Two anecdotes from Anastas Mikoyan

 Vaհe H Apelian

 

A few days ago, on October 22, 2025, Pietro Shakarian discussed his book - "ANASTAS MIKOYAN An Armenian Reformer in Khruschev’s Kremlin” - at the Armenian News Network - Groong Podcast. On a lighter note, he told the following two anecdotes about Anastas Mikoyan

Pietro shakarian is a historian of Russia and the Soviet Union. He earned his PhD in History at The Ohio State University (2016-2021), MA in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (2013-2015), and his BA in History at John Carroll University in Cleveland (2008-2012). He also received MLIS, Library and Information Science, at Ken State University (2012-2013) He has been a postdoctoral fellow in St. Petersburg, Russia and has done research in Yerevan Armenia. Recently he had his first book published titled "ANASTAS MIKOYAN An Armenian Reformer in Khruschev’s Kremlin”.  The launching of the book took place in Yerevan on July 31, 2025, (see the link below).

The anecdotes: 

                                                        ***

Anastas Mikoyan and Che Guevara had a professional, diplomatic relationship, as Soviet and Cuban officials in the early 1960s, dealing about the fallout of the Cuban Missile Crisis. They also had economic discussions, such as negotiating Soviet purchases of Cuban sugar and oil. 

It appears that their negotiations were not proceeding smoothly, to which, according to Pietro Shakarian,  Anastas Mikoyan tells Che Guevara something to the effect, “no wonder, Che in Armenian means No!”

***

In early 1960’s Catholicos of All Armenian Vazken I, invited the eminent writer and editor of his weekly Nairi, Antranig Zarougian to Armenia. His stay in Armenia coincided with a  visit by the USSR politburo member Anastas Mikoyan to Yerevan to deliver an important speech that would be heard all over the Soviet Union. Catholicos Vazken was invited to the speech and was escorted to a central at a central box. It was an unprecedent honor a highest official of the Soviet Union, the atheist communist Anastas Mikoyan had extended to the head of  the Armenian Apostolic church in Ethcmiadzin. I quote in translation what transpired after the speech.

“Mikoyan has ended his speech and he starts conversing in Armenian. He is joyful, witty and robust as if he is not the person who delivered a two-hour speech. There is a break for 20 minutes after which the reception would follow with music and dance. Thousands of eyes now remain focused on the Catholicos, who is not unaware or indifferent of the attention, but he has nothing to say.

Two persons enter the box where the Catholicos is seated.

“Vehapar, Comrade Mikoyan would like to meet you. He would have come to escort you but the buffet is ready, so he asks you to join him there.”

A pillar of Kremlin would not want to appear escorting a clergyman. All those in the hall are members of the party, committed communists, but they are Armenians. Asking outright the Catholicos to come to him would not sit well with many. In a typical Mikoyan style, the message is subtly delivered that he would have escorted the Vehapar but the buffet is ready for both of them to head there together.

It turns out that it is not the first time that Mikoyan has met the Vehapar.  Seven years ago, they have met in Bucharest during a reception in honor of Mikoyan hosted by the Romanian government.

“I was surprised to see among the guest an Armenian priest,” says Mikoyan. On the podium, it seemed Mikoyan was struggling with his Armenian. In close circles his Armenian is flawless. He reminisces about his student days.

“That Armenian priest wanted to make a clergy out of me, the priest…”. He seeks to remember the name and suddenly with an air of triumph says, “Yes, Karekin Vartabed". He is happy he remembers the name fifty years later. He suddenly realizes the Vartabed was no other than the Catholicos of the Cilician See, Karekin I.

“The good man worked hard to make something out of me, but out came a good-for-nothing”.

“Mister Mikoyan, I wish all those good-for-nothings would have been much like you,” remarks the Catholicos."  

 

Link: Pietro Shakarian launches his “Antastas Mikoyan, An Armenian Reformer in Khruschev’s Kremlin” book: https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2025/07/pietro-shakarians-antastas-mikoyan.html

 

What happened to the Soviet Armenia railways?

Vaհe H Apelian

I updated my previous blog “What happened to the railway in Armenia” with a new commentary I came across that pertains to the railway through Meghri and titled it “what happened to the Soviet Armenia railways”.  The described dismantling of railways happened after Soviet Armenia declared independence on Septermber 21, 1991 

The present state of Meghri Soviet Armenia railway station

My translation of Tatul Hakobyan’s posting - see the link: «This article of mine is not about whether it is right to import Kazakh wheat to Armenia through the territory of Azerbaijan or not and what Baku expects in return.

This article of mine is about the fact that a large part of our people is not aware that ALL railways entering Armenia from Azerbaijan have been demolished, dismantled, and sold.

The section from Horadis to Nakhichevan, 45 kilometers of which passed through the territory of the Republic of Armenia, has been demolished, dismantled, and sold.

