"Renewed Faith: A Historical Review of the First Armenian Evangelical Church of Beirut"

The Premiere Screening of the Documentary Film

On Saturaday, December 6, 2014, 7:00PM, at the hall of the First Armenian Evangelical Church, the premiere screening of the documentary film "Renewed Faith: A Historical Review of the First Armenian Evangelical Church of Beirut" took place, organized by the First Armenian Evangelical Church's Armenian Evangelical Cultural Association (AECA), and under the patronage of the president of the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), Rev. Megrditch Karagoezian.
AECA chairman Luder Artinian delivered the opening word of the evening. He briefly presented the AECA's history mentioning that it had originated thanks to the initiative of a group of youth from the First Armenian Evangelical Church, in October 2006.  About the documentary film, he explained, " Three-and-a-half years ago the Armenian Evangelical Cultural Association started working towards the realization of its idea of a documentary about the First Armenian Evangelical Church when Hratch Tokatlian, an expert in the field of audio-visual studies voluntarily offered his services, his time and his knowledge towards the realization of this goal, thus becoming the director of this documentary film. Today, three-and-a-half years later, the Armenian Evangelical Cultural Association and the First Armenian Evangelical Church have this completed documentary film at our disposal. As you will soon see, it is an important document not only for us, the members of the First Armenian Evangelical Church, but also for all Lebanese Armenians and Lebanese Christians. It is also valuable for future generations and for every one who is interested in the Armenian Evangelical Church." He thanked all those who had who had in many different ways aided the production and realization of this documentary.


UAECNE president Rev. Megrditch Karagoezian receiving the first copy of the DVD fit in a plaque from the AECA chairman Luder Artinian

Then the audience viewed the 55-minute long documentary film which presents the history of the First Armenian Evangelical Church beginning from the 1800s and the birth of the Armenian Evangelical Church in Constantinople, moving on to the settlement in Lebanon of survivors of the Armenian Genocide beginning in 1915, and the formation of the First Armenian Evangelical Church in Beirut in 1922, and then presenting the history of that church up to the present day.
At the end of the documentary film, the pastor of the First Armenian Evangelical Church, Rev. Hrayr Cholakian, delivered his word, appreciating the documentary film and the rarity of the production of such documentary films. He emphasized the importance of this work for our faith and for the future of the church. He thanked two people who had a special contribution in the realization of the documentary film: Dr. Armen Urneshlian (narrator), and Miss Perla Kherlakian (editor), to both of whom the AECA presented special gifts.


The first copy of the DVD fit in a plaque with the Bible verse from Romans 12:2, that was presented to the UAECNE president by the AECA

Then he gave special thanks to AECA member Mrs. Shushan Artinian-Tokatlian who had greatly contributed to the researches undertaken for the documentary film. He invited AECA committee member Ara Kojadelian who presented her with a bouquet and a special gift. Then he invited the AECA chairman to present the first copy of the documentary film's DVD fit in a plaque engraved with the Bible verse Romans 12:2 to the evening's patron Rev. Megrditch Karagoezian.


Chairman of the board of trustees of the First Armenian Evangelical Church, Freddy Ekmekji (left) presenting the painting by Ara Shiraz as a gift of gratitude from the First Armenian Evangelical Church to the director of the "Renewed Faith: A Historical Review of the First Armenian Evangelical Church of Beirut" Hratch A. Tokatlian (right)

Then he invited the director of the documentary film, Hratch Tokatlian, to deliver his word. In his word, he specially emphasized the importance of archives, the necessity of their preservation, and their role in the goal of preserving our Armenian heritage. He also particularly thanked historian and Armenologist Dr. Yervant Kassouni for his years' worth of research work which had become the main source for this documentary film. Then the chairman of the board of trustees of the First Armenian Evangelical Church, Freddy Ekmekji, was invited to present the director with a painting by Ara Shiraz in gratitude for his work.
The special evening of the premiere screening of this documentary film was brought to a close by UAECNE president Rev. Megrditch Karagoezian's prayer of benediction.


