The Annual Meeting of the International Committee for the Fellowship of the Least Coin in Lebanon
This year, the International Committee of the "Fellowship of the Least Coin" held its annual meeting in Lebanon, through the invitation of Mrs. Esther Kilaghbian, who is the representative of the Middle East.
The "Fellowship of the Least Coin" is a world-wide womens' movement of prayer for peace, justice and reconciliation, and to set aside their least coins to help women and the achievement of specific projects for children.
During the week, they had a workshop and an opening worship, as well as different activities.
The workshop took place on Saturday, 15 October, 2011, at NEST, in which various women participated from various countries (Egypt, Iraq, Jerusalem, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, England, Switzerland, Philippines, Canada).
Mrs. Esther Kilaghbian led the prayers, after which the chairman, Shirley Mccanley, welcomed everyone and led the women, who each presented about the work that was completed through the fellowship during the year.
Proposals were presented for the advancement of the "Fellowship of the Least Coin" in the Middle East. Afterwards, the women divided into groups and prepared prayers for peace and read them in front of everyone.
On Sunday, 16, October, 2011 at 5:00pm, the opening worship of the "Fellowship of the Least Coin" took place in the Armenian Evangelical First Church. The worship started with the welcoming speech from Mrs. Esther Kilaghbian. After the singing and recitations, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian and Shirley Maginley lighted a candle for peace, as a tradition of the fellowship.
Then each representative passed their greetings from their respective countries. Mrs. Corazon Reyes (executive secretary) gave the sermon and shared about the birth of the "Fellowship of the Least Coin", through Shanti Solomon in 1956, as well as the work of the women till today.
The solo songs were presented in Armenian and Arabic.
The worshippers participated by coming forward and sharing their least coin, after which the special prayer of the "Fellowship of the Least Coin" was read. With singing and benediction the worship was closed.
On the occasion of the 55-th anniversary of the "Fellowship of the Least Coin" a reception took place in the playground of the church.
The International Committee for the Fellowship of the least coin held it annual meeting this year in Dhour Choueir Evangelical Conference center on October 18-20. The meeting gave the chance for fellowship, for sharing reports from the regions, from the executive secretary and the honorary treasurer. The committee decided upon the projects that will be funded during 2012 and between those projects were four projects from the Middle East(one of the projects came from Ainjar Armenian Evangelical boarding school). The committee members come from the diffierent regions of the world like Asia, USA, Canada, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Pacific, the Carribean, Latin America and representatives of World Council of Churches, World Day of prayer and Asian Church Women Conference.
The movement is not about money, it's about prayer and God blessed our prayers.
Website: http://www.flc.net.ph/
Mrs. Esther Kilaghbian
The "Fellowship of the Least Coin" is a world-wide womens' movement of prayer for peace, justice and reconciliation, and to set aside their least coins to help women and the achievement of specific projects for children.
During the week, they had a workshop and an opening worship, as well as different activities.
The workshop took place on Saturday, 15 October, 2011, at NEST, in which various women participated from various countries (Egypt, Iraq, Jerusalem, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, England, Switzerland, Philippines, Canada).
Mrs. Esther Kilaghbian led the prayers, after which the chairman, Shirley Mccanley, welcomed everyone and led the women, who each presented about the work that was completed through the fellowship during the year.
Proposals were presented for the advancement of the "Fellowship of the Least Coin" in the Middle East. Afterwards, the women divided into groups and prepared prayers for peace and read them in front of everyone.
On Sunday, 16, October, 2011 at 5:00pm, the opening worship of the "Fellowship of the Least Coin" took place in the Armenian Evangelical First Church. The worship started with the welcoming speech from Mrs. Esther Kilaghbian. After the singing and recitations, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian and Shirley Maginley lighted a candle for peace, as a tradition of the fellowship.
Then each representative passed their greetings from their respective countries. Mrs. Corazon Reyes (executive secretary) gave the sermon and shared about the birth of the "Fellowship of the Least Coin", through Shanti Solomon in 1956, as well as the work of the women till today.
The solo songs were presented in Armenian and Arabic.
