Seta's Armenian Blog: September 2011

Friday, 30 September 2011

Armenian National Anthem (A Modern Version) Tashir-2011

Dear Reader

Here are a clips from YouTube, you too can enjoy them!

http://youtu.be/YE-6pFZnfmY ....[TASHIR - 2011]

http://youtu.be/vBJdfRxatAc

With thanks...

Մաշտոցի Արձագանգ, Հոկտեմբեր 2011 Mashdotsi Artsakank October 2011

Parev,
Please find the urls of the September 2011 issue of Mashdotsi Artsakank (Vol. 19 No 1). Here is the link to the October 2011 issue For past issues, please visit http://www.sourphagop.org/մաշտոցի_արձագանգ

Բարեւ,

Ահաւասիկ «Մաշտոցի Արձագանգ»ի Հոկտեմբեր 2011-ի թիւը որ կրնաք կարդալ հոսկէ՝ http://www.sourphagop.org/period/vol19no2.pdf

Իսկ եթէ կը փափաքիք կարդալ «Մաշտոցի Արձագանգ»ի նախկին թիւերը, զանոնք կը գտնէք այս URL-ի հասցէով: http://www.sourphagop.org/մաշտոցի_արձագանգ :

Անշուշտ նկատեցիք թէ URL-ին մէջ հայերէն գիրեր կան: Հասկնալու թէ ինչո՞ւ աշխատեցանք որպէսզի հայերէն գիրեր ունենանք URL-ին մէջ, կը խնդրենք կարդալ խմբագրականը:

Արեւմտահայերէնի փրկութիւնը՝ թուային (digital) պարունակութիւն ունենալու մէջ կը կայանայ Էջ 2
Հոկտեմբեր ամսուան բացատրական բառարան: Էջ 3-5
Ս. Աւետարանիչներ. Ս. Մատթէոս, Ս. Մարկոս, Ս. Ղուկաս, Ս. Յովհաննէս
Քրիստոսի 72 աշակերտները
Ս. Թարգմանիչ Վարդապետները Ս. Մեսրոպ Մաշտոց Ս. Եղիշէ Պատմիչ Ս. Դաւիթ Անյաղթ Ս. Մովսէս Քերթող Ս. Գրիգոր Նարեկացի Ս. Ներսէս ՇնորհալիՀսկան Էջ 6
Օշական գիւղի Մեսրոպ Մաշտոց եկեղեցին Էջ 7
Փութանակի Թարգմանութիւն Էջ 7
Հաւատանք եւ վստահինք Աստուծոյ Էջ 8
Յիսուսի Փորձութիւնը Էջ 9
Աններող Ծառային Առակը էջ 10
Եզակի գիրեր Էջ 11
Ո՞րն է ճիշդ պատասխանը Էջ 12-15
Կիրակնօրեայի Գործունէութիւն Էջ 16

Thursday, 29 September 2011

Placido Domingo in Yerevan

Paros Chamber Choir performs Yerevan Erebuni

with Placido Domingo

(HD viersion)

This link was sent today, please watch and enjoy!

http://youtu.be/3tZjim4dn4s

Dear Reader

Wonderful thing are happening to Armenians

Let's not forget our tragic past and strive for the

Recognition of the GENOCIDE OF THE ARMENIAN

NATION BY THE YOUNG TURKS OF THE OTTOMAN

EMPIRE IN 1915!...

THIS IS AN APPEAL TO THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT

...HOW ELSE ARE WE TO MARK THE CENTENNIAL,

OTHER THAN THE RECOGNITION OF ITS OCCURRENCE

AND FOR TURKY TO GRACEFULLY RETURN ARMENIAN

LAND...I UNDERSTAND THERE IS SOME MOVEMENT

TOWARD THIS. BUT, TIME IS MOVING FAST. SMALL

GESTURES ARE SLOW IN COMING, LET US LIVE

PEACEABLY...GARDASH TO GARDASH [Brother]

WITHOUT TYRANNICAL RULE OVER ARMENIANS

OR TURKISH NATIONALS.

