Armenian Church of Atlanta June 2008
In This Issue Solemn Divine Liturgy Father’s Day Luncheon Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Battle of Sardarabad His Holiness Is 2:5-11, Rom 8:31-10:4 MT 13:16-23 Karekin’s visit with the Pope Construction in Holy Etchmiadzin Sunday, June 15, 2008 Update from our PC 11:00 a.m. at Hye Doon chairman Mission parish forms Celebrant Update from Women’s guild Very Rev. Fr Zaven Yazichyan Chair Armenian Language 9820 Coleman Road Classes Roswell, GA 30075 Sunday School Thank you letter to Women’s Guild Garage Sale Kef Night Recipe of the Month Armenian Poem You Rejoice My Heart ACYOA update Birth Announcements Piggy Bank Graduation news Ads Photos
June 2008 Page 2 of 14
Diocese News & Articles
COMMEMORATING THE BATTLE OF SARDARABAD
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the victory of the battle of Sardarabad. In 1918, the enem y, far better equipped and with more trained soldiers, was just five miles away from Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness Catholicos Gevorg V was advised to evacuate the Holy See. His response was that he was not going to abandon the Mother See, and if he was going to die, he preferred to die in Holy Etchmiadzin. He also sent clergy to the battlefield to encourage the people to stand firm against the enemy. Among the clergy was Fr. Garegin Hovsepian, later the Primate of this Diocese and Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.
It was a second Avarayr or Vartanantz, but this time the Armenians managed to repulse the enemy and secured their right to live in a land which eventually became the Armenian Republic of today. To remember this event, all parishes are holding requiem service on May 25 after the Divine Liturgy.
In 1968 during the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Sardarapat that took place in May 22-26, 1918 a memorial park was laid out on the spot of the battlefield. Sardarapat Memorial is located in Armavir, Armenia 25 kilometers from Echmiadzin. The entrance is flanked by huge winged oxen made of red tuff. A flight of steps leads to a square from which a 26-metre-high bell tower rises. The beautiful trellis structure with its nine bells can be seen from afar. The bells ring every year on the day of the historic victory. The monument is guarded by massive Assyrian-style winged lions, and is flanked by a memorial garden for Karabakh martyrs.
Sardarapat Memorial is a symbol of pride and survival, the Sardarapat Memorial marks the place of Armenia's successful last-ditch effort to save the nation from obliteration at the hands of the Turks in the Battle of Sardarapat. Against tremendous odds, and during the haunting backdrop of genocide during the previous few years, Armenia's makeshift army rebuffed the Turkish troops and safeguarded the small portion of historic Armenia, what became the current republic as it stands today.
Battle of Sardarabad The Battle of Sardarabad (Armenian: Սարդարապատի ճակատամարտ; Turkish: Sardarapat Savaşı) was a battle of the Caucasus Campaign of World War I that took place near Sardarapat, Armenia from May 21 to May 24, 1918. Sardarapat was only 40 kilometers west of the city of Yerevan and the battle is currently seen as not only stopping the Turkish advance into the rest of Armenia but also preventing the complete destruction of the Armenian nation.
Background Just two months after the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed, the Ottoman Empire attacked into what had been Russian-Armenian territory.[1] In violation of the Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty with the Russian SFSR, elements of the Fourth Army crossed the border in May 1918 and attacked Alexandropol (modern-day Gyumri). The Ottoman Army intended to crush the Armenia and seize Transcaucasia. The German government objected to this attack and refused to help the Ottoman Army in this operation. Continued….
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At that time, only a small area of historical Armenian territory which used to be a part of the Russian Empire remained unconquered by the Ottoman Empire, and into that area hundreds of thousands of Armenian refugees had fled after the Armenian Genocide.
The Ottoman Forces began a three-pronged attack in an attempt to conquer Armenia. When Alexandropol fell, the Ottoman Army moved into the Ararat Valley – the heart of Armenia. However, Armenians under Movses Silikyan defeated the Ottoman troops in a three day battle at Sardarapat as well as Abaran and Karakilisa. The victories here were instrumental in allowing the Armenian National Council in Tiflis to establish the independence of the Democratic Republic of Armenia.
