Agbu Armenia Newsletter Issue 31, June - August, 2014
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ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION AGBUAGBU ARMENIAARMENIA NEWSLETTERNEWSLETTER Yerevan, Armenia IN THIS ISSUE Issue 31, June - August, 2014 Old Pontifical Residence Re- opened (p. 1-2) OLD PONTIFICAL RESIDENCE RE-OPENED THROUGH RA Prime Minister Welcomes THE GENEROUS DONATION OF AGBU PRESIDENT AGBU President (p. 3) MR. BERGE SETRAKIAN AND MRS. VERA SETRAKIAN RA Diaspora Minister Awards Artur Nazarian (p. 3) Dr. Der Kiureghian Assumes Position of AUA President (p. 4) AUA for Syrian Armenians Campaign Raises Over 12,000 USD (p. 5) AGBU Antranik Scout Camp: Season 7 (p. 6-7) AGBU Yerevan Summer In- ternship Program (p. 8-9) AGBU Musical Armenia is 3 Years Old (p. 10-11) Gallery of AGBU Summer Youth Programs (p. 12-13) AGBU Discover Armenia: The New Decade (p. 14-15) AGBU Armenian Virtual Col- lege (p. 16-18) 10th Anniversary of the Artsakh Chamber Orchestra (p. 19) On July 5, 2014, the reopening ceremony of the Old Pontifical Residence took place at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, presided over by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme AGBU Presents a Report on Syrian-Armenian Relief Efforts Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The renovations to the historic building were (p. 20) made possible by a generous donation from AGBU president Mr. Berge Setrakian and Mrs. Vera Setrakian. Karaguezian Fund Representa- tives at AGBU Armenia (p. 20) Present at the opening ceremony were Hasmik Poghosian, Minister of Culture of the Re- 70’s Aleppo and Yerevan: public of Armenia; Armen Muradian, Minister of Healthcare of the Republic of Armenia; Charity Concert (p. 21) Arthur Nazarian, Minister of Energy of Lebanon; members of the Brotherhood of the AGBU-AYA Arin Dance En- Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin; members of the Setrakian and Nazarian families; repre- semble in Armenia (p. 22) sentatives of educational and cultural organizations; as well as a large crowd of guests and friends from overseas. AGBU Schools Visit Armenia (p. 22) The ceremony began with Jamanak Newspaper’s 100th the Lord’s Prayer and a Anniversary Celebrated in blessing offered by the Etchmiadzin (p. 23) clergy, led by His Holi- ness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. At the end of the ceremony, the Catholicos ex- tended His blessing to all those present. “Glory and thanks be to God, who has showered us generously with His favor, by the means of which our Holy Church is beautified and made more splendid in its mission. We give thanks to God, that today, together with you, we are opening the doors of the Old Pontifical Resi- dence,” he stated. Mr. and Mrs. Setrakian at the Opening Ceremony (Continued on p. 2) Page 1 AGBU ARMENIA NEWSLETTER ISSUE 31, JUNE - AUGUST, 2014 OLD PONTIFICAL RESIDENCE RE-OPENED… (continued from p. 1) The Catholicos also offered His blessings to the faithful children of the Armenian Church, Mr. and Mrs. Berge and Vera Setrakian, for undertaking the renovation of the Old Pontifical Residence. Describing the Setrakian family, he remarked: “They too wished to leave something good by which they would be remembered in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, because Holy Etchmiadzin has been a part of their lives, and has always had an important place in their mission.” He then expressed his appreciation to Mr. Setrakian for his leadership and continuous endeavors to strengthen the close ties between AGBU and the Armenian Church. That cooperation, he continued, is helping the church carry out its mission across the republic and the Dias- pora. At the end of the ceremony, the Catholicos beseeched The All Mighty that Armenia and Armenians around the world might live in peace, so that, with appreciation and devotion, they can bring light, joy and optimism to Ar- menian life everywhere. The Ornamented Hall of the Old Pontifical Residence Cutting the red ribbon, the Catholicos, together with Mr. and Mrs. Setrakian, officially opened the renovated Old Pontifical Residence. Guests were invited to tour the galleries and admire the array of historic, sacred and religious objects. Mr. Setrakian expressed his joy on this occasion, “We have had Catholicoses and Patri- archs who have served our nation unwaveringly and are remembered as heroes. Their lives have been a source of inspiration for all of us and without their dedication and sacrifice; we would have probably lost our identity. I believe that Armenians as well as all those who visit Touring the Renovated Pontifical Residence the Old Pontifical Residence will pay tribute to their memory and their legacy will be kept alive.” The Old Pontifical Residence has a rich history that the renovations will help to further preserve By the time of Catholicos Ghazar I Jahketsi (1738-1751), the Catholicos’s Residence had already been moved from the western side of the Cathedral to the upper floor of the two-story building, which was constructed during the time of Ca- tholicos St. Movses III Tatevatsi (1629-1632). Until 1962, every Catholicos