Bedrosyan: Searching for Lost Armenian Churches and Schools in Turkey

March 31, 2015 By administrator

Armenian churches in Turkey before 1915

Armenian Weekly)—On July 21, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee overwhelmingly adopted the Berman-Cicilline Amendment based upon the Return of Churches resolution spearheaded by Representatives Ed Royce and Howard Berman, with a vote of 43 to 1, calling on Turkey to return stolen Armenian and other Christian churches, and to end the repression of its Christian minorities.

Where are these lost or stolen Armenian churches in Turkey? How many were there before 1915, the turning point in the Armenians’ world, when they were uprooted and wiped out from their homeland of more than 3,000 years? How many churches are there now? Considering that every Armenian community invariably strove to build a school beside its church, how many Armenian schools were there in Turkey before 1915, and how many are there now? How many Armenian churches and schools are left standing now in Turkey is the easier part of the issue: There are only 34 churches and 18 schools left in Turkey today, mostly in Istanbul, with about less than 3,000 students in these schools. The challenging and frustrating issue is how many were there in the past.

Recent research pegs the number of Armenian churches in Turkey before 1915 at around 2,300. The number of schools before 1915 is estimated at nearly 700, with 82,000 students. These numbers are only for churches and schools under the jurisdiction of the Istanbul Armenian Patriarchate and the Apostolic Church, and therefore do not include the numerous churches and schools belonging to the Protestant and Catholic Armenian parishes. The American colleges and missionary schools, mostly attended by Armenian youth, are also excluded from these numbers. The number of Armenian students attending Turkish schools or small schools at homes in the villages are unknown and not included. Finally, these numbers do not include the churches and schools in Kars and Ardahan provinces, which were not part of Turkey until 1920, and were part of Russia since 1878.

Armenian schools in Turkey before 1915

The two maps show the wide distribution of Armenian churches and schools in Turkey before 1915. The two lists for the Armenian churches and schools are by no means complete, but should be regarded as a preliminary study that can serve as foundation for further research. The place names are based on the old Ottoman administrative system, instead of that of modern Turkey. They are ably assembled by Zakarya Mildanoglu, from various sources such as the Ottoman Armenian National Council Annual reports, Echmiadzin Journal, Vienna Mkhitarists, and studies by Teotig, Kevorkian, and Nishanyan.

Lost Churches

Adana: Center and villages, Yureghir, Ceyhan, Tarsus, Silifke, Yumurtalik, Dortyol, Iskenderun, 25 churches

Amasya: Vezirkopru, Mecitozu, Merzifon, Havza, Gumushacikoy, Ladik, 15 churches

Ankara: Center, Haymana, Sincan, 5 churches

Antakya: Center, Samandagh, 7 churches

Antep: Center, Nizip, Halfeti, 4 churches

Arapkir (Malatya): Arapkir and Kemaliye villages, 19 churches

Arganimadeni (Elazig): Erganis, Siverek, Bulanik, Kahta, 10 churches

Armash (Akmeshe): 2 churches

Artvin: Center and villages, 11 churches

Balikesir: Balikesir, Mustafakemalpasha, Biga, Bandirma, 6 churches

Bayburt: Bayburt center and villages, 34 churches

Beshiri (Diyarbakir): Beshiri and villages, 14 churches

Bilecik (Bursa): Golpazar, 4 churches

Bingol (Genc): Center and villages, 11 churches

Bitlis: Center and villages, 30 churches

Bitlis: Tatvan, Ahlat, Mutki, Hizan, 66 churches

Bolu: Duzce, Akyazi, 5 churches

Bursa: Center, Orhangazi, 11 churches

Charsancak ( Tunceli): Mazgirt, pertek, Pulumur, Hozat, and villages, 93 churches

Chemishgezek (Tunceli): 20 churches

Chungush (Diyarbakir): Chungush center and villages, 2 churches

Dersim: Hozat, Pertek, 28 churches

Divrigi (Sivas) Center and villages, 25 churches

Diyadin (Erzurum): Diyadin and villages, 4 churches

Diyarbakir: Center and villages, 11 churches

Edirne: Center and villages, 4 churches

Egin (Erzincan): Kemaliye, Ilic, and villages, 17 churches

Egin: 3 churches

Eleshkirt (Erzurum): Eleshkirt and villages, 6 churches

Ergani: Ergani and villages, 11 churches

Erzincan: Erzincan center and villages, 52 churches

Erzurum: Center, Aziziye, Yakutiye, Ashkale, Narman, Ispir, Oltu, Shenkaya, Horasan, Pazaryolu, and villages, 65 churches