The Zangelan-Kapan section, which connected Yerevan with Kapan, has been demolished, dismantled, and sold.

The Armenian part of the Ijevan-Baku section, not entirely, has been demolished, dismantled, and sold.

And do you know, if we had not demolished the railway lines, then from 1994 until the last war we could have connected Meghri, the Armenian-Iranian border, with Kapan by rail.

This is what my  handwriting is about.”

And not whether historically we built Tbilisi and Baku.»

Բնագիրը՝

Իմ այս գրությունը այն մասին չէ՝ ճիշտ է՞ Ադրբեջանի տարածքով ղազախական ցորեն ներկրել Հայաստան, թե՞ ոչ և դրա դիմաց ի՞նչ է ակնկալում Բաքուն: 

Իմ այս գրությունն այն մասին է, որ մեր ժողովրդի մի մեծ հատված տեղյակ չէ, որ Ադրբեջանից Հայաստան մտնող ԲՈԼՈՐ երկաթուղիները քանդել-ապամոնտաժել-վաճառել են:

Հորադիսից մինչև Նախիջևան հատվածը, որի 45 կիլոմետրը անցնում էր ՀՀ տարածքով, քանդել-ապամոնտաժել-վաճառել են:

Զանգելան-Կապան հատվածը, որով Երևանը կապվում էր Կապանի հետ, քանդել-ապամոնտաժել-վաճառել են:

Իջևան-Բաքու հատվածի հայկական մասը, ոչ ամբողջությամբ, քանդել-ապամոնտաժել-վաճառել են:

Ու գիտե՞ք, եթե մենք չքանդեինք երկաթուղագծերը, ապա 1994 թվականից մինչև վերջին պատերազմը կարող էինք Մեղրին, հայ-իրանական սահմանը երկաթուղով կապել Կապանի հետ: 

Սա է մեր ձեռագիրը:

Թե բա Թիֆլիսն ու Բաքուն մենք են կառուցել:

                                                                            ***

The present state of Meghri Soviet Armenia abandoned railway

My translation of Nairian AR posting: "In the 1990s, the metals of the Meghri railway (as well as metal machines from some factories in Armenia) were sold at cheap prices to a neighboring country, without any thought or purpose for their future use. It's surprising, how did this machine or a small section of the railway remained. Were not they scrap metal?😏"

 

Բնագիրը՝

1990-ականներին Մեղրու երկաթուղու մետաղները (նաև Հայաստանի որոշ գործարանների մետաղյա հաստոցներ) էժան գներով վաճառվեցին հարևան երկրին՝ չունենալով որևէ միտք ու նպատակ ապագայում դրանք օգտագործելու համար․

Զարմանալի է,  ինչպե՞ս է այս մեքենան կամ երկաթգծի մի փոքր հատված մնացել այստեղ, դրանք մետաղի ջարդոն չե՞ն😏

Link: https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2025/10/what-happened-to-railways-in-armenia.html

 

 

 

 

Grace 101: a uniquely American spiritual

Rev. Avedis Boynerian had titled his sermon this Sunday morning, “Grace 101”. Indeed so.  Surely Grace is profound subject in Christianity.  See the sermon below. As to the song, “Amazing Grace”, it is said that it is arguably  the most well-known spiritual hymn worldwide. On a personal note, there is no Armenian translation of “Amazing Grace” in the Red Hymnal, the Armenian Evangelical churches use; or anywhere else in Armenian, to my knowledge. I attempted to translate it into Armenian. I even solicited the assistance of my friend Ara Mekhsian, who writes poetry and has a very rich Armenian vocabulary. The outcome fell far short than the original lyrics, so I scraped it. “Amazing Grace” is a bona fide a uniquely American spiritual (see far below).  Vaհe H Apelian

 

Grace 101

The landowner asked: “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ (Matthew 20:15).

Matthew 20:1-16 1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ 7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ 8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ 9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ 13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

 

Grace 101

During a conference on religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating various possibilities: Incarnation? Other religions had different versions of gods appearing in human form. Resurrection? Again, other religions had accounts of return from death. 

The debate went on for some time until C. S. Lewis, the English professor and author, walked into the room and asked, “What’s the commotion all about?” As his colleagues told him what they were discussing, he said, “Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.” 

Grace is Christianity’s unique belief! By definition, grace is God’s unmerited, unearned favor. Grace is when God shows kindness and compassion to any one of us, even when we do not deserve it. Grace! That’s what this parable is all about! In the parable: 

- the landowner is God, 

- the workers are us and 

- the pay is the kingdom of heaven.

And, as we study this parable, we can quickly see,  it’s all about grace - it's all about God’s grace. 

