Crossroads E-Newsletter:08/24/06

August 24, 2006

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CALLS FOR “RESPECT FOR LIFE”
Two days ago in Antelias, Lebanon, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, commented on the tragic consequences of the recent conflict in Lebanon. His Holiness described the long chain of funerals, the clearing of rubble that was once the homes families, the oil spill in the Mediterranean, all graphically illustrate the ruthless violence human beings can impose on one another, the Catholicos said. His Holiness went on to describe how the world community watched helplessly as these violent acts were committed, and the General Secretary of the United Nations admitted his disappointment that the UN was unable to act firmly and in time to stop the violence.

“Such violence must stop,” His Holiness said. “Human lives should be spared and the environment protected. Conflict resolution and conflict prevention are the only means through which violence can be transformed.” The Catholicos invited religious leaders and members of civil society to assume their responsibilities and to engage in dialogue, set up strategies to overcome violence, promote respect for human life and the environment, and to act together.

VICAR GENERAL IN ARMENIA
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General, continues his mission in Armenia where he is directing the summer religious studies for the children sponsored by the Prelacy’s Orphan Sponsorship Program, at the summer camp at Vanadzor in northern Armenia. The Vicar will return to New York on August 31.

V. REV. FR. DANIEL GARABEDIAN WILL SERVE
PARISHES IN RACINE AND WAUKEGAN
Our item last week about Father Daniel at Camp Haiastan this summer should have noted that beginning next month Hayr Sourp will have the dual responsibility of ministering to St. Hagop Church in Racine, Wisconsin and St. Paul Church in Waukegan, Illinois.

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR KEVORK KANDAHARIAN
Funeral services took place in Antelias Lebanon last Friday, August 18, for the well-known educator, Kevork Kandaharian, who served the Theological Seminary in Antelias for the past fifty years. Affectionately known as “Baron Kandaharian” by all, His Holiness praised the legacy left by the prominent teacher and educator through his service to the Seminary.

ST. ILLUMINATOR’S DAY SCHOOL WILL BEGIN NEW TERM
On Wednesday, September 6, the St. Illuminator’s Armenian Day School in Woodside, New York, will begin its 2006-2007 school term. The day school offers English and Armenian language instruction according to New York State curriculum, as well instruction in computer, art and music. For information about registration contact the school, 718-478-4073.

EPISCOPAL CONSECRATION OF BISHOP ANOUSHAVAN
WILL BE CELEBRATED ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 1
The recent Episcopal Consecration of Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Prelacy, will be celebrated on Sunday, October 1st. His Grace will officiate at the Divine Liturgy that day at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York—a parish he served as pastor for more than a decade. In the afternoon a Celebratory Banquet will take part in the Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows, New York, beginning at 3 pm. Professor Hratch Zadoian, Vice-President Emeritus of Queens College, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies, with the Keynote Address delivered by Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, and a classmate of Bishop Anoushavan at the Theological Seminary at Antelias.

REMEMBERING RAPHAEL LEMKIN…
Monday is the 47th anniversary of the death of Raphael Lemkin the crusader who coined the word “genocide.” In the years after 1915, he followed the plight of the Armenians with great interest, and especially after March 14, 1921, when the 24-year old Soghomon Tehlirian avenged the death of his family by killing Talaat Pasha in the streets of Berlin. In researching what happened to the Armenians, Lemkin lamented the crime that had no name. During World War II he invented the word genocide, from the Greek genos meaning family, tribe or race, and the Latin cide, meaning killing. He then spent the rest of his life (literally every moment of it!) trying to convince the world to outlaw genocide.

