News from NAASR - TRIBUTE TO ARMEN AROYAN HELD AT ARARAT-ESKIJIAN MUSEUM - Seta's blog tribute

Armen Aroyan was honored for his achievements and dedication over the past 25 years, during which he has tailored more than 75 Armenian Heritage tours for over 1,200 pilgrims to historic Armenia to show them the lands of their parents and grandparents. The tribute was organized and cosponsored by the Ararat-Eskijian Museum (AEM) and the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). The program took place on February 9, 2014, at the Sheen Chapel on the grounds of the Ararat Home Nursing Facility in Mission Hills, CA, followed by a dinner reception in the Museum. The master of ceremonies was Bruce Roat, Southern California board member of NAASR. He was introduced by Martin Eskijian, Chairman of the Ararat-Eskijian Museum, who initially welcomed an audience of more than 220 enthusiastic attendees. The program started by the Ani String Quartet rendering selections from Gomidas, Khatchaturian, and Berberian, including "Tsitsernak." Armen Aroyan receiving a gift from Gregory Ketabgian. Prof. Richard Hovannisian reviewed the history of the confiscation and redistribution of Armenian properties during and after the deportations and massacres. He commented that the Armenian Genocide was unique among the 20th century genocides since its survivors were the only ones who could not return back to inhabit their historic homes. If they attempted, they were invariably arrested and sent back. Prior to the 1980s, by law no non-Muslim could venture to the interior of Turkey, even if they were Turkish citizens of Istanbul. Prof. Hovannisian gave examples of how difficult it was for Armenians to visit eastern Turkey in the early 1980s, when some travelers had their cameras and film as well as their luggage confiscated by Turkish security personnel, and they finally had to leave. Armen Aroyan's first expedition into the interior of Turkey in 1987 was to Antep, his own ancestral land. He dealt in a low-key manner with the Turkish inhabitants and won them over with his smile while he searched for remnants of old Armenian homes and churches. From that point on, he extended his scope by discovering the small villages that his pilgrims yearned to visit. More than anything, he enjoyed seeing the joy and pleasure in the eyes of the people he took there, the descendants of the Genocide survivors, as they experienced the life-altering event of walking where their parents and grandparents had once walked. Prof. Hovannisian ended his talk by thanking Armen for having enriched so many people's lives. The next presentation was an extensive slide show by Roupen Berberian, a four-time traveler with Armen, of various groups he guided at numerous historic sites. This was accompanied by historical commentary by Mr. Berberian. In addition, there was coverage of Armen's genealogy, family influences, and education in Cairo, Egypt, and his immigration to Southern California where he furthered his education in Electrical Engineering at USC. He worked for McDonnell Douglas Aerospace for 25 years. Armen had guided many scholars, authors, religious leaders, and documentarians from different countries on their trips to Turkey. Program participants; left to right: Martin Eskijian, Gregory Ketabgian, Maggie Mangassarian Goschin, Roupen Berberian, Anne Elizabeth Redgate, Armen Aroyan, Richard Hovannisian, Bruce Roat Anne Elizabeth Redgate, a historian from Newcastle University in England, made the long trip specifically to be present on this occasion. She had been with Armen Aroyan on previous trips and commented on how he had been able to fulfill the realization of the pilgrims' dreams by taking them safely to the heart of historic Armenia. She had studied Armenian history for a long time, but being given a chance to connect with the people and being "a beneficiary of Armen's magic" had meant a great deal to her. Bruce Roat acknowledged the many messages of congratulation that were received from pilgrims who were not able to travel to the tribute event. He read three testimonials, one by Lucille Hamparian, and another from Jack Bournazian, who compared Armen to "an Armenian locksmith" who "came into our lives and fitted a personal key for each of us, unlocking the door to our personal pasts." In a third testimonial, Nancy Kolligian, former Chairman of NAASR, who has worked closely with Armen Aroyan and Prof. Hovannisian in organizing several NAASR Armenian Heritage Tours, commended Armen for "the importance you have always placed in making each traveler feel special and complete in their personal quests" and commented that her visit to Hussenig in historic Armenia was "one of the most memorable and emotional experiences in my life." Martin Eskijian presented Armen with an award of recognition from the Ararat-Eskijian Museum, a sculpture of an Armenian mother protecting her child during the deportation. The NAASR tribute was given by Southern California board member Dr. Gregory Ketabgian who presented Armen with a symbolic silver bowl designed by Michael Aram and representing Noah's Ark resting on top of Mt. Ararat . He said "although British ships could not climb Mt. Ararat, Armen was symbolically able to do it with his vans." Armen thanked all the organizers of the event and explained the "providential chain of events" that led to his passion for organizing tours through historic Armenia. He described some of the Armenians he had discovered still living in remote corners of historic Armenia. He was inspired by how they were initially reluctant but after relaxing were able to sing the sharagans, recite the Havadamk, the Armenian alphabet, and so on. He explained what he calls the "King Arshak phenomenon," the transformation process he has witnessed in pilgrims "reminiscent of the legend of the forlorn, depressed, and subservient Armenian King Arshak II in captivity, who would miraculously regain his boldness and strength when he stepped on the soil brought from the homeland." He also thanked all the pilgrims who had travelled with him and emphasized that he had learned much from them and their family histories. "The pilgrims," he said, "gave me the opportunity to see our homeland through their eyes, with the very wonder and awe of the first time-every time. Together, we turned a haunted memory into a tangible reality." Armen explained the importance to him of the poem "My Death" by Bedros Tourian and recited the last two lines: "When from the world my memory fades away, / That is the time when I indeed shall die!" He concluded: "First and foremost, last but not least, it is all about keeping the memory of our rich legacy alive and propagating it for future generations." Armen Aroyan is in the process of publishing a two-volume collection of writings by and about his co-travelers and their experiences. Rev. Kevork Terian of the Armenian Cilicia Evangelical Church of Pasadena ended the program with the benediction and wished Armen good health to "continue his sacred mission to create new memories for those yearning for their homeland which was so unjustly taken away from them." The reception, prepared by Maggie Mangassarian Goschin, the director of the Ararat-Eskijian Museum as well as one of Armen Aroyan's pilgrims, and Nora Nalbandian, was a veritable cornucopia of Armenian dishes representing the different regions of historic Armenia. A varied selection of wine was donated by Mr. Paul Kalemkiarian of the Wine of the Month Club.