First, the parable says that grace is received, not deserved. We do not deserve God’s grace. Nothing that we can do makes us deserve God’s grace. All we can do is receive God’s gift of grace that God offers to us freely. No matter who we are, what titles we have, or how much we have None of it can make us deserve God’s grace because grace is given,

Second, God’s grace is about God’s mercy, not about God’s fairness. Many of us fail to understand this. What would have been fair would be to pay the later workers less than the daily wage, or pay those who had worked all day more than the daily wage. Now that would be fair. But when we talk about grace, it’s about something different than fairness. It’s about mercy. It’s about God’s mercy. God loves us and mercifully gives us more than we deserve.  And that’s exactly what God’s grace is all about.

Third, God’ grace is for the last.Grace is received, not deserved. Grace is about God’ mercy, not about God’s fairness. as well as for the first. It’s easy for us to say that we deserve more because we have been faithful to God’s call, some of us for many-many years. God does not work that way.  God wants a relationship with everyone, from those hired first thing in the morning, to those hired at the end of the day. That’s what grace is all about. The best Bible example of this is the father of the prodigal son, who overwhelms His son by His grace, as he runs to his son and welcomes him home.

In Jesus’ times hired laborers had to wait each day  in the marketplace until someone hired them for a day’s job.  No work that day meant no food on the family table. The landowner, undoubtedly, hired them in the late afternoon so they would not go home payless and hungry. The parable is about the landowner, God, who is, so compassionate, so merciful, and so generous. 

God, out of His grace, opens His kingdom to all who will enter, both those who have labored a life-time for Him and those who come at the last hour. It’s not easy to believe in such a God, who offers His grace to us because we are raised and live in a merit system, in which acceptance is based on performance:“ Do this and you will be rewarded. “Fail to do this and you will be punished.” 

It’s not easy to believe in such a God, who, even though we do not deserve, He offers us His grace, when a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day’s pay for his time, that’s a wage. 

When a person competes with an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance, that’s a prize. 

When a person receives recognition for his high achievements, that’s an award. 

But when a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize and deserves no award; yet receives such a gift anyway. That’s a good picture of God and His grace, that’s God’s grace - unmerited favor. That’s what we mean by God and His grace.

So, what’s our take from today’s parable/sermon? 

1. The parable is about coveting We covet what God chooses to give to others. The problem is that the laborers get the same as us; and they do not deserve it, they are less worthy hey do not deserve the same as we get. We have a tendency to covet and be resentful  of what God gives to others. The owner of the vineyard asks those who have worked longest for Him. “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money”? Or are you envious because I am generous? Rhe point is that God’s grace is God’s to give away, as He sees fit. 

2. The parable is about the first and the last. The parable itself displays a reversal of expectations – “the last will be first and the first will be last.” So the message this morning is this: no matter how long or how hard a believer works during his/her lifetime, the reward of eternal life will be the same given to all.The best example of this is the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43), whose life of service was limited  to a moment of repentance and confession of faith in Jesus, received the same reward of eternal life, as anyone else. 

The ultimate reward of eternal life will be achieved by all equally. In heaven, there will be equality. 

Sandi Patti, my favorite Gospel singer, in her “In Heaven’s Eyes” song sings these words: 

“In heaven’s eyes there are no losers.

In heaven’s eyes there are no hopeless cause.

Only people like you with feelings like me amazed by the grace we can find in heaven’s eyes.”

 

I believe that’s why John Newton, the slave trader, who was changed to the Christian faith, called the hymn “Amazing Grace.”In one of his sayings, he said, “I am a big sinner and Christ is a big Savior. ”God’s grace is like water. It flows down. God’s grace is a free gift. It is available to all of us. God’s grace is to the undeserved, every time, all of time

Grace is a free gift that we receive. 

It’s not what we deserve.

It’s about mercy, not fairness. 

It’s for the last, as well as the first.

God is all about grace

Thank you.

Got it.

ՄԵԿՆԱԲԱՆԵԼ՝ ԵԿԵՂԵՑԻՆԵՐՈՒ ՀԱՄԱՇԽԱՐՀԱՅԻՆ ԽՈՐՀՈՒՐԴ

Վահէ Յ Աբէլեան

ԵԿԵՂԵՑԻՆԵՐՈՒ ՀԱՄԱՇԽԱՐՀԱՅԻՆ ԽՈՐՀՈՒՐԴ-ի վերը նշուած յայտարարութիւնը պէտք չէ որ սխալ եւ անտեղի մեկբանութիւններով քաղաքականացուի։ Ճշդեմ որ այդ յատարարութիւնը առընչուած է եկեղեցականին որ իր կոչումով մաս չի կազմեր քաղաքականութեան, տակաւին չեմ ըսեր իր երկրին հակապետական քաղաքանութեան։