Seta

FATHER FRANK’S RANTS - Rihanna’s Boobs

Rant Number 458 28 September 2011

‘I never heard of Rihanna’, Northern Irishman Alan Graham said. Neither, praise God, had the priest. Until this morning, when listening to a radio phone in. Now the existence of such creature is known to me. And the matter of her naked boobs, displayed on Graham’s property. ‘Inappropriate’, the Christian landowner termed the singer’s partial nakedness. He also spoke of ‘a greater God’. Puzzling expression. Anyway, if God is brought in, maybe God’s Word, the Bible, should get a look in, so that, perhaps, naughty Rihanna should be told.
Before I give it a go, let me share with you a personal anecdote. When a Curate at Chiswick Parish Church my Vicar, Patrick, warned me about visiting women living alone, after six p.m. ‘Don’t worry, Father’ I told him, ‘my virtue is unassailable’. So one day I went to see Ms Blenkinsop. ‘Would you like some tea?’ she kindly asked. Yes of course, so she went next door. A few minutes later she walked back into the room, completely, stark naked.
So, nudity in the Bible. Yes, Adam and Eve were created naked but that’s not the first example I thought of. Rather, because of a theological chat I had had earlier about Ham’s progeny, it was the case of Noah in Genesis 9. After the Flood Noah gets drunk (Come on! Who would not need a drink after going through something like that?). One of his three sons, Ham, sees him sleeping naked – his descendants are cursed. The other two sons, Shem and Japhet, who averted their eyes from their father’s nudity, are commended: their offspring will prosper.
Judiciously, I consulted my reference tomes on Genesis 9. Problem is, they are too sophisticated. The Jerome Biblical Commentary, a Roman Catholic affair keeps mum about it. So does the old, largely protestant Peake’s Commentary, or an even earlier High Anglican Scripture Commentary with the Apocrypha. Nudity in the Bible as a topic presumably was felt too passé – or even prurient, perhaps? - by the learned scholars who glossed our passage. So I had to turn - mea culpa, mea maxima culpa – to the Internet. What a relief – an embarrassment of riches there. Penned largely by Protestants. Well, what’s so bad about that? Protestantism and Englishness are almost synonymous – Scratch an Englishman, find a Protestant – wrote Irishman G.B. Shaw. The poor priest is Italian but he is an Anglican and the Anglican Church is partly protty, so...that’s kosher.
The minds of the Victorians, those goodly ancestors of today’s drifting, paganising Englishmen, were still sufficiently shot through with biblical knowledge and imagery to find natural and congenial the idea that nakedness=sin=punishment. Visit, pray, the stunning John Martin exhibition at Tate Britain. Martin was a painter of catastrophic, spectacular dramas. In huge canvasses like ‘The Great Day of His Wrath’ and ‘The Last Judgment’ he depicts the cosmic upheavals an avenging God will inflict on his creation. Look out for the tiny, naked figures. They are invariably amongst the sinners. The righteous, however, are all decorously clothed. Could not be more biblically correct.
Yes, Adam and Eve were created naked. In Paradise, living in close communion with God, there was no shame so it did not matter. Immediately after they ate the forbidden fruit, however, ‘their eyes were opened and they knew they were naked’, so they make themselves clothes to cover their bodies. Sin entails shame. Wonderful moral...
It would be tedious to rehearse all the many biblical passages concerning nudity. But they are not all unambiguous. King David once dances naked before the Lord, for example. God commands Isaiah to walk around naked and barefoot, although that may be symbolical. Nonetheless, Leviticus 18 has a series of ordinances against nakedness. Aaron, Moses’ brother and the first high priest, exposes the nudity of the Hebrews who had worshipped the Golden Calf. And the Gospel of St John (21:7) says that Peter put on his fisherman’s garb, so that Jesus should not see him naked. Generally, in the Bible the image of nudity is connected with idolatry, sin and fornication and that’s that.
Muslims, by the way, cover the parts of the human body called the awrah. Surah al-A’araf has relevant Qur’anic passages. Islamic Law invokes prophetic hadiths in this connection – my Islamic friends can sort that out. But I don’t reckon you’ll find many Muslims arguing that nakedness is quite halal.
Rihanna, I suspect, does not give a toss about the Scriptures, although she, hailing from Barbados, might well have had a Bible in the family home. But I cannot totally blame her. As for years semi-nudity and lewd conduct have been splashed out all over the media, as well as publicly praised and practiced as most normal things, naturally our society has come to regard them as harmless as sucking lollypops. (Amazing what you see on Channel 5 these days – pornography is too kind a word for it.) Hardly surprising if the young behave accordingly. Shame today is chiefly confined to unspeakable sins like racism, anti-Semitism and anti- multiculturalism. Only religious ‘fanatics’ and human dinosaurs make the occasional noise about sexual morality. Groan...degeneracy has set in – short of the Apocalypse, or the return of the Hidden Imam, we are stuck with it.
My heart goes out to Mr Graham. An Ulsterman. The English are very snooty about his lot. Bigoted, narrow, intolerant, all the clichés apply. I should imagine the British Government would be quite happy to hand over Irishmen like him to the Republic. Yet the people of Ulster on the whole care more about Christianity than most present-day Englishmen. Even Ian Paisley, awful as he used to be, strikes me as preferable to, or, after his fashion, more Christian than our ‘bland Dave’ PM. Actually, Mr Graham has behaved in a most mild, reasonable fashion. He said he wished ‘no ill’ to the bikiniless girl. There goes a good Christian for you. There are still a few left...
Oh, and nude Ms Blenkinsop? What happened that night in Chiswick between the Curate and the parishioner?
But nothing, of course.
Revd Frank Julian Gelli

Wednesday, 28 September 2011

'PRIMATE’S FIRST BADARAK AS A BISHOP AND THE SUBSEQUENT RECEPTION'

For the attention of all Armenians Everywhere!

The Very Revd Dr. Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, will celebrate his first Divine Liturgy, Badarak as a bishop (following the ordination ceremonies in Etchmiadzin) on Sunday, 20th November. The first episcopal Badarak of the Primate will be celebrated in St. Yeghiche Church, London, with the participation of Armenians from all over the UK and Ireland. All are encouraged to join in and share this joyful day with the Primate.

There will be no invitations for the Badarak. All are welcome. Meanwhile, at their meeting on Sunday, 11th September and per their unanimous agreement, the chairmen of the Armenian Church councils, board of wardens, mission parish councils, and Church Trusts, confirmed the same afternoon, Sunday, the 20th November, as the date of the reception in honour of the Primate’s ordination and first Badarak.

The reception will take place at the Shannon Hall in Copthorn Tara Hotel in Kensingon, London, 3:00-6:00pm. Among several interesting items, the programme will include a 10-minute video presentation of the actual ordination ceremonies in Holy Etchmiadzin. Admission to the aftefrnoon reception: £20 per person, which will partially defray the cost. Donations are also welcome, and will be acknowledged in a booklet distributed at the reception.

Please make your cheques payable to: The Armenian Church Trust of UK, and mail it to: The Primate’s Office, 25 Cheniston Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TG. Seating is limited. Please make your reservation at your earliest convenience. For further information contact he Primate’s Office at: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk, or call: 02081278364.

