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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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)
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