Հետեւաբար եւ բնականաբար ԵԿԵՂԵՑԻՆԵՐՈՒ ՀԱՄԱՇԽԱՐՀԱՅԻՆ ԽՈՐՀՈՒՐԴը այդպէս է պիտի յայտարարէ,  քանի որ ԵԿԵՂԵՑԻՆԵՐՈՒ ՀԱՄԱՇԽԱՐՀԱՅԻՆ ԽՈՐՀՈՒՐԴը ի յառաջագունէ, կամ կանխաւ, ընդունած է այն բացայայտ հասկացողութիւնը որ Եկեղեցակը, այս պարագային Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցականը, իր երկրին քաղաքանութեան միջամուխ չըլլար, տակաւին չեմ ուզեր ըսել որ քաղաքականութիւն կը վարէ։ Այդ յատարութիւնը պէտք չէ որ մեկնաբանենք թէ եկեղեցականին արտօնուած է հակա-պետական քաղաքականութիւն վարել եւ մնալ անձեռնմխելի։

Այդ հասկացողութիւնը ի զօրու է մանաւանդ Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցիի եկեղեցականին որպէս ազգային կրօնական հաստատութեան ուխտաւորը։ Հետեւաբար Հայ Առաքելական կղերականը՝ որ կը դաւանի Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցին ազգային հաստատութիւն մը ըլլալը, մասնակից չի կրնար ըլալ իր եկրին հակապետական քաղաքականութեան, տակաւին չեմ ուզեր ըսել որ կը վարէ հակապետական քաղաքականութիւն ինչպէս ըրին եկեղեցականներ Բագրատ Գալստանյանը եւ Միքայել Աջապահեանը։

Այո, ազզովին դժբախտ եւ դժբախացնող պարագայ մըն է Արքեպիսկոպոսներ Գագրատ Գալստանյան-ին եւ Միքայել Աջապահյան-ին բանտարկութիւնը։ Բայց օրէնքը այլապէս չէր կրնար տնօրինել։ Եկեղեցականին եւ աշխարհական քաղաքացիին քաղաքացիական պարտաւորութիւնները ազգը՝ ոչ թէ միայն սահմանադրած է, այլ անոր խախտումիՆ պատիժը օրինակացուցած է եւ կիրարկեց արքեպիսկոպոսներուն, ըստ օրէնքին սահմանաց չափով։ 

Անկասկած որ Արքեպիսկոպոսները առանց Կաթողիկոսին արտօնութեան նման քաղաքական արշաւ պիտի չտանէին։ Բայց կրնայ ըլլալ որ կաթողիկոսը ներած է իրենց քաղաքական աշխատանքը տանիլը, բայց չէ արտօնած եւ  ոչ ալ մղած որ անոնք նման քաղաքական աշխատանք տանին։

 Իսկ եթէ պատահի որ  բացայայտուի որ Կաթողիկոսին գիտակցութեամբ եւ արտօնութեանբ չըսելու համար մղումով է որ եպիսկոպոսներ հակապետական քաղաքական աշխատանք տարած են եւ եւ կը տանին, այդ պարագային պիտի պատահի ազգային մեծ աղէտը՝ Կաթողիկոսը պիտի դատուի եւ կրնայ ըլլալ նոյնիսկ բանտարկուիլ, ինչպէս կը յաղորդեն կարգ մը մեկնաբաններ։   

 

What happened to the railways in Armenia?

Vaհe H Apelian

The attached is my translation of Tatul Hakobyan’s posting. The few words and sentences in italics are mine. They were interjected to give substance to what I thought Tatul Hakobyan meant to say. Otherwise, its verbatim. 

His posting reveals a painful truth not only in substance, but also in the manner of reporting.

 Tatul Hakobyan plainly lays down the substance of the report. It pertains to the state of the rails in Armenia. The manner of his reporting is endemic in the press in Armenia. When a report pertains this administration and its representative Nikol Pashinyan, the reporter does not shy from posting a harshly critical report with political undertone. Also, the reporter usually has no qualms in addressing the PM of Armenia in vile terms. But when it comes reflecting of the catastrophic doings laid down in this report, the dismantling and selling the rails, reporter Tatul Hakobyan shies from citing names, the inevitable questions that the report raises.  Under whose administration the rails in Armenia were dismantled and sold and to whom? What to call those who did or let the dismantling go under their watch?  Why is that No official I know  has been brought to justice for crippling Armenia’s rail infrastructure?

The translation of Tatul Hakobyan’s commentary on his Facebook page, today on October 23, 2025, is attached below. The original post is reproduced below it.

*

«This article of mine is not about whether it is right to import Kazakh wheat to Armenia through the territory of Azerbaijan or not and what Baku expects in return.

This article of mine is about the fact that a large part of our people is not aware that ALL railways entering Armenia from Azerbaijan have been demolished, dismantled, and sold.

The section from Horadis to Nakhichevan, 45 kilometers of which passed through the territory of the Republic of Armenia, has been demolished, dismantled, and sold.

The Zangelan-Kapan section, which connected Yerevan with Kapan, has been demolished, dismantled, and sold.

