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| PRELATE’S EASTER MESSAGE
BEHOLD THE BREATH OF RESURRECTION
“If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching
is in vain and your faith is in vain.”
I Corinthians 15:14
At the end of the forty days of Great Lent, the Christian world prepares to celebrate the Church’s greatest feast and the anchor of the Christian faith—the Holy Resurrection of Christ. Without this faith, Christianity’s entire preaching is shaken and collapses. Without this faith the life lived by a Christian is devoid of meaning, since the days of our lives are in anticipation of the coming life with hope that is strengthened by faith without any doubt.
The events of the Resurrection are clearly attested in the Gospels by those who lived with the Lord after the Resurrection, who received their apostolic mission, and were filled with the miraculous spiritual force of amazement, and were witness, even unto death, to resurrected life. They saw the first fruit of resurrection and had complete trust in their Teacher—in Christ. Still, the Apostle Paul, who had been a persecutor of Christians, became the indefatigable and faithful preacher of Christianity after his miraculous meeting with Christ. His encounter with the Lord became a non-negotiable testimony. The Apostle Paul is so certain of the truth of his declaration—the concept and truth of the Resurrection—that he even says that his entire preaching is without meaning, is in vain, if Christ was not resurrected.
The Christian Church based its entire faith on the Resurrection. The Resurrection did not become just an historical event; it became the Apostles and the Church’s great vitality, and the purpose of a Christian’s way of life. The Church’s existence became anchored in the faith of the Resurrection, and with the power of that force the Church continued to exist in spite of centuries of persecution. The Church exists now, and will continue to exist, despite all attacks by enemies.
The Armenian Church, faithful to Universal Church doctrine, had the same faithfulness, and even more so, preaching and living the concept and veracity of the Resurrection. So much so that as a church and people our resurrection became our miraculous survival, which after the horror of death and terror of genocide gave us strength and resolve to defeat death by dying, exactly like our Lord, who “by his death defeated death and with His resurrection granted us new life.” (Book of Hours)
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Last year our church and people experienced the reward of their faithfulness and dedication when the Martyrs of the Genocide were canonized and we remembered and reminded others of the just cause of the blood they shed. It is the breath of the Resurrection that hovers in the soul of every Armenian. Beyond being part of our normal life, that breath must become a message and a duty so that our nation’s resurrection is witness to Christ’s resurrection, our faith and the declaration of our eternal faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ.
And, just as throughout the centuries, may the Resurrection remain now and always the power of our survival, and the impetus and constructive power of the Armenian Church, for the sake of the splendor of the Armenian church, people and homeland.
Christ is resurrected from death. Yes, truly, our Savior Jesus Christ is resurrected.
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN
Prelate
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
Easter 2016
ՅԱՐՈՒԹԵԱՆ ՇՈՒՆՉՆ Է ԱՀԱ