TURKISH SHIPS IN CYPRUS WATERS

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The largest circulation Armenian e-magazine, circulates every Thursday. Est. 1999

TURKISH SHIPS IN
CYPRUS WATERS

Cyprusnewsreport.com - Turkish seismic research ship K. Piri Reis is deep in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) just off Pissouri and Kouklia, headed towards Block 12 where Noble Energy is conducting exploration for undersea gas, according to its last-known position tracked by www.MarineTraffic.com .
The ship has encroached on Block 1 of the EEZ, and has moved into the southern coast although it had been expected to only explore off the north coast of the island. It can conduct seismic exploration for 20 days and its destination is Mersin, Turkey.
The move has raised new questions about just how far Turkey is willing to go in its attempt to claim rights over Cyprus' potential undersea gas-and-oil reserves. Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said that Nicosia is watching Turkey's moves with a cool head and is taking appropriate actions and measures.
Turkish-Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu said: ‘We have rights on all sides of the island and we put forth that we can give the authority to any company in any region to explore natural gas.
According to Prof. Dr Huseyin Avni Benli, Director of Dokuz Eylul University's Naval Sciences and Technology Institute which owns Piri Reis, the vessel is expected to reach its research area in the afternoon and begin seismic studies there. The vessel's locating device has been switched off since the afternoon of September 26th and it is unclear whether the ship has dropped anchor. But according to a report on Turkey's state news agency, the ship's 10 academics started work on Monday the 26th at 4.30pm. Turkish-Cypriot news reports say that the ship is in or very near Block 12 and is accompanied by a frigate.
Turkey's research and blatant scorn for Cyprus' sovereignty follows an agreement between it and the political leadership of the unilaterally-declared 'TRNC' in the north. Both parties dispute the government's decision to go ahead with offshore gas drilling operations and signed a maritime border agreement last week.
The agreement is the first step in a series of measures Turkey said it would take if the government proceeds with offshore gas drilling operations which started last week. Turkey then sent K. Piri Reis to start seismic research and explore for hydrocarbons in the area. It has also hired a ship from Norwegian company Veritas to start exploration.
Ankara threatened an arms build-up in the Eastern Mediterranean, saying that it would increase its naval presence, and rousing Greece, Israel, Russia and Cyprus to take a united defensive military position over the island's sovereign rights under the International Law of the Sea. Turkey has not signed this UN treaty, which sets out the conditions that each country can use to delimit its EEZ.
Greece is set to send F16 fighter aircraft to Israel in mid-October for joint exercises with Israeli F-16 squadrons, says a report on Defencenet.gr. The combined force of the two airforces would create a 'steel vice' in the Eastern Mediterranean to act as a deterrent to any military threats from Turkey, said an analyst. Meanwhile, Ankara said it has sent more frigates to patrol the area off Cyprus' coast.

Escalating tensions have increased the potential for a military incident like a dogfight in the air or a clash at sea, with Turkey and Israel ready to challenge each other at any moment. Relations between the former allies have rapidly unravelled in the months since Israeli special forces killed nine Turkish aid activists at sea on their way to take supplies to the Gaza Strip in May 2010.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said that Israel's refusal to apologise over the killings - which happened in international waters - was casus belli and that he would send more Turkish navy ships to the seas off Israel, Lebanon and Gaza.
But these threats and other reports of possible military action have not stopped Noble Energy which has an exploratory license for Block 12 in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone that experts say could contain 10 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. According to energy services chief Solon Kassinis, drilling is going according to plan and there should be results in two to three months.
If undersea gas is discovered, Noble Energy said that it could be delivered from Block 12 by 2014. The sector has been dubbed 'Aphrodite' and neighbors Israel's natural gas field Leviathan which is considered to be one of the Mediterranean's largest undersea gas reserves. The first well drilled on Leviathan alone contained 16 trillion cubic feet of gas.

You can send your messages to the family on gregory@cytanet.com.cy
You can make your contributions in lieu of flowers, to the following euro & dollar accounts.

Bank Name: Marfin Popular Bank Public Company Ltd
Account Number: 101-1100-3421
(for contributions in Cyprus)

International subscribers of Gibrahayer e-magazine
can make contributions to the following USD Account:

Bank Name: Marfin Popular Bank Public Company Ltd,
Bank Address: Strovolos Industrial Area sub-Branch,
Stavrou Avenue 96-I, 2034 Nicosia – Cyprus.
A/C Name:Aynedjian Simon. A/C No: 101-33-002517(USD)
IBAN (International Bank Account Number)
CY41 0030 0101 0000 0101 3300 2517
Laiki Bank Swift Code No: - BIC: LIKICY2N

80th anniversary dinner celebrations in Larnaca
Sign up by calling Hay Agoump Committee or texting Taline Babikian on 96577847

Gibrahayer Calendar Events

Thursday 29 September 2011 at 8.00pm at Homenetmen – AYMA – Annual General Meeting of Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association’s “Oshagan” Cyprus Chapter.
Friday 30 September at 8:30 pm - Dinner celebrations for the 80th Anniversary of the Armenian Club of Larnaca, at the newly renovated Sun Hall Hotel. Buffet dinner and rich programme of live Armenian music and songs, as well as Armenian Folk Dances from Hamazkayin's SIPAN Dance Ensemble. For reservations please call Ani Yenovkian 99536988, Roubina Bohdjelian 99607568, Adelina Boyadjian 99575982, until the 25th of September. Entrance: Adults 25 euros and children 15 euros, including drinks.
Thursday 6 October at 8:30 pm - Hay Tad Movie Night at Homenetmen - AYMA. "The Lark Farm". Organised by The Armenian National Committee of Cyprus (Hay Tad)
Sunday 23 October 0 1:00 pm - Autumn Fund-Raising Luncheon organised by The Armenian Relief Society (HOM) Sosse Cyprus Chapter at Homenetmen - AYMA.
Saturday 19 November at 7:00 pm - Preparation of Madagh
Sunday 20th November at 10:00 am - Feast of Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church in Nicosia. Divine Liturgy & Blessing of the Madagh.
Sunday 27 November at 4:00 pm - HOM (Armenian Relief Society) Cyprus "Sosse" Chapter’s Christmas Fund Raiser at Cleopatra Hotel for humanitarian projects in Armenia, Artsakh and Cyprus.
Sunday 4 December - HOM (Armenian Relief Society) Cyprus Sosse Chapter’s Stassikratous street Bazaar for humanitarian projects in Armenia, Artsakh and Cyprus.
Sunday 25 December at 9:00 pm – Homenetmen - AYMA Christmas Ball.
Sunday 1 January 2012 – Santa will be visiting Homenetmen -AYMA. Details to follow.
Saturday 21 January 2012 - as Kravadz Or. Details to follow.

PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR MP VARTKES MAHDESSIAN

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Republic of Armenia, President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on 3rd September 2011 on awarding MP Vartkes Mahdessian the prestigious "Mkhitar Kosh" Medal for notable state, public and political activities. The ceremony took place in Yerevan on Saturday 17th September 2011, which was followed by a reception in participation of high ranking political officials and other guests.

HAY TAD MOVIE NIGHT

JOIN SIPAN DANCE ENSEMBLE

Practice sessions of SIPAN Dance Ensemble of Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association under Director / Choreographer Felix Haroutunian begin on Saturday 8 October, 2011 at Homenetmen - AYMA and will continue until the end of 2011 on Friday's, Saturday's and Sunday's.
A new schedule with practices during the week, will be announced in 2012.
Interested to join SIPAN's Dance Ensemble?
Call Shoushig Bakalian on 99667828.

visit our website at www.armenaki.com

New development project overlooking Larnaca Salt Lake, by three young Armenian professionals of our community. Click here

Direct to Yerevan

Tuesday, 27 September 2011

Reflections on Armenia’s 20th anniversary

Dear Reader

Խորհրդածութիւններ ՀՀ-ի Քսանամեակին Առիթով

http://www.keghart.com/Reflections-20thAnniversary

Reflections on the occasion of Armenia's twentieth anniversary

Keghart.com presents five articles from various media outlets. They represent a variety of opinions. It's up to the individual reader to assess them and probably comment on what the authors say.

Յարութ Տէր Դաւիթեան, Մասիս
Մինաս Գոճայեան, Նոր Օր
Asbarez Editorial
Արման Գալոյան, Լրագիր
Harut Sassounian, The California Courier

Please visit the poll question located in the right column on the front page.

Following twenty years of independence, has Republic of Armenia fulfilled your expectations?

Wednesday, 21 September 2011

Hayasdan Ir Verangakhoutyan Ksanamyagin By Hagop Mardirossian, Los Angeles, USA

To see larger and readable versions of the pages below, please click on each one in turn, using your Browser's Back button to return here.

Թրքաբարոյ Հերթական Ձաբրտուք

Թրքաբարոյ Հերթական Ձաբրտուք

http://www.keghart.com/Aghbashian-vigilance

Պարոյր Աղպաշեան, Պէյրութ, 17 Սեպտեմբեր 2011

Թուրքիոյ “կարկառուն-կըրկռան” վարչապետը՝ Ռեժիպ Թայիպ Էրտողան, ոչ միայն դիմակազերծ դարձաւ, այլեւ՝ իր ամբարտաւան շահադիտակութիւնը պարզեց, երբ Սուրիոյ հետ իր կեղծ “մեղրալուսին”ին վերջ դրաւ, ընդհուպ դառնալով մարդասէր-խաղաղասէր մը, աջ ու ահեակ դասեր տալով:
....Read more >> http://www.keghart.com/Aghbashian-vigilance

We will not back down !

The largest circulation Armenian e-magazine, circulates every Thursday. Est. 1999

"WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN !"

By Stefanos Evripidou Published on September 18, 2011 - Cyprus will not back down over its right to explore for oil and gas in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis told Turkish daily Milliyet yesterday.
In an interview with the Turkish paper, Marcoullis was quoted saying: “I don’t think Turkey will send warships to the area of explorations to try to take a step that would be contrary to the UN Charter and jeopardise its objective of EU accession.”
She added that she did not think Turkey would target American interests, given that the company doing the drilling is Houston-based Noble Energy.
The Cypriot Minister further clarified that the Cyprus Republic will not back down on the issue of explorations in the Mediterranean.
“Once the island unites under a bicommunal federation, Turkish Cypriots will also benefit from this development which will bring prosperity to the whole island. As long as the partition of the island continues, Turkish Cypriots will be deprived of Cyprus’ wealth,” she said, adding, “Cyprus will not be forever doomed to the policy of Turkey.”
Regarding peace talks on the island, Marcoullis said the Greek Cypriots were aiming for a single Cypriot state with single international personality and citizenship, noting that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots were promoting the notion of two separate states in a confederation.
“I don’t want to lose hope for reunification. Partition would be catastrophic not only for Cypriots but for the security of Turkey, Greece and the eastern Mediterranean,” she said.
The Minister said the government’s vision of the future was one that included close cooperation with its neighbour Turkey.
“For this to happen, Turkey must stop militarily occupying Cypriot territory and allow Cypriots to shape their common future. The time has come for a new page in our relations. Erdogan holds the key.”
In the interview with Milliyet, Marcoullis sent a message of thanks to the Turkish Cypriots “because during a tragic time, they responded immediately to our needs for electricity supply”.
Meanwhile, exploratory drilling in Cyprus’ EEZ, specifically in its offshore Aphrodite field south of the island is due to start in the next few days, possibly tomorrow.
Noble’s rig is already in position, while preparations are underway to transport personnel to and from the rig to Limassol port via helicopter on a daily basis.
According to yesterday’s Phileleftheros, President Demetris Christofias told the informal council of party leaders on Friday that Cyprus will proceed with a second round of licensing for the exploration and extraction of hydrocarbon reserves in the remaining blocks of its EEZ once drilling gets underway.
The President reportedly told party leaders that Cyprus had made the necessary preparations to deal with any Turkish actions. Turkey has threatened to deploy warships to the area should Cyprus go ahead with drilling.