The Armenian part of the Ijevan-Baku section, not entirely, has been demolished, dismantled, and sold.

And do you know, if we had not demolished the railway lines, then from 1994 until the last war we could have connected Meghri, the Armenian-Iranian border, with Kapan by rail.

This is what my  handwriting is about.”

And not whether historically we built Tbilisi and Baku.»

Բնագիրը՝

Իմ այս գրությունը այն մասին չէ՝ ճիշտ է՞ Ադրբեջանի տարածքով ղազախական ցորեն ներկրել Հայաստան, թե՞ ոչ և դրա դիմաց ի՞նչ է ակնկալում Բաքուն: 

Իմ այս գրությունն այն մասին է, որ մեր ժողովրդի մի մեծ հատված տեղյակ չէ, որ Ադրբեջանից Հայաստան մտնող ԲՈԼՈՐ երկաթուղիները քանդել-ապամոնտաժել-վաճառել են:

Հորադիսից մինչև Նախիջևան հատվածը, որի 45 կիլոմետրը անցնում էր ՀՀ տարածքով, քանդել-ապամոնտաժել-վաճառել են:

Զանգելան-Կապան հատվածը, որով Երևանը կապվում էր Կապանի հետ, քանդել-ապամոնտաժել-վաճառել են:

Իջևան-Բաքու հատվածի հայկական մասը, ոչ ամբողջությամբ, քանդել-ապամոնտաժել-վաճառել են:

Ու գիտե՞ք, եթե մենք չքանդեինք երկաթուղագծերը, ապա 1994 թվականից մինչև վերջին պատերազմը կարող էինք Մեղրին, հայ-իրանական սահմանը երկաթուղով կապել Կապանի հետ: 

Սա է մեր ձեռագիրը:

Թե բա Թիֆլիսն ու Բաքուն մենք են կառուցել:

Diaspora «know thyself» – Սփիւռք «Ծանի՛ր զքեզ»

Zori Balayan once depicted Armenia as a bird whose one wing was Diaspora. That imaginary bird has been dead for a long time, while he continues to live through his old age. So have a few other depictions of Armenia and Diaspora relations have been relegated to history. 

Presently the institutional Diaspora and the State of Armenia relations are in turmoil. They surely are not the wings that flip in harmony. Since the independence, I do not think institutional Diaspora contributed to the governance of Armenia or even made a dent in the course of Armenia's governance and continues not contributing to the governance of Armenia. 

In fact, it may very well be that institutional Diaspora is undermining the very foundations of Diaspora that came about mostly during the seven decades of Soviet Armenia when its relations with Diaspora was at a very low point. Regrettably this trend will continue unless Diaspora makes a much need adjustments to its priorities for the sake of its long survival and maintaining the Armenian social ties that have come about and were nourished in Diaspora, after the genocide. The once cherished social ties in the Diaspora are in danger of coming apart from their seams and for good.

In any event, Diaspora and Armenia relation is a “fruit for thought.”

I do not discount the possibility that It could be that the present state of turmoil is the unavoidable outcome of Armenia free and independent charting its course, especially after the fall of Artsakh. But it was also present at its very foundating. But that does not negate the fact that Diaspora needs to reassess its priorities.

Attached is my translation of an excerpt from Hovhannes Katchaznouni’s work posted in ANI Research Center by Tatul Hakobyan. Capitalization is not mine. It is how I copied it. The excerpt pertains to  the Republic of Armenia's first prime minister reflecting on the Diaspora and Armenia relations at the very founding of the Republic of Armenia.  Vaհe H Apelian

Hovhannes Khatchaznouni

“In general, the Armenians abroad are not a state component for today's Armenia. The longer the current situation lasts, the more they will become alienated, estranged, and become unnecessary as a NATIONAL COMPONENT. Perhaps for a while they will represent some value (and this will largely depend on how capable we will be in organizing to maintain national ties and consciousness in the diaspora communities). But as a STATE COMPONENT, only the Armenians of Armenia and those large sections, mainly the peasantry, who are in the republic's neighboring Georgia and Azerbaijan will remain. The Armenian state must be based on them and established for them.

The diaspora Armenians, at best, will remain as a supporting force and a kind of reserve for an uncertain future.

TODAY, THE OBJECT OF CONCERN OF ARMENIAN POLITICAL THOUGHT SHOULD BE THE EXISTING REPUBLIC, THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE LIVING IN IT AND AROUND IT.

I emphasize this sentence strongly and bring it to your special attention, because this will be the starting point for our future work."

(Excerpt from the article by Hovhannes Kajaznuni collective literary work).