The worshippers participated by coming forward and sharing their least coin, after which the special prayer of the "Fellowship of the Least Coin" was read. With singing and benediction the worship was closed.
On the occasion of the 55-th anniversary of the "Fellowship of the Least Coin" a reception took place in the playground of the church.
The International Committee for the Fellowship of the least coin held it annual meeting this year in Dhour Choueir Evangelical Conference center on October 18-20. The meeting gave the chance for fellowship, for sharing reports from the regions, from the executive secretary and the honorary treasurer. The committee decided upon the projects that will be funded during 2012 and between those projects were four projects from the Middle East(one of the projects came from Ainjar Armenian Evangelical boarding school). The committee members come from the diffierent regions of the world like Asia, USA, Canada, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Pacific, the Carribean, Latin America and representatives of World Council of Churches, World Day of prayer and Asian Church Women Conference.
The movement is not about money, it's about prayer and God blessed our prayers.
Website: http://www.flc.net.ph/
Mrs. Esther Kilaghbian
Rev. Gilbert Leonian on DieuTV
Pastor Gilbert Leonian, from France, talks on DieuTV about the evangelical rallies of the evangelist Luis Palau in Marseilles, about the Armenian people, about the Armenian Genocide, remembering Rev. Krikor AghabalOghlu from Turkey.
The video is in French: http://www.dieutv.com/index.php/website/videos/vod/3141#nav
The video is in French: http://www.dieutv.com/index.php/website/videos/vod/3141#nav
The Event We’ve All Been Waiting For
Adrenaline rush, sensory vibes, excitement, emotions, fright, heart pumping, and charisma. These are the words that best describe this very event. YES, ladies and gentlemen! SIPAN Barakhoomp is coming back in 2012 to ignite the stage and burn the people’s heart with artistic passion and desire once more.
One of the unique bastions of our rich Armenian culture and the darling of the Armenian Evangelical Shamlian-Tatigian School, SIPAN Barakhoomp will perform in the heart of Bourj Hammoud, at the Hovhannes Boghosian Hall on the 28th and 29th of April in front of hundreds of cultural enthusiasts who thirst for Armenian dance, Armenian music, and Armenian art wherever it is found.
Who would have ever thought that this group, which started with a few dance devotees of the school graduates, would grow to more than 100 dancers who will be going up on stage to perform on the best of our present-day Armenian music and songs? Four delightful groups – primary grade students, intermediate grade students, the all-female talented students, and the beloved seniors will dazzle us on both nights of the show!
Come and bring non-Armenian friends with you!
Come and enjoy the beautiful Armenian culture!
Come and perceive the blossoming of our new generation of Armenians in keeping the torch of our God-given culture engraved in our people’s soul!
ManoChil
One of the unique bastions of our rich Armenian culture and the darling of the Armenian Evangelical Shamlian-Tatigian School, SIPAN Barakhoomp will perform in the heart of Bourj Hammoud, at the Hovhannes Boghosian Hall on the 28th and 29th of April in front of hundreds of cultural enthusiasts who thirst for Armenian dance, Armenian music, and Armenian art wherever it is found.
Who would have ever thought that this group, which started with a few dance devotees of the school graduates, would grow to more than 100 dancers who will be going up on stage to perform on the best of our present-day Armenian music and songs? Four delightful groups – primary grade students, intermediate grade students, the all-female talented students, and the beloved seniors will dazzle us on both nights of the show!
Come and bring non-Armenian friends with you!
Come and enjoy the beautiful Armenian culture!
Come and perceive the blossoming of our new generation of Armenians in keeping the torch of our God-given culture engraved in our people’s soul!
ManoChil
AGHET - A Genocide [English language]
Մահուան Օծումէն` Նպատակադրուած Կեանքի
Click on the image to read the Easter Message of the president of UAECNE, Rev. Megerdich Karagoezian
Սուրբ Յարութեան Տօնին Նուիրուած Սրբազան Համերգ
The Door
“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture,” John 10:9.