“Եթէ Քրիստոս յարութիւն առած չէ,
զուր է մեր քարոզութիւնը եւ
զուր է նաեւ ձեր հաւատքը”։ (Ա. Կր 15.14)
Մեծ Պահքի քառասուն օրերու աւարտին, քրիստոնեայ աշխարհը կը պատրաստուի տօնելու Եկեղեցւոյ մեծագոյն տօնը եւ քրիստոնէական հաւատքի խարիսխը եղող Քրիստոսի Սուրբ Յարութիւնը: Առանց այս հաւատքին, քրիստոնէութեան ամբողջ քարոզութիւնը կը խախտի ու կը կործանի. առանց այս հաւատքին, քրիստոնեայ անհատին ապրած կեանքը իր իմաստէն կը պարպուի, քանի կեանքի մեր օրերը զսպանակուած են գալիք կեանքին յոյսով եւ ամրապնդուած՝ առանց կասկածի հաւատքով:
Յարութեան դէպքը հաստատ վկայութեամբ արձանագրուած է Աւետարաններուն մէջ, այն անձերուն կողմէ, որոնք Քրիստոսի յարութենէն ետք ապրեցան Տիրոջ հետ, ստացան իրենց առաքելութեան պատգամը, լեցուեցան հոգեկան զարմանահրաշ կորովով եւ իրենց կեանքին իսկ գնով վկայեցին յարութեան կեանքին, եւ այդ յարութեան առաջին պտուղը եւ կատարեալ ապահովութիւնը տեսան իրենց Վարդապետին՝ Քրիստոսի մէջ: Տակաւին, Պօղոս Առաքեալ, որ հալածողն էր Քրիստոսի հետեւորդներուն, Քրիստոսի հետ հրաշալի իր հանդիպումէն ետք դարձաւ անխոնջ ու հաւատարիմ քարոզիչը քրիստոնէութեան, Տիրոջ հետ իր հանդիպումը ունենալով որպէս յարութեան անսակարկ վկայութիւն: Պօղոս Առաքեալ այնքան վստահ է իր յայտարարութեան ճշմարտութեան, այսինքն յարութեան գաղափարին եւ իրականութեան, որ կը համարձակի նոյնիսկ ըսել, թէ իր ամբողջ քարոզութիւնը անիմաստ է, ի զուր է, եթէ Քրիստոս յարութիւն չէ առած:
Քրիստոնեայ Եկեղեցին յարութեան վրայ հիմնեց իր ամբողջ հաւատքը: Յարութիւնը չմնաց պարզապէս պատմական դէպքի մը արձանագրութիւնը, այլ դարձաւ առաքեալներուն եւ եկեղեցւոյ հսկայական ուժականութիւնը, դարձաւ նպատակը քրիստոնեային կեանքին եւ ապրելակերպին: Եկեղեցւոյ կենսունակութիւնը յարութեան հաւատքով խարսխուեցաւ, որուն զօրութեամբ ապրեցաւ՝ հակառակ դարերու ընթացքին իր դէմ սարքուած բոլոր հալածանքներուն: Նոյն այդ զօրութեամբ Եկեղեցին կ՛ապրի ու պիտի շարունակէ ապրիլ՝ հակառակ իր դէմ արձակուած թշնամական բոլոր նետերուն:
Հայ Եկեղեցին, հաւատարիմ քրիստոնէական ընդհանրական Եկեղեցւոյ վարդապետութեան, ունեցաւ նոյն հաւատարմութիւնը, եւ նոյնիսկ աւելիով քարոզելով ու ապրելով յարութեան գաղափարն ու ճշմարտութիւնը: Այնքան, որ որպէս Եկեղեցի եւ ժողովուրդ, մեր յարութիւնը դարձաւ մեր գոյատեւումի հրաշքը, որ մահուան սարսափէն եւ ցեղասպանութեան արհաւիրքէն ետք, մեզի տուաւ ոյժ եւ կամք՝ մեր մահով մահուան վրայ յաղթանակ տանելու, ճիշդ մեր Տիրոջ նման, որ իր «մահով մահը սպաննեց եւ իր յարութեամբ մեզի նոր կեանք պարգեւեց» (Ժամագիրք):
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Անցեալ տարի մեր Եկեղեցին եւ ժողովուրդը ունեցաւ իր հաւատարմութեան եւ նուիրումին վարձատրութիւնը, երբ սրբադասուեցան Հայոց Ցեղասպանութեան նահատակները եւ արժանաւորապէս յիշեցինք եւ յիշեցուցինք անոնց թափած արեան արդար դատը: Յարութեան շունչն է, որ կը սաւառնի իւրաքանչիւր հայու հոգիին մէջ: Այդ շունչը սովորական ապրումէ անդին անհրաժեշտ է, որ դառնայ պատգամ եւ պարտաւորութիւն, որպէսզի մեր ազգին յարութիւնը ըլլայ վկայութիւնը Քրիստոսի յարութեան մեր հաւատքին եւ արտայայտութիւնը յաւիտենական մեր հաւատարմութեան՝ հանդէպ մեր Տիրոջ Յիսուս Քրիստոսի:
Եւ ինչպէս բոլոր դարերու ընթացքին, այժմ եւ յաւիտեան յարութիւնը թող ըլլայ եւ մնայ ուժականութիւնը մեր գոյատեւումին եւ մղիչ ու շինիչ ոյժը Հայ Եկեղեցւոյ, Հայ ժողովուրդին եւ Հայրենիքին պայծառութեան:
Քրիստոս յարեաւ ի մեռելոց: Այո՛, ճշմարտապէս յարուցեալ է մեր Փրկիչը՝ Յիսուս Քրիստոս:
Սուրբ Յարութիւն,
27 Մարտ, 2016
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| PALM SUNDAY
This Sunday, March 20, is Palm Sunday commemorating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the beginning of Holy Week. The Church is joyful after forty days of repentance. Christ is coming to Jerusalem. He is coming in the name of the Lord in fulfillment of the prophecy (Zechariah 9:9-16).