Christofias reportedly told party leaders on Friday that three Turkish frigates were monitoring the Noble rig. He added that it was clear Turkey planned to move ahead with its own explorations west of Cyprus, noting also that all leave for military personnel has been postponed in the north.
The government and parties agreed on the need to prepare for recourse to the UN Security Council should Turkey take any new steps. Christofias also agreed to give the government contract with Noble to House President Yiannakis Omirou who will make it available for party leaders only, given the strict confidentiality clause in it.
In an apparent response to Cyprus’ plans to exploit its natural wealth, Turkey said it was ready to sign an agreement with the Turkish Cypriot breakaway state delineating its continental shelf, ahead of its own exploratory drilling. At the same time, it has chartered a Norwegian vessel to conduct seismic studies in the waters around the Greek island of Castellorizo.

20th ANNIVERSARY PARADE
TODAY IN YEREVAN

AYF SOGHOMON TEHLIRIAN
PANAGOUM IN TROODOS

AYF Cyprus Press Release - The ARF GEM (Gibrosi Yeridasartagan Mioutiun) 23rd camping, entitled “Soghomon Tehlirian”, took place from 10th to 17th of August, 2011 in the Girl Guides’ Association Campsite in Troodos.
The camping that attracted over 40 badani and yeridasart kicked-off on Wednesday 10th at 12 noon with the official troshagi araroghoutiun, after which the general rules and regulations were explained to the campers, their tents and teams sorted, introductions made to each other and (their) team leaders were nominated.
The daily program started at 7 am with morning exercise and some self-defense techniques, followed by troshagi araroghoutiun, breakfast and then tents and campsite cleaning and inspection, for which the cleanest and most organised tent was given a Yerakouin flag to keep for the day. Educational games and lectures or field and hiking trips were scheduled for the daily program. After shower at 7pm, each team had some free time with its team leader, after which the troshagi araroghoutiun took place, marking the end of the work day. Dinner was served at 8 pm, after which the program included singing, movie watching and games. Lights went out at 11 pm; guards took their stations and guarded the campsite until morning, doing two-hour shifts.

This year’s camping theme was “Iravounk’e oujn’ e miyayn” and most lectures covered how, why and when a person, a group of people or a nation as a whole, should cultivate its physical, mental and spiritual strengths to use them not only to defend his, her or its own rights, but also to defend the helpless, in face of injustice, tyranny and oppression.
Other lectures covered First Aid, Communication, Armenian revolutionary history of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the war for the independence of Artsakh (Karabakh) and Artsakh’s present and future. This final lecture was given by Unger Tavit Ishkhanian, Chairman of the ARF Central Committee of Artsakh, who was visiting Cyprus at the time.
Field and hiking trips included the traditional tracking to Caledonian Falls, visit to the Troodos Forest Museum, swimming pool and night hiking to Troodos Square.
On Thursday August 11, the campers had the opportunity to visit the Limassol port, where the “Armenia” sailboat was scheduled to end its long tour, to participate in a special ceremony organised by the Armenian Embassy and the Office of the Armenian Representative in the Cyprus Parliament, Mr. Vartkes Mahdessian.

On the last day of the camping, parents and friends were invited to have lunch at the campsite, witness the official closing ceremony of the Panagoum and watch a special mini-movie prepared by the campers, showing the daily life at the camp for the preceding week.
Mixed emotions were witnessed at this last day; bags were packed and everybody was prepared to go back to the comfort of their homes but could not easily part from all the memories and friendships they had built during that week.
The ARF GEM - Varitch Marmin would like to take this opportunity to thank all responsible for the success of this year’s panagoum, especially the Girl Guides’ Association, Mrs. Armenouhi Gosdanian, who prepared all the delicious and nutritious meals during the whole week, Dr. Vahak Kazandjian for his lecture on First Aid, all the other lecturers, the team leaders and all the ungerner and ungerouhiner who worked selflessly, not only during that one week but also for months before, to plan and accomplish such an unforgettable event.
We would also like to inform all the youths and their parents that gatherings and meetings are held weekly at our Agoump in AYMA for three separate groups:
- Grdtser Badanegan: ages 6 to 12
- Yerets Badanegan: ages 13 to 15
- Yeridasartagan (GEM): ages 16 to 23
ARF Dashnktsoutiun GEM - Varitch Marmin - Cyprus

GIBRAHAYER FUNDRAISER 2011

Dear readers and subscribers,
After 12 years, 700 issues, 1,570 Alerts, 2,000 Facebook posts to a growing social network of 5,500 friends, over 300,000 visitors as well as 20,000 steady weekly subscribers later, we feel we have completed an unparallel cycle, not only for Cyprus but for any online media publication.
We feel that our online community needs to move to the next level of information sharing, but most of all into channelling our resources into combating disinformation by the enemies of our people, who have been engineering to consolidate the spoils of their loot. If you feel we can make a difference, we urge you to empower our effort financially, and provide us with the means to put our knowledge into action, by taking this platform to a level that will bring tangible results in promoting Armenian-related issues not only to our communities, but further beyond.
We are counting on your undivided and whole-hearted support.
Please reply to this e-mail and let us know with the amount by which you want to assist our publication.
Thanking you in advance for your assistance.
Gibrahayer e-magazine - Wednesday 21 September, 2011.

