by then-Armenian Patriarch Shinorhk Kalustyan and brought to Istanbul for an education because there was no Armenian church or school in the region.

Pastor Hrant Küçükgüzelyan, the religious leader of the Armenian Protestant Church in Gedikpaşa, Istanbul, was also instrumental in the children’s education, transforming the basement of his church into an orphanage before opening a summer camp in the Tuzla district on the Asian side of the city for his charges.

Rakel Dink was also taken under Küçükgüzelyan’s wing, resulting in her Protestant upbringing. While at the Tuzla camp, she met and fell in love with Hrant Dink.

VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
MARSEILLE - Hürriyet Daily News

The Annual Banquet of the Christian Endeavour Excecutive Committee in the Armenian Evangelical First Church

On Sunday, 27 Feb 2011, the Christian Endeavor Executive Body's annual banquet was held in the hall of the First Armenian Evangelical Church in Beirut. More than 220 kids, youth, adults and elders were present to support this event and for fellowship and joining hands together to achieve the same mission and goal, helping the CE Executive Body in organizing the annual camps, that play an important and transformational role in the lives of our children, teenager and young adults, as well as in the lives of the kids in community who are deprived of any camping experience, where the message of love and Christ's sacrifice for us is shared.
The five Armenian Evangelical Churches participated, mainly the First Church, Ashrafieh, Nor-Marash, Emmanuel and Anjar churches' youth.
After prayer, food was served, which was hand-made by the volunteering ladies, Badveli Hrayr Cholakian presented the 2010 activities and achievements through slide shows, after which the HighBar dance group presented several Armenian folklore dances. Rev. Raffi Messerlian gave the CE Executive Body's word. Badveli Datev Basmajian led the Armenian singing game. The members of the CE Executive Body put forth a challenge to fundraise 4000$ to be used for the Summer camps, and they were able to raise the specified amount and pass it.
Each CE youth group took responsibility in preparing and decorating the hall, serving the food, cleaning the hall after the event, and washing the dishes.
At the end, the CE cake was cut the banquet was close by jointly singing the Christian Endeavor anthem.







Photos taken by Serop Ohanian