Rejoice, O Jerusalem, and adorn your bridal chamber, O Sion, for behold your King Christ, seated on the new colt, shows meekness and comes to enter into your chamber. … Cry aloud, Hosanna, blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord, who has great mercy. (From the Introit of Palm Sunday)
PRELATE’S HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Archbishop Oshagan’s Holy Week schedule is as follows:
Palm Sunday, March 20, His Eminence will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the Sermon and preside over the “Opening of the Gates” ceremony at St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts.
Holy Thursday, March 24, His Eminence will preside over the Washing of the Feet and Tenebrae services at Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland.
Holy Friday, March 25, His Eminence will preside over the Good Friday Entombment service at Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland.
Holy Saturday, March 26, His Eminence will preside at Easter Eve Liturgy at St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Easter Sunday, March 27, His Eminence will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City.
VICAR’S HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Bishop Anoushavan’s Holy Week schedule as follows:
Palm Sunday, March 20, His Grace will celebrate the Divine Liturgy, deliver the Sermon and preside over the “Opening of the Gates” ceremony at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.
Holy Thursday, March 24, His Grace will preside over the Washing of the Feet and Tenebrae services at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City.
Holy Friday, March 25, His Grace will preside over the Entombment Service at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.
Easter Sunday, March 27, His Grace will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
HOLY WEEK VISITS
As they do every year during Holy Week, Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan, accompanied by metro area clergy, will visit the Hovnanian School in New Milford, New Jersey, and the Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, in Emerson, New Jersey on Tuesday, March 22. On Wednesday, March 23, they will visit the Armenian Home in Flushing, New York.
HOLY WEEK MESSAGE BY CATHOLICOS ARAM
To see a video (Armenian and English) about Holy Week by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of the Great House of Cilicia, click on the image below.
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| CONSECRATION OF ICONS DEDICATED TO
THE ARMENIAN HOLY MARTYRS OF THE GENOCIDE
In an inspiring service last Saturday at St. Illuminator Cathedral in New York, the icons commemorating the canonization of the Martyrs of April were consecrated by Archbishop Oshagan during the Divine Liturgy attended by the faithful of the metropolitan area. Priests serving the Eastern Prelacy were all in attendance and participated in this memorable event. Each parish of the Eastern Prelacy will proudly display the icon as a remembrance of the unique event that collectively canonized the Martyrs last April, in the first canonization ceremony in the Armenian Church since St. Gregory of Datev (1346-1409). Following the Liturgy and consecration the blessing of Madagh took place and distributed to those present.
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| BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, March 20, Palm Sunday are: Song of Songs 1:1-2:3; Zechariah 9:9-15; Philippians 4:4-7; Matthew 20:29-21:17. Opening of the Gates: John 12:44-50.
And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, two blind men sitting by the roadside, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent; but they cried out the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” And Jesus stopped and called them, saying, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they received their sight and followed him.
And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If any one says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble and mounted on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of an ass.”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the ass and the colt, and put their garments on them, and he sat thereon. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee.”
And Jesus entered the temple of God and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you make it a den of robbers.”
And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant; and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou has brought perfect praise’?” And leaving them, he went out of the city of Bethany and lodged there. (Matthew 20:29-21:17)
For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here.
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REMEMBRANCE OF THE RAISING OF LAZARUS
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| This Saturday, March 19, we remember the Raising of Lazarus as told in the Gospel of John, Chapter 11. Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha were good friends of Jesus. Their home in Bethany (near Jerusalem) was Jesus’ home whenever he was in Jerusalem. Lazarus’s sudden death threw his sisters into deep mourning. Jesus also wept for his friend. John’s gospel account emphasizes the fact that Lazarus was indeed dead by pointing out that his body was in the tomb. Jesus’ raising of Lazarus convinced many people of his unique powers, and according to John, the authorities took steps to try to silence him.