Forward this email This email was sent to trendseta52@hotmail.com by hq@naasr.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. NAASR | 395 Concord Avenue | Belmont | MA | 02478 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear NAASR member I wish to send Mr Aroyan my personal good wishes for everything he achieved with our group  from 3rd to 13th October 2013. Our pilgrimage to Western Armenia would not have be the same  without you!  The whole trip was planned well, in terms of information he was exceptionally informative.  His academic knowledge and professionalism in carrying out guidance on the trip, surpassed all  expectations.  I pay my personal homage to Mr Armen Aroyan for his sustained and long service to pilgrims  wanting to travel to their homelands, this helped me to be revived and obtain a sense of  belonging to places that would other wise be unobtainable and lost to me. He has given a sense  of a place worth fighting for, rekindling National belonging and love for the past and ancestral  heritage. I became one with those who went through "Genocide and died, so we may live."  A quote deriving from our pilgrimage! Here is a man of admiration! He has great passion for his fellow Armenian!  One can see that throughout his years, he has devoted many hours of learning, indeed his vast historic knowledge, was evident from his commentaries along our journey!  Sirov yev Hargankner Seta Tokatlian http://www.setasarmenian.blogspot.co.uk Search - 'Our Pilgrimage'

Lectures and Seminars: Week 8, Hilary Term, 10-14 March‏ Oxford Armenian Studies (armenianstudies@orinst.ox.ac.uk)

Armenian Studies in Oxford

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Oxford Armenian Studies - Lectures and Seminars

Week 8 -  Hilary Term, 10-14 March

Classical and Medieval Armenian Culture: The Language of Frik and the Hayrens

- Prof Theo van Lint

Mon. 10 March, 3-4pm, Pembroke College, The Henderson Building, Henderson Seminar Room

An Introduction to Ancient Armenian Linguistics

- Dr Irene Tinti

Mon. 10 March, 4-5pm, Pembroke College, The Henderson Building, Henderson Seminar Room

The purpose of the course is to introduce the audience to linguistic research on Ancient Armenian; the lectures are ideally aimed at students, and do not require any prior knowledge of the language. The fourth and last lecture will draw on themes and issues discussed in previous talks and exemplify them through case studies.

