The Antochians’ flora and more

Albert S. Apelian’s book “The Antiochians” makes for a fascinating reading especially those who hail from Kessab. It would not take long for such a reader to draw a similarity between Albert Apelian’s father, Soghomon Apelian M.D., and to his mother, (see note 1). The attached is an early passage from the book (pages 9-11). Vahe H Apelian

Courtesy Hagop Cholakiian, Kessab native wild flower.

Albert S. Apelian wrote, “Kessab does not appear on every map of the Middle East; yet it existed as Kessabis in northern Syria, close to the borders of Cilicia, during the reign of Seleucians, wo had become heir to one part of the empire created by Alexander the Great. The crusaders, however, in their expeditions to liberate the Holy Land from the clutches of the Saraceans, had stopped at Kessabis after storming Antioch. For its natural beauty, they had named it Casabella. Thus, it is indefinite whether in later years Casabella had been mispronounced or if the Kessabis had been abbreviated to its present form. Regardless, Kessab’s approximately ten thousand Armenian inhabitants claiming descent from the nobility of the Armenian kingdom in Cilicia, called their birthplace Kaighu, meaning “hamlet” in the dialect spoken by them for hundreds of years. 

Anyone traveling along the banks of Orontes River – also known as El-Assie for its rebellious northerly course – and approaching Antioch, will come face to face with the pyramidal Mount Casius, which the natives, irrespective of the language or origin, call Jebel-Akra, meaning in Arabic “the bold mountain.” The towering summit of Jebel-Akra, appearing from afar like a hairless giant, watches tirelessly from above the timber line over the Mediterranean Sea into which the serpentine Orontes spits its ever-turbid  waters and dives under the white-crested waves to reach the rocky shores of Cyprus, the Adam’s apple of the Anatolian Peninsula. And Kessab, appearing from a distance like a large amphitheater, is located on the southeastern slopes of that mountain. 

The picturesque countryside, with its mild climate, is a paradise containing a great variety of flowers, ranging from the common red poppys to scented violets, to exquisite mountain tulip, and to noonoofar, lavishly used in the luxurious hairdos of Kesabisti maidens, roaming the Caradouran Valley – known as the Corridorion, during the Roman conquest.

        The earliest panorama of Kessab at the foot of Mount Casius,
 courtesy Ms. Effie Chambers by Danette Hein-Snider

Miss Prockter, who was greatly interested in the flora of Cilicia and northern Syria, wrote to teacher Osanna asking for certain species of wild flowers. Osanna searched the countryside for such specimens, at times all alone, at other times accompanied by her devoted pupil Zaroohi Mossian. (see note 2).

In one letter, the missionary mentioned Jabalakra flowers, indicating that they thrived mainly on the mountain bearing that name. Blooming in earl spring, these blood-red and canary yellow strawflowers remained intact through summer and autumn, but as soon as snow covered the beak mountainside, they withered and died to reappear, when the sun again warmed the earth.

When one day Osanna mentioned Miss Prockter’s request to the pupils, Zaroohi Mossian offered to donate one of her precious bunches. However, the teacher said she would rather pick the antarams herself. 

Osanna had already heard a great deal about the never-fading lowers from a medical student whom she had met the previous summer. According to the information revealed by the youth, the Jabalakras thrived best in certain ravine near a stone pile which marked the grave of a mythical princess, who in a futile attempt to escape from a would be abductor, had thrown herself from the top of precipice. It was rumored that the red flowers sprouted from the princess’s blood, and the yellow originate form her blond hair.  

One morning Zaroohi Mossian approached her teacher and stuttered excitedly “Var…Varjoos…he….Osanna ……Varjou…joohi”

“My brother – I mean Doctor Haig – is arriving late his afternoon. He, he is returning from Constantinople, where he had gone to receive his certidicate for the practice of medicine.” (see noted 3). ……….”

Note 1: Altough Albert S. Apelian notes that “THE ANTOCHIANS is a work of fiction. With the exception of historical names, events and dates, any similarity to the names of persons living or dead or to actual events is coincidental and unintentional.” But, he also claims that “It is also self-evident that truth must prevail, or we shall all parish. And truth is to be found everywhere, even in the pages of a work of fiction.” There is much that will resonate, especially in a Kessabtsi reader.

Note 2: Dr. Albert Apelian’s mother’s name was   “Osanna, ne’e Arakelian. She was a graduate of the Aintab American School for Girls and taught Kessab Schools for some time. She wrote article for “Rahmuna” periodical in Constantinople.” (Yervant Kassouni from the book about Dr. Albert Apelian’s student thesis he edited).