Lazarus represents humankind and Bethany represents the whole world. The major themes of this day are the forthcoming victory of Christ over death, the supreme sacrifice of love, and the resurrection as the ultimate triumph of love.
A hymn traditionally sung on Saturday evening (eve of Palm Sunday) says: “With the raising of Lazarus by which the dead were given hope, the descendants of Adam were also raised….” Thus, as the Lenten period comes to an end, we are greeted by the hope of Christ’s promise of the resurrection of humanity.
The forty days of Great Lent (Medz Bahk) come to an end with Vespers on Friday prior to the commemoration of the Raising of Lazarus. A new fasting period for Holy Week begins on Monday and continues through Holy Saturday.
HOLY WEEK
We are now entering the most solemn period for Christians—Holy Week—leading us to our most sacred holiday, Easter. The week before Easter marks a series of events in the life of Jesus, which were preordained. These events include the raising of Lazarus (described above) and the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, where he is greeted by large assembly of people, who are carrying olive and palm branches (See Bible reading).
On Palm Sunday (Tsaghkazard) the altar curtain, which was closed at the beginning of Lent, is open. The palms are blessed and distributed to the faithful. Children dressed in their best clothes, carry beautifully decorated crosses as they parade around the church in a procession. In the evening, or as now done immediately following the Divine Liturgy, the faithful gather at the door of the church or at the closed altar, for the Opening of the Gates (Trnpatsek) ceremony, symbolizing the opening of the gates to the Kingdom of God. This solemn penitential service in preparation of Holy Week is unique to the Armenian Church.
Each day of Holy Week (also called Great Week, Avak Shabat) is a holy day. Monday commemorate the barren fig tree (Matthew 21:18-20). Tuesday commemorates the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:13). Wednesday commemorate the Anointment and Betrayal of Christ (Matthew 26). Thursday is Maundy Thursday, which originates from Christ’s command that His disciples love one another (John 13:34). In the evening the Washing of the Feet (Votunlva) takes place in remembrance of the events of the Last Supper. Late Thursday evening the betrayal and torment of Christ, Tenebrae (Latin for darkness; in Armenian Khavaroum), is commemorated. In one of the most dramatic services, Gospel readings describing Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal by Judas, and denial by Peter, are read interspersed with the singing of hymns composed by Nerses Shnorhali, some of the most beautiful hymns of the Armenian Church. Holy Friday (Avak Ourpat), the solemnest day in the Christian calendar, commemorates the crucifixion, death, and burial of our Lord.
THE INSPIRING MUSIC OF HOLY WEEK
The Armenian Church’s hymns for Holy Week, from Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem to his passion and crucifixion, to his burial and resurrection, comprise some of the most beautiful and inspiring music ever created.
Palm Sunday is the first outburst of joy after the somber Lenten period, and the hymn “Rejoice, O Holy Church” (Ourakh Ler) expresses the joy of Palm Sunday. “Rejoice, O Holy Church, at the advent of the Holy Only-begotten, rejoice and delight with all the saints. Blessed are you. You who came, King of the universe.”
During the Opening of the Doors ceremony (Trnpatsek), the beautiful hymn, “Open to us Lord” (Pats Mez Der) is sung at the door of the church or in front of the closed altar. “We beseech you, O Lord, open for us, open for us, Lord, the gate of your mercy, we beseech you imploringly, O Lord.”
During the vigil on Maundy Thursday some of the most melodious and memorable hymns are sung including: “My Heart Trembles: (Sird Im Sasani); “Seized by the Love of Money” (Ardsatsiroutyampun Molyal), and the heartbreaking “Where Are You, O Mother” (Oor Es Mayr Im). “Where are you, most sweet mother? I fervently seek your motherly love. My eyes are filled with bitter tears; I have no one to wipe them away. Where are you, my mother?”
LENTEN LECTURES CONCLUDE
The sixth and final Lenten lecture took place last night at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City, a weekly program that included a short Husgoom service, an educational component, and a table fellowship.
