The Bible: The Essence of Tarkmantchatz

October is designated as Cultural Month in the Armenian calendar to celebrate the invention and impact of the Armenian alphabet by Saint Mesrob Mashdots. The Armenians read his name in the Canon of the Mass and celebrate his memory on February 19. The invention of the alphabet in 406AD proved a powerful factor in the building and preserving of the national spirit, strengthening the Armenian Church and ultimately the bond among all Armenians.
The first monument of the invention of the alphabet was the translation of the Bible from the original Greek into Armenian which was completed about 434. Many of the modern linguists consider the translation of the Bible into Armenian an almost perfect match and have coined it the "Queen of Translations".
The first verse that St. Mesrob translated was the opening line from Solomon’s Book of Proverbs in the Old Testament: “To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding”.
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of Cilicia declared the year 2009 as the Year of the Youth. In line with the Cultural Month and the 2009 Year of the Youth, Mr. Hrayr and Dr. Arda Jebejian initiated the gift/donation of 100 Children and Youth Bibles to the Armenian Prelacy of Cyprus to be distributed to the Nareg schools in Cyprus and to the Sunday School in Nicosia run by the Prelacy. The two editions of the Bible stories are adapted into a simple language and enriched with drawings to make them accessible and attractive to children and youth. The Bibles were officially handed to His Eminence, Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian, Catholicosal Vicar in Cyprus.
On Monday, October 12, 2009, Mr. Hrayr Jebejian, accompanied by Father Momik Habeshian, the parish priest of Sourp Asdvatsatsin in Nicosia, presented the Children’s Bible to one of the elementary classes in Nareg, Nicosia. Through a brief, interactive time with the students, Mr. Jebejian highlighted the
significance of Tarkmanchats and then explained how the Children’s Bible was written, designed, and printed in such a way that it made God’s Word easily accessible and attractive to the young generation. As the Children’s Bible comprises of 365 stories, Mr. Jebejian encouraged the young children to read a
story a day and complete the reading of the whole Book in one year.
The Children and the Youth Bibles are both produced by the Bible Society in Lebanon in collaboration with the Armenian Catholicossate of Cilicia, Antelias, Lebanon. The Bible Societies are international Christian publishing organizations that have 145 offices worldwide and operate in more than 200 countries. The Bible Societies are interconfessional organizations that work with all the different churches and denominations, including the Armenian churches.
Mr. Hrayr Jebejian is the General Secretary of the Bible Society in the Arabian Gulf (BSG). Currently, the management office of the BSG is based in Nicosia, Cyprus. Dr. Arda Jebejian is a linguist and the author of 19 books. Currently, she lectures at the School of Humanities, Law and Social Sciences in the University of
Nicosia. Dr. Jebejian is the author of the Armenian Children’s Bible.

Our Article "Հայերէն Գրենք Հայկական Տառեր Օգտագործելով‏" Mentioned in Seta's Armenian Blog

Our article Հայերէն Գրենք Հայկական Տառեր Օգտագործելով continues to be widely spread and gets mentioned in Seta's Armenian Blog devoted to redistributing newsletters and articles related to the Armenians. Our article was first published in Chanitz blog, then in Aztag Armenian newspaper, then in RAG Mamoul, then in Azad-Hye Magazine, then in Keghart.com. It is still distributed worldwide through email forwards.

You can find this article at the following link -> http://www.chanitz.org/2009/05/blog-post_16.html

ARMISS Choir Will Restart Practices

The Armenian Evangelical ARMISS Choir committee announces to all its members to book the following date and time: Sunday, November 1, at 4:30 pm, in the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church.