***

Բնագիրը

“Ընդհանուր առմամբ, դրսեցի հայերը պետական տարր չեն այսօրվա Հայաստանի համար: 

Եվ որքան երկար տեւի ներկա դրությունը, այնքան ավելի պիտի խորթանան ու օտարանան, անպէտք դառնան իբրեւ ԱԶԳԱՅԻՆ ՏԱՐՐ, թերեւս միառժամանակ ներկայացնեն որոշ արժէք ( եւ սա մեծապես կախված կլինի նրանից թէ որքան ընդունակ կլինենք կազմակերպելու ազգային կապն ու գիտակցութիւնը գաղութներում պահելու համար), բայց իբրեւ ՊԵՏԱԿԱՆ ՏԱՐՐ մնում են միայն Հայաստանի հայությունը եւ այն խոշոր հատվածները, գլխավորապէսգյուղացիությունը, որ գտնվում են հանրապետության դրացի Վրաստանի եւ Ադրբէյջանում: Սրանց վրա պիտի հենվի ու սրանց համար հաստատվի հայ պետությունը: 

Գաղութային հայությունը, լավագոյն դէպքում, մնալու է իբրեւ օժանդակող ոյժ ու մի տեսակ պահեստ՝ անորոշ ապագայի համար: 

ԱՅՍՕՐ ՀԱՅ ՔԱՂԱՔԱԿԱՆ ՄՏՔԻ ԱՆՄԻՋԱԿԱՆ ՀՈԳԱՏԱՐՈՒԹՅԱՆ ԱՌԱՐԿԱՆ ՊԻՏԻ ԼԻՆԻ ԳՈՅՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ ՈՒՆԵՑՈՂ ՀԱՆՐԱՊԵՏՈՒԹՅՈՒՆԸ, ՆՐԱ ՄԷՋ ԵՒ ՆՐԱ ՇՈՒՐՋ ԱՊՐՈՂ ՀԱՅ ԺՈՂՈՎՈՒՐԴԸ: 

Ընդգծում եմ ուժգնորէն այս նախադասությունը ու հանձնում ձեր առանձին ուշադրությանը, որովհետեւ սա՛ պիտի լինի մեր ապագա անելիքի ելակետը:” 

Հովհաննէս Քաջազնունի

Երկեր  (Հ.Յ.Դաշնակցությունը անելիք չունի այլեւս ) յօդուածէն հատված

 

Հայաստանը իր գլխացաւերով

Կցած եմ Թուրիկէն (Միհրան Թուրիկեան) երգիծական գրութիւն մը՝ Հայաստանը «Աւելորդ Գլխացաւերէն Փրկուելու Միջոցը» որ լոյս տեսած է Արեւելք թերթին մէջ  19 Մայիս 1948-ին։ Իսկ ես գրութեան պատճէնը քաղած եմ Թուրինին «Ծիծաղ Ազգային-Միջազգային» գիրքէն որ լոյս տեսած է Լիբանան։  Հոն նշուած Մուշաշէն գիւղը՝  ճշդեմ որ այդպէս գիւղ մը եղած է։ Այդ գիւղին մասին կրնաք կարդալ սեղմելով ներքեւը կցած ագոյցը։ Իսկ Կիտուրին ակնարկն ալ՝ կը վերաբերի Արսէն Կիտուր-ին որուն մասին կրնաք կարդալ Ուիքիպիտեային մէջ։ Ընթերցողին կը ձգեմ եզրակացնել որ Թուրիկէն կցուած երգիծաբանութիւնը որեւէ այժմէականութիւն ունի։ Հաճելի ընթերցանութիւն։ Վահէ Յ Աբէլեան

Ագոյց ՝ https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2024/10/blog-post_13.html

Shant and Gametogenesis

Vaհe H Apelian

Upper row: A copy of the header of the paper Shant Apelian co-authored.
Lowe row: Shant Apelian M.D., Eggs & Sperms, Shant with our grandsons=

Recently Shant Apelian M.D. posted on his Facebook page that he has a co-authored an article about gametogenesis. It is a new term for me, but it did not take me long to figure out what it meant. Gametes are: “the specialized reproductive cells, also known as sex cells, that fuse during sexual reproduction to create a new organism. In humans, the female gamete is the ovum (egg) and the male gamete is the sperm. These cells are haploid, meaning they each contain half the number of chromosomes of a normal body cell.”

“What if we could create eggs or sperm in the lab?” Asks Shant Apelian. The title of the article that Shant Apelian has co-authored in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Women’s Health, a paper, reads: “Our insight “In-vitro gametogenesis: redefining reproduction”.

Much, much progress has been made in biological sciences since my days. Among them is the groundbreaking venture into In Vitro Gametogenesis (ING), which is a process of creating eggs or sperm in a lab from other cells, like skin cells. Another field is the genetic decoding. Noubar Afeyan said that after decoding the Covid virus genome, it took Moderna 42 days to come with the Covid vaccine. In my days, producing vaccine was a very lengthy process that had to do with growing and harvesting, purifying attenuated virus.