Last night the speaker was Mrs. Silva Takvorian, ARS Central Executive board member, and she spoke about “Service is the Obligation of the Community and Government Structures.” To view her presentation, please click here.
At the end of the program, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, thanked all the participants for making the Prelacy Lenten program a part of their Lenten journey this year. He then thanked all the speakers, the Prelacy Ladies Guild (PLG), the Ladies’ Guild of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, and the Prelacy’s Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), and all those individuals who contributed in different ways to the program, and wished everyone a blessed Holy Week journey to the glorious celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and savior Jesus, the Messiah.
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| PRELATE MEETS WITH AMBASSADOR
Archbishop Oshagan met with His Excellency Grigor Hovhannissian, Armenia’s ambassador to the United States, in Washington this week. They discussed a number of issues and exchanged ideas and suggestions regarding issues of importance to Armenia and the Diaspora.
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| MUSICAL ARMENIA
The 33rd concert in the Musical Armenia series that took place last Friday at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall was received with enthusiasm and appreciation by an audience of music enthusiasts. Featured were pianist Sofya Melikyan and the dynamic performers NUR, (comprised of the soprano Rosy Anoush Svazlian and the pianist Andrea Manzoni).
The highly acclaimed pianist Sofya Melikyan performed a series of dances by Komitas Vardapet, as well as selections by Enrique Granaos, Frederic Chopin, and Alexander Arutiunian. The duo performers, Rosy Anoush Svazlian and Andrea Manzoni, known as NUR performed selections by Komitas Vartapet, Sayat-Nova, and Parsegh Ganatchian. NUR creates a unique new sound by using traditional Armenian music as a source of inspiration to create modern melodies for an international audience.
In his message Archbishop Oshagan wrote: “Those who first conceived the idea of Musical Armenia did so with the intention of encouraging young, talented Armenian artists. If we are truly interested in a living and vibrant culture we must support the creative and imaginative pursuits of our artists, be they musicians, writers, or painters. Many decades later the goals of Musical Armenia remain basically the same.”
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|  | Andrea Manzoni, Rozy Anoush Svazlian and Sofya Melikyan take a final bow after their performance at the 33rd Musical Armenia concert at Weill Recital Hall. | |  | The performers with members of the Musical Armenia committee responsible for organizingf the concert. | | | |
| STUDENTS FROM PILIBOS SCHOOL VISIT CATHEDRAL
Forty-one 8th grade students from the Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School in Hollywood, California, accompanied by their principal, Dr. Alina Dorian, and two teachers, visited St. Illuminator Cathedral today. The students are on a class trip to New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor, greeted the students and their chaperones and gave them a tour of the Cathedral and some historical highlights. Der Hayr answered the many questions posed by the students and presented each with an Armenian cross as a souvenir of their visit.
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|  | The students from the Rose and Alex Pilibos School and their chaperones with Der Mesrob at St. Illuminator Cathedral. | |
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|  | King Drtad with Gayane and Hripsime. |
| WHITINSVILLE SUNDAY SCHOOL PRESENTATION
The Sunday school students of St. Asdvadzadzin Church in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, under the direction of Mrs. Marin a Merian, presented “The Spirit of St. Gregory,” a play commemorating the Feast of Saint Gregory the Illuminator’s commitment to the Pit,” last Sunday.
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| SOCIALLY RELEVANT FILM FESTIVAL
The Socially Relevant Film Festival will show the 70-minute documentary “Who Killed the Armenians?” this Saturday, March 19, 6 pm at Bowtie Chelsea Cinema, 260 West 23rd Street, New York City. The documentary film by Myriam Zaki and Mohamed Hanafy is in Arabic with English subtitles.
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| THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
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| Inauguration of the Arpa-Sevan Tunnel (March 21, 1981)
Lake Sevan is one of the few high-mountain fresh water lakes in the world. It originally had a surface of 1,416 square kilometers at an elevation of 1,916 meters (the second highest lake in the world after Lake Titicaca, on the Bolivia-Peru border, in South America).