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80th anniversary dinner celebrations in Larnaca
Sign up by calling Hay Agoump Committee or texting Taline Babikian on 96577847

Gibrahayer Calendar Events

Friday 23 September at 7:30 pm - at the PASYDY Hall in Nicosia - Unforgettable musical moments with a cappella songs and hymns with the famous "Al Fayha" Choir, conducted by Maestro Barkev Taslakian organised by The Maronite Archbishopric and The Armenian Prelature of Cyprus, with the participation of Hamazkayin's SIPAN Dance Ensemble and the "Youth Melody" choir of the Maronite Archbishopric of Cyprus. Entrance: 10 euros with proceeds going to various charities. The performance will be followed by dinner at Homenetmen - AYMA. Dinner entrance 10 euros. Watch Al Fayha Choir. www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2fI3BoEuMA& .
Saturday, September 24, at 6:00 pm - Armenian Evangelical Church service in Greek Evangelical Church, 20 Gladstonos street, Nicosia. Speaker: Hrayr Jebejian. Sermon title, “ Zirar Entounil- Nayev Darperoutiounerov”.
Thursday 29 September 2011 at 8.00pm at Homenetmen – AYMA – ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association’s “Oshagan” Cyprus Chapter.
Friday 30 September at 8:30 pm - Dinner celebrations for the 80th Anniversary of the Armenian Club of Larnaca, at the Sun Hall Hotel. For reservations please call Ani Yenovkian 99536988, Roubina Bohdjelian 99607568, Adelina Boyadjian 99575982, until the 25th of September.
Sunday 23 October at 1:00 pm - Autumn Fund-Raising Luncheon organised by The Armenian Relief Society (HOM) Sosse Cyprus Chapter at Homenetmen - AYMA.
Sunday 13th November – Kravadz or.
Saturday 19 November at 7:00 pm - Preparation of Madagh
Sunday 20th November at 10:00 am - Feast of Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church in Nicosia. Divine Liturgy & Blessing of the Madagh.
Sunday 27 November at 4:00 pm - HOM (Armenian Relief Society) Cyprus "Sosse" Chapter’s Christmas Fund Raiser at Cleopatra Hotel for humanitarian projects in Armenia, Artsakh and Cyprus.
Sunday 4 December - HOM (Armenian Relief Society) Cyprus Sosse Chapter’s Stassikratous street Bazaar for humanitarian projects in Armenia, Artsakh and Cyprus.
Sunday 25 December at 9:00 pm – Homenetmen - AYMA Christmas Ball at The Cyprus Hilton.
HAIG ASHDJIAN WINS IN SERBIA

Former Cyprus Davis Cup star Haig Ashdjian won an international seniors tennis tournament at PANCVO TENNIS CLUB in Serbia. In the last three rounds Ashdjian defeated Sladakovic Stevo from Serbia 6-0, 6-0, Pantic Milos of Serbia 6-0, 6-1 and in the finals he defeated Michaileschu Lucian of Romania 6-2, 6-0.
Congratulations champ !

Happy 20th Anniversary, Armenia!

Content

Իմ Անունը Հայաստան Է : My Name Is Armenia (Video) http://www.keghart.com/Armenia-Video
Celebrating the Zoryan Institute Keghart.com Team Editorial http://www.keghart.com/Editorial-Zoryan
Թրքաբարոյ Հերթական Ձաբրտուք Պարոյր Աղպաշեան http://www.keghart.com/Aghbashian-vigilance
Supporting Our Friends at Election Time Armenians for a Just Ontario http://www.keghart.com/ON-Elections-2011
11 Սեպտեմբեր 2001...Եւ Յետոյ Սահակ Թութճեան http://www.keghart.com/Toutjian-9-11
Garegin Nzhdeh - Selected Works in English Antranig Bedrossian http://www.keghart.com/Bedrossian-Nzhdeh
«Կորսուած Քաղա՞ք», Թէ՞ «Յաւերժական Հայրենիք» Հրայր Ճէպէճեան http://www.keghart.com/H-Jebejian-Peru
Coffee with Ahmet and Mehmet Jirair Tutunjian http://www.keghart.com/Tutunjian-Ahmet-Mehmet
"Դուք ալ մեզ նման էրկա՛ր ժամանակ մնա՛ք հայ" Գրիգոր Գրաճեան http://www.keghart.com/Krajian-Hemshin
Around the World in 1001 Words Announcement of lecture by Jirair Tutunjian http://www.keghart.com/Words-Tutunjian
New Poll Question:
Following twenty years of independence, has Republic of Armenia fulfilled your expectations?

You might find other articles on www.keghart.com that interest you.
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Thank you for your attention.