Dr. Lemkin died on August 28, 1959, in Manhattan, where he had a massive heart attack in the Park Avenue offices of a public relations firm where he was trying to enlist help for his cause. He was 59 years old. At the time of his death an editorial in the New York Times had this to say:

“Diplomats of this and other nations who used to feel a certain concern when they saw the slightly stooped figure of Dr. Raphael Lemkin approaching them in the corridors of the United Nations need not be uneasy anymore. They will not have to think up explanations for a failure to ratify the genocide convention for which Dr. Lemkin worked so patiently and so unselfishly for a decade and a half. Death in action was his final argument—a final word to our own State Department, which has feared that an agreement not to kill would infringe upon our sovereignty….”

Samantha Power in her book, A Problem from Hell, describes how Dr. Lemkin’s one-room apartment was overflowing with memos, documents, letters, and clippings—all related to his efforts to ban genocide. She sadly notes: “Lemkin had coined the word genocide. He had helped draft a treaty designed to outlaw it. And he had seen the law rejected by the world’s most powerful nation. Seven people attended Lemkin’s Funeral.”

19th AMENDMENT GRANTING WOMEN VOTING RIGHTS
The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on August 26, 1920, granting women the right to vote. The amendment simply states: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”

We are always prepared to remind everyone—anyone willing to listen—that the 1918 Republic of Armenia gave women the right to vote.

“It is we, the people, not we, the white male citizens, nor yet we, the male citizens, but we, the whole people, who formed the Union. And we formed it, not to give the blessings of liberty, but to secure them; not to the half of ourselves and the half of our posterity, but to the whole people—women as well as men. And it is a downright mockery to talk to women of their enjoyment of the blessings of liberty while they are denied the use of the only means of securing them provided by this democratic-republican government—the ballot.”
Susan B. Anthony, in a speech delivered in New York City, in 1873.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

September 10—Annual picnic of St. Stephen Church, New Britain, Connecticut.

September 10—Annual picnic of St. Gregory Armenian Church of Merrimack Valley, at the American Legion grounds in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

September 10—St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sunday School classes resume.

September 15—2nd Annual Golf Outing of All Saints Church, at Hilldale Golf Club, Hoffman Estates, Illinois. For reservations and/or information, 847-858-7685.

September 17—First Annual Lobster Fest, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 215-482-9200.

September 18—11th Annual ACEC/School golf outing at Stow Acres Country Club, Stow, Massachusetts. For information, 781-326-5764.

September 22—Family Night at St. Gregory Armenian Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts, 6 pm at Jaffarian Hall.

September 25—Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, 3rd Annual Golf Outing and Award Dinner at Raceway Golf Course, Thompson, Connecticut. Registration 7:30 a.m. For information 508-872-9629 or church office 508-852-2414.

September 25—St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Third Annual Golf Outing. For information, 215-482-9200.

September 28—4th Annual Golf Outing hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. Bergen Hills Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey. For reservations and/or information: 201-943-2950.

October 1—Banquet honoring Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian on the occasion of his recent elevation, at Terrace on the Park, Flushing Meadows, New York, 3 pm. Details will follow.

October 8—81st anniversary celebration of St. Stephen Church, New Britain, Connecticut.

October 12-15—Annual bazaar, Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland.

October 22—Holy Cross Church, Troy, NY, anniversary celebration.

November 3-4— Ladies Guild Food Festival, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

November 5—Annual bazaar, St. Stephen Church, New Britain, Connecticut.

November 5—36th Anniversary Luncheon and program, St. Gregory Armenian Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts.

November 11-12—Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, annual “Armenian Fest” at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island.

November 18—Children’s Concert, GIVING THANKS, sponsored by the Eastern Prelacy at Florence Gould Hall, Alliance Francaise, New York City, featuring TALINE AND FRIENDS. Details will follow.

November 26—St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, First Episcopal Badarak in Philadelphia by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian.

December 9—Men’s Club Steak Dinner, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

December 24—Sunday School Christmas Pageant, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please credit Crossroads as the source.

Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to: info@armenianprelacy.org

If you wish to receive future issues of the Crossroads E-Newsletter in your E-mail Inbox, send an e-mail message with your name and your full e-mail address to email@armenianprelacy.org and write "subscribe" in the subject line.