Only 1/12 of the more than 1,300,000 cubic meters annually entering the lake from rivers, streams, and precipitation flowed out through the Hrazdan River. The bulk of the entering water evaporated and vast areas of the Ararat plain remained unused due to the lack of moisture.
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|  | The tunnel during its construction in 1973. |
| The idea of increasing the outflow of the lake had been put forth since the beginning of the twentieth century. The free flow from the lake would increase more than six times if more than 80 per cent of the lake surface was drained. This would suffice to irrigate almost 250,000 acres of surface of the Ararat plain. The 1,000 meter drop between the lake and the plain would be used for the generation of electricity through the construction of a cascade of hydroelectric stations on the Hrazdan River.
The work on the Sevan-Hrazdan irrigation-power complex, with six stations, started in 1933, in the period of rapid industrialization of the Soviet Union headed by Joseph Stalin. The first power station was opened in 1936. The complex was the only real source of power supply in Armenia, and until 1962 its hydroelectric stations generated almost 90 per cent of all electrical power in the country.
However, the ecological condition of the lake underwent tangible changes and vast degradation due to reduced water level and detrimental impact of human activity on the biological diversity of the lake. Due to the water level decrease, the quality of the water deteriorated and natural habitats were destroyed. In the 1950s it had become evident that the ecological and economic consequences of extensive exploitation of the lake were too undesirable to continue in the same way.
The interconnection of the power grids of Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan in the 1960s helped reduce the demand of energy from Armenia, and the construction of thermal powers started, due to the arrival of gas from Azerbaijan.
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|  | The tunnel during the final stages of construction in 2004. |
| The level of Lake Sevan had been reduced by 18 meters due to the loss of water and the surface had become 1,242 square kilometers (the Sevan island has become a peninsula due to this severe reduction), and a plan to solve the issue was put in place. As a result, the release of water was reduced to 500 million cubic meters per year, of which 380 million was intended for irrigation and the rest for reserve of the power system. Two steps of the Vorotan River cascade of hydroelectric stations were put into operation in 1978, and the generation of power from the lake was totally stopped. The Sevan-Hrazdan cascade was reconverted into an irrigation operation.
This was not enough to stop the drainage of the lake water. For this reason, one priority was to divert to the lake an annual amount of 250 million cubic meters of water from the Arpa River, which would be enough, together with the lake’s own hydro resources, to stabilize its level.
The construction of the Arpa-Sevan tunnel, which would ensure the flow of the river to the waters, was no small engineering feat. It would cross 49 kilometers (30 miles), drilling through the mountains that surrounded the lake. The tunnel was inaugurated on March 21, 1981. In 2010 the tunnel received the name of “Arpa-Sevan tunnel named after Hakob Zarobian,” in memory of the Armenian republican leader from 1960-1966 who had been instrumental in the construction of the tunnel.
However, it is important to note that, since the water level in the lake did not rise as fast and as much, a month later the Council of Ministers of the former Soviet Union passed a resolution to build the Vorotan-Arpa tunnel to complement the work already done. This second tunnel is 21.6 kilometers (almost 14 miles). The Karabagh conflict and the earthquake of 1988 halted the construction, which was later resumed. The tunnel was finally inaugurated on April 26, 2004, bringing an additional 165 million cubic meters to the lake annually.
The water level of Lake Sevan began rising significantly after the second tunnel was completed. It was reported in 2007 that the water level had risen by 2.44 meters in the previous six years and reached 1900.04 meters in October 2010. The government committee on Sevan has predicted that it will reach 1903.5 by 2029.
Previous entries in “This Week in Armenian History” are on the Prelacy’s web site (www.armenianprelacy.org)
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| ARMENIAN LANGUAGE CORNER
Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
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| Speaking about Movies
As in every language, the idea of pictures that moved was originally backed with a Greek word, and this is how cinematography was born in 1896 (Greek kinema movement, from Greek kinein “to move” + graphein “to write”). Afterwards, the word was cut short to cinema.
These words are reserved to the art of making what we today call “movie,” “motion picture,” “moving picture,” or “film.” How do you say it in Armenian?
We first have sharzhanegar (շարժանկար), which is the Armenian calque of “motion picture” (sharzh / շարժ > sharzhum / շարժում “movement”+ negar / նկար “picture”). You can also say sharzhanegari srah (շարժանկարի սրահ “movie theater”), if you wish.