Church, Religion and Politics in the Armenian Diaspora

- Dr Hratch Tchilingirian

Tues. 11 March, 6:30-8:00pm, Lecture Room 1, The Oriental Institute

The lecture will continue the discussion of the last session on the "Church Crisis" in the 1950s and how Armenian and internationla politics exacerbated multiplicity of conflicts in the Diaspora during the Cold War era and continuing in contemporary times.  It will then, by way of conclusion to this lecture series, highlight the contemporary crossroads where religion, society and politics intersect in Armenia and the Diaspora.

Kurdish Studies Seminar (convened by Dr Özlem Galip and Prof. Theo van Lint)

Wed. 12 March, 5:00-7:00pm, Lecture Room 1, The Oriental Institute

- Professor Michiel Leezenberg (University of Amsterdam)

"The origins of Kurdology: Early Russian and Armenian studies of the Kurds" 

The importance of the early modern Russian empire for the development of Kurdish studies, and by extension for a modern Kurdish national identity, can hardly be overestimated. In this talk, I will explore some relatively underinvestigated studies, including two of the earliest comparative vocabularies of Kurdish and Khatchatur Abovian's ethnographical writings on the Kurds, and discuss some of the more general implications of these works. It will emerge that in the course of the nineteenth century, the crucial role of native Kurdish scholars (most importantly, Mela Mahmudê Bayazîdî) was systematically downplayed as part of what may be called the 'folkorization' of the Kurds: a project to depict them as basically an illiterate and tribal nation with an exclusively oral national folkloric tradition.

Introduction to Armenian Literature and Culture (II)

- Dr Emilio Bonfiglio

Thu. 13 March, 2:00-3:00pm, Pembroke College, Henderson Building, Andrew Pitt Seminar Room

The transmission of Armenian literary culture: rudiments of Armenian epigraphy, codicology, and palaeography.

For further details about Oxford Armenian Studies, contact Prof. Theo van Lint, Calouste Gulbenkian Professor of Armenian Studies: theo.vanlint@orinst.ox.ac.uk  or Dr Hratch Tchilingirian: hratch.tchilingirian@orinst.ox.ac.uk

Oxford Armenian Studies (short profile)

University of Oxford

The Oriental Institute,
Pusey Lane,
Oxford, OX1 2LE

ԱՌԱՋՆՈՐԴՈՒԹԻՒՆ.ՀԱՅՈՑ.ՄԵԾՆ.ԲՐԻԴԱՆԻՈՅ.ԵՒ.ԻՐԼԱՆՏԱՅԻ DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Տ.Վահան.Եպս..Յովհաննէսեան,.Հայրապետական.Պատուիրակ.եւ.Առաջնորդ The Right Revd Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate and Pontifical Legate

Issue10, Volume 5

LENTEN REFLECTION: THE SUNDAY OF EXPULSION

“Expulsion” is the theme of the coming Sunday in Lent. Following the first week of Great Lent and having reflected upon the state of eternal joy that God created us to enjoy before the fall of Adam and Eve, the Church invites us to contemplate the destructive consequences of sin. The theme is based on the biblical story of Adam and Eve‟s expulsion from Paradise and from the state of happiness as a result of their rejection of God‟s will. The Biblical story is a spiritual reflection on man‟s arrogance and disobedience to God based on the misconception that having explored his life he now knows better what is good for him than the Almighty. It is a reminder of the sad state of man‟s alienation from his loving Father and the source of his happiness, peace and life. This Sunday and the week to follow invite us to reflect on our own obedience to God today and how we understand and follow His commandments.