The door. What is Jesus talking about here? What door is he talking about? Well, we can be sure that it’s not any door. Indeed, he is comparing himself to a door, and as any door surely this door has a keyhole and needs a key to unlock it. But where is the key to this door? How can we have access to it?
Believe it or not you have the key. Billions of people have it. In what condition is the key? To illustrate, let me tell you a story.
After a wedding service, the pastor gives the couple a Bible as a gift. The couple was very happy about it. Two years later, the pastor decides to pay the couple a visit. The couple was very happy to see him. They said, “Oh, Father! How nice to see you. We still have the Bible you gave us at our wedding. It is very precious for us”. “How nice, let me have a look at it,” said the pastor. He opened a chapter in Matthew and saw the check he had put in the Bible two years ago as a gift for the couple was still there. They had not even opened the Bible.
Indeed the Bible is the key. But how do you use it? Do you do the same thing the couple did? Leave it untouched, under your pillow, lying in the dust in your library or do you wear it off? Yes, many have the key to the door but only some use it. We pray hoping that God will speak to us directly. Well, he does! That’s why he has left us with the key which is just sitting there on your desk.
Can anyone pass through this door? The answer is: No. It doesn’t mean that if you have the key that you can open it. It’s like a key chain. You have many keys on it. The key to this specific door is well marked, yet other keys opening more “interesting” doors distract us. Keys to the delights of this world distract us. Riches, lust, social standing, addictions, the Internet, gadgets consume us. The key is right there in front of us, yet we choose other keys that will give us temporary pleasure.
How wide is this door? Clearly, we have problems to even open it. It is accessible to absolutely anyone. No specific names are written on the door, saying this door is reserved for such and such. Rather “come all of you who seek comfort and justice” is written on it.
We go to church, yet we choose to gossip. Instead of joining the youth group we go clubbing, indulge in smoking, enjoy pornography, and do all sorts of things that distract us from the One who is really worth our attention. We claim to be “good” Christians, following Christ as our leader, yet we choose to disobey our parents, snub their advice, and call them old-fashioned. We claim to be caring, kind hearted, partake of the flesh and blood of our Savior Jesus Christ, yet how fast are we in forgiving our brother or sister? We claim to stand up for justice and peace, yet how quick are we to judge a person by their race, status, and religion?
Jesus said, this door is very narrow. Often we are too preoccupied by opening other doors and forget what our priorities should be and what The Door offers. To your surprise let me tell you what The Door offers: bullying, harassment, singling out, discrimination, persecution, and hatred. The list is long. Sorry to disappoint you. If you want to hear kind words, I’m afraid this article isn’t for you or even Christianity may not be for you.
Christianity is not for weak people. Do you see the cross? It was not nails that held Christ to the cross -- it was Love. I will repeat what my father always says, the cross is made up of two pieces, one which is vertically oriented, representing our relationship with Christ and the other horizontally oriented, signifying that we share what we receive.
The life of a Christian is a daily struggle. A true Christian mustn’t just stay at church surrounded by fellow Christians. Jesus calls every Christian to step out in faith and spread the Good News, proclaiming God’s Glory to all nations. This is faith in action!
The key is there, but how many actually have the courage to choose it from all the other keys? I hope that those reading this will consider this question seriously and meditate on it.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life,” John 8:12.
Vahé Jébéjian
The door. What is Jesus talking about here? What door is he talking about? Well, we can be sure that it’s not any door. Indeed, he is comparing himself to a door, and as any door surely this door has a keyhole and needs a key to unlock it. But where is the key to this door? How can we have access to it?
Believe it or not you have the key. Billions of people have it. In what condition is the key? To illustrate, let me tell you a story.
After a wedding service, the pastor gives the couple a Bible as a gift. The couple was very happy about it. Two years later, the pastor decides to pay the couple a visit. The couple was very happy to see him. They said, “Oh, Father! How nice to see you. We still have the Bible you gave us at our wedding. It is very precious for us”. “How nice, let me have a look at it,” said the pastor. He opened a chapter in Matthew and saw the check he had put in the Bible two years ago as a gift for the couple was still there. They had not even opened the Bible.