Giresun: Tirebolu, 1 church

Gumushane: Center, 4 churches

Gurun (Sivas): Center and villages, 5 churches

Harput (Elazig): Harput center and villages, Karakochan, Palu, Keban, 67 churches

Hinis (Erzurum): Hinis and villages, 19 churches

Hoshap: Hoshap and villages, 14 churches

Istanbul: European/Trachean region, 36 churches; Asian/Anatolian region, 8 churches; total 44 churches

Izmir: Center and villages, Manisa, Turgutlu, Akhisar, Bergama, Nazilli, Odemish, 23 churches

Izmit: Gebze, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Kandira, Geyve, Karamursel, 50 churches

Kastamonu: Tashkopru, Boyabat, Inebolu, 7 churches

Kayseri: Center and villages, Nigde, Aksaray, Bor, Nevshehir, Tomarza, Develi, Bunyan, Talas, 57 churches

Kemah (Erzincan): Kemah and villages, 14 churches

Kighi (Bingol): Kighi and villages, 58 churches

Konya: Center, Bor, Burdur, Nevshehir, 7 churches

Kutahya: Center, Tavshanli, 7 churches

Lice: Lice and villages, 19 churches

Mardin: Center and villages, 3 churches

Mush: Center and villages, Batman, Malazgirt, Bulanik, Varto, Hizan, 148 churches

Ordu: Karaduz, Ulubey, 3 churches

Palu (Elazig): Palu center, Kovancilar, Karakochan, and villages, 44 churches

Pasinler (Erzurum): Pasinler and villages, 4 churches

Pulumur (Tunceli): Pulumur and villages, 6 churches

Rize: Yolusti, 1 church

Samsun (Canik): Center and villages, 43 churches

Samsun: Ordu, 1 church

Shebin karahisar: Shebinkaya center, Giresun, and part of Sivas, 32 churches

Silvan (Diyarbakir): Silvan and villages, 34 churches

Sivas: Center and villages, Hafik, Zara, Ulash, Yildizeli, Sariz, Bunyan/Ekrek, Gemerek, 110 churches

Tercan (Erzincan): Erzincan and Tercan villages, 33 churches

Tokat: Center and villages, 32 churches

Trabzon: Center and villages, Of, Machka, Surmene, Akchaabat, Fatsa, Yorma, Arakli, 89 churches

Urfa: Center and villages, Birecik, Siverek, Suruch, Hikvan, Harran, Bozova, Halfeti, 17 churches

Van: Center and villages, Edremit, Gurpinar, Edremit, ozalp, Ercish, Timar, muradiye, Tatvan, Bashkale, Gevash, Bahchesaray, Chatak 322 churches

Yozgat: Center and villages, Bogazliyan, Sarikaya, Cayiralan, Sorgun, Shefaatli, and villages, 51 churches

Yusufeli (Artvin): Center and villages 4 churches

Zeytun (Marash): Center and villages 14 churches

Lost Schools

Adana: 25 schools, 1,947 boys, 808 girls, 2755 students, 40 male, 29 female, 69 teachers

Akhtamar: 32 schools, 1,106 boys, 132 girls, 1238 students, 36 male teachers

Amasya-Merzifon: 9 schools, 1,524 boys, 814 girls, 2,338 students, 54 teachers

Ankara: 7 schools, 895 boys, 395 girls, 1,290 students, 20 male, 9 female, 29 teachers

Antakya; 10 schools, 440 boys, 47 girls, 487 students, 10 male teachers

Antep: 9 schools, 898 boys, 798 girls, 1606 students, 31 male, 27 female, 58 teachers

Arapkir: 18 schools, 713 boys, 223 girls, 936 students, 23 male, 2 female, 25 teachers

Armash: 2 schools, 190 boys, 110 girls, 300 students, 5 male, 1 female, 6 teachers

Bandirma: 8 schools, 700 boys, 644 girls, 1,344 students, 22 male, 13 female, 35 teachers