The organizing committee together with the director of the documentary film. From left to right: Ara Kojadelian (AECA committee member), Rev. Hrayr Cholakian (pastor of the First Armenian Evangelical Church), Shushan Artinian (AECA member and documentary researcher), Hratch A. Tokatlian (director of the documentary), and Luder Artinian (AECA chairman)

At the end, the audience were treated to a reception prepared by the Women's Association of the church and had the opportunity to buy DVD-s of the documentary film. It is possible to buy DVDs of this documentary film by contacting the First Armenian Evangelical Church's office (961-01-343182, 01-349817), as well as by e-mailing the Armenian Evangelical Cultural Association at the following address:  aecahamm@yahoo.com (contact the e-mail for overseas orders). Moreover, orders of the DVD in the USA can be made to Rev. Nishan Bakalian.
You can view the report, aired on the Lebanese "Future TV" channel's "Armenian News" program on January 3, 2015, about the "Renewed Faith: A Historical Review of the First Armenian Evangelical Church of Beirut" documentary film on the AECA's YouTube channel at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JimaTe7H8s8

Luder Artinian
Photos courtesy of Levon Babikian and Luder Artinian

Follow Me

“Jesus left that place, and as he walked along, he saw a tax collector, named Matthew, sitting in his office. He said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Matthew got up and followed him.” Matthew 9:9

I challenge you today, as you walk in the street, stop and tell people, “Follow me”. Chances are that not many will obey you and follow you.

How come then the 12 disciples were so blinded as to follow Jesus?

After all they didn’t know Him. They didn’t know that He was the Messiah. He was just a random man, walking along the way. I guess when Jesus spoke these two words, “Follow me”, there was something divine in the way He said these words. After all, they are two simple words that we use in everyday life. For instance, “Hey man, come, follow me, let’s grab a bite”.

It is the same voice that commanded Lazarus out of the tomb, “Lazarus, come out!” John 11:43; the same voice that healed people, “‘Be clean!’ At once, the man was healed of his disease,” Matthew 8:3; and the same voice that calmed the raging storm, “Then he got up and ordered the winds and the waves to stop, and there was a great calm” Matthew 8:26.

It was something that grabbed Matthew’s attention. He even left his job as a tax collector and came after Jesus. The same happened with Simon and his brother Andrew. Jesus said to them, “Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people,” Matthew 4:19. The Bible says that both brothers immediately stopped what they were doing and followed Him. How much authority did Jesus have? People left their families, jobs and possessions to join Christ in His mission.

In order to follow Christ, we must leave everything behind. We must Love Christ more than anything in the world. The Bible says, “Those who come to me cannot be my disciples unless they love me more than they love father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and themselves as well.” Luke 14:26. Jesus is very clear about this, mostly in Matthew 8:21-22, “Another man, who was a disciple, said, ‘Sir, first let me go back and bury my father.’ ‘Follow me,’ Jesus answered, ‘and let the dead bury their own dead.’” Thus, saying, yes, earthly things matter, but not now, not at the moment, when there is work to be done, there are lives to be saved.

For instance, recall the story of the rich young man Nicodemus. He had obeyed all the commandments and knew the Scriptures very well, but when Jesus challenged him in Luke 18:22, “’There is still one more thing you need to do. Sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me.’ But when the man heard this, he became very sad, because he was very rich.” Following Jesus needs all our commitment and devotion.

Finally, in order to preach and to teach, we must know Him so we can present Him to others. We must not only be actors of the Truth but lovers of the Truth.

Vahé Jebejian

Appreciation Banquet in Honor of the Rev. Hovanness Svajian for His Nine Years of Service

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8

On the occasion of our pastor's decision to continue serving Jesus Christ and His church in Canada, the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church organized an appreciation banquet to thank him, his wife Vera and their daughters, Areni and Nazani, for serving in our church for 9 years.

Rev. Hovanness Svajian diligently served His church, preaching His word and encouraging His flock to remain faithful in Christ despite the strong winds that could pluck away the roots of any person's faith. The representatives of the church groups (youth, sunday school, ladies, couples, blog) also shared their memories with Rev. Hovanness and Vera, and passed their heartfelt appreciations to them. One of the touching moments also was the surprise video of Zareh and Rita Manjelikians from Armenia. They had been part of our church family before their repat to Armenia. Rita had prepared a beautiful video of their times with the Svajians and the church, and we watched them with sweet memories.

The church also grabbed this bitter-sweet occasion of our pastor's departure, to thank Mr. Varouj Mazmanian for much of his undisclosed blessings.

Enjoy the photos...