Shant further commented and noted that “IVG is an advanced technique that holds genuine promise for widening reproductive possibilities and reshaping how we think about fertility and family-building. By making it possible to create gametes outside the body, IVG could expand possibilities beyond the traditional limits of the “biological clock.” Equally important is moving forward responsibly, guided at every step by strong safety evidence, transparent oversight, and a firm ethical framework. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Hugh Taylor and Dr. Eli Adashi, for their guidance and profound expertise in the field.”

His profile in Linkedin reads as follows: “ Postdoctoral Researcher in Obstetrics & Gynecology at Yale University, and  Former Health Field Officer at ICRC”. The latter acronym stands for “The International Committee of the Red Cross is a humanitarian organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, and is a three-time Nobel Prize laureate. The organization has played an instrumental role in the development of rules of war and promoting humanitarian norms.”

Shant Apelian was born and raised in Latakia, Syria. His father was born and raised in Keurkune, Kessab. His Armenian mother is native of Lattakia. His Facebook biography states that he attended Nahadagts Varjaran Armenian school in Lattakia, and graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of Tishreen University in Lattakia as well. Prior his accepting the invitation to join Yale Medical School, Shant was affiliated with ICRC. During his affiliation with ICRC, he co-authored articles related to health care.

On a personal note, we had the pleasure of having him a family Christmas celebration. And when our grandsons were admitted to Yale on an emergency basis having been bitten by copper snake, Shant Apelian attended to them. 

Shant Apelian is a shining example of the contribution immigrants bring to the United States, although Shant is not an immigrant yet, but is on temporary work and study visa. 

We wish him much health and success.

 

 

 

 

 

The 95th Anniversary of the Catholisosate of Cilicia Seminary.

 

Aztag Daily reported that in accordance to tradition, the opening of the new academic year of the seminary of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia was announced, on the feast of the Holy Translators. This year the seminary celebrates its 95th anniversary in Antelias. On Sunday, October 12, 2025, in the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator of the Antelias Monastery, under the auspices of Catholicos Aram I, the superintendent of the seminary, Rev. Baroyr Shernezian, celebrated the Holy Liturgy and preached a sermon.

Happenstance had that on the same day, in 1930, after the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, October 12, 1930, the Seminary was officially opened: classes were started the following day with an enrollment of 38 students.n. 

The attached is reproduced from a booklet, published in the 1950s, by the Catholicosate of Cilicia for fundraising purposes. It presents a brief history of the re-establishing of the centuries old Catholicosate of Cilicia, after its expulsion from its ancient headquarters in Sis, in Antelias, Lebanon. The site was an American orphanage   . Vaհe H Apelian

HISTORICAL STATEMENT

In 1921, after the massacres and the deportation of the Armenians from their fatherland, Sahag II, Catholicos of Cilicia, took refuge in Syria with the remnants of his flock, numbering about 200,000.  Until 1930, His Holiness, himself a refugee, did not have religious quarters in which to reside, nor facilities to organize the spiritual and educational affairs of its people. Prior to 1921, for several centuries, the Seat of the Cilician Armenian Catholicosate has been Sis in Cilicia. At the present time, although the seat is established in Antelias, Lebanon, nevertheless the Holy See reserves its original historical name, viz., THE ARMENIAN CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA.

The American Near East Foundation had been helping the Armenian refugees to settle in Syria and Lebanon, had an orphanage for Armenians since 1922 in Antelias, a village about six miles from the city of Beirut, Lebanon This orphanage with its buildings and premises, had been vacant since 1928. Upon the petition in 1929, of the Catholicos to the Executive Committee of the Near East Foundation, they were put under his disposition for a period of five years to be used as the Seat of the Catholicosate and as a Seminary for training priests and teachers, to meet the religious and educational needs of the Armenians in the Near East. The Executive Committee also determined to contribute $6000 to $7000 yearly, and some Armenian benefactors an additional $5000 for the maintenance of the Seminary.

Catholicos Sahag invited Bishop Papken Gulesserian as Catholicos Co-adjuctor, and Shahe Vartabed Kasparian of Boston, Mass. as Dean of the Seminary, in order to organize the Dioceses of the Holy See and lay the foundation for the Seminary. In the years to follow, these two noble clergymen became the soul and the pillars of the Catholicosate and the Seminary.

After the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, October 12, 1930, the Seminary was officially opened: classes were started the following day with an enrollment of 38 students.

Upon the completion of this period of five years, the Near East Foundation discontinued its annual appropriation and the Seminary was left to the meager resources of the Holy See. As a consequence, the number of students, previously 43 to 45, was lowered to about 20.