Note 3. Albert Apelian’s father Soghomon Apelian was the first Kessabtsi to graduate from the American University Medical School.

"Kessab and its villages" by Albert Apelian, Yetvart Kassouny edited 
THe ANTIOCHIANS, Dr. Albert S. Apelian literary opus.

  

The common sense for informed patriotism

Vaհe H Apelian

Recently I read the farewell speech, president Ronald Reagan gave after serving the nation with distinction for eight years. In his farewell address, the great communicator said, “informed patriotism is what we need.”  He also invoked, “common sense”, twice. Yes, invoked because common sense is not something that we can dismiss. In fact, common sense, above and beyond everything else, often guides leaders. It is thus that I came with this blog’s title. 

Patriotism is not a commodity that a person possesses it or not, much like a precious metal, such as gold, that some may happen to have it while others not. Patriotism is also not like a garment or a scarf that one wears to make a public statement. According to the Merian-Webster dictionary patriotism is “love for or devotion to one's country”, and quotes the following: “Although poles apart ideologically, they are both unashamed of their patriotism.”—Christopher Hemphill. Therefore there is a whole spectrum between the two ideological poles for a patriot to espouse. 

But this blog is not about patriotism per se, but it’s about the politization of patriotism on false pretense. Simply said, having the audacity to claim being more patriot than thou.

This blog is about the former FM of Armenia, Vartan Oskanian, who in his latest comment against the PM Nikol Pashinyan, posted the following on his Facebook page: “when a leader (read Nikol Pashinyan) deliberately erases parts of this (read Armenian) history to justify his own failures, he betrays not only his country’s (read Armenia) past but also its future. This is precisely what Nikol Pashinyan is doing—rewriting Armenia’s story to excuse his political failures, offering the nation nothing but resignation and defeatism.”

Let us face it, it’s pretty harsh and damning judgement that the foreign minister Vartan Osakanian levies against the PM and shares it with the Diaspora. The official language of Armenia is Armenian and not many in Armenia are as well educated in English as Vartan Oskanian is, to read his post in English. He was born in Aleppo and studied in the American University of Beirut. 

Vartan Oskanian wrote, “no serious nation simply forgets its lost territories. Greece has never erased the memory of Constantinople. Poland continues to commemorate Lviv….”.

 I do not know about Lviv to know how Poles remember it. But it is fair that I point to the former FM that his anti-Pashinyan pollical calculus is blinding him for what we have upheld.  Yes, unlike the Greeks, the seat of our Orthodox Apostolic church is not in Turkey any longer, but we resurrected the Cilician Catholicosate in Sis in Antelias, Lebanon and, after every Sunday mass, the faithful sing the famed Armenian song Cilicia (Giligia) and will continue singing it as Catholicosate of Sis / Cilicia’s unofficial anthem. If Poles remember Lviv, I want to note what Vartan Oskanian knows, but choses to ignore, that we have named many towns in Diaspora and as well as in Armenia after our historic towns, such as Nor Marash, Nor Hadjin, Nor Aresh. Vartan Oskanian hurling such insults, does not aim the PM only, but it also aims to insult ordinary, everyday Armenians. 

Furthermore, the former FM seems to have conveniently dismissed that that in 10 weeks, Armenia will come to a standstill. Its citizens will take a day off from their work to remember and pay homage to the victims of the Armenian genocide and much like he and president Robert Kocharian at one time, Nikol Pashinyan, his FM Ararat Mirzoyan and the rest of the government officials will do the same, visit the Armenian Genoide memorial

Common sense tells me that it is not in history’s defense, the FM is coming. He is resorting to history as a political tool and is taking it to Diaspora. That is far more destructive, than confinjng to Armenia, especially coming from a foreign minister..

Yes, I envision that the 2026 election will be about “real Armenia”. The citizens of Armenia are rightfully concerned about their lives and livelihood, their security, about the escalating cost of living, the increase in the property taxes, increase in the transpiration fees, and in everything else citizens of a country remain concerned. 

But Vartan Oskanian, does not entertain such mundane concerns the citizens have, such as taxes, fees, etc. Vartan Osakanian claims that he has a far broader concerns in mind that have to do with dignifying Armenia or Armenians and salvaging Armenia or Armenians, from defeatism. He puts forth an academic argument alleging that when negotiating with the enemy around the negotiating table, a distinction can be made between active territorial claims and historical (territorial) truth.