Aftermath Worried by the Ottoman invasion of Armenia, the Democratic Republic of Georgia to the north asked for, and gained, German protection. The Democratic Republic of Armenia was forced to sign the Treaty of Batum in June 4, 1918, since the Army of Islam held positions seven kilometers from Yerevan and only 10 kilometers from Etchmiadzin. Two days later, after the battle of Sardarapat on May 28, 1918 Armenian National Council in Tiflis proclaimed the independence of the Democratic Republic of Armenia, which existed until the Bolshevik takeover of Armenia in November 1920.
His Holiness Karekin II Visits His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
On Tuesday, May 6, the Pontiff of All Armenians and his delegation arrived at Ciampino Airport in Rome. Also joining His Holiness were more than 75 devoted laymen of the Armenian Church from throughout the world who were invited by the Catholicos to participate in this historic visit to the Holy See and Italy. This was His Holiness’ third visit to the Vatican since his election as Catholicos of All Armenians in 1999.
The visit to Italy was composed of three parts: a four-day visit to the Vatican, a one-day visit to the Armenian community of Milan and a two-day visit to the Mekhitarian Congregation on the Island of San Lazzaro in Venice. On Wednesday morning, His Holiness Karekin II and the Armenian bishops visited the tomb of Pope John Paul II of blessed memory, in the crypt below Saint Peter’s Basilica, and offered a solemn prayer for the repose of his soul.
The Catholicos and the Armenian delegation also visited the newly named St. Gregory the Illuminator plaza inside St. Peter’s courtyard and viewed the statue of the patron saint of the Armenian Church, placed there during the pontificate of John Paul II. Immediately afterwards, the Armenian delegation of clergy and laity participated in the general audience in St. Peter’s Square, jointly held by Pope Benedict XVI and Catholicos Karekin II. The two church heads exchanged messages of greeting, a fraternal embrace and kiss of peace on the platform in front of the mother cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church, before a crowd of more than 35,000 faithful.
Continued…….
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In his message to the Pope and the faithful, the Catholicos stated in part, "Dear Brother in Christ, today, on the threshold of the Feast of Pentecost, when we unite our prayers to those of Your Holiness and of your faithful sons and daughters, we praise and glorify the Holy Spirit, Who is the fountainhead of unity and transforms our steps on the paths of brotherhood with grace – steps which are for the glory of God and are born from the love of Christ, for the sake of establishing peace in the world and a blessed life for mankind. In spite of different historical experiences and paths we have traversed; in spite of dogmatic and cultural divergences, we are all children of the one God, and we are all brothers and sisters in His Holy love. For in our diversity, it is our unity of love that is the genuine testimony that we are children of God. "Intolerance and confrontation must not be allowed within the brotherhood and love of Christ. Mankind has suffered much as a result. Today as well, the creation of God – the world that surrounds us – is imperiled through interfaith disagreements, through wars and terrorism, through the effects of poverty and neglect. Our brothers and sisters are in distress in the Middle East and many other regions of the world; where women and children, the elderly and disabled are endangered by the blows of disagreement and division, unjust competition and enmity. This is not the Will of God. This is not our calling. We aspire to live a life in peace, of creation and creativity, to use the graces given to us by the Holy Spirit, to serve the establishment of unity and solidarity with the love of Jesus Christ and the message of the Gospel, since ‘for those that love God, all things work together unto good.’ (Romans 8:28)
"We Armenians are a people who have survived genocide, and we know well the value of love, brotherhood, friendship, peace and a secure life. Today, many countries of the world recognize and condemn the Genocide committed against the Armenian people by Ottoman Turkey, as did the Holy See, by His Holiness Pope John Paul II of blessed memory during our fraternal visit to Rome in 2000. Offering prayers to his luminous memory, we as Pontiff of the Armenians, appeal to all nations and lands to universally condemn all genocides that have occurred throughout history and those that continue through the present day, so that those who yield power and authority realize their responsibilities and results of those crimes which have been and continue to be committed against the creation of God, and that the denial of these crimes is an injustice that equals the commission of the same."