Indeed the Bible is the key. But how do you use it? Do you do the same thing the couple did? Leave it untouched, under your pillow, lying in the dust in your library or do you wear it off? Yes, many have the key to the door but only some use it. We pray hoping that God will speak to us directly. Well, he does! That’s why he has left us with the key which is just sitting there on your desk.
Can anyone pass through this door? The answer is: No. It doesn’t mean that if you have the key that you can open it. It’s like a key chain. You have many keys on it. The key to this specific door is well marked, yet other keys opening more “interesting” doors distract us. Keys to the delights of this world distract us. Riches, lust, social standing, addictions, the Internet, gadgets consume us. The key is right there in front of us, yet we choose other keys that will give us temporary pleasure.
How wide is this door? Clearly, we have problems to even open it. It is accessible to absolutely anyone. No specific names are written on the door, saying this door is reserved for such and such. Rather “come all of you who seek comfort and justice” is written on it.
We go to church, yet we choose to gossip. Instead of joining the youth group we go clubbing, indulge in smoking, enjoy pornography, and do all sorts of things that distract us from the One who is really worth our attention. We claim to be “good” Christians, following Christ as our leader, yet we choose to disobey our parents, snub their advice, and call them old-fashioned. We claim to be caring, kind hearted, partake of the flesh and blood of our Savior Jesus Christ, yet how fast are we in forgiving our brother or sister? We claim to stand up for justice and peace, yet how quick are we to judge a person by their race, status, and religion?
Jesus said, this door is very narrow. Often we are too preoccupied by opening other doors and forget what our priorities should be and what The Door offers. To your surprise let me tell you what The Door offers: bullying, harassment, singling out, discrimination, persecution, and hatred. The list is long. Sorry to disappoint you. If you want to hear kind words, I’m afraid this article isn’t for you or even Christianity may not be for you.
Christianity is not for weak people. Do you see the cross? It was not nails that held Christ to the cross -- it was Love. I will repeat what my father always says, the cross is made up of two pieces, one which is vertically oriented, representing our relationship with Christ and the other horizontally oriented, signifying that we share what we receive.
The life of a Christian is a daily struggle. A true Christian mustn’t just stay at church surrounded by fellow Christians. Jesus calls every Christian to step out in faith and spread the Good News, proclaiming God’s Glory to all nations. This is faith in action!
The key is there, but how many actually have the courage to choose it from all the other keys? I hope that those reading this will consider this question seriously and meditate on it.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life,” John 8:12.
Vahé Jébéjian
Մայրերու եւ Ուսուցիչներու Մեծարանքի Հանդիսութիւն Հայ Աւետարանական Բեթէլ Երկրորդական Վարժարանէն ներս
Burj Hammoud: treasure trove of culinary delights
BURJ HAMMOUD, Lebanon: Inside the bustling, densely populated narrow streets of Beirut’s Armenian quarters, true culinary gems, each one more enticing than the next, have existed since the Caucasus population fled Ottoman tyranny to safer, less oppressive realms.
The industrial district of Burj Hammoud, northeast of the capital, is not merely home to Lebanon’s Armenian community or migrant workers from Asia and Africa; it is a treasure trove of cultures and culinary traditions.
Scratching beneath the surface, scents of sumac, cumin and garlic mix with those of caramel and vanilla in almost every corner of Burj Hammoud.
Lebanon’s Armenians develop their skills to the point of perfection; they’ll prepare their legendary sujok sausages and basterma meat with the same passion and dexterity as when they create the fine jewelry they are known for.
Crimson-red sausages and cured meat coated with pungent spices hanging next to window displays of flashy jewelry are not completely unfamiliar sights, since in Burj Hammoud, meat retailers, jewelers and other craftsmen perfectly cohabit.
The district’s sujok and basterma can be tasted fresh because in the past decade or two several butchers started sandwich sections.
The Basterma Mano deli on Municipality Street has been the most creative in the field. In addition to traditional specialties such as sujok and basterma sandwiches, Mano borrowed the concept of shawarma and came up with the succulent fusion shawarma sujok, which is served in Lebanese bread on a bed of finely sliced tomatoes and topped with sour wild cucumber pickles.