Such academic arguments and the lack of well -defined policy, with its pros and cons,  are the very reasons that the 2026 will be a hotly contested election. Since June 20, 2021, the opposition has not gone beyond attributions, labels.  The opposition has not presented a principle for negotiating with Armenia’s neighbors. It has not presented an alternative policy to PM’s Crossroad for Peace initiative. On the NA floor the oppositions members did not put forth a coherent counter-argument. Simply said, the opposition either does not have any plan, or if it has, it hides it from public. 

It is time that the citizens of Armenia vote either for Nikol Pashinyan’s “real Armenia” advocacy that surely includes his government’s Crossroad for Peace initiative or in favor of the opposition’s “Not for Real Armenia", or for “historical Armenia” advocacy, whatever that is. 

It is time that the citizens of Armenia take the matter into their hands, and cast their votes in the ballot boxes to shape their destiny in Armenia, in the South Caucasus, far from the Diaspora, and sort their relations with their eternal neighbors, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia. 

 

Cilician See and the mountains of Lebanon and its Cedars.

 Vahe H. Apelian

The Corona virus pandemic ranged in 2020. During that Easter, Catholicos Aram’s pictureշ taken at the end of the  mass in the Catholicosate’s cathedral, went viral. He was depicted with teary eyes as the famed “Cilicia – Giligia” song was sung, after he had led the Easter Sunday’s mass, to an almost empty cathedral  .

The picture seemed to encapsulate the mood of the Armenian communities in the Diaspora as each braves the devastating effects of the Corona virus pandemics, especially as an added burden to the Middle Eastern communities that have been facing dire political and economic situations in Lebanon and in Syria. 

A friend wondered if the Cilicia song is customarily sung at the end of mass. The hymn obviously is not part of liturgical mass. However, it turns out that the hymn is sung in the St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in the Catholicosate of See campus in Antelias, Lebanon every Sunday at the end of mass. The rest of the churches sing the song on special occasions and not necessarily only in the church but also during fellowship.

Regarding the song, Garo Armenian noted the following.  The Cilicia song is not a folk song, though it is very popular. It is a poem by Nahabed Roussinian (19th Century) fashioned after a French poem bearing the  title of “Normandide". The music is by the 19th century composer Kaprield Yeranian, also of Constantinople."

I became reflective as to when the song became a trademark of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, if not its unofficial hymn.

I inquired with Der Torkom Chorbajian, who is the priest of the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Worcester, MA and with my friend Sarkis Mahserejian who, for many years, was the administrative secretary at the West Coast  Prelacy for many years. Upon confirmation with the Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Sarkis as well as Der Torkom claimed that the tradition of singing the song Giligia (Cilicia), at the end of the mass in the Cathedral of St. Gregory Illuminator, began with Catholicos Zareh I Payasilian, of blessed memory  (1956-1963), who loved the song. 

Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian of blessed memory reminisced that after the interment of the late Catholicos of all Armenians Karekin I, when they were left by themselves,  Vehapar Aram I, requested that they sing Cilicia at the tomb, before Vehapar Aram I returned to Antelias.

Singing Cilicia-Giligia, has become a trademark of sorts or an unofficial hymn of the Catholicosate of Antelias whose seat for centuries was in Sis, in the historic Armenian Cilicia.

Hard to believe that I became conscious that the hymn sings in praise of the mount of Lebanon – the seat of the Cilician See - and its cedars using the classical Armenian word for mountains, thanks to medieval Armenian poetry reading course I am attending conducted by Dr. Jesse Arlen, the director of the Zohrab Center of Eastern Diocese 

The talented Stepan Frounjian singing the Giligica- Cilicia song in Racine, WI.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZJdQb4pt0A

The lyrics.

Giligia

"When doors of hope are opened wide,
And dreary winter flees away,
Our beauteous Armenia
Beams forth in glad and smiling day;
When swallows to their nests return
And trees put on their leaves so bright
I yearn for my Cilicia,
The land where first I saw the light.

I’ve seen the wide Vonarian fields
And cedar-clad Mount Lebanon,
Italian shores and Venice fair,
Where gondolas are gliding on;
There’s nothing like our Cyprian isle,
No spot on earth can be so bright,
I yearn for my Cilicia,
The and where first I saw the light.

There comes to each a time of life
When all our hopes have gone at last,
The poor soul longs and strives no more;
And dwells alone upon the past;
The, when my breaking harp, unstrung
Shall sing to hope a last good-night,
I’ll sleep in my Cilicia,
The land where I first saw the light.
The land where first I saw the light..."