New Construction Projects at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is bustling with construction projects that will not only facilitate the Church’s mission but add to its beauty as well. Dozens of workers are busy working on a new baptistery, monastic residence and chancellery. Designed by three different architects, each building has a unique appearance that is nonetheless in harmony with the overall appearance of the Mother See. The baptistery, which has been named St. John the Baptist Chapel, consists of two structures designed by local architect Jim Torosian to serve the needs of different sections of the Armenian faithful. The larger building, which covers 196 square meters, is dedicated to older members, and will allow them to be fully immersed in water during their initiations into the Church thanks to the adult baptismal font there. St. John the Baptist Chapel, which looks onto the Mother Cathedral, had its foundation blessed by His Holiness Karekin II on May 21, 2006, and has been constructed through the generosity of Armen Sargsian and his family. It is made of green-colored tuf, and the larger structure features four cross-shaped windows in its dome. The monastic residence is being built to accommodate the growing numbers of priests working at the Mother See. Ruben Azatian, Chief Architect of the Mother See, designed the building’s 82 rooms to feature modern amenities including heating and air conditioning. All three buildings are expected to be completed by the end of the year.
9820 Coleman Road, Roswell GA 30075 www.armenianchurchofatlanta.org
June 2008 Page 5 of 14 Atlanta Parish Mission News
. Dear Parishioners:
Since your new Parish Council got elected we have had two exciting months full of events. They were well attended with great enthusiasm. We prayed together, cried together, played together and worked together! Besides our monthly Badaraks, we had a very touching April 24 Memorial Service at Hye Doon where quiet a few of our Parish members had gut wrenching stories to tell about family sufferings during the Genocide. We also had a very successful April 24 Memorial Walk organized by ACYOA that demonstrated to the public our youth’s commitment to “Hyegagan” issues dear to our hearts.
For the play part: A Mother’s day cookout celebrating all mothers and a Kef night for merry making were very enjoyable events. I have nothing but admiration for the hard working ladies of the Women’s Guild who also happen to be fantastic cooks.
As for work: We started the improvements that we have been contemplating for some time. We removed numerous trees that were either dead or dying. We graded and graveled certain areas behind the house to create additional parking and a cleaner path to walk on. Some of this work is just the beginning of future developments that with your support will hopefully happen soon. I want to specially thank Ara Ohanian for all his efforts during this construction period.
We have quiet a few plans for the future also. We are very serious about teaching the Armenian language to our children and classes will start this coming fall. For all you parents out there, please sign up and encourage our teachers in this endeavor. Additionally, once we get our computers to type and spell check in a whole different language, we are going to start publishing some articles in Armenian. Please feel free to submit “Hyeeren” stories, poems or any article that you find interesting.
I want to end this letter by thanking Lena Murad for making this professional quality newsletter possible. We even received an e-mail from the Diocese congratulating Lena for the outstanding job that she is doing with the monthly publication that you are holding in your hand. I just hope they don’t try to hire her away from us.
Thank you for your continued support and may God Bless you all.
Yours truly, Ara Keyfer (Lusararyan) Chairman, ACOA Parish Council
Please remember to complete the Mission Parish information form that was mailed to you last month with the May newsletter and mail it back to us. We would like to compile all of the information and send it to the Diocese as requested.
If you have any questions you can contact Ara Keyfer, Chairman of the Armenian Church of Atlanta or Fr. Tateos at the Diocese, 212-686-0710 or email me at [email protected].
We appreciate all of your efforts and cooperation in this matter.
9820 Coleman Road, Roswell GA 30075 www.armenianchurchofatlanta.org
June 2008 Page 6 of 14
Women’s Guild Corner
A message from the Women’s Guild Chair
I would like to thank all of you who participated in the celebration of Mothers' Day at Hye Doon. After the conclusion of Badarak celebrated by our beloved Fr. Zaven Yazichyan, we honored three mothers, Filyan Dido, Tamar Karapetian, Anush Mirzoyan whose devotion and support of the Armenian Church of
Atlanta has been enormous through the years. My sincere thanks are extended to the all of the Women's Guild Armenian language classes will be ladies who prepared the delicious Mothers' Day food and to the offered at Hye Doon starting in
following individuals: September 2008.
