Sunday 29 April 2018

Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom and Ireland

 
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Volume 4, Issue 13
28 April 2018
 
 
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DUBLIN PRAYER SERVICE
 
On 22 April 2018, this year's 103rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide took place in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. The service, which had been organised by the Armenian Church and Community in Ireland was presided over by Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, who had travelled from London. Also present at the service were church leaders from other denominations in Ireland. Read more about it in the newsletter.
 
ACTON PRAYER SERVICE
 
On 23rd of April, on the occasion of 103rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, an ecumenical prayer service was served at St. Mary's church, Acton. The service was presided over by His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan and Bishop Peter of Willesden, Diocese of London. During his speech Bishop Hovakim Manukyan mentioned that unpunished crimes bring new crimes, and we pray for Middle East, because 100 years ago the same happened to Armenians what's happening to people from different faiths today.
 
Armenian prayers, biblical readings and hymns for canon of Holy Martyrs of 1915 were incorporated into the prayer services, which were sang by a joint choir of St. Yeghiche and St. Sarkiss churches, led by Hovhannes Arakelyan. Members of the community, ACYO, Anglican and Syriac churches, children from the Armenian Sunday school read prayers for peace in Middle East, Armenia, England and for fraternity & reconciliation in the world. At the end of the service, Shakeh Major Tchilingirian led a circle dance of the participants outside the church.
 
 
 
 
NURAN ZORLU: TRACES OF THE ARMENIAN HOMELAND
 
A new programme – Armenian Connextions, opened at the Bishop's House in Ealing on Wednesday 25 April by award winning photographer Nuran Zorlu. During his fascinating talk, the packed hall of The Bishop's House travelled with Nuran through Iran, Turkey, Georgia and Armenia, not only admiring his beautiful photographs but learning about the history, architecture, art and culture
 
DR HRATCH TCHILINGIRIAN: ARE WE BECOMING VICTIMS OF FAKE NEWS?
 
 
Another new series started at The Bishop's House this week – Discussions on Contemporary Social and Ethical Issues, curated and led by Dr Hratch Tchilingirian.The first discussion was on the reality of “fake news”.
In this session, Dr Tchilingirian discussed the effects of fake news and the moral/ethical implications of the blurring of the “truth”. It was a very lively conversations with exciting debates, with the whole room participating, where religious, political, social and moral aspects of news and fake news were discussed.
 
 
THE GENOCIDE MARCH ON APRIL 21
 
Demonstrators took to the streets of London on April 21 to commemorate and also ask for the recognition of the Genocide by British and Turkish governments. The march started at Marble Arch, where everyone joined with flags, banners and songs. The rally walked through the centre of London, with the community representatives and Bishop Hovakim Manukyan laying a wreath to The Cenotaph.
 
 
NEW PROGRAMMES AT THE BISHOP'S HOUSE
 
Read all about a series of brand new programmes at the Bishop's House, open to everyone. Find out more information, upcoming dates and details on the website.
 
 
Read about these topics in detail, learn about upcoming events and more in our newsletter
 
 
GO TO OUR ASK THE BISHOP SECTION ON THE WEBSITE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS AND CONCERNS
 
 
Registered office address:
Kemp House 152-160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX

Correspondence address:
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London W5 2NZ
 
0208 998 9210
 
 
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Saturday 28 April 2018

Dr Dikran Abrahamian @ Keghart.com

Canada's Move - Join Us in Ottawa

28 April 2018
People of Armenia poured into the streets of Armenia for the past two weeks; they peacefully demonstrated and demanded removal from power of RPA (Republican Party of Armenia – HHK - ՀՀԿ - Հայաստանի Հանրապետական Կուսակցություն). Serzh Sargsyan resigned from his newly self-appointed office under the widespread pressure of the people led by the opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan.
The acting Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan desperately tries to consolidate power in his hands to prolong an illegitimate oligarchic governance of RPA for another 4 years until 2022 to no avail. People of Armenia and Diaspora Armenians in all major cities worldwide show their support to this unprecedented movement to subvert the ill-conceived attempts to prolong RPA lifeline and also to fulfill the will of the people to elect Nikol Pashinyan as the next Prime Minister. ....Read more >>

Armenia Needs Your Support

26 April 2018
Dear Compatriots,
Armenia is experiencing very unique difficult times as it transforms from an oligarchic state to democracy. We are confident that you are all following the news and are aware of the hindrances. Progress is very slow despite various parties’, parliamentary factions’ and individual MPs’ support for the popular movement, and also ARF’s announcement of its defection from the coalition with the RPA (Republican Party of Armenia – HHK - ՀՀԿ - Հայաստանի Հանրապետական Կուսակցություն).
Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation seems to be only a stalling tactic to calm down the rightful indignation and protest of people of Armenia, and ultimately to subvert the demand to establish a fair socio-economic and political system. The ruling Republican Party does not show any signs of relinquishing power to representatives of the popular movement. Karen Karapetyan, the so called acting Prime Minister is resisting change; moreover he is consolidating levers of power in his hands to the extent of assuming functions that constitutionally are not his prerogatives. This shameful process leads only and only to prolong the outgoing dinosaur regime’s persistence to be in control, i.e. continuation of oligarchy.....Read more >>
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Dr. Dikran Abrahamian · 15 Bridle Rd. · Penetanguishene, On L9M 1J5 · Canada