Կիլիկիա

Երբոր բացուին դռներն յուսոյ
եւ մեր երկրէն փախ տայ ձմեռ
Չքնաղ երկիրն մեր Արմենիոյ
երբ փայլի իւր քաղցրիկ օրեր
Երբոր ծիծառն իւր բոյն դառնայ
երբոր ծառերն հագնին տերեւ՝
ցանկամ տեսնել զիմ Կիլիկիա
Աշխարհ՝ որ ինձ ետուր արեւ

Տեսի դաշտերն Սուրիոյ
Լեառն Լիբանան եւ իւր մայրեր
տեսի զերկիրն Իտալիոյ
Վենետիկ եւ իւր կոնտոլներ
կղզի նման չիք մեր Կիպրեայ
եւ ոչ մէկ վայր է արդարեւ
գեղեցիկ քան զիմ Կիլիկիա
Աշխարհ՝ որ ինձ ետուր արեւ

Հասակ մը կայ մեր կենաց մէջ
ուր ամենայն իղձ կ’աւարտի
Հասակ մը ուր հոգին ի տենչ՝
յիշատակաց իւր կարօտի
Յորժամ քնարն իմ ցրտանայ
սիրոյն տալով վերջին բարեւ՝
երթամ ննջել յիմ Կիլիկիա
Աշխարհ՝ որ ինձ ետուր արեւ

Catholicos Aram I’s Armenian Independence Day ecclesiastical procalamation

Բնագիրը կցուած է. I am not sure if Catholicos Aram I’s Independence Day ecclesiastical proclamation has been translated. Attached is my translation of the pontiff’s proclamation, issued today, at the Armenian Independence Day, September 21, 2024. I found it to be timid and elusive. The original is attached.  Vahe H Apelian

The Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia is an independent Oriental Orthodox church. Since 1930, its headquarters is located in Antelias, Lebanon and its ministry covers most of the Armenian communities in the Armenian Diaspora.

 "LET'S UNITE AROUND A UNITED ARMENIAN AGENDA" 

“Today is September 21. It is the Independence Day of the Republic of Armenia. In other words, it is not an ordinary day, and should not be an ordinary day for every Armenian and for the entire Armenian people. In the course of our history, we fought for Armenia's independence, created, and even shed blood with the deep awareness that independence is a God-given right and, therefore, a sacred value, and its safe preservation and protection is the duty of every Armenian.

Today, when we celebrate the independence of Armenia, it is necessary to reflect on what is our obligation and rights towards it. Especially today, when we look at independent Armenia, we reflect that it is surrounded by terrible troubles, internal and external, far and near. Troubles that can violate the foundations of the independence of the Motherland, even render its independent existence questionable. It is true, that we should not be hopeless and pessimistic. But the matter-of-fact appreciation of Armenia's state leads us to realism and, without a doubt, realism pushes us to defend Armenia's independence with a collective will and conscious commitment to keep it away from all kinds of approaches, concessions and agreements that undermine its territorial integrity and security.

The Church has always been on the side of independence in the life of all nations, seeing it as one of the essential areas of its mission. This is how especially the Armenian church has been during the history of our nation, actively expressing its strong position towards all the attempts that could undermine the independence of the Fatherland. Let's look at our past so that we can assess the present state of the Fatherland and adopt appropriate approaches, with the sacred zeal to put its independence on a firmer foundation.

Therefore, the unity of our people around a pan-Armenian agenda, by consolidating forces and strengthening our collective determination, is more than imperative at this milestone in our history.

This is the message on the Independence Day of the Republic of Armenia.

Catholicos Aram I

September 21, 2024”

                                    *****

Բնագիրը՝

«ՀԱՄԱԽՄԲՈՒԻ՛ՆՔ ՀԱՄԱՀԱՅԿԱԿԱՆ ՕՐԱԿԱՐԳԻ ՄԸ ՇՈՒՐՋ»

Այսօր 21 Սեպտեմբեր է. Հայաստանի Հանրապետութեան անկախութեան օրն է. այլ խօսքով, սովորական օր չէ՛, պէտք չէ՛ ըլլայ իւրաքանչիւր հայու եւ ողջ հայութեան համար։ Մեր պատմութեան ընթացքին Հայաստանի անկախութեան համար պայքարեցանք, ստեղծագործեցինք, նոյնիսկ արիւն թափեցինք այն խոր գիտակցութեամբ, որ անկախութիւնը Աստուածատուր իրաւունք է եւ, հետեւաբար, սրբազան արժէք է եւ անոր անվթար պահպանումը ու պաշտպանութիւնը պարաւորութիւնն է իւրաքանչիւր հայու։