Filyan Dido for her home-made yogurt Anush Mirzoyan for her helva dessert • Yegiya Aba, Russell Major and Ara Ohanian for Classes will be offered from manning the grills September 2008 to May 2009. Ara Keyfer for donating our brand new grill • Classes will be every other Garo Kilbacak for donating our brand new water Saturday from 11:00 am - 1:00 p.m. dispenser • Registeration will be in August. Murat Chorluyan for managing the cash bar • Registeration fee is $100 a year per
Our members participated generously in our Mothers' Day raffle, person. and congratulations are in order to Yegiya Aba, Christina Asik Exact calendar and curriculum will be and Joyce Keyfer who were the winners of a ladies' watch, a decided based on the number and age pair of Gucci sunglasses, and a hand-made Swarovski crystal of students enrolled. The teachers are necklace. Maria Terzian, Pega Markarian and
On the evening of May 24, we held our first Kef Night. More Talar Torossian. than forty attendees were present and all enjoyed the delicious Maria Terzian :(678) 267-0613 meal, music, dancing and the camaraderie. Thanks a lot to Pega Markarian: (248) 910-4264 Birsen Karabiyik for the delicious chocolate dessert. Talar Torossian :(678) 595-7823
Please remember to donate items for the garage sale. Please bring new or lightly/gently used items to Hye Doon to be sold at If you would like to sign up, please our Garage Sale. No Furniture Please! contact any of the above ladies.
I also encourage all ladies to pay their Women's Guild annual membership dues so that our organization can grow in number and become even more productive. Please see our Treasurer, Vera Nercessian, or any of the WG Board members for the remittance of your annual memberships.
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone on Sunday, June 15 for is cancelled! This has been Fathers' Day Celebration & Saturday, June 28th for another fun- replaced with the Armenian filled Kef Night. Happy Fathers' Day ! language classes.
Sincerely yours, Ani Tashciyan Women's Guild Chair
9820 Coleman Road, Roswell GA 30075 www.armenianchurchofatlanta.org
June 2008 Page 7 of 14
Women’s Guild May 11, 2008 Armenian Apostolic Church of Atlanta 9820 Coleman Rd. Roswell, GA 30075
Dear Women’s Guild:
I am pleased to express my thankfulness and appreciation with deep gratitude, as well as my blessings to Women’s Guild of the Armenian Church of Atlanta for your truthful service and love toward our Mother Church.
I am grateful for your candid care, kindness and attention. I especially want to thank you for your thoughtfulness and for the beautiful and touching surprise that you gave me on May 11, a quilt/blanket for my mother. Once again through mystery of Pentecost, I would like to congratulate all of the women of the Armenian community of Atlanta on this wonderful occasion of Mother’s Day.
I sincerely pray that our good Lord, our God and Savior Jesus Christ, keep you under the shadow of His Holy and venerable Cross, pouring on you His grace and granting all of you good health and happiness. May the Holy Spirit guide you always, awarding you renewed success. With Love and Blessings
Very Rev. Fr. Zaven Yazichyan Member of the brotherhood of The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
Women’s Guild will be putting together a garage sale at Hye Doon as a fund raising event for the Church.
If you have items to donate that are new or lightly/gently used condition, please contact Ani Tasjian or Talin Major to organize the drop off of the items at Hye Doon. The date of the garage sale will be determined later.
Please note that Hye Doon should not be a “dumping” ground for items that you want to discard or throw away. Please use your discretion when deciding what items to donate that are in good condition.
9820 Coleman Road, Roswell GA 30075 www.armenianchurchofatlanta.org
June 2008 Page 8 of 14 Kef Night
Kef Night is the last Saturday of every month!
Please join us for delicious food & Music
Saturday, June 28, 2008 Hye Doon at 7:30 p.m.
Bring your tavloo, chess sets & join us for some fun!
Open cash Bar RSVP: Ani T. at 770-410-9699 Next Kef Nights: Saturday July 26, Aug 30, Sept 27
The Women’s Guild will publish an Armenian recipe every month. Below is the recipe for the month of June. If you would like to submit a recipe, please contact Ani Tasjian at 770-410-9699.
BEAN PILAKI 1 c. pea beans (dry) Salt and pepper to taste 1 medium onion 1/4 tsp. garlic powder 3/4 c. cut parsley 1 small can tomato sauce 1/4 c. cut fresh dill 1/2 c. olive oil 1/2 c. carrots, cut small 1 tsp. sugar 1/4 c. green peppers, cut small Baking soda
Soak beans overnight. Rinse and then bring to a boil with a dash of baking soda. Rinse again with warm water and add enough water to cook beans, about 3 cups or less. Cook for about 20 minutes, then add all other ingredients and cook till all is done. Serves approximately 4 to 6.