To extend the Mano experience, think of buying sliced to order basterma from their retail section as well as some old-fashioned golden sandwich bread, “khibz franji” from the Veronna Bakery in close-by Dora for a garlicky dinner the next day.
Mossis is another venue offering a wide range of sandwiches with an Armenian twist. Located on the inner road linking Burj Hammoud to Dora, Mossis is famous for its spicy, paper-thin meat on dough known as lahm baajin, which is rendered even tastier by a squeeze of lemon on top, as well as for its comforting chicken and celery amuse bouche.
Mossis’ roast beef, beef tongue and basterma sandwiches are also widely popular for their taste, which is reminiscent of old times when sandwiches did not drown in an overgenerous slosh of mayonnaise.
If you’re not offered vanilla-scented sweet dumplings with your sandwich at Mossis, make sure to remind the staff about the crunchy deep-fried tubular desert – a real enchantment to the taste buds.
But what about real Armenian home food? Fulfilling dishes such as eetch, the hot version of Lebanese tabbouleh, or manti, the spicy ground lamb mixture in a dough wrapper soaked in garlic yogurt with a generous sprinkle of sumac on top, and sou boreg, the buttered phyllo pastry with a melted cheese filling.
Typical Armenian cuisine, the kind of food you’d have at the home of an Armenian friend, is not served in the capital’s well-known Armenian restaurants but rather in the minuscule low-key chophouses hidden in the maze-like backstreets of Burj Hammoud.
Karnigue Nigolian and his devoted commis/waiter Raffy have been feeding their customers authentic Armenian specialties at the charming 30-seat Restaurant Onno on Aghabios Street facing Sabtieh Church since 1990.
Nigolian, who goes by the nickname Onno, is particularly strict when it comes to reservations, due to the dimensions of his two-story restaurant, decorated with snapshots of pre-Civil War Downtown Beirut.
Onno’s fairly priced menu includes items hailing from Armenian and Lebanese mezze and a lot of arak, of course – the anise spirit is dearly cherished in both cultures.
The fiery chef is especially proud of his sweet and savory kebab bi karaz (cherry kebab), which he serves up with toasted nuts and fried bread.
Onno, in fact, nails the recipe: The gooey dark red cherry chutney is satisfyingly sweet and the lamb kebab tender and juicy.
Onno confides that he shops for his meat, vegetables and most of the remaining ingredients inside Burj Hammoud. One street in particular will definitely delight every foodie.
Souk Marash is the home of spices and other materials required to concoct flavorsome Armenian and other cuisine.
Bulk spices and seasonings, and also dried fruits, nuts and candy are displayed on stands throughout the packed market, which is located parallel to Arax Street, Burj Hammoud’s shopping hub.
At the spacious Bann Garo store right in the middle of Marash, dried black cherries, an essential ingredient for kebab bi karaz, are sold, but also a wide variety of cayenne pepper, chilli paste, and walnuts to make the piquant muhamara dip.
Sweet sujok, the Armenian version of the Lebanese malban sweet, is a bestseller at Bann Garo too.
Sold on wooden skewers, the sweet sujoks can be the perfect ending to a culinary journey in Burj Hammoud. The caramel-scented sweets are made with grape molasses, flavored with rose water and mastic and stuffed with a variety of nuts, including walnuts and pistachios.
And just like Burj Hammoud was once a comforting refuge for newcomers, in Marash, one is likely to find comforting infusions and herbal teas to calm the indigestion incurred after a heavy meal in the lively district that never fails to enchant inhabitants and visitors alike.
Source: DailyStar
The industrial district of Burj Hammoud, northeast of the capital, is not merely home to Lebanon’s Armenian community or migrant workers from Asia and Africa; it is a treasure trove of cultures and culinary traditions.
Scratching beneath the surface, scents of sumac, cumin and garlic mix with those of caramel and vanilla in almost every corner of Burj Hammoud.
Lebanon’s Armenians develop their skills to the point of perfection; they’ll prepare their legendary sujok sausages and basterma meat with the same passion and dexterity as when they create the fine jewelry they are known for.