Այսօր, երբ կը նշենք անկախութիւնը Հայաստանի, հարկ է անդրադառնալ, թէ ի՞նչ է մեր պարտաւորութիւնը ու իրաւունքը անոր նկատմամբ։ Այսօ՛ր մանաւանդ, երբ կը նայինք անկախ Հայաստանին, կ՚անդրադառնանք, որ ան ահաւոր տագնապներով է շրջապատուած, ներքին թէ արտաքին, հեռաւոր թէ մօտաւոր։ Տագնապներ, որոնք կրնան խախտել Հայրենիքին անկախութեան հիմերը, նոյնիսկ հարցականի տակ առնելով անոր ինքնանկախ գոյութիւնը։ Ճի՛շդ է, պէտք չէ յուսահատ ու յոռետես ըլլալ. սակայն, իրապաշտ արժեւորումը Հայաստանին պարզած ներկայ կացութեան մեզ կ՚առաջնորդէ իրատեսութեան եւ, անկասկած, իրատեսութիւնը մեզ պէտք է մղէ հաւաքական կամքով ու գիտակից յանձնառութեամբ պաշտպանելու Հայաստանի անկախութիւնը՝ զայն հեռու պահելով անոր հողային ամբողջականութիւնը ու անվտանգութիւնը խաթարող բոլոր տեսակի մօտեցումներէ, զիջումներէ ու համաձայնագրերէ։ 

Եկեղեցին բոլոր ազգերու կեանքին մէջ միշտ եղած է անկախութեան կողքին՝ զայն նկատելով իր առաքելութեան էական տարածքներէն մէկը։ Այսպէս եղած է մանաւանդ հայ եկեղեցին մեր ազգի պատմութեան ընթացքին՝ գործնապէս արտայայտելով իր ամուր կեցուածքը այն բոլոր փորձերուն նկատմամբ, որոնք կրնային խաթարել Հայրենիքին անկախութիւնը։ Նայինք մեր անցեալին, որպէսզի կարենանք Հայրենիքի ներկան արժեւորել եւ համապատասխան մօտեցումներ ճշդել՝ անոր անկախութիւնը աւելի ամուր հիմերու վրայ դնելու սրբազան նախանձախնդրութեամբ 

Հետեւաբար, մեր ժողովուրդին միասնակամութիւնը համահայկական օրակարգի մը շուրջ՝ ոյժերու համախմբումով եւ մեր հաւաքական վճռակամութեան ամրացումով աւելի քան հրամայական է մեր պատմութեան վճռադրոշմ այս հանգրուանին։

Ա՛յս է պատգամը Հայաստանի Հանրապետութեան անկախութեան տօնին։ 

Ն.Ս.Օ.Տ.Տ. ԱՐԱՄ Ա. ԿԱԹՈՂԻԿՈՍ 

21 Սեպտեմբեր 2024

 

 

 

 

The centennial of the remarkable & resilience Kessab United Ousoumnasirats Djemaran: Centennial - 1/2 -

 Vahe H Apelian

This year Kessab United Ousoumnasirats Djemaran secondary school, celebrates the centennial of its founding.

First and foremost, let me state that there is no English equivalent word for “ousoumnasirats. It  is a complex word made up of two root words: “ousoum’ (ուսում), which means  study, instruction, education; and “sirel” (սիրել), which means to love, , to like, to have a passion or an affection for. Consequently, the complex word “ousoumnasirats” means those who love, or have a passion for study for education. “Djemaran» means academy, seminary, or advanced high school. 

One more note, Kessabtsis name their cpatriotic organizaion Ousoumnasirats. I have not heard or read “ousoumnasirats” used anywhere else for a compatriotic organizaion  other than among the Kessabtsis.

Kessab United Ousoumnasirats Djemaran has an interesting story that also reflects the resilience of Kessabtsis and their quest for education. It began over a century ago, in 1910, which was the worst, but the Kessabtsis turned it into the best of times for the Kessabtsis, people of Kessab. The year before, the massacre that started in the city of Adana, which historically is known as the 1909 Adana massacre, spread like a wild fire to the other cities of the historical Cilicia and in northern Syria. The pogrom reached Kessab in the latter part of April 1909 and resulted in the sacking of Kessab and the pogrom of its inhabitants. The returning surviving Kessabttis faced  a bitter winter in Kessab, adding to their misery.