Unfortunately, in November 1935, the Dean of the Seminary died. A few months later, the Holy See lost Catholicos –Coadjutor Papken Gulesserian. Their death was a severe blow to the ‘newly flowering'" Seminary and the Catholicosate. But the venerable 88-year old clergyman, Sahag II, was never despondent, he appointed Archbishop Bedros Sarajian as his Locum Tenens. The latter opened a campaign to secure financial means for the purchase of the Antelias property and for the sustenance of the Seminary and the Catholicosate. Many Armenians responded to the call. Mr. and Mrs. Simon and Mathilda Kayekian of Cairo, Egypt, made possible the purchase of the property from the Near East Foundation by a generous donation of $19,000. From the contributions of the people, a sum of $30,000 was raised, with which a new Seminary building and a residence for the Catholicos were erected.

On May 10, 1943, Archbishop Karekin Hovsepian, the Prelate of the Armenian Church in North America was elected Catholicos of Cilicia. Before his coming to Anetlias, his Golden Jubilee had been celebrated in the United States and in Egypt, and all the proceeds, amounting to $100,000, were allotted to the Holy See. The faculty of the Seminary was increased by new competent professors. The number of students was raised from 22 to 43. Terenig Vartabed Poladian of New York was appointed Dean of the Seminary.

Antelias, once an orphanage, is now a center of learning and knowledge giving forth its good fruit in due season. This Seminary is truly called "The noblest Armenian educational enterprise in the Near East".

THE SEMINARY

The Seminary is the center of religious education of the Catholicosate. Its aim is to prepare young men enriched in faith, knowledge, and vision as qualified clergy or teachers thoroughly devoted to the ministry of the Holy Armenian Church and the Armenian people.

At present, the Seminary has 38 students. In October 1948, the number will be raised to 53. The faculty is composed of eleven professors. It is the only institution in Diaspora, which possesses a faculty of such high reputation. The Dean is Bishop Terenig Poladian.

The Seminary has two divisions:

The Preparatory Institute (Jarankavorats - Ժառանգաւորած): This is composed of our years' course for advanced education, dealing mainly with languages, sciences, mathematics, and history.

The School of Theology (Entsayaran - Ընծայարան): This is composed of three years' course in theological and philosophical studies.

The Seminary provides facilities for recreation in sports and games, such as tennis, volleyball, basketball, and swimming.

Students participate also in extra-curricular activities, such as religious and social work.

Graduates: So far the Seminary has produced 20 clergyman and 42 teachers. These graduates are serving in various Armenian dioceses, institutions, and schools in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Cyprus, the United States, and Armenia, in the capacity of prelates, principals, and teachers.

The Seminary sends some of its graduates to American and European Universities to acquire them with Western thought. These graduates, upon their return, devote themselves to teaching.

CATHEDRAL OF ST. GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR

The Cathedral was constructed in 1938-40 through the generous donation of an Armenian who remained anonymous until after his death when his son disclosed him to be Mr. Sarkis Kenadjian, from Constantinople. The Cathedral is one of the largest and most beautiful buildings in Lebanon.

MARTYRS MEMORIAL CHAPEL

The Chapel is dedicated to the memory of millions of Armenians who were massacred with ineffable brutality by the Turks during the First World War. Every year on April 24th, a commemorative Holy Mass is celebrated. From the dome hangs an unquenchable lamp symbolizing Eternal Light shining over the Souls of the Martyrs.

THE LIBRARY

The Library contains catalaqued about 8000 bound volumes and 3000 pamphlets. There is also a collection of manuscript material. The volumes are crowded in wooden shelves; steel stacks are urgently needed. There is a great want for encyclopedias, dictionaries, and books in English, French, and Armenian on theology, literary and educational subjects.

OTHER FACTS

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia comprised of 160,000 people has four dioceses, Aleppo, Lebanon, Damascus, and Cyprus. The people are economically poor, especially since the outbreak of the hostilities in Palestine. The annual expenditures of the Holy See amount to about $48,000. The normal income is only about one-third of this sum. The greater part must be provided by the generous contributions of the benefactors and pious people. The Seminary has a few benefactors in the United States, Egypt, Cyprus, France, and England, each of whom pays the annual expenses of a student, who has been adopted in his name. It should be noted that the tuition, room, board, clothing, physical care, etc. of the students are provided by the Seminary, free of charge. the yearly cost for each Seminarian is $750.

THE NEEDS OF THE HOLY SEE

Library building

Seminary Annex building

Linotype

Rooms for Vartabeds and Deacons.

Benefactors for adopting students in their names.

Memorials may be established for donations made towards filling these needs. in part or in whole. In whatever form given, the memorial lives on in the Church and through the students who receive its benefit. The memorials are commemorated annually on a special day, during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

Such donations, or will be made through the Association to Aid Catholicosate of Cilicia which was established in 1944 by His Holiness Karekin Hovsepian. The association maintains branches in many cities. The address of the Executive Committee is Mr. Mihran Karagheusian, 295 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, or through

THE ARMENIAN CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA

ANTELIAS, LEBANON.

Note: The date of the publication is not noted. It presumably is in the early 1950s.