If you want to say “cinematography,” you can use a slightly different word: sharzhabadger (շարժապատկեր), which also literally means “motion picture.” It is the combination of sharzh and badger (պատկեր “image”).
Let’s add that the word sinema (սինեմա) is colloquially used with both meanings of “movie theater” and “cinematography.” In the 1920s a periodical called Haygagan sinema («Հայկական սինեմա») was published in Cairo, edited by writer Yervant Odian (1869-1926). However, it was not about movies, but a satirical periodical (the editor was himself one of the best Armenian satirical writers).
However, since (Western) Armenian is a language that does not like borrowings from other languages, you are not going to find sinema in dictionaries.
But you will find film (ֆիլմ), which is currently used with the same meaning as in English.
Previous entries in “The Armenian Language Corner” are on the Prelacy’s web site (www.armenianprelacy.org)
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| FIVE YEARS OF MISERY
This week marked the fifth year of the Syrian conflict that has brought misery, death, and destruction to much of Syria, and plunged the world into a great refugee crisis as thousands and thousands of migrants try to find a safe home.
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET THEM
SYRIAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY NEEDS OUR HELP MORE THAN EVER
The crisis in Syria requires our financial assistance.
Please keep this community in your prayers, your hearts, and your pocketbooks.
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET OUR ONGOING RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY IN SYRIA WHERE CONDITIONS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT.
THE NEED IS REAL.
THE NEED IS GREAT.
DONATIONS TO THE FUND FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF CAN BE MADE ON LINE. TO DONATE NOW CLICK HERE AND SELECT SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF IN THE MENU. OR IF YOU PREFER YOU MAY MAIL YOUR DONATION TO:
Armenian Prelacy
138 E. 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Checks payable to: Armenian Apostolic Church of America
(Memo: Syrian Armenian Relief)
Thank you for your help.
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| SIAMANTO ACADEMY—Meets every second Saturday of the month at the Hovnanian School, 817 River Road, New Milford, New Jersey. For information: anec@armenianprelacy.org or 212-689-7810.
March 19—Sunday School Teachers’ Seminar, New England Region, “Baptism, Chrismation, and Eucharist: The Foundation of our Life in Christ,” at Saints Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church, 315 Church Street, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, 10am—3pm. Sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC)—Eastern Prelacy. The seminar will be conducted by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, AREC Director. For information contact the AREC office by phone (212-689-7810) or email (arec@armenianprelacy.org).
March 20—Anniversary dinner hosted by the Merrimack Valley “Arax” ARS Chapter, 1 pm, Jaffarian Hall, St. Gregory Church, 158 Main Street, North Andover, Massachusetts. Luleh kebab dinner and program; speaker Talin Daghlian. Tickets at the door.
April 2—Contemporary Art Exhibit and Reception, 7 pm to 10 pm, Vahakn and Hasmig Hovnanian Hall at the Armenian Prelacy, 138 E. 39th Street, New York City. Sponsored by the Armenian Relief Society of the Eastern USA, under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, Prelate. The works of prominent Armenian artists from Armenia and the Diaspora will be on view and available for purchase. Curated by Vicki Shoghag Hovanessian. Proceeds will benefit the ARS Educational Programs. The exhibition will also be open on Sunday, April 3, 1 pm to 4 pm. Admission is free.
April 17—“Walk Armenia,” sponsored by ARS Mayr Chapter of New York; a 2-mile walk starting and ending at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral. Registration at 12 noon; walk starts at 1 pm. Registration fee: $25. Proceeds from the walk will benefit renovations to Camp Haiastan. For information contact Anais (anais@mindripple.com).
April 23—Armenian Genocide commemoration, 101st anniversary of the Armenian genocide, House Chambers, Connecticut State Capitol. Flag raising at 11 am; commemoration at 11:30 am.
May 12, 13, 14—National Representative Assembly of the Eastern Prelacy hosted by St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York. Also convening are the National Association of Ladies Guilds conference, and conference of Yeretzgins.
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| Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web site.
To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox, add email@armenianprelacy.org to your address book.
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
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