FOURTH ARMENIAN STREET FESTIVAL – SUNDAY 3 AUGUST As announced during the past year the Primate‟s Office had already contacted the Royal Borough of Chelsea and Kensington to coordinate the arrangements for annual Armenian Festival sponsored by the Armenian Church of the UK and Ireland. In order to make sure that this year‟s festival, scheduled on Sunday, 3rd August, is as successful as the previous ones, HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, has asked MrDickranBedrossian to chair a permanent Church Festival Committee, which will be responsible for preparing the annual Church Festivals. Joining MrBedrosian on the committee will be Mr. Charles Boyadjian, Mr Steven Mouradian, and as always the Primate‟s Office staff. The Festival will commence after Badarak with an Ecumenical Church procession, including hierarchs from sister Orthodox, Catholic and Anglican churches, and will include stalls, games, food and drinks and a church concert. Stay tunued for more info.

LENTEN LECTURES IN ST YEGHICHE PARISH

The St Yeghiche Church Parish Council is pleased to announce the offering of weekly lectures and reflections on the Sundays of Greal Lent. Starting with the first Sunday of Great Lent, Poon Paregentan (2 March) and during the entire Lenten period, each Sunday following the celebration of close-curtained Badarak, the Very Revd Fr ArenShaheenian, Visiting Pastor, will be delivering a brief lecture explaining the meaning of each of the six Sundays of lent This series of talks will be followed by a question and answer session. Please join us. All are welcome." Fr Aren holds a PhD in Theology from Italy and is the author of a book explaining the meaning of Badarak and the Armenian Church Liturgy. For more information about these lectures and any other St Yeghiche Parish programme or event please contact Keghvart at: kkvartanian@aol.com

LENTEN EVENING DEVOTIONS IN MANCHESTER

As Lent begins, we start considering the relationship between us and our Heavenly Father. It‟s a time for both private and public reflections on life and on the various gifts that Gad has bestowed upon us. This year V. Rev. Fr. GareginHambardzumyanwill be leading the faithful in Manchester, by organizing a WEKLY DEVOTION consisting of a brief reading from the Scripture, a prayer from a spiritual book and a short message for reflection. Every Wednesday, each member of the Manchester parish will receive an email containing that day‟s prayer and message. It was agreed that right at 9p.m. all the members of the parish will stand for a prayer regardless their physical location. This way our widely spread community will offer its prayers and praise to our Lord in unison as one whole fellowship.May the Almighty God make us worthy to glorify His name with thanksgiving.may He look upon us with His all-merciful eye, as we start our journey through this spiritually nurturing season.

PRIMATE’S OFFICE SCHEDULES LENTEN VIGILSAND DINNERS The Primate’s Office is happy to announce the scheduling of the weekly Lenten Vigils every Friday evening during Great Lent at 6:45PM in the St Sarkis Church in Kensington, London. Special booklets have been published to help the faithful participate in the service which include the text of the entire service in Classical Armenian, and its English translation and transliteration. A brief reflection will follow by His Grace elaborating on an aspect of our Lenten journey. Following the Vigil a Lenten Dinner will be offered in the Gulbenkian Hall courtesy of one of the Church parishes or organisations. Join us this Friday evening, 7 March, 2014, for the traditional Lenten Vigils, followed by Lenten dinner: £5 per person. Children under 12 free. Our host for this Friday is the Primate‟s Office. May the Lord accept our prayers and fasting of Great Lent.

INVITATION: ST SARKIS PARISH ASSEMBLY

The Pastor and Parish Council of the St Sarkis Church in Iverna Gardens Kensington is happy to invite its parishioners to the third Annual Parish Assembly which will take place this Sunday, 9 March, at 3pm. Members of the Parish who have paid their dues for the year 2013, are encouraged to join the assembly. Following Badarak parishioners will be invited to partake of a light lunch and register to participate in the assembly. If you are a member of the Parish in the previous years but have not yet paid your 2013 membership dues. It is not too late. You can pay your 2013 dues on the day of the assembly or prior to that and participate in the Assembly. Dues- paying members vote in the procedures of the Assembly and can elect and get elected for Parish administrative positions. For more info please contact the Parish Council by email: stsarkisparish@armenianchurch.co.uk or tel: 020 7937 0152. Most importantly please join us on Sunday, 9 March. New members are always welcome.