August 24, 2006
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CALLS FOR “RESPECT FOR LIFE” Two days ago in Antelias, Lebanon, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, commented on the tragic consequences of the recent conflict in Lebanon. His Holiness described the long chain of funerals, the clearing of rubble that was once the homes families, the oil spill in the Mediterranean, all graphically illustrate the ruthless violence human beings can impose on one another, the Catholicos said. His Holiness went on to describe how the world community watched helplessly as these violent acts were committed, and the General Secretary of the United Nations admitted his disappointment that the UN was unable to act firmly and in time to stop the violence. “Such violence must stop,” His Holiness said. “Human lives should be spared and the environment protected. Conflict resolution and conflict prevention are the only means through which violence can be transformed.” The Catholicos invited religious leaders and members of civil society to assume their responsibilities and to engage in dialogue, set up strategies to overcome violence, promote respect for human life and the environment, and to act together. VICAR GENERAL IN ARMENIA Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General, continues his mission in Armenia where he is directing the summer religious studies for the children sponsored by the Prelacy’s Orphan Sponsorship Program, at the summer camp at Vanadzor in northern Armenia. The Vicar will return to New York on August 31. V. REV. FR. DANIEL GARABEDIAN WILL SERVE PARISHES IN RACINE AND WAUKEGAN Our item last week about Father Daniel at Camp Haiastan this summer should have noted that beginning next month Hayr Sourp will have the dual responsibility of ministering to St. Hagop Church in Racine, Wisconsin and St. Paul Church in Waukegan, Illinois. FUNERAL SERVICES FOR KEVORK KANDAHARIAN Funeral services took place in Antelias Lebanon last Friday, August 18, for the well-known educator, Kevork Kandaharian, who served the Theological Seminary in Antelias for the past fifty years. Affectionately known as “Baron Kandaharian” by all, His Holiness praised the legacy left by the prominent teacher and educator through his service to the Seminary. ST. ILLUMINATOR’S DAY SCHOOL WILL BEGIN NEW TERM On Wednesday, September 6, the St. Illuminator’s Armenian Day School in Woodside, New York, will begin its 2006-2007 school term. The day school offers English and Armenian language instruction according to New York State curriculum, as well instruction in computer, art and music. For information about registration contact the school, 718-478-4073. EPISCOPAL CONSECRATION OF BISHOP ANOUSHAVAN WILL BE CELEBRATED ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 1 The recent Episcopal Consecration of Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Prelacy, will be celebrated on Sunday, October 1st. His Grace will officiate at the Divine Liturgy that day at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York—a parish he served as pastor for more than a decade. In the afternoon a Celebratory Banquet will take part in the Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows, New York, beginning at 3 pm. Professor Hratch Zadoian, Vice-President Emeritus of Queens College, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies, with the Keynote Address delivered by Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, and a classmate of Bishop Anoushavan at the Theological Seminary at Antelias. REMEMBERING RAPHAEL LEMKIN… Monday is the 47th anniversary of the death of Raphael Lemkin the crusader who coined the word “genocide.” In the years after 1915, he followed the plight of the Armenians with great interest, and especially after March 14, 1921, when the 24-year old Soghomon Tehlirian avenged the death of his family by killing Talaat Pasha in the streets of Berlin. In researching what happened to the Armenians, Lemkin lamented the crime that had no name. During World War II he invented the word genocide, from the Greek genos meaning family, tribe or race, and the Latin cide, meaning killing. He then spent the rest of his life (literally every moment of it!) trying to convince the world to outlaw genocide. Dr. Lemkin died on August 28, 1959, in Manhattan, where he had a massive heart attack in the Park Avenue offices of a public relations firm where he was trying to enlist help for his cause. He was 59 years old. At the time of his death an editorial in the New York Times had this to say: “Diplomats of this and other nations who used to feel a certain concern when they saw the slightly stooped figure of Dr. Raphael Lemkin approaching them in the corridors of the United Nations need not be uneasy anymore. They will not have to think up explanations for a failure to ratify the genocide convention for which Dr. Lemkin worked so patiently and so unselfishly for a decade and a half. Death in action was his final argument—a final word to our own State Department, which has feared that an agreement not to kill would infringe upon our sovereignty….” Samantha Power in her book, A Problem from Hell, describes how Dr. Lemkin’s one-room apartment was overflowing with memos, documents, letters, and clippings—all related to his efforts to ban genocide. She sadly notes: “Lemkin had coined the word genocide. He had helped draft a treaty designed to outlaw it. And he had seen the law rejected by the world’s most powerful nation. Seven people attended Lemkin’s Funeral.” 