ARMISS Committee

Kchag Café, Singing Contest

A singing contest was held during Kchag Café, where the participants were divided into two groups and the moderator, Manoug Chilingirian, would give a letter, and the group will try to find a song starting with the letter and sing. The second group would wait to find out with which letter the first group's song ended with, and try to find a song that starts with that letter.
The two groups were divided equally, and despite the first group's enthusiasm and team spirit, the second group was able to come out victorious. Oh well, better luck next time :)


The moderator, Mr. Manoug Chilingirian


The first group: Mr. Raffi Chilingirian, Ms. Maguy Arslanian, Ms. Hasmig Orchanian (Armenian Evaneglical Brotherhood Church), Mrs. Ani Karabashian-Sabounjian (visiting Lebanon from Qatar), Mrs. Pauline Aynilian.


The second group, with Rev. Soghomon Kilaghbian at the right


The first group: Ms. Rima Cholakian, Mrs. Nver Haidostian, Mr. Hrag Avednanian


Mr. Garbis Deyirmenjian, Rev. Nerses Balabanian (visiting Lebanon from San Francisco, USA)


Mrs. Arda Jebejian (visiting Lebanon from Cyprus), Ms. Shaké Geocherian


Mrs. Sevan Balabanian, Mr. John Sagherian, Rev. Nerses Balabanian, Mr. Garbis Deyirmenjian, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian


Some of the diligent members of Kchag Café: Mr. Hovig Assilian, Mr. Garo Torkomian, Ms. Talar Ikjian, Mr. Hovsep Kevorkian

TRIBUTE TO THE FOUNDERS


Beirut, October 13, 2009- On October 12, 2009, Haigazian University paid tribute to its Founders, during its Annual Founders’ Day celebration, in the presence of the University President, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, Board members, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and students.
The ceremony started with the processional march, followed by the Lebanese National Anthem, after which, Campus Minister, Rev. Greg Lee-Parker offered the prayer of invocation.
Student Life Director, Antranik Dakessian presented the Student of the Year, who traditionally is privileged to address the Haigazian community on Founders’ Day. “The Student of the Year personifies the student who has wisely combined both the academic and the co-curricular aspects of university life and is at a good standing in those two spheres,” Dakessian explained.
Student of the Year 2009, Vahan Yoghourdjian confidently invited the students to adhere to their identity, nevertheless, tolerating and accepting the differences of others. “Balancing these two harmoniously would be the best”, said Yoghourdjian. He encouraged fellow students to get enrolled in the different extracurricular clubs of the University, in order to improve their social skills, critical thinking, and leadership proficiency. He also shared with them, how his personality was shaped at Haigazian University, and how his overall value system was affected.
Yoghourdjian concluded by saying that university life could be lived to its utmost, by “properly using the tools and opportunities provided by the university, thus, becoming fully accomplished leaders of the society.”
After a short musical interlude, a piano and flute duet, “Canon” of Pachelbel, skillfully performed by Araz Aitian and Talar Mandoyan respectively, President Haidostian remembered the founders of Haigazian University, paying tribute to their exceptional vision. “The fact remains that the Armenian Missionary Association of America and the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East partnered together and were supported by visionary individuals from Philadelphia and Phoenix, Stephen Philibisoan and Steven Mehagian who funded the project and led its board”, Haidostian said.
In his inspiring speech, Haidostian reiterated the fact that “Haigazian was born in a land of freedom, where education, creativity and the rich exchange of culture and knowledge were encouraged.”
In his translation of the University motto “Truth, Freedom and Service”, Haidostian highlighted three fundamental ingredients, “a big heart, a creative mind, and a trained hand.
He concluded that the ideal for the students and indeed for all of Lebanon is to prepare “givers”. In this respect, he identified that, “even though Lebanon is often seen as a receiving entity, recipient of funds and goods and political decisions, we need to know that we are called to and have the potential to give qualitatively to all people around the globe”.
Keynote guest, the Founder and Executive Director of CATHARSIS, the Lebanese Center for Drama Therapy, talented actress Zeina Daccache addressed the audience by expressing her pride and gratitude of being a graduate student at Haigazian University, in Clinical Psychology.
As a drama therapist, Daccache shared with the audience her fulfilling experience with forty prisoners at the Roumieh prison in Lebanon,. Daccache recently produced and directed a theatrical work, where the actors were the prisoners, with sentences varying from one year to death sentence. She explained how her work has challenged her, by helping the forgotten members of society, and turning their dead ends into positive opportunities.
Daccache was chosen as the guest of the event, because her sense of calling matches with Haigazian’s value system, in her case, “by using her talent and passion for turning realities of hopelessness, isolation and imprisonment to actions of love, development and teamwork,” as President Haidostian mentioned in his speech.
The program concluded with community singing the University’s Alma Mater.

Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director

Our Article "Հայերէն Գրենք Հայկական Տառեր Օգտագործելով‏" Gets Republished in Keghart website

Our article Հայերէն Գրենք Հայկական Տառեր Օգտագործելով crosses the oceans and gets published in Keghart website, a Canadian-based website. Keghart is Dr. Dikran Abrahamian's website devoted to community activities and Human Rights. This article was first published in Chanitz blog, then in Aztag Armenian newspaper, then in RAG Mamoul. It was also distributed worldwide through email forwards, about which we knew through a French Armenian doctor.

You can find this article at the following link: http://www.chanitz.org/2009/05/blog-post_16.html

Pictures from Mrouj Sunday Service


Mr. Antranig Messerlian (an elder in the Armenian Evangelical Marash Church) and Mrs. Vera Svajian (pastor's wife of the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church)



Rev. Hovhanness Svajian (pastor of the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church)


Our Partners/Sponsors in Ministry

Haigazian University
Haigazian University is a liberal arts institution of higher learning which operates on the United States model of higher education using English as the language of instruction. Its purpose is to provide quality education in a Christian environment where academic freedom and the search and dissemination of truth are predominant. It seeks to empower students both for leadership positions and as professionals to serve in the Armenian and non-Armenian Lebanese communities as well as in the Middle East.



P. & E. Torosian School
Torosian is a neighborhood school. Most of the students live a walking distance from school. The school implements the Lebanese Government Curriculum in Kindergarten, Elementary and Intermediate levels. The school's mission is to educate the Armenian new generation with Christian, Armenian, sound and decent education. Mrs. Seta Karageozian is the principal of the school.




Armenian Evangelical Christian Endeavor Union
The Armenian Evangelical Christian Endeavor Union of Syria and Lebanon (Armenian: Լիբանանի և Սուրիոյ Հայ Աւետարանական Եկեղեցիներու Քրիստոնէական Ջանից Միութիւն) is the youth organization that is affiliated with the World Christian Endeavor Union and the Christian Endeavor International. The Armenian Evangelical CE Union mostly coordinates with the youth ministries of local churches and at the same time it runs two summer camp sites (Monte Verdi-Lebanon and Kessab-Syria) where various groups (Children, Teenage, Youth and Young couples) organize their summer camps and conferences.




Howard Karageuzian Foundation
The Howard Karageuzian (HK) Commamorative Corporation was founded in New York in 1921 by Mr. and Mrs. Mihran and Zabel Karageuzians in memory of their son Howard who died of malaria while only 14.





Ջանասէր
Chanaser, the bimonthly magazine, is published by the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East.

Owner: Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East
Publisher: U.A.E.C.N.E. Publications Committee



Bible Bookshop
The Christian store for gifts, Bibles, and Christian books. Whoever likes to gift a nice present can find suitable gifts for suitable prices with quality products. The store is located next to the Armenian Brotherhood Church, in Armenia Street.





Soulahian Super Store
The store where you will find your needs met; whether you need kitchen equipments, or gifts that you need to buy, or toys, ornaments for your salon, or electrical equipments... The store is located near Shamlian Tatigian High School, in Bourj Hammoud, Sin el Fil Roadway.