.

MANCHESTER CHURCH RAISES MONEY FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

On Sunday, March 2nd, the Holy Trinity Church in Manchester was packed with faithful for a celebration of a Divine Liturgy and a charitable buffet lunch afterwards organized by the ladies association of the church. Funds raised at the event will be donated to the Astghavard Centre for disabled children in the town of Vardenis. Fr. Garegin, the visiting pastor, the ladies‟ guilt and the parish council of the Holy Trinity Church thank everyone for their generous donations towards this good cause!!! On the same day a very insightful talk was offered by Dr. Theo van Lint, Calouste Gulbenkian Professor of Armenian Studies at the University of Oxford. The speaker elaborated on „The Book of Lamentations‟ by St. GrigorNarekatsi (11th. c) and the „Book of Devotions‟ written by a 17thcentury English poet and preacher John Donne. The talk was particularly useful for the faithful as during the whole period of Lent we need to contemplate on reconciliation of our thoughts and deeds with the will of God. Thank you, dear Professor van Lint for the beautiful talk!!!

6 March, 2014

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  BADARAK COURSE: HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian continues offering a course on the theology and spirituality of our

Divine Liturgy, Badarak, on Monday evenings. The course will now meet in Gulbenkian Hall, at 7:00pm, and is offered free of charge. Registered members will receive printed notes of each session. Make an effort to join us and ask all the questions you wanted to ask about this central celebration of our faith. Those interested to sign up for the course are requested to contact the Primate‟s Office via e-mail or telephone: 0208 127 8364.

 GARINEH OPERA: 'Garineh' the first completed operatic work written by an Armenian composer, originally performed under the title of 'LebledjiHorHor Agha' in Istanbul in 1875 will be performed by the London Armenian Opera on Saturday 29 March (7:30pm) and Sunday 30 March (6:30pm), in the Tabernacle. To purchase tickets online, click here, call 01923 773 277 / 07867 672 787 / 07850 777 520 or E-Mail: LondonArmenianOpera@virginmedia.com.

 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: The Primate’s Office has prepared a list of Frequently Asked Questions (collected from different people and parish council members), which is published in a document accessible by clicking here. Please send your questions or comments to the Primate’s Office.

 BIBLE STUDY: Every Thursday at 7:00PM. Next session, 13 March in Gulbenkian Hall. The Primate’s Office, Hye Doon, 25 Cheniston Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TG – 0208 127 8364 – primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk

News: London, Oxford, Leeds‏ --

Outlook Active View

Armenian Studies in Oxford

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Community and Public Outreach by Oxford Armenian Studies Academics OXFORD (03.03.14)  In addition to offering a wide array of courses, lectures and seminars at Oxford, Armenian Studies academics have been active in bringing educational opportunities to the wider Armenian community.  Last Sunday, two lectures were presented in Manchester and London.  Prof. Theo van Lint, Calouste Gulbenkian Professor of Armenian Studies, gave a lecture to the Armenian community in Manchester at the Holy Trinity Church.  Prof. van Lint discussed the connections of the themes of death and grace in Grigor Narekatsi's (11th c.) Book of Lamentation and John Donne's  (17th c.) Devotions upon Emergent Occasions.  The lecture was chaired by the parish's visiting pastor Fr Garegin Hambardzumyan. In London, Dr Hratch Tchilingirian, Associate Faculty, gave a lecture on the issue of cultural production and maintenance in the Diaspora and used Armenian music from Komitas to contemporary rabiz as case study.  The lecture took place at "Hayashen" and was sponsored by the Centre for Armenian Information and Advice.  The previous week, Dr Tchilingirian gave a talk on "Armenians in the Middle East Today" at the Faculty of Divinity in Cambridge.  On the same day, Dr Özlem Galip, Faculty Associate in Kurdish and Armenian Studies, was guest commentator on Med Nuce TV's "Medya Gundemi" (Media Agenda) programme, which provided analysis of current affairs in Turkey. Dr Galip's (PhD Kurdish Studies, University of Exeter, 2013) current research focuses on the origin and development of the Kurdish novel in Armenia. She teaches Kurmanji and convenes, together with Professor Theo van Lint,  the Kurdish Studies Seminar at Oxford. Her book Imagining Kurdistan: Identity, Culture, and Society will be published by I.B. Tauris (London and New York) later this year. She regularly gives interviews on Turkish and Kurdish television and in the press. She contributes a weekly column to the Kurdish newspaperYeni Özgür Politika, published in Frankfurt am Main."  In late February, David Zakarian, a PhD Candidate in Armenian Studies at Oxford, gave the second of a three-lecture series sponsored by the Armenian Institute. On 20 February Mr Zakarian spoke about "Women and the Christianisation of Armenia" at Armenian House in London. The lecture expounded on the role of women in the received tradition of the Christianisation of Armenian people as preserved in Agathangelos’ History of Armenia.  Oxford Armenian Studies is based in the Oriental Institute and at Pembroke college. While Oxford has long history of interest in Armenia and Armenians, a Chair of Armenian Studies was formally established in 1965 by the Gulbenkian Foundation. __________________________________ In LEEDS    Exhibits and Performances at The Tetley Karen Babayan Image>Archive 7-23 March 2014 - The Tetley, Leeds This is part of PAGES 2014 and the 17th International Contemporary Artists Book Fair. The exhibition is the work created by artist Karen Babayan for practice-based PhD - Fashion, Form & Foundation:  Iran, Armenia, Britain, Canada: An exploration of Armenian identity across cultural boundaries, manifested through contemporary art practice. "Packing" performance by Shakeh Major Tchilingirian.  Devised and directed by Karen Babayan, Saturday, 8 March, 11am, 1pm & 3pm in the Image>Archive exhibition. A ‘playlet’ from the artists’ book, Blood Oranges Dipped in Salt, performed by Karen Babayan and Persia Babayan-Taylor, Saturday, 8 March, 12 noon, in the Image>Archive exhibition and on Sunday, 1 pm, 9 March, for ‘Book Acts’. Leeds Art Gallery Transforming Topographies PERSE (ANCIENNE) Dressé, a portfolio of digital print by Karen Babayan, acquired for Leeds Museums and Galleries, with the aid of a grant from Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society, until 9 March 2014. The Tetley, Hunslet Road, Leeds LS10 1JQ http://thetetley.org/visit-the-tetley/ Leeds Art Gallery, The Headrow, Leeds LS1 3AA http://www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries /Pages/leedsartgallery/Visiting-Leeds-Art-Gallery.aspx

DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND - Issue9, Volume 5Issue9, Volume 5

ԱՌԱՋՆՈՐԴՈՒԹԻՒՆ.ՀԱՅՈՑ.ՄԵԾՆ.ԲՐԻԴԱՆԻՈՅ.ԵՒ.ԻՐԼԱՆՏԱՅԻ

Տ.Վահան.Եպս..Յովհաննէսեան,.Հայրապետական.Պատուիրակ.եւ.Առաջնորդ The Right Revd Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate and Pontifical Legate

POON PAREGENTAN: WELCOMING GREAT LENT 2014 According to the Armenian Church calendar, this Monday, 3 March, 2014 is the first day of Great Lent (MedzBahk). In our Church tradition Great Lent always commences, as in the other Orthodox Churches, on the Monday following Poon Paregentan (Boon Barekendan) which is the last Sunday before Lent. The Great Lent annual journey continues to the Saturday preceding Palm Sunday, which in turn ushers in the Holy Week. Great Lent according to the Armenian Church teachings is each person’s annual spiritual journey of self-examination and spiritual renewal in preparation for the Resurrection of the Lord (Easter). It is the season of making special attempts to evaluate our calling as Christians: followers of Christ and men and women of the New Covenant with God; in order to listen to the voice of the Gospel and heed its commandments. It is the annual and open invitation... Click here to read more