But the Kessabtsis responded to this tragedy with determinaitron by rebuilding their lives anew.  Instead of dwelling on despair, a group of young Kessabtsis establishing an educational association in 1910. They named it Ousoumnasirats. The goal of the association was not only to further the state of education in Kessab, but also to render Kessab a college level educational center for the Armenians in the historical Cilicia. The Kessab Ousoumnasirats Association (KEA) was thus born in 1910. The founders however could not realize their aspiration. In a matter of a few more years, the 1915 Genocide, the Medz Yeghern befell on the Armenian people that forever altered their millennial way of life in their ancestral land, including kessab. Two thirds of the Kessabtsis perished during the genocide. In 1918 the surviving Kessabtsis started rebuilding their lives again. 

In spite of all the hardship Kessab Ousoumnasirats Association established in 1924 the Kessab United Ousoumnasirts Djemaran - High School. In a short period of time the high school achieved a remarkable academic success. The colonial French government in Syria recognized the high school and its graduates were accepted in institutions of higher learning in France and many did.

 However, the ensuing political situation put a damper on the academic progress. In 1938 Kessab lost considerable portion of its arable lands to Turkey and the subsequent economic hardship resulted in the great migration of many to Lebanon, America, Canada and Australia. In 1946 and 1947 the great repatriation took place and many Kessabtsis moved to Armenia further depopulating Kessab. The Kessabtsi immigrants however did not let go of the mission of the Ousoumnasirats and established Kessab Educational Association branches in the cities they moved to, such as Beirut in 1951 and Los Angeles in 1957 and continued supporting  the Kessab United Ousoumnasirts Djemaran

The Kessab United Ousoumnasirats Djemaran faced its most recent existential threat because of the 2014 sack of Kessab by terrorists who infiltrated from Turkey. The ensuing saga is well known as the third existential threat not only of the school but of Kessab itself. The previous two being the 1909 sack and pogrom of Kessab and the 1915 Armenian Genocide that had two thirds of the Kessabtis perished.

Graduates of Kessab United Ousoumnasirats Djemaran

In spite of the last existential threat, the school continued its mission unabated. Las year, three of its graduates achieved academic success. Garod Saghdejian graduated from Haigazian College with distinction in his line of specialty.  Ardavast Terterian and Vazken Abdoulian received their Master of Science in Computer and Information Science from the American University of Armenia. This year Soghomon Lntian, who was a 2017-2018 academic year graduate, graduated from Republic of Armenia, Minstry of Education and Sciencve National Agrarian University of Armenia 

This year, the Kesssab United Ousoumnasirats Djemaran had its 2023-2024 graduation ceremony on June 27 under the auspices of the Prelate Archbishop Magar Ashkarian. The graduating class was called the Centennial Class.  The adminstration of the school reported that all of the students of the  2023-2024 graduating centennial class succesfully passed the government mandated examination. It is a remarkable success rate. The graduating students and their stores are as follows:

June 27, 2024, Kessab United Ousoumnasirats Djemaran Graduation

The graduating students and their stores are as follows:

Շողիկ Գաթապեան  (Shaghig Karabian) 2684

Սոնա Բարտի Լնդեան (Sona Pardi Lntian) 2186

Լոռի Մալաթջալեան (Lori Malatjian) 2064

Լուսի Սաղտճեան (Lucy Saghdejian) 2005

Մէյրի Ինճէճիկեան (Mayri Injejikian) 2002

Քարլա Աթիքեան (Karla Atikian) 1976

Ճորճ Ղազարեան  (George Ghazarian) 1955

Լոռի Մանճիկեան ILori Manjikian) 1859

Լարա Պէտուրեան  (Lara Bedourian) 1852

Քարլա Ղազարեան  (Karla Ghazarian) 1525

The school administration reported that the registration of the 2024-2025 academic year took place between September 2 to September 25.

This Kessab United Ousoumnasirats Djemaran has thus resumed its 2024-2025 academic year. 

Saint Charbel and Catholicos Karekin I Sarkissian

I quote «A statue of Saint Charbel, a famous monk of the Catholic Church, has been delivered to  Armenia from Lebanon. Its opening is scheduled for September 22. According to the Arevelk publication, the transportation of the statue took seven days. The ten-meter statue will be installed in the Yeghvard region and  will become the first pilgrimage site to Saint Charbel in the  Caucasus. However, the installation of the statue in Armenia has  sparked discussions on social networks regarding the significance of  the Maronite saint of Lebanese origin for Armenia.» (ArmInfo.info, August 24, 2024. See the link below).