Crimson-red sausages and cured meat coated with pungent spices hanging next to window displays of flashy jewelry are not completely unfamiliar sights, since in Burj Hammoud, meat retailers, jewelers and other craftsmen perfectly cohabit.
The district’s sujok and basterma can be tasted fresh because in the past decade or two several butchers started sandwich sections.
 |
| Mano's fusion shawarma sujok is a mix between the traditional shawarma and the sujok sausages. (The Daily Star/Hasan Shaaban) |
To extend the Mano experience, think of buying sliced to order basterma from their retail section as well as some old-fashioned golden sandwich bread, “khibz franji” from the Veronna Bakery in close-by Dora for a garlicky dinner the next day.
Mossis is another venue offering a wide range of sandwiches with an Armenian twist. Located on the inner road linking Burj Hammoud to Dora, Mossis is famous for its spicy, paper-thin meat on dough known as lahm baajin, which is rendered even tastier by a squeeze of lemon on top, as well as for its comforting chicken and celery amuse bouche.
Mossis’ roast beef, beef tongue and basterma sandwiches are also widely popular for their taste, which is reminiscent of old times when sandwiches did not drown in an overgenerous slosh of mayonnaise.
If you’re not offered vanilla-scented sweet dumplings with your sandwich at Mossis, make sure to remind the staff about the crunchy deep-fried tubular desert – a real enchantment to the taste buds.
But what about real Armenian home food? Fulfilling dishes such as eetch, the hot version of Lebanese tabbouleh, or manti, the spicy ground lamb mixture in a dough wrapper soaked in garlic yogurt with a generous sprinkle of sumac on top, and sou boreg, the buttered phyllo pastry with a melted cheese filling.
Typical Armenian cuisine, the kind of food you’d have at the home of an Armenian friend, is not served in the capital’s well-known Armenian restaurants but rather in the minuscule low-key chophouses hidden in the maze-like backstreets of Burj Hammoud.
Karnigue Nigolian and his devoted commis/waiter Raffy have been feeding their customers authentic Armenian specialties at the charming 30-seat Restaurant Onno on Aghabios Street facing Sabtieh Church since 1990.
 |
| Chillies and other dried vegetables are hung in the Marash Market to make delicious Armenian dishes. (The Daily Star/Hasan Shaaban) |
Nigolian, who goes by the nickname Onno, is particularly strict when it comes to reservations, due to the dimensions of his two-story restaurant, decorated with snapshots of pre-Civil War Downtown Beirut.
Onno’s fairly priced menu includes items hailing from Armenian and Lebanese mezze and a lot of arak, of course – the anise spirit is dearly cherished in both cultures.
The fiery chef is especially proud of his sweet and savory kebab bi karaz (cherry kebab), which he serves up with toasted nuts and fried bread.
Onno, in fact, nails the recipe: The gooey dark red cherry chutney is satisfyingly sweet and the lamb kebab tender and juicy.
Onno confides that he shops for his meat, vegetables and most of the remaining ingredients inside Burj Hammoud. One street in particular will definitely delight every foodie.
Souk Marash is the home of spices and other materials required to concoct flavorsome Armenian and other cuisine.
Bulk spices and seasonings, and also dried fruits, nuts and candy are displayed on stands throughout the packed market, which is located parallel to Arax Street, Burj Hammoud’s shopping hub.
 |
| The Marash Market will delight every foodie. (The Daily Star/Hasan Shaaban) |
Sweet sujok, the Armenian version of the Lebanese malban sweet, is a bestseller at Bann Garo too.
Sold on wooden skewers, the sweet sujoks can be the perfect ending to a culinary journey in Burj Hammoud. The caramel-scented sweets are made with grape molasses, flavored with rose water and mastic and stuffed with a variety of nuts, including walnuts and pistachios.
And just like Burj Hammoud was once a comforting refuge for newcomers, in Marash, one is likely to find comforting infusions and herbal teas to calm the indigestion incurred after a heavy meal in the lively district that never fails to enchant inhabitants and visitors alike.
Source: DailyStar