ARMENIAN CHURCH MISSION PARISH IN OXFORD

Last Saturday, HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, was the celebrant of Badarak in the historic and magnificent Pembroke College Church, Oxford, 22 February. Armenians and their friends, including packed the church pews, singing the hymns and partaking in the Holy Communion. Especially moving were the participation of the youth and the excellent singing of the members of the newly formed Armenian Church Choir in Oxford. At the end of Badarak, HG Bp Hovhanessian announced the formation of the Oxford Mission Parish. Members of the Armenian community in Oxford had sent a petition to the Primate to establish a Mission Parish in Oxford, to provide pastoral care to the Armenians in the area. Assisting in the service were Fr Aren Shaheenian, Fr Garegin Hambardzumyan, Senior Deacon StepanOvanessoff and other altar servers. A fellowship followed, where all joined in an evening of conversations, food, drinks, short speeches and singing! A true mission parish in action! Thank you all and God bless.

PRAYER AND MEETING AT BIRMINGHAM

From the very inspiring celebration of Badarak in Oxford Saturday evening,Bp Vahan and Fr Garegin left the following day, Sunday, 23 February, for yet another uplifting ministry at the Mission Parish in Birmingham. The day started with a Midday Service in the St John’s Church in Birmingham, led by the Primate. Following church services, the clergy met with the faithful and members of the Mission Parish Council in the Church Hall for a fellowship hour.Fr Garegin offered a reflection beautifully elaborating on the reading of the day (John 8:12) reminding us all that we are carriers of the divine light and that it is our duty to share it with those we come in touch with. A discussion followed which generated several action points and future programmes for the Mission Parish, including the determination to have a weekly gathering organised by the Mission Parish Council on Sundays, and the establishment of a local Church charity. Thank God for a very productive and inspiring weekend.

PILGRIMS REUNION: PREPARATION, PARTICIPATION, PRAYER

On Friday, 21 February, the Gulbenkian Hall was packed with past pilgrims as well as those are preparing to participate in the 2014 Pilgrimage. The evening started with a prayer by HG Bp Vahan and an introduction by the Primate about the nature and objective of the pilgrimages.His Grace emphasized that pilgrimages are spiritual exercises and great opportunities to ponder our faith and reflect upon our personal faith journey, while visiting the sites that served as the context of the events of the gospel. This was followed by the presentation and discussion of the flight itinerary and the details of the Pilgrimage agenda. TubeerHovik, who is the coordinator of this year’s Pilgrimage, then distributed forms to be filled out with the pilgrims and discussed the details of the arrangements of the flights, lodging and transportation during the Pilgrimage. A second orientation session will be organized on a date closer to that of the Pilgrimage. Each pilgrim will receive a booklet including biblical references to the shrines to be visited and reflections as well as the agenda and important contact info.

DR THEO VAN LINT IN HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, MANCHESTER

By the invitation of V. Rev. Fr. Garegin Hambardzumyan, visiting pastor of the Holly Trinity Parish in Manchester, this Sunday, March 2nd, Dr. Theo van Lint, Calouste Gulbenkian Professor of Armenian Studies at the University of Oxford will give a lecture titled “For Whom the Bell Tolls. Death and Grace in John Donne's Devotions upon emergent occasions and the Book of Lamentation by GrigorNarekac'i”, 3:00pm at the Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Manchester.This lecture will mark the end of celebration of St. GrigorNarekatsi’s year in our diocese proclaimed in 2013 by our Primate. The same day Badarak will be celebrated at 11:15 and a lunch will follow, which will be in the form of a Charity Buffet donated by the ladies of the community This is to raise money for the Astghavard Centre in the town of Vardenis, Sevan, in Armenia for disabled children and their families. All are welcome to join!