Bayburt: 9 schools, 645 boys, 199 girls, 844 students, 27 male, 5 female, 32 teachers

Beyazit: 6 schools, 338 boys, 54 girls, 392 students, 11 male, 2 female, 13 teachers

Bilecik: 10 schools, 1,120 boys, 143 girls, 1,263 students, 18 male, 3 female, 21 teachers

Bitlis; 12 schools, 571 boys, 63 girls, 634 students, 20 male teachers

Bursa: 16 schools, 1345 boys, 733 girls, 2078 students, 34 male, 20 female, 54 teachers

Charsancak: 12 schools, 617 boys, 189 girls, 806 students, 16 male, 2 female, 18 teachers

Chemishgezek: 12 schools, 456 boys, 272 girls, 728 students, 14 male, 1 female, 15 teachers

Cyprus: 3 schools, 63 boys, 37 girls, 100 students, 8 male, 1 female, 9 teachers

Darende: 2 schools, 260 boys, 70 girls, 330 students, 4 male, 1 female, 5 teachers

Divrigi: 10 schools, 757 boys, 100 girls, 857 students, 18 male, 2 female, 20 teachers

Diyarbakir: 4 schools, 660 boys, 324 girls, 1014 students, 18 male, 9 female, 27 teachers

Egin: 4 schools, 541 boys, 215 girls, 756 students, 13 male, 9 female, 22 teachers

Erzincan: 22 schools, 1389 boys, 475 girls, 1864 students, 54 male, 9 female, 63 teachers

Erzurum: 12 schools, 485 boys, 10 girls, 495 students, 12 male teachers

Erzurum: 27 schools, 1,956 boys, 1,178 girls, 3134 students, 44 male, 41 female, 85 teachers

Gurun: 12 schools, 736 boys, 78 girls, 814 students, 18 male, 2 female, 20 teachers

Harput: 27 schools, 2,058 boys, 496 girls, 2,554 students, 49 male, 9 female, 58 teachers

Hinis: 8 schools, 352 boys, 15 girls, 367 students, 11 male, 1 female, 12 teachers

Ispir (artvin): 3 schools, 80 boys, 3 male teachers

Istanbul: 40 schools, 3,316 boys, 2,327 girls, 5,643 students.

Izmir: 27 schools, 1,640 boys, 1,295 girls, 2,935 students, 55 male, 54 female, 109 teachers

Izmit: 38 schools, 5,900 boys, 3,385 girls, 9,285 students, 142 male, 82 female, 224 teachers

Kastamonu; 3 schools, 110 boys, 50 girls, 160 students, 2 male teachers

Kayseri: 42 schools, 3,795 boys, 1140 girls, 4,935 students, 107 male, 18 female, 125 teachers

Kemah: 13 schools, 646 boys, 28 girls, 674 students, 16 male teachers

Kighi: 9 schools, 645 boys, 199 girls, 844 students, 27 male, 5 female, 32 teachers

Konya; 3 schools, 213 boys, 137 girls, 350 students, 6 male, 6 female, 12 teachers

Kutahya: 5 schools, 825 boys, 349 girls, 1174 students, 16 male, 7 female, 23 teaches

Lim and Gduts Islands, Van: 3 schools, 203 boys, 56 girls, 259 students, 5 male, 1 female 6 teachers

Malatya; 9 schools, 872 boys, 230 girls, 1,137 students, 16 male, 3 female, 19 teachers

Marash: 23 schools, 1,261 boys, 378 girls, 1,669 students, 34 male, 10 female, 44 teachers

Mush: 23 schools, 1,034 boys, 284 girls, 1318 students, 31 male, 4 female, 35 teachers

Palu: 8 schools, 505 boys, 50 girls, 555 students, 14 male, 1 female, 15 teachers

Pasen: 7 schools, 315 boys, 7 male teachers

Samsun (Canik): 27 schools, 1,361 boys, 344 girls, 1,705 students, 44 male, 15 female, 59 teachers

Shebinkarahisar: 27 schools, 2,040 boys, 105 girls, 2,145 students, 38 male, 4 female, 42 teachers

Siirt: 3 schools, 163 boys, 84 girls, 247 students, 9 male, 2 female, 11 teachers