Ladies preparing the food

Mr. Panos Mamigonian enchanting us with his harmonica

A beautiful Armenian voice

Rev. Svajian thanking Mr. Varouj Mazmanian

Rev. & Mrs. Hovannes and Vera Svajian

A speech from his heart, Dr. Vahe Karageuzian

A surprise choir singing Rev. Svajian favorite song, Antsa Knatsi

While watching the surprise video of the Manjelikians from Armenia

The chairman of the board of trustees thanking Rev. Svajian with an audio-visual gift

The chairman of the board of elders thanking Rev. Svajian with a plaque

The board of elders and the board of trustees with the Svajian family

Thank you Rev Hovannes and Vera for your services

A group photo with the volunteers who helped make the banquet a blessed one

The Karageuzian and the Sisslian's with the Svjians

Installation Service of Badveli Sevag Trashian

On Sunday, 14 Dec. 2014, the installation of Badveli Sevag Trashian took place in the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church.

Deacon brother Samuel Svajian led the worship, and Rev. Megerdich Karagoezian, president of the UAECNE, gave the sermon. Rev. Hovanness Svajian, former pastor of the church, was also present. After the service, we had refreshments and cutting of the celebratory cake.

Congratulations to Badveli Sevag Trashian for his installation as the new pastor of the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church. Also a word of thanks to Rev. Hovanness Svajian (and his family) for his 9 years of service.


Պաշտօնակոչութեան Պաշտամունք Պատուելի Սեւակ Թրաշեանի

Հայ Աւետ. Էմմանուէլ Եկեղեցիին մէջ տեղի ունեցաւ պաշտօնակոչութեան պաշտամունք պատուելի Սեւակ Թրաշեանի, Կիրակի 14, Դեկ. 2014։

Պաշտամունքը առաջնորդեց սարկաւագ եղբայր Սամուէլ Սվաճեան, ինչպէս նաեւ ՄԱՀԱԵՄ-ի նախագահը՝ Վեր. Մկրտիչ Գարակէօզեան տուաւ պատգամը։ Ներկայ էր նաեւ եկեղեցիիս նախկին հովիւը՝ Վեր. Յովհաննէս Սվաճեան։
Պաշտամունքէն ետք տեղի ունեցաւ հիւրասիրութիւն եւ կարկանդակի հատում։

Շնորհաւորութիւններ պատուելի Սեւակ Թրաշեանին իր նոր պաշտօնին իբր հովիւ Էմմանուէլ եկեղեցիի, եւ շնորհակալութիւն Վեր. Յովհաննէս Սվաճեանին (եւ իր ընտանիքին) իր 9 տարուան ծառայութեան համար։





ԻՆՉՈ՞Ւ ՄԱՍՈՆ (ԱԶԱՏ ՈՐՄՆԱԴԻՐ) ՉԵՄ ԸԼԼԱՐ

It is not a secret anymore that freemasons have expanded their target areas, infiltrating into the social, educational, cultural, political and even religious institutions, convincing the leaders and today the youth to adhere to their brotherhood and fraternity under the guise of advancement of humanity.
Rev. Hovanness Svajian's research rings an alarm bell to all the Christian men and women, specifically the Armenian Evangelical Church and its youth to be aware of the snares of freemasonry and the like secret fraternities.

Note: Rev. Megerdich Karagoezian, the president of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, has also reminded the communicant members about their oath to the church, and not having another oath in other organizations, institutions, parties or fraternities.

Our faith, trust and commitment is to Christ, the one and only head of the Church.

General Administrator,
Raffi

Click on the image to read the research/article.


ՎԵՐ. ՅՈՎՀԱՆՆԷՍ ՍՎԱՃԵԱՆ

Taner Akcam Appreciates Rev. Nishan Bakalian's Help

In Aztag newspaper, we read about Taner Akcam's interview with Louis Shreiber, the granddaughter of Sarkis Torosian, who has been captain (harurabed) in the Ottoman Army. Sarkis harurabed has fought with the Ottoman Army, but when seeing the Turkish treatment of the Armenians, he has switched sides, leaving the Ottoman Army and migrating to America.

Aztag newspaper has translated and published Taner Akcam's interview with Louis Shreiber, and in the article we read professor Taner's gratitude to Rev. Nishan Bakalian, for helping him in contacting Ms. Louis Shreiber, and being able to conduct this valuable interview.

You can read the Aztag article at: http://www.aztagdaily.com/archives/105652

You can read the English translation of the Turkish source at: http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=tr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sesonline.net%2Fphp%2Fgenel_sayfa.php%3FKartNo%3D57564