ST SARKIS PARISH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY

The third Annual Parish Assemblywill take place on Sunday, 9 March, at 3pm. All members of the Parish who have fully paid their dues for the year 2013, are welcome and encouraged to join the assembly. Following Badarak parishioners will be invited to partake of a light lunch and register to participate in the assembly. If you are a member of the Parish in the previous years but have not yet paid your 2013 membership dues. It is not too late. You can pay your 2013 dues on the day of the assembly or prior to that and participate in the Assembly. Dues-paying members vote in the procedures of the Assembly and can elect and get elected for Parish administrative positions. For more info please contact the Parish Council by email: stsarkisparish@armenianchurch.co.uk or tel: 020 7937 0152. Most importantly please join us on Sunday, 9 March. New members are always welcome.

OBITUARY BARKEVKASSARDJIAN

The Armenian community in the United Kingdoms and around the world mourns the passing away of benefactor BarkevKassardjian. As a young man from a large Armenian family from a Bekaa village in Lebanon, Mr BarkevKassardjian was a true business pioneer in Africa. He was one of the first who built roads and created businesses in countries where no foreigners had penetrated before. In Ghana and the surrounding countries, thanks to the businesses established by BaronBarkev large numbers of the local population started having a decent living. The Kassardjian University in Ghana is a well known centre ofeducation in Africa. Mr Barkev was so loved and respected that Presidents of African countries used to consult him, seeking his adviceon local and international business matters. His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, expresses his condolences to the Kassardjian family and joins them praying that our Lord may have mercy upon the late BarkevKassardjian and grant him eternity.

1 March, 2014

Dr Theo van Lint Oxford University

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  LENTEN FRIDAY EVENING VIGILS AND DINNER: Join us every Friday during Lent at 6:45pm in St Sarkis Church for our

traditional Lenten Vigils, followed by Lenten dinner in Gulbenkian Hall: £5 per person. Children under 12 free. Our host

Mr Barkev was the first man in Africa to discover the qualities of

this Friday, 7 March is the Primate’s Office.

"Shea Nut". This nut grows in Africa but nobody paid attention to it.

 IRAQ AN UNFORGOTTEN MENA PLAYER: Click here to read the latest blog by our own Dr Harry Hagopian concerning Because of him this nut is used in cosmetics throughout the world and

the situation in the MENA region. You can also listen to the latest radio programme by clicking here. in Africa is used for medicinal reasons. Because of this discovery it

 GARINEH OPERA: 'Garineh' the first completed operatic work written by an Armenian composer, originally performed brought more work and wealth to the workers and nations in Africa.

under the title of 'LebledjiHorHor Agha' in Istanbul in 1875 will be performed by the London Armenian Opera on Saturday 29 March (7:30pm) and Sunday 30 Marhc (6:30pm), in the Tabernacle. To purchase tickets online, click here, call 01923 773 277 / 07867 672 787 / 07850 777 520 or e-mailLondonArmenianOpera@virginmedia.com

 BIBLE STUDY GROUP: Thursday, 6 March, in the St TomaSyriac Orthodox Cathedral at 7:00pm. All are welcome. As one of the most prominent members of the Armenian Community in  INTERNSHIP:The Primate’s Office is happy to announce the creation of the Summer Internship Program which is England, Mr Barkev’s name is associated in every major organisation in

designed to provide a practical learning opportunity and experience for college students or recent graduates in different

the UK. Mr Barkev was passionate about preserving and teaching of the

administrative fields. For information please click here. To apply, please contact the Primate’s Office. Armenian language to the Armenian young generation. He was one of the

 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: The Primate’s Office has prepared a list of Frequently Asked Questions (collected founding fathers of the Armenian Saturday School. In 2001 he

from different people and parish council members), which is published in a document accessible by clicking here.

established the BarkevKassardjian Sis Trust which became the major donor to the London Armenian Sunday School, Saturday School, the

The Primate’s Office, HyeDoon, 25 Cheniston Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TG – 0208 127 8364 – primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk Scouts, The Manchester Sunday School and the Hayashen

playgroup/kindergarten.