Sis/Cilicia: 7 schools, 476 boys, 165 girls, 641 students, 15 male, 4 female, 19 teachers

Sivas: 46 schools, 4,072 boys, 459 girls, 4,531 students, 62 male, 11 female, 73 teachers

Tokat: 11 schools, 1,408 boys, 558 girls, 1,966 students, 37 male, 13 female, 50 teachers

Trabzon: 47 schools, 2,184 boys, 718 girls, 2,902 students, 72 male, 13 female, 85 teachers

Urfa: 8 schools, 1,091 boys, 571 girls, 1,662 students, 19 male, 7 female, 26 teachers

Van: 21 schools, 1,323 boys, 554 girls, 1,877 students, 47 male, 12 female, 59 teachers

Yozgat: 12 schools, 1,179 boys, 557 girls, 1,736 students, 30 male, 13 female, 43 teachers

Zeytun: 10 schools, 605 boys, 85 girls, 690 students, 14 male, 1 female, 15 teachers

These churches and schools were the lifeblood of the Armenians in Turkey. These buildings witnessed countless Armenians’ baptisms, weddings, and funerals; they served as learning centers where eager teachers transferred knowledge to the children; and these buildings became community gathering centers for happy times and sanctuaries during troubled times, until the bitter end at 1915. As the Armenian population got wiped out of Anatolia in 1915, so did these churches and schools. Along with the hundreds of thousands of homes, shops, farms, orchards, factories, warehouses, and mines belonging to the Armenians, the church and school buildings also disappeared or were converted to other uses. If not burnt and destroyed outright in 1915 or left to deteriorate by neglect, they became converted buildings for banks, radio stations, mosques, state schools, or state monopoly warehouses for tobacco, tea, sugar, etc., or simply private houses and stables for the Turks and Kurds.

At present, out of the 34 active Armenian churches in Turkey, only 6 are left standing in Anatolia. The biggest of these buildings is Surp Giragos Church in Dikranagerd/Diyarbakir, the largest Armenian church in the Middle East, which is now being reconstructed as an Armenian church, under the jurisdiction of the Istanbul Armenian Patriarchate. The process of re-claiming more than 200 deeds of lost lands and property belonging to this church has also been initiated. The project funding and construction is already two-thirds complete, with an expected church opening and first Holy Mass to be performed on Oct. 23, 2011. At present, pilgrimage tours are being organized for this historic occasion, along with visits to other historic sites in Eastern Turkey such as Akhtamar/Van and Ani/Kars, continuing to Armenia and Javakhk. There will be more announcements about these tours in the near future.

Sources:

Zakarya Mildanoglu, Agos newspaper April 22, 2011, Istanbul, Turkey

Ottoman Armenian National Council, annual reports 1910-1914, Istanbul, Turkey

Echmiadzin Journal, Yerevan, Armenia 1965-1966 all journals

Dr. H. Hamazasp, Armenian Monasteries in Anatolia, 9 volumes, Vienna Mkhitarist Union, 1940, Vienna, Austria

Raymond Kevorkian and Paul Paboudjian, Les Arméniens dans l’Empire ottoman à la veille du génocide (Armenians in the Ottoman Empire before the Genocide), Paris, 1992

Teotig Lapjinjian, Hayots Koghkota (Armenian Golgotha), 1923, Istanbul, Turkey

Vijagatsuyts, Kavaragan Azkayin Varjaranats Turkiyo, Dedr A-B, Vicag 1901 Darvo (Report on Armenian Schools in Anatolia, Turkey, Booklets 1 and 2, 1901 Status) Armenian National Education Commission Central Directorate, Istanbul, Turkey

Sevan Nishanyan, Adini Unutan Ulke (The Country That Forgot Its Name), Everest Press, 2010, Istanbul, Turkey

U.S. Congressman: Turkish effort to eliminate Armenian people failed

March 31, 2015 By administrator

Rep Adam Schiff

One hundred years ago, the Ottoman Empire in its dying throws undertook a systematic effort to exterminate the Armenian and Assyrian people. They did so through a campaign of mass killing and displacement which saw 1.5 million Armenians killed and millions more forced to flee from their ancestral homes, U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff said, according to Asbarez.

