Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church's Chanitz Youth and Veterans Caroling on Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, Thursday 5 January, around 35 Chanitz youth and veterans, with 4 groups, visited more than 95 families and houses, singing carols and bringing the Good News that Jesus Christ is Born.
Քրիստոս Ծնաւ եւ Յայտնեցաւ,
Ձեզի Մեզի Մեծ Աւետիս:
Krisdos Dznav yev Haydnetsav,
Tsezi Mezi Medz Avedis.
Some of the photos of two of the groups that visited the families and houses.
Քրիստոս Ծնաւ եւ Յայտնեցաւ,
Ձեզի Մեզի Մեծ Աւետիս:
Krisdos Dznav yev Haydnetsav,
Tsezi Mezi Medz Avedis.
Some of the photos of two of the groups that visited the families and houses.
Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover, by Shushan Artinian
A Merry Christmas to Our Readers
Քրիստոս Ծնաւ եւ Յայտնեցաւ,
Ձեզի Մեզի Մեծ Աւետիս:
Christ is Born and Revealed,
To You and to Us a Great News.
ՍՈՎՈՐԱԿԱՆԻՆ ՄԱՐՏԱՀՐԱՒԷՐԸ` ՎԵՐ. ՄԿՐՏԻՉ ԳԱՐԱԿԷՕԶԵԱՆ
Religious and Cultural Diversity in Europe
On Friday, November 25, 2011, a lecture on “Religious and Cultural Diversity in Europe: New Challenges for the Study of Religions” was held in the auditorium, for the Haigazian University Cultural Hour.
Dr. Arda Ekmekji, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science, welcomed the guests and introduced the topic at hand, discussing how Europe has changed in the last century in terms of ethnic and religious diversity.
To provide his suggestions for this interesting challenge, Dr. Wolfman Reiss, a professor of theology from the University of Vienna, was invited to come to the podium.
Reiss began his lecture by describing the two traditional approaches to the study of religion, namely studying the history of religion and the systematic comparative studies of religions. He then traced the changes in religious study in the 20th century, how the focus was moved from the historical approach to a comparative one and more recently with the added dimension of social and political topics.
Reiss then expanded on the role that religious scholars have in contemporary society, providing research to help elucidate actual on-the-ground issues that Europeans face today. An example he provided is the increasing number of Muslim children in Austrian kindergartens, which reaches up to 40 percent in some areas. “To provide the state with an appropriate basis for decisions, information is needed,” stressed Reiss.
In light of this need, Reiss proposed an application-oriented study of religion that “dedicates itself to contemporary societal, political problems of our time.”As a study, it can serve society by giving advice, while leaving the actual decision-making up to the politicians and the lawmakers.
Reiss then proceeded to outline the implementation of such a study, using his own execution of it at the University of Vienna as an illustration. Among other things, he warned that such students “have to preserve the highest level of impartiality in their study.”
Reiss also mentioned some criticism of this application-oriented approach, citing some of his contemporaries in the field. He then concluded by sharing some of the research that has been done in Vienna, as well as future projects such as an excursion to Egypt next year to investigate the Coptic Christian situation.
The lecture was followed by a long Q&A session and ended with refreshments served in the Mugar Hall.
Dr. Arda Ekmekji, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science, welcomed the guests and introduced the topic at hand, discussing how Europe has changed in the last century in terms of ethnic and religious diversity.
To provide his suggestions for this interesting challenge, Dr. Wolfman Reiss, a professor of theology from the University of Vienna, was invited to come to the podium.
Reiss began his lecture by describing the two traditional approaches to the study of religion, namely studying the history of religion and the systematic comparative studies of religions. He then traced the changes in religious study in the 20th century, how the focus was moved from the historical approach to a comparative one and more recently with the added dimension of social and political topics.
Reiss then expanded on the role that religious scholars have in contemporary society, providing research to help elucidate actual on-the-ground issues that Europeans face today. An example he provided is the increasing number of Muslim children in Austrian kindergartens, which reaches up to 40 percent in some areas. “To provide the state with an appropriate basis for decisions, information is needed,” stressed Reiss.
In light of this need, Reiss proposed an application-oriented study of religion that “dedicates itself to contemporary societal, political problems of our time.”As a study, it can serve society by giving advice, while leaving the actual decision-making up to the politicians and the lawmakers.
Reiss then proceeded to outline the implementation of such a study, using his own execution of it at the University of Vienna as an illustration. Among other things, he warned that such students “have to preserve the highest level of impartiality in their study.”
Reiss also mentioned some criticism of this application-oriented approach, citing some of his contemporaries in the field. He then concluded by sharing some of the research that has been done in Vienna, as well as future projects such as an excursion to Egypt next year to investigate the Coptic Christian situation.
The lecture was followed by a long Q&A session and ended with refreshments served in the Mugar Hall.
Badaniatz Junior Youth Group of the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church Visiting the Birds' Nest Orphanage
On Saturday, 24 December - the Badaniatz junior youth group had their Christmas event at the Birds' Nest Orphanage in Byblos, Jbeil. They had worship session with the kids, as well as social fun time and games. This way, the junior youth shared the Christmas message of joy, peace, love and hope with the kids staying at the Birds' Nest.
Farewell to Hagop Hanneyan (DonJack)
On Sunday, 21 December, 2011 - after the church service, in the pastor's house, we bid farewell to the youth member, Hagop Hanneyan, who left to the US.
A Franciscan Benediction
May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and
To turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
Amen.
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and
To turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
Amen.
Հայ Աւետարանական Թորոսեան Վարժարանը Կը Տօնէ Իր Հիմնադրութեան 60 Ամեակը