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** FATHER FRANK’S RANTS Rant Number 769 26 April 18 INQUISITIONS



ONCE UPON TIME AN ISLAMIC INQUISITION, THE MIHNA, EXISTED. FOLLOWED BY THE CHRISTIAN INQUISITION. ARE THERE NEW INQUISITORS AT WORK IN OUR MIDST?
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The Mihna. The name of the Inquisition of Islam. Set up by Abbasid Caliph al-Ma’mum (813-833). Successor of the famed Caliph Harun al-Rashid, he of the One Thousand and One Nights. Mihna means an ordeal, a trial carried out against certain Sunni scholars who maintained the heretical thesis that the Qur’an is uncreated, eternal. Imprisonment, torture and death were penalties used to enforce conformity. The famous Ahmad al-Hanbal, after whom one of the four schools of Muslim law was later named, was scourged. Other terrified ulama had recourse to the principle of taqiya, concealment or lying, to feign acceptance of the Caliph’s will but of course al-Ma’moun twigged it. He was not so easily fooled.

Why did the Muslim Inquisition crack down so ferociously on supporters of the view that the Qur’an is uncreated? Of course, God is par excellence the only Being who is eternal, uncreated. Were the Qur’an be declared also eternal, there would be not one but two eternals. That appears to contradict the key dogma of Tawhid, the absolute unity and unicity of God. The rationalist thinkers of Islam, the Mu’tazila, claimed instead that the Qur’an is created, hence not eternal. In a brilliant lecture at the Islamic College last Monday, Dr Saeed Bahmanpour set out the fascinating argument in all its ramifications. He pointed out how the Mihna’s work was continued by Caliphs al-Mu’tasim and al-Wathiq, before being finally reverses by Caliph al-Mutawakkil. The thesis of the Qur’an’s eternity has since been the orthodox Sunni view. Not the Shia’s, though. It is worth noting that the Shia Imam of the time, Imam al-Hadi, stayed neutral from the diatribe. Maybe it was just political
prudence but Bahmanpour’s opinion was that al-Hadi thought the subject ‘futile’. That was also the lecturer’s conclusion about the issue. The whole controversy was idle, based on linguistic misunderstandings and confusions over terms, he argued. Perhaps, but the people the Muslim Inquisition mangled and executed might have found that cold comfort.

More notorious is the Christian Inquisition. A juridical persecution of heretics by special church courts. Initially, the punishment for heresy had been excommunication, i.e. being excluded from the Sacraments. As late as the 12^th century St Bernard of Clairvaux taught that faith is a matter of persuasion, not an imposition. Later Pope Gregory IX feared Emperor Frederick II’s political ambitions to hunt out heretics and so appointed his own papal inquisitors. They were Dominican and Franciscan friars whose theological learning and presumed absence of worldly motives qualified them for the job. The Inquisitors travelled around, admonishing suspects to confess. If they did, fasting or going of pilgrimage were the main penances. If they hesitated, the trial started for real. Two witnesses were required for conviction and the accused was allowed a lawyer but the latter’s brief was not to defend his client but that ‘justice should be done’. (You get the drift…) If, despite many
proofs, the poor sod showed obstinacy he was jailed under harsh conditions and tortured to break his resistance. The guilty man’s lot included confiscation of property, being thrown long-term into a dungeon or ‘surrendered to the secular arm’, i.e. being burned alive at the stake.

The feared Spanish Inquisition is distinct from previous church courts because it was closely bound up with the Spanish state. Set up in 1470 by monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, it originally hunted the marranos, baptised Jews suspected to practice their old religion secretly. Then it was the turn of Moriscos – Moors also forced into baptism, Protestants and alumbrados, spiritual persons with unorthodox mystical leanings. St Ignatius of Loyola, no less, later founder of the Jesuit Order, was himself examined by the Inquisitors in Salamanca after being found preaching in the streets. When he inquired whether he had been found innocent, he was answered: ‘Of course. Otherwise they would have burned you’. Quite. Under the terrible Torquemada, Spanish Grand Inquisitor, public burnings numbered at least 2000 people. After the irreligious French invaded Spain under Napoleon, the Inquisition was finally dissolved.