continued to live and work in the Old Pontifi- cal Residence. In 1968, at the time of Catholicos Vazgen I of blessed memory, the New Pontifical Residence was built, and with the support of benefactor Alex Manoogian, the Old Pontifical Residence was remodeled and began to operate as a museum. With the latest reno- vations, the Old Pontifical Residence is now home to a series of galleries dedicated to Catholicoses and kings of Armenia, where their art collections, treasured posses- sions and personal effects are showcased. In the Orna- mented Hall, paintings by the Hovnatanian family and the 400-year-old Holy Chrism is on display. Nearby is the historical throne of the Armenian Catholicoses, made in Madras in 1837, and the Pontifical Eagle, which be- longed to Catholicos Pilipos I Aghbaketsi (1632-1655). In another gallery, the personal belongings of Komitas Old Pontifical Residence Vardapet are displayed; also featured are unique exam- ples of Armenian silver and needle works, and various ceremonial objects. The Old Pontifical Residence will operate as a museum and will serve as a guesthouse for high-ranking clergy visiting Holy Etchmiadzin. For videos, please visit Old Pontifical Residence Re-Opened or www.youtube.com/AGBUvideo Page 2 AGBU ARMENIA NEWSLETTER ISSUE 31, JUNE - AUGUST, 2014 RA PRIME MINISTER WELCOMES AGBU PRESIDENT Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan received the President of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Berge Setrakian and AGBU Central Board Member Vasken Yacoubian. The head of government spoke about the Union’s Mission aimed at facili- tating the development of the Armenian people’s spiritual, edu- cational and cultural potential and expressed readiness to sup- port any initiative or program implemented by AGBU in Arme- nia and in the Diaspora to preserve the Armenian identity and fortify the Homeland. AGBU President Berge Setrakian stressed that their programs should seek to strengthen ties between the Homeland and the Diaspora. The parties went on to discuss progress in those pro- grams carried out with the assistance of the AGBU in different areas, as well as future activities. RA Prime Minister and AGBU President Hovik Abrahamyan and Berge Setrakian exchanged views on mobilizing the Diaspora around national goals, promoting the Armenian identity, developing education and a number of other issues. As part of his visit to Armenia, Berge Setrakian and AGBU Central Board members Sam Simonian, Vasken Yacoubian, Dr. Yervant Zorian and Aris Atamian welcomed US Ambassa- dor to Armenia H.E. John Heffern and USAID Armenia Public Private Alliance Specialist and Diaspora Outreach Coordinator Jeff Paretchan, at the AGBU Armenia office. AGBU Leadership with the US Ambassador to Armenia The AGBU leaders visited the AGBU Vahe Karapetyan Center in Yerevan to get acquainted with the AGBU summer youth pro- grams’ preparation process and possibilities of future use of the building. This year, the new AGBU Vahe Karapetyan Center hosted the participants of the Union’s summer youth programs. AGBU President Berge Setrakian and AGBU Armenia Interim Director Hovig Eordekian also paid a visit to the Matenadaran - Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts - to meet with Director Hrachya Tamrazian, Head of the International Rela- tions Department Vardi Qeshishian, and Head of the Arabic Manuscripts Research Department Vahan Ter-Ghevondyan. The sides discussed the ongoing cooperation between the two institutions. It’s worth noting that in the spring of 2014 AGBU, Matena- daran and the RA Ministry of Education launched a new program providing scholarships to Matenadaran’s young researchers. RA MINISTER OF DIASPORA AWARDS ARTUR NAZARIAN On July 3, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan awarded the Boghos Nubar Medal to Lebanese-Armenian public and politi- cal figure, Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Lebanon, Arthur Nazarian. Arthur Nazarian was born in 1953 in Beirut. He received his primary education at the AGBU Yervant Demirdjian School in Beirut and continued his studies at the International Col- lege of Beirut. In 1973, he graduated from the Department of Tex- tiles and Sciences at the University of Philadelphia as a textile engineer. From 1998 to 2000, Arthur Nazarian was Lebanon’s Minister of Tourism and Biosphere. Since 2009, he has been a Member of the Lebanese Parliament. Since February 2014, he is the Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Lebanon within the cabinet formed by Prime Minister Tamam Salam. Nazarian continues to occupy a seat in the Parliament. He is a representative of the Nazarian family, prominent Diasporan benefactors, and is a RA Diaspora Ministry’s Boghos Nubar Medal to Artur Nazarian long-term member of the Armenian General Benevolent Union. The Nazarians have sponsored the construction of the AGBU Beirut Levon K. Nazarian School, the “Nazarian” hall of the AGBU California’s Manoogian-Demirdjian School and other projects. The building of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Lebanon was obtained under the sponsorship of Nazarian Brothers.