9820 Coleman Road, Roswell GA 30075 www.armenianchurchofatlanta.org
June 2008 Page 9 of 14 Armenian Poem You Rejoice My Heart By Kemal Yalcin by Zahrad Zahrad, Armenian poet whose real name was `You Rejoice My Heart' by Zareh Yildizciyan was born in 1924 and Turkish poet and novelist educated in Istanbul. He was educated at Kemal Yalcin is a remarkable Mekhitarist schools and attended medical record of his journey among school for a while. He became a poet known Turkey's hidden Armenians. for short, epigrammatic, witty, modern verse. His work was trend To be properly appreciated setting, wry and playful but with a sharp edge. He died in however, in the first instance it must be read February 2007, in Istanbul. without reference to contemporary conflicts, debates or animosities that dog Armenian- Turkish relations. Recording and remarking on
the experience Armenians who survived the genocide of 1915 but continued living in Turkey as hidden Armenians, `You Rejoice My Heart' is a tale of the human spirit and of the triumph of a vision of a common humanity. Its relevance is tremendous for all who live in states marred by national oppression, ethnic animosities and religious sectarianism.
Among the stories and records of hidden Armenians, this book also chronicles the tragedies that Vahram Karapent had
witnessed in Turkey. Vahram is the grandfather of our very own secretary, Ara Ohanian.
The book has recently been translated into English by Paul Bessemer and published for the Tekeyan Cultural Association by the Gomidas Institute. Mr. Yalcin has dedicated the English translation of the book to the memory of "his dear brother," Hrant Dink.
If you are interested in ordering the book, please go to www.gomidas.org/books/KemalYalcin.htm
ACYOA Corner: Thank you note from Violet Mirzoyan, ACYOA chair
Dear Fellow Armenians, We had our first ever Armenian Genocide Memorial Walk held in Atlanta on April 19, 2008. The walk was very successful and I want to THANK all of you for your support and participation. A special thank you is extended to the Kabenjian and Khodaverdian families for donating food and water and to Avik Topchyan for always entertaining us with his music. In addition, I want to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Dr. Vahan Kassabian for speaking of the current issues of the Armenian Genocide (HR106). And last but not least, I want to thank all the walkers/runners and the volunteers for making this event a great success in the history of Armenian Church of Atlanta. I look forward to everyone’s participation next year.
9820 Coleman Road, Roswell GA 30075 www.armenianchurchofatlanta.org
June 2008 Page 10 of 14
Announcements/Ads
We welcome with love two additions to our Armenian Community!
Congratulations to the Stuart, Keyfer, Eghumyan and Grigorian Familes.
Friendly reminder…..
If you were given a piggy bank by our treasurer in March, please remember to bring your
filled Piggy banks to the June Badarak to be emptied!!
9820 Coleman Road, Roswell GA 30075 www.armenianchurchofatlanta.org
June 2008 Page 11 of 14
George Chamessian graduated from Northview High and will be attending Southern
Polytechnic University in Marietta, GA. Proud Parents: Zepure and Aziz Chamessian
Batu Corluoglu graduated from Centennial High School and will be attending Georgia Perimeter College. Proud Parents: Sevtap and Sahin Corluoglu
Narine Gourdikian graduated from South Forsyth High and will be attending Barry College in Rome, GA Proud Parent: Adelina Gourdikian
Mariam Mirzoyan graduated from Duluth High School and will be attending Georgia State University. Proud Parents: Anush and Vachik Mirzoyan
Victoria Zinzalian-Smith graduated from Connected Academy and will be attending Fairleigh Dickenson University in NJ. Proud Parent: Lorig Zinzalian
9820 Coleman Road, Roswell GA 30075 www.armenianchurchofatlanta.org
June 2008 Page 12 of 14
Delicious Armenian and Middle Eastern Food catered by the Khodaverdian family.
If you are interested, please contact Mrs. Khodaverdian at tel # 770-889-3952
Pictures from Mother’s Day Badarak, Cook out and Kef Night
9820 Coleman Road, Roswell GA 30075 www.armenianchurchofatlanta.org
June 2008 Page 13 of 14
9820 Coleman Road, Roswell GA 30075 www.armenianchurchofatlanta.org
May June 28 Kef Night July 6 Badarak July 26 Kef Night August 17 Badarak August 30 Kef Night