Peter's Brass
Established in 1951 as a family business: Peter's Brass is one of the major firms in the awards, gifts and sign industry in Lebanon today.
Character and expression is the result of much given attention to the fine artistic and technical details.
Combined with modern technology and traditional hand finish, they cast the events of today into living history.





Kardashian Printing Services
Kardashian Printing Services, the one-stop place for all your paper/paperless publication needs. Kardashian Printing Services is a commercial printing company based in the Industrial City in Bouchrieh, Lebanon.





High Bar
High Bar Dance group provides the ultimate new ideas for all kinds of cultural dances, varying from Armenian to Lebanese, Gulf, Greek, Modern, Latin, Spanish, Gipsy, and much more!
The aim of the group is to highlight the different cultural dances during wedding ceremonies, with affordable prices that best serve the couple.

"Thou Shall Not Kill" Sparks Debate

Two readers discuss the points raised in the article "Thou Shall Not Kill" by ManoChil.

David R. Hagopian (USA):
I read with interest your message entitled “Thou Shalt Not Kill”. What a dichotomy! How could such a religious man as Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer contemplate the killing of a human? Our Bible addresses death and killing in many ways. Indeed, many have argued that the Christian Bible is contradictory when it comes to this (and other) subjects. For example in Matthew 5 & 6, and in Luke 22 the Scriptures, appear to offer contradictory direction.


Luke 6:29 (New International Version)
29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.


Matthew 5:39 (New International Version)
39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.


Luke 22:36 He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.


On one hand we are giving away shirts and on the other we are selling them for weapons. But as Armenians we refer to the Bible as “the breath of God” and therefore it cannot be contradictory.


The best explanation that I have ever heard of this particular dichotomy came from a lay preacher by the name of Bali Balian (my grandfather), who lived in Lebanon until the 1960’s. He said that these verses mean exactly the same thing. For the good of society, the protection of the innocent, the protection of family, and the defense of a nation, there are times when one must kill and there are times when one must die. As a Christian it is easier to die than to kill. But we must be ready for both situations. Without the knowledge of Scripture and the love of Christ in one’s heart, it is difficult if not impossible to discern, when faced with this situation, which path to choose.


David R. Hagopian
Deerfield, IL USA

Elisabeth Käser (Switzerland):
Dear Manuel


I read your article: Thou shalt not kill. As you wrote about Dietrich Bonhoeffer I'm sure you know that he once said something like: "It is less culpable to do something bad, than to be bad."
Interesting enough I'm reading a book by Paul Tournier. The title: "Shall We Assert
Or Give In? (Sich durchsetzen oder nachgeben?) Quote: "Bishop Wurm had often discussed the matter with an other Bishop (in Nazi Germany), one of his best friends, who, like him hesitated. Fortunately, one night, Wurm suddenly had an inner call, that he should take vigorous action and breake with the regime. He took it as a divine inspiration and immediately obeyed. It was high time. Little but was missing and he would have, like the other bishop, been led astray from compromise to compromise to conform with the regime, until eventually he wouldn't have been able to get away. Consequently he and his friend, who both hesitated for a long time, became leaders of two parties of the church, who irrevocably stayed in opposition, one in resistance, the other in submission."
How difficult it was for even a godly man like Bishop Wurm to know what to do! May God give us and all his children in times needed an inspiration and may we then obey immediately. May HE give us grace all the time.


With best wishes for your service in chanitz and wherever, including privately. Special greetings from Switzerland to you as well as to Badv. Svajian and Dig. Vera.


Elisabeth
(previously in Anjar)

ManoChil's response:
Dear Elizabeth and David Hagopian,


I’m am glad to know that the article I’ve written as of late September 2009 – Thou Shalt Not Kill – has stirred you to think about this difficult issue and write good responses whether a Christian should contemplate the very idea of killing when necessary.


I believe this subject will keep on being a controversial matter to many throughout their lives.

In Truth,
ManoChil