Tuesday, 20 September 2011

FATHER FRANK’S RANTS - Ways to Die

Rant Number 457 20 September 2011

Disclaimer: this is not a euthanasia plug!
Could you be creative about the way you will die? Bit macabre but the Chinese scholar Li Zhi thought it a fine intellectual exercise. So he wrote an essay on death, ‘Five ways to Die’. Later, he slit his throat in prison. Slandered by a spiteful mandarin, facing disgrace and the destruction of his library, Li elected to die by his own hand, to teach his enemies a lesson. Huh! A brave man who was creative to the last...
Li’s five ways, ranked in order of importance, are: 1) death for a noble cause; 2) death fighting in war; 3) death in martyrdom; 4) death as a loyal official unjustly accused; 5) dying prematurely after completing some worthy work.
I cull Li’s egregious story from Jonathan Spence’s dazzling book, The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci, about the great Jesuit missionary of 16th century China. Evidently, Chinese classification criteria followed a peculiar logic. Death by martyrdom would rank above all others for Christians and Muslims, but our secular culture scorns that as fanaticism. Pacifists would shun a military death. Suicide is traditionally no licit way of dying in the West, although that taboo is being corroded by creeping, atheistic humanitarianism. And what exactly is a noble cause? Dying while relieving famine in Africa? Or while experimenting on a new, miraculous drug? Defending the rights of minorities, like Gipsies? Or what?
Before cutting his jugular, Li had penned some original reflections. You might assume that dying in your bed, assisted by spouse and kids, would be a desirable way to go. Li, a tad superciliously, disagreed. ‘This is hardly a way for a man to die.’ He argued that you are born for a cause, a reason - a good one - hence the right death must be for a similarly good reason and in condign rational manner. Fading away on a humdrum sickbed is not quite it. Although Li was no theist in the Western sense, his words echo those of a man who narrowly escaped death on a falling aircraft: ‘The good Lord saved me for a reason. Now I must found out what that reason is.’ Human life is not the result of a random concourse of atoms. It has an aim, a purpose, a rationale. Finding that out is man’s worthy, essential task.
Gloomy though it might appear, Li’s essay induces you to think. The austerity doldrums mean that many Europeans face declining pensions, longer ours of work, rising costs, falling lifestyles, uncertain futures. Old, young and middle-aged are all affected. Moreover, life in your wonderful ‘communities’ gets increasingly non-communitarian. Too often, behind the dubious consolations of TV, mobiles and Facebook lurk individualism, selfishness, loneliness, violence and squalor. Even the churches, once the last refuge of the desperate, are empty. The liberal God of the Church of England has being sucked into the fearful godless void. Ben gli sta!
Depressing, yes, but...blessings in disguise? It jolts you out of your complacent slouching in front of the box. Let us look at some options. The tombs of God called churches have pictures showing men and women holding a palm. The emblem of martyrdom. For believers that could certainly be an option. A wise pagan like Li Zhi showed the way. Of course, seeking martyrdom per se would be a sin. A Christian martyr chooses death to stay faithful to Christ, not to indulge in heroic fantasies. Yet, faithful to Christ, not just some progressive cause, like anti-racism or stop the war. As the British government enacts more and more anti-Christian legislation, the priest feels the point will soon come when martyrdom becomes Hobson’s choice. Devout Muslims too may well find themselves pushed in that direction. Got to watch what I say – I want God to choose the moment and manner of my martyrdom, not let Scotland Yard or MI5 do the job – still, the logic of the situation we are in...do you get my drift?
Further, there is death for glory. Traditionally linked with dying in battle. A soldier’s death. The Unknown Warrior’s grave in Westminster Abbey witnesses to that. When a fallen soldier’s body returns from Afghanistan, many Brits flock to pay homage. Right and proper. Glory still inspires. Glory is a suitable way to go. The martial races of India, like the Rajputs and the Sikhs, and like the Kshatriya castes of old, stood for the virtue of fighting, for the glory of war. Frown on old Prussia as much as you like, well, it helped Wellington to win at Waterloo, no? ‘He who for glory has died, has lived long and well’, a hymn has it. Glory is available to all. Just seize the right time for it.
Death as a protest against injustice. Hamlet’s soliloquised to the point: ‘...the oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely, the pangs of disprized love, the law’s delay, the insolence of office...’ – how topical. Injustice summons the righteous to fight. Perhaps to die. Hamlet of course felt restrained for a while, owing to the dread of that ‘something after death, the undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveller returns’. Lao Tzu, the author of the Tao Te Ching, a quirky work Li Zhi would have revered, was more forthright. He claimed that one who prizes life will slide smoothly into the realm of death. ‘...He who is supreme in keeping safe does not meet rhinos or tigers on land. Weapons do not hurt him when he plunges into war. There is no place for the rhino to drive his horn, or for the tiger’s fangs to tear apart or for the sword to slash. Why? Because death has no meaning for such a person.’
The priest does not presume to understand Taoism. Whether the enigmatic Lao Tzu has something valid to teach the West is a moot point. But old Li Zhi appeals to me. Because he is refreshingly provocative. (A bit like that great, drunken Welshman, Dylan Thomas: ‘Go raging into the night’, that’s the idea.) You take it for granted that the best way to die is a safe, quiet, bourgeois one. Not so, the sage tells us.
And he may be right.
Revd Frank Julian Gelli

Sunday, 18 September 2011

Hangoutsyal-i Hamar Artsounkner Chen Lini By Arman Vahanyan, Yerevan, Armenia

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Saturday, 17 September 2011

LOUSSAPATZ 901

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PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ISSUE OF LOUSSAPATZ CONTAINS IMPORTANT AND NEWLY PUBLISHED EVIDENCE REGARDING THE GENOCIDE.

Friday, 16 September 2011

DRILLING BEGINS 15 DAYS EARLIER, UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYES OF TURKISH WAR SHIPS

The largest circulation Armenian e-magazine, circulates every Thursday. Est. 1999

DRILLING BEGINS 15 DAYS EARLIER, UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYES OF TURKISH WAR SHIPS

The Cyprus Mail by Stefanos Evripidou - published on Friday September 16, 2011 - THE NOBLE rig Homer Ferrington yesterday took its place in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) ahead of the start of drilling next week under the watchful eye of Turkey’s navy and air force.
According to a Defence Ministry source, Turkish navy ships and planes watched from a distance as the rig was moved from Israel’s offshore field Noa where it completed drilling to Cyprus’ Block 12, also known as the Aphrodite field.
The source clarified that the Turkish ships and planes did not violate Cyprus’ territorial waters or air space.
The Homer rig is due to start exploratory drilling in Aphrodite as early as this Monday in a climate of tense rhetoric as the Turkish leadership continues to question the rights of Israel and Cyprus to drill in for hydrocarbon reserves in their respective EEZs.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry released a statement yesterday saying it would sign a pact with the breakaway state if Cyprus insisted on going ahead with drilling.
“It has been agreed that Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will conclude a continental shelf delimitation agreement should the Greek Cypriot administration proceed with offshore drilling activities in the south of the island,” said Turkey’s foreign ministry.
It did not elaborate on what that agreement would entail but said it had decided on the measure at a meeting in Turkey between Turkish and Turkish Cypriot officials, adding that further meetings would take place in northern Cyprus today.