The statement further reads:

At the time, there was no word to describe an effort to eliminate an entire people, though American officials in the region had no difficulty describing the horrors they witnessed. The American Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire Henry Morgenthau reported that, “I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared with the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915.”

It wasn’t until 1943 when Raphael Lemkin coined the term “genocide” that we had a word to describe the magnitude of the crime committed against the Armenians. As Lemkin said at the time, he had in mind the experience of the Armenians under Ottoman rule when he invented the term, which, appallingly, was needed many times in the 20th Century to describe the Holocaust, the Cambodian Genocide, the Rwandan Genocide, and more.

The Turkish effort to eliminate the Armenian people failed, as evidenced by the proud nation of Armenia and the millions of members of the Armenian diaspora in the United States and around the world. But there is hardly an Armenian household that does not carry the memory of family members who were lost in the carnage. Even today, there remain a handful of survivors who lived through the horrors of the Genocide as children to make a new life for themselves. Particularly while these survivors are still among us, I feel a deep obligation to fight against the denial of the Genocide which sadly remains the policy of the Turkish government.

The hundredth anniversary of the Genocide is also a time to recall one of the most generous outpourings of compassion and support in American history. Hearing of the scale of the humanitarian crisis, the Near East Relief Foundation was formed to provide assistance and relief. From an initial goal of providing $5 million, the Foundation would ultimately raise over $100 million — or about $1.7 billion in today’s dollars. The Foundation’s work saved the lives of millions of victims of the Genocide, including over 130,000 orphans. Nearly 1,000 Americans traveled overseas to build orphanages, vocational schools, and food distributions centers. The Foundation’s success relied on the generosity of every day Americans who learned of the plight of the Armenian people and other genocide victims thousands of miles away and who were moved to contribute. The Near East Relief Foundation was a precursor to countless non-governmental humanitarian organizations, and its work continues to this day.

Last month, I joined with over 40 of my colleagues to introduce the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution, a resolution recognizing the Genocide that took place from 1915 to 1923. The resolution also calls upon the President to work with the Turkish and Armenian governments to bring about reconciliation based upon the full acknowledgement of the historic fact of the Armenian Genocide. This resolution states in simple and plain language the historic facts of the Genocide and the degree to which Genocide denial on the part of the Turkish government continues to hamstring the chances for peace and stability in the region.

Sadly today, on the very same lands of Syria that were the killing fields for hundreds of thousands of Armenians, ISIL threatens to exterminate religious minorities, including Armenians. By recognizing the Genocide, the President and the Congress proclaim that our government will not forget those lost and we will not stand silent in the face of crimes against humanity.

Ellie Wiesel once wrote that denial of genocide is the last chapter of genocide. In this respect, the Armenian Genocide continues to traumatize its victims even 100 years later. America must play its part in helping to close this still open wound.”

Rep. Adam Schiff represents the 28th Congressional District of California, which is the largest Armenian-American constituency in the United States.

Asbarez. REP. SCHIFF: Recognizing the Armenian Genocide One Hundred Years Later

Armenian churches’ leaders to be on hand at April church mass in the Vatican

March 31, 2015 By administrator

The spiritual leaders of the Armenian Christian churches will participate in the April church liturgy to be offered in the St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, reported La Stampa daily of Italy.

Accordingly, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I, and Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni of the Armenian Catholic Church, will attend this mass.

The climax of the Armenian Genocide centennial memorial church events will be the genocide victims’ collective canonization ceremony, which will take place on April 23 in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Representatives from 38 Christian churches and organizations have already confirmed their attendance to this event.

And on the same day at 19:15 (7:15pm), which symbolizes the genocide in 1915, the bells will sound one hundred times in the Armenian Apostolic Churches throughout the world.

Argentina 1915-2015 Symphony concert in Buenos Aires

March 30, 2015 By administrator

Sunday symphony concert was organized in Buenos Aires by the Committee of the centenary of the Armenian Genocide in front of a large audience. The title of the show “Por ti Armenia” is a direct reference to the song by Charles Aznavour and Georges Garvarentz “For you Armenia”, created especially following the earthquake of December 7, 1988.