Attached is my translation Ara Sanjian's posting today on his Facebook page, about his recollection of the cannonization of Charbel Makhlouf and the reverence of the Lebanese Armenians are harboring towards the saint. Vahe H Apelian

Courtesy Ara Sanjian

SAINT CHARBEL AND KAREKIN CATHOLICOS SARKISSIAN

ՍՈՒՐԲ ՇԱՐՊԷԼ ԵՒ ԳԱՐԵԳԻՆ ԿԱԹՈՂԻԿՈՍ ՍԱՐԳԻՍԵԱՆ

Ara Sanjian

«The plan of the Lebanese businessman to place the statue of Charbel Makhlouf, in the  Nayiri community, is the object of attention of the Armenian mass media these days. Charbel Makhlouf,  lived in Lebanon in the 19th century and was canonized by the Catholic Church in 1977. 

I remembered that when Charbel was canonized in Rome in October 1977, Karekin Sarkisian was newly elected Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia under the name Karekin II. On the occasion of Charbel's sanctification, he posted in the Lebanese-Armenian newspapers a sequel of articles titled "The Dew of Holiness on the Lebanese Land". The articles  soon saw the light of day in the form of a separate booklet and was sold for many years in the bookstore of the Catholicosate of Antelias.

At the same time, just a few days before the canonization ceremony in Rome, Catholicoi Khoren I and Karekin II of Antelias made a pilgrimage to Annaya Monastery, where St. Charbel was a hermit and which today is one of the main pilgrimage sites of the Maronite Christian Church. The Catholicoi performed a service in the Armenian rite in Annaya, and Catholicos Karekin II also gave a speech in French that day. The Armenian translation of which was published in the Lebanese-Armenian press, under the title "Saints don't need us, we need saints...".

Lebanese and foreign Maronites constantly visit Annaya Monastery and believe that St. Charbel meets their requests and heals their illnesses. When I also suffered from cancer 10 years ago, my Maronite neighbors suggested that I go to Annaya and turn to St. Charbel.

Reverence towards St. Charbel has started slowly to permeate the Lebanese Armenians. During my visits to the Bourj Hammoud cemetery, where our family's mausoleum is, I have noticed in recent years that several families have placed statues of St. Charbel on the graves of their loved ones.

Zaven Khedeshian is the author of the statue of St. Charbel erected in the enclosure of Annaya Monastery. (Zaven Khedeshian is also the designer and the architect of the Armenian Genocide Monument in the Bikfaya, Lebanon, on the grounds of summer retreat monastery of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.)

                                                        ***

A statue of Catholic monk to be erected in Armenia:  https://arminfo.info/full_news.php?id=85648&lang=3

 

You may not know: Things you may not know about Armenians of Lebanon – 2/2 -

I have compiled a list of random facts about Armenians of Lebanon. Vahe H Apelian

 

Top: Haigazian University. 
Low L to R: Armenian Catholic, Apostolic, Evangelical churches/cathedrals.

1.     Armenians first established contact with Lebanon when Tigranes the Great conquered Phoenicia and made it part of its short-lived Armenian Empire.

2.        The Catholic Armenians who fled to Lebanon in the declining years of the 17^th century may be credited with establishing the first enduring Armenian community in Lebanon.

3.    The Armenian Catholic monastery in Bzoummar, Lebanon, built in 1749, is acknowledged as the oldest extant Armenian monastery in Lebanon and serves as the patriarchal see for the entire Armenian Catholic Church.

4.  Lebanon Is the location of the only Armenian university outside Armenia. Haigazian University was established in Beirut by the Armenian Missionary Association of America and the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East. It was founded on October `17,  1955, Haigazian is a liberal arts Armenian institution of higher learning, which uses English as the language of instruction.

5.    Haigazian University produced the 1^st rockets in the Arab world in 1960.

6.        Lebanon Is the post Armenian Genocide seat of the historic Armenian Catholicosate of Sis / Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias.

7.        Lebanon Is made up of 17 religious denominations and the Armenian Apostolic denomination is considered the 7^th largest denomination in the country.

8.      Lebanon is the country where ethnic Armenian citizens occupy 7 seats of the 128 member Lebanese Parliament.

9.        Lebanon is where the Armenian Apostolic/Orthodox community has 5 seats in the Lebanese Parliament

10.    Lebanon is where Armenian Catholic community occupy 1 seat in the Lebanese parliament.

11.   Lebanon is where the ethnic Armenians and non-ethnic Armenian Evangelical occupy 1 seat in the Lebanese parliament. Dr. Antranig Manougian was the longest serving Armenian Evangelical/Protestant member of the Lebanese Parliament. He was followed by Nourijan Demirdjian.