19th AMENDMENT GRANTING WOMEN VOTING RIGHTS The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on August 26, 1920, granting women the right to vote. The amendment simply states: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” We are always prepared to remind everyone—anyone willing to listen—that the 1918 Republic of Armenia gave women the right to vote. “It is we, the people, not we, the white male citizens, nor yet we, the male citizens, but we, the whole people, who formed the Union. And we formed it, not to give the blessings of liberty, but to secure them; not to the half of ourselves and the half of our posterity, but to the whole people—women as well as men. And it is a downright mockery to talk to women of their enjoyment of the blessings of liberty while they are denied the use of the only means of securing them provided by this democratic-republican government—the ballot.” Susan B. Anthony, in a speech delivered in New York City, in 1873.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS September 10—Annual picnic of St. Stephen Church, New Britain, Connecticut. September 10—Annual picnic of St. Gregory Armenian Church of Merrimack Valley, at the American Legion grounds in Haverhill, Massachusetts. September 10—St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sunday School classes resume. September 15—2nd Annual Golf Outing of All Saints Church, at Hilldale Golf Club, Hoffman Estates, Illinois. For reservations and/or information, 847-858-7685. September 17—First Annual Lobster Fest, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 215-482-9200. September 18—11th Annual ACEC/School golf outing at Stow Acres Country Club, Stow, Massachusetts. For information, 781-326-5764. September 22—Family Night at St. Gregory Armenian Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts, 6 pm at Jaffarian Hall. September 25—Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, 3rd Annual Golf Outing and Award Dinner at Raceway Golf Course, Thompson, Connecticut. Registration 7:30 a.m. For information 508-872-9629 or church office 508-852-2414. September 25—St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Third Annual Golf Outing. For information, 215-482-9200. September 28—4th Annual Golf Outing hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. Bergen Hills Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey. For reservations and/or information: 201-943-2950. October 1—Banquet honoring Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian on the occasion of his recent elevation, at Terrace on the Park, Flushing Meadows, New York, 3 pm. Details will follow. October 8—81st anniversary celebration of St. Stephen Church, New Britain, Connecticut. October 12-15—Annual bazaar, Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland. October 22—Holy Cross Church, Troy, NY, anniversary celebration. November 3-4— Ladies Guild Food Festival, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. November 5—Annual bazaar, St. Stephen Church, New Britain, Connecticut. November 5—36th Anniversary Luncheon and program, St. Gregory Armenian Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts. November 11-12—Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, annual “Armenian Fest” at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island. November 18—Children’s Concert, GIVING THANKS, sponsored by the Eastern Prelacy at Florence Gould Hall, Alliance Francaise, New York City, featuring TALINE AND FRIENDS. Details will follow. November 26—St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, First Episcopal Badarak in Philadelphia by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian. December 9—Men’s Club Steak Dinner, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. December 24—Sunday School Christmas Pageant, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please credit Crossroads as the source. Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to: info@armenianprelacy.org

If you wish to receive future issues of the Crossroads E-Newsletter in your E-mail Inbox, send an e-mail message with your name and your full e-mail address to email@armenianprelacy.org and write "subscribe" in the subject line.