Ancient history? Inquisitions now mercifully as dead as a dodo? Well, up to a point. Secular, impeccably democratic and PC inquisitorial activities and are alive and kicking. Just try to write online, FB, Twitter or text touching on any of the sacred cows of our culture. Topics smacking, right or wrongly, of antisemitism, zionism, racism, abuse, homophobia, extremism, misogyny and…yes, why not say it, Islamophobia, and be aghast at your fate. No, the rack, the dungeon and the fire are no longer a prospect, thank God. But losing jour job, a heavy fine, public disgrace, even imprisonment might be real possibilities. Pretty bad, if you ask me!

All sorts of fearsome lay inquisitors are busy trailing through and collecting evidence of any subversive thoughts you might have expressed, even privately, yesterday or ten, twenty years ago. Did you perhaps in an intemperate moment suggest that biological and psychological differences between men and women exist and have an impact on their careers and social interaction? Or maybe you argued that the human contribution to climate change is not as substantial as the authorities assert? Or that ‘trans’ women are not real women? (Germaine Greer learnt the lesson to her cost.) Or that gay couples should not be allowed to adopt children? Or that violence for the sake of justice may be allowed? The list is long. Shake in your boots!

The inquisitorial drive, it seems, is intrinsic to human nature…groan.

Revd Frank Julian Gelli


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Dr Dikran Abrahamian ... Keghart.com

 

Armenia Needs Your Support

26 April 2018
Dear Compatriots,
Armenia is experiencing very unique difficult times as it transforms from an oligarchic state to democracy. We are confident that you are all following the news and are aware of the hindrances. Progress is very slow despite various parties’, parliamentary factions’ and individual MPs’ support for the popular movement, and also ARF’s announcement of its defection from the coalition with the RPA (Republican Party of Armenia – HHK - ՀՀԿ - Հայաստանի Հանրապետական Կուսակցություն).
Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation seems to be only a stalling tactic to calm down the rightful indignation and protest of people of Armenia, and ultimately to subvert the demand to establish a fair socio-economic and political system. The ruling Republican Party does not show any signs of relinquishing power to representatives of the popular movement. Karen Karapetyan, the so called acting Prime Minister is resisting change; moreover he is consolidating levers of power in his hands to the extent of assuming functions that constitutionally are not his prerogatives. This shameful process leads only and only to prolong the outgoing dinosaur regime’s persistence to be in control, i.e. continuation of oligarchy.....Read more >>

ՇՏԱՊ, ՇՏԱՊ։ Հարկաւոր Է Բան Մը Ընել։

ՇՏԱՊ, ՇՏԱՊ։ Հարկաւոր է բան մը ընել։ Ո՞ւր պիտի հասնի ասոր վերջը։ Ո՞վ է կացութեան տէրը՝ բիրտ սեւազգեստնե՞րը, ժողովո՞ւրդը, Նիկո՞լը։
Այսու կոչ կ՚ընեմ բոլոր բարեկամներուս եւ ընթերցողներուն տարածել ներքեւի գրութիւնը, որուն տակը սիրով պիտի ստորագրէի։ Գրութեան հեղինակը Գարեգինի գիտնական, միջազգային վարկ վայելող, հայ արուեստի տեսաբան եւ միջնադարեան հայ մանրանկարչութեան լաւագոյն գիտակներէն մէկն է՝ Պրոֆ. Լեւոն Չուգասզեան։
Եթէ մենք տէր պիտի չկենանք մեր արժանաւոր հայրենակիցներուն, ապա ո՞վ պիտի կենայ մեր ազգին պատիւ բերող գիտնականներուն։
Դոկտ. Մինաս Գոճայեան, Լոս Անճելըս, 25 Ապրիլ 2018 ....Read more >>

Soldiers Join Demonstrators in Yerevan & View from a Drone

The path to democracy in Armenia is through participation of all sectors: youth, working people, artists, writers, police & soldiers, academia, progressive intellectuals and politicians. A broad coalition is a must! ....Read more >>

News and Views

To Armenian-American Organizations on the Crisis in Armenia

The following open letter was sent on April 21, 2018 to these prominent Armenian-American organizations: Armenian Assembly of America (AAA), Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA), Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, and Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America.
Dear Madams/Sirs:
As a concerned Armenian-American, I respectfully ask your organization to seriously reconsider its longstanding support of Serge Sargsyan's criminal-oligarchic regime in Armenia and unconditionally back the collective will of the Armenian people who worldwide are demanding the restoration of constitutional order and national dignity through Sargsyan's immediate resignation and the holding of new, transparent parliamentary elections. ....Read more >>

Gathering in Solidarity at Queen's Park

Report, 21 April 2018
Today daring the unusual traffic congestion due to the closure of DVP – one of the major arteries in Toronto – around two hundred Toronto Armenians gathered at the Queen’s Park – Ontario’s parliament – to voice their solidarity with the civic movement in Armenia. Predominantly young participants along with their older brethren carried flags and banners # Մերժիր Սերժին (Reject Serzh) in reference to former president and present prime minister of Armenia.
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Dr. Dikran Abrahamian · 15 Bridle Rd. · Penetanguishene, On L9M 1J5 · Canada

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