According to a UN convention on maritime law, continental shelf delimitation refers to a coastal country’s territorial boundaries beyond its territorial sea but those boundaries are subject to a series of complex clauses.
To date, Turkey and Greece are in dispute over the size of the Greek islands' continental shelf lying in the Aegean, having avoided war over the issue in the 11th hour in 1996.
The Turkish Cypriot leadership’s top aide Kudret Ozersay yesterday told the Cyprus Mail that Turkish Cypriots would avoid signing the pact with Turkey if Cyprus called off its plans to drill in its southern EEZ.
Houston-based Noble Energy has a licence to drill in Cyprus’ Block 12, while Israeli company Delek also has an option to participate. The two companies are partners in explorations for hydrocarbon reserves in Israel’s gas fields. The Mediterranean basin is believed to have substantial quantities of deposits.

The war rhetoric was turned up a notch yesterday as the Homer rig took its place under Turkish surveillance while Turkey’s navy carried out war exercises in the Aegean. The naval exercises were planned long in advance.
According to state broadcaster CyBC, Turkey had 17 warships in total (three frigates, seven corvette gunships and seven torpedo gunboats) in the Aegean, moving between the Greek islands of Rhodes and Kastelorizo. One online news site reported that the National Guard (NG) had been put on a state of alert along with reservist soldiers.
A Defence Ministry source last night denied the reports, saying the NG was in a state of preparedness, not alert, as it always was, and that no reservists had been called. The military was watching developments closely, added the source.
Defence Minister Demetris Eliades is due in Athens today to have talks with his Greek counterpart Panos Beglitis. The two ministers also share a close friendship going back many years.
Speaking after meeting with US diplomats on the island, Eliades said he hoped the international community would not allow unpleasant developments to take place in the region.
He thanked the US for its stance on Cyprus’ aim to explore its energy resources.
A State Department spokesman yesterday repeated US support for efforts to enhance energy diversity in Europe, noting the fact a US company was involved was “also positive”.
According to CyBC, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu had a late night phone conversation on Wednesday, enacting their security cooperation agreement signed almost two weeks ago.
The taut climate in the region was enhanced yesterday when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned again that Turkish warships could be deployed to the eastern Mediterranean at any time.
During a visit to Tunis yesterday as part of his ‘Arab Spring tour’, Erdogan told a news conference: “Israel cannot do whatever it wants in the eastern Mediterranean. They will see what our decisions will be on this subject. Our navy attack ships can be there at any moment.”
Turkish EU Minister Egemen Bagis was quoted saying Turkey would not remain a bystander if oil and gas exploration was carried out in disputed waters.
“If they want, let the TRNC and the Greek Cypriot administration of south Cyprus search for oil together,” he said.
Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis said yesterday Cyprus was keeping the UN Security Council members informed of the latest threats on a regular basis. Until now, Cyprus “fully satisfied” with the network of political support, she added.
Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Gregoris Delavekouras said Cyprus has the self-evident sovereign right to exploit its natural resources, adding, “nobody can doubt that”.
The Greek spokesman said: “We hope that Turkey will behave calmly and will not contribute to even more tension”.

ON SUNDAY IN LARNACA

SIPAN DANCERS TO PARTICIPATE AT THE 6th MEDITERRANEAN FOLK DANCE FESTIVAL ON SUNDAY 18 SEPTEMBER
AT 8:00 PM IN LARNACA

The Sipan Armenian Dance Ensemble of Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association Cyprus Oshagan Cyprus will be participating in the 6th Mediterranean Folk Dance Festival on Sunday 18th of September at 8.00pm on the Sea-Front Stage at Finikoudes/Larnaca.
Additionally this year, Hamazkayin is exhibiting Armenian national costumes at the Municipal Gallery in Larnaca as part of "Traditional Costumes of the Mediterranean" exhibition which was inaugurated by the Mayor of Larnaca Andreas Moiseos on Friday 16 September at 7.00pm.
We hope that you will honor and encourage us with your presence and enjoy our breathtaking culture once again.
Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association Cyprus Oshagan Cyprus

ON MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2011 at 7:30 pm

GIBRAHAYER FUNDRAISER 2011

Dear readers and subscribers,
After 12 years, 700 issues, 1,570 Alerts, 2,000 Facebook posts to a growing social network of 5,500 friends, over 300,000 visitors as well as 20,000 steady weekly subscribers later, we feel we have completed an unparallel cycle, not only for Cyprus but for any online media publication.
We feel that our online community needs to move to the next level of information sharing, but most of all into channelling our resources into combating disinformation by the enemies of our people, who have been engineering to consolidate the spoils of their loot. If you feel we can make a difference, we urge you to empower our effort financially, and provide us with the means to put our knowledge into action, by taking this platform to a level that will bring tangible results in promoting Armenian-related issues not only to our communities, but further beyond.
We are counting on your undivided and whole-hearted support.
Please reply to this e-mail and let us know with the amount by which you want to assist our publication.
Thanking you in advance for your assistance.
Gibrahayer e-magazine - Friday 16 September, 2011.

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