12.    Lebanon has the only Armenian sanatorium in the Diaspora. It was founded in 1923.

13.    Lebanon is where the Armenian village Anjar, formed by descendants of Moussa Dagh, with the assistance of French, is located.

14.    Lebanon’s President Emile Lahoud was born in Baabdat on Janury 12, 1936. He is the youngest son of General and former minister Jamil Lahoud. His mother, Andrenee Bajakian, is of Armenian descent from the Armenian-populated village of Kessab, in Syria.

15.    Lebanon has many of its impressive building designed by Mardiros Altounian (1889–1958), an Armenian-Lebanese architect. He designed the Lebanese Parliament Building in Beirut (1931), the Abed clock tower (1934), Azounieh sanatorium in Chouf,  and Melkonian Benefactors' Mausoleum in Cyprus (with French-Armenian sculptor Leon Mouradoff). Also, St. Gregory Cathedral in Antelian (courtesy Hagop Toroyan), St. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Harissa (courtesy Father Nareg Lousian),  Genocide Memorial in 1923.  (coutesy Garo Derounian).

16.    Lebanon is where KOHAR library is located. It is owned and sponsored by Khatchadourian brothers, and has the world’s largest collection of Armenian song books and hymns and flies the largest Lebanese flag from its rooftop.

17.    Lebanon is where Diaspora’s oldest and largest orphanage, Birds’ Nest, is found. It is under the juristiction of the Catholicosate of Sis in Antelias.

18.    Under the Ottoman Empire, Mount Lebanon’s first – Daoud Pasha, and the last – Hovhannes Pasha Kouyoumjian - governors were Armenians.

19.     Lebanon is where the Armenian Diaspora pop music started. Almost all the Diaspora pop singers had their debut in Lebanon. Name one that did not. 

20.    Lebanon is where the American University of Beirut is located, which boasts more Armenian college graduates than any other institutution of higher learning in any other country, save naturally Armenia.

21.    Lebanon is where, the first post Armenian Genocide High School, the Armenian Evangelical College (AEC) was established in 1923, where Noubar Efeyan, the principal founder of Moderna, went to school.

22.    Lebanon is where Nobel Prize Laureate, Artem Patapoutian was born and educated in Armenian school before immigrating to the U.S.A. 

23.    Lebanon is where the famed Armenian Jemaran-high school – was founded on March 3, 1930 by Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and Educational Society .  Prof. Richard Hovannisian and Vartan Krikorian attended it for varying times.

24.    Lebanon is where the oldest literary magazine in Western Armenian, Pakin, was established in 1962 and continues to be published.

25.    Lebanon is where Hamazkayin Vahe Setian publishing is founded and located that has published more Western Armenian books than anywhere else in the Diaspora.

26.    Lebanon is where the municipality of Bourj Hammoud, once exclusively inhabited by Armenians, is located whose mayor is an Armenian to this day. 

27.    More Armenians born and raised in Diaspora were schooled in Western Armenian  in Armenians schools in Lebanon, than anywhere else in the Diaspora. 

28.    In 1932 Siran Seza, A Lebanese-Armenian writer began publishing the first feminist literary review for women in Lebanon called The young Armenian Women (Երիտասարդ Հայուհի).Seza was born in Constantinople, present day Istanbul, in 1903. The final issue of the magazine was published in 1968.

29.    The central committee of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society is located in Lebanon.  

30.    The Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE) is an autonomous body of Armenian Evangelical churches comprising 25 congregations throughout Australia, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey. The UAECNE, previously known as the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches in Syria and Lebanon, is the continuance of the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches in Cilicia. Those who survived the Armenian Genocide formed the timber around which the Armenian Evangelical Community was founded in the Near East. It is headquartered in Lebanon. 

31.    On August 4, 2020, during the 2020 Beirut explosions, 15 Armenians were killed, more than 250 were injured, The Armenian Catholicosate in Antelis suffered great material damage, Armenian churches and the building of Haigazin University were damaged.         

32.        John Wortabet (1927-1908) was an Armenian physician, missionary, and educator, John Wortabet was born in 1827. His father died while he was young and Ms. Whiting, an American missionary, took care of him. He joined the American School in Beirut until he mastered English well. Then he studied Arabic under Sheikh Nassif el-Yaziji and mastered Hebrew, Greek, and Latin while studying theology. When the Syrian Protestant College, the precursor of the American University of Beirut established its medical program, he joined it as a professor in anatomy and physiology. His bust remains placed in AUB.