The program works by Aram Khachaturian, Alan Hovhaness and Arno Babajanian. Also the songs of Luis Alberto Spinetta and compositions of Astor Piazzolla. #ArmenianGenocide

Several ceremonies are planned in April. Including the Book Fair of Buenos Aires and the Luna Park Stadium. Note that the traditional gathering of 24 to 28 April was postponed due to elections that prohibit political action.

Genocide Prevention Resolution adopted by UN Human Rights Council message to entire world – experts

March 29, 2015 By administrator

The Armenia-submitted Genocide Prevention Resolution, which was adopted at the 28th session of the UN Human Rights Council, proves that Armenia is struggling not only for recognition of the Armenian Genocide, but also for preventing further genocides, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies Ruben Safrastyan told Tert.am.

This most important initiative succeeded. Armenia is thus not only showing its concern, but is also taking specific steps.
“This way of action must become one of our diplomatic priorities,” Mr Safaryan said.

As regards the importance of the resolution in the context of international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, the scholar stressed that the entire civilized world is well aware Armenia’s initiative is no coincidence.

Expert in Turkic studies Ruben Melkonyan says that genocide prevention is a panhuman task, and the resolution adopted by the UN Human Rights Council is evidence that the organization is responsible for dealing with the humankind’s problems in the right way.

Armenia’s initiative must be considered within context of the Armenian Genocide centennial.

“We can suppose that the adoption of the resolution is at least a political ‘message’ to the entire world, particularly to Turkey. We can regard the resolution as silent support for the opinions on the Armenian Genocide. That is, without placing any emphasis, the UN is condemning Turkey, urging it to admit the Armenian Genocide.”

The entire civilized world is well aware that Armenia is champion of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and this is one of Armenia’s foreign policy priorities.

Vatican archives, sheds light on the Armenian Genocide

March 26, 2015 By administrator

By Emre Can Dağlıoğlu

Located in the Vatican archives related to the Armenian Genocide new historical documents, the day comes to light. La Civiltà Cattolica magazine published documents, offers important information about the Vatican and the Armenian Genocide took place in the period after his diplomatic initiatives and charity work.

Jesuit prepared by the priest Georges-Henry Ruyss and according to the news, a summary of the four volumes of documents published on 21 March, the archive will be released all at the end of March, the 19th century at the end of the middle of the 20th century ‘contains documents on the Armenian question. Documents belonging to many archives Eastern Churches Senate, the pope of the letters they wrote to the Ottoman sultan, Vatican Foreign Office and other government departments, and documents belonging to the church, missionaries pity reports, the Armenian patriarch and contains testimonies from letters and church from the clergy.

Many of the most important documents released for the first time, Pope Benedict XVI. Benedict wrote two letters to the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed V Reshad. In a letter dated September 10, 1915, the Sultan who want to take a stand against the violence directed against the Armenians XV. Benedict, in the letter dated 12 March 1918 from the Sultan wants to help with the Armenian convenience to work. Magazine, the letter of the event is always aware of the Vatican to remain passive in the face of the massacre, in contrast, emphasizes the true meaning is proof that the effort expended. According to the Journal reported, XV. Benedict, sonorous only political and religious leaders of that time was this massive crime.

According to the documents, the Vatican’s diplomatic initiatives, not limited to this. In 1917, intervening for the release of 60 Armenians who were sentenced to death in Syria by Cemal Pasha Vatican, in 1921, met with Mustafa Kemal through Cardinal Pietro Gasparri, the survivors are demanding the protection of the Christian life and property safety.

Published documents, as well as the Vatican’s diplomatic initiatives that carry out activities also reveals that aid to survivors. Magazine, at that time by pushing the Red Cross and the Near East (Near East Relief), except that of other international humanitarian organizations to provide assistance to the Armenian forward progress, says the Vatican’s financial aid perpetuate. In the framework of this assistance in the region ‘open to orphans from all religious beliefs’ many orphanages installation, the Armenian orphan girl at the orphanage and also provides them shelter in the Apostolic Church of Castel Gandolfo near Rome.

As well as the documents released this year, Pope Francis, on behalf of those who died in the Armenian Genocide on April 12 in St. Will manage a litany of Peter’s Basilica. Famous Armenian genocide commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the artist Charles Aznavour also scheduled to give a concert at the Vatican.

Archbishop Bonetti, tells the pre-genocide

Another important document is located in the archive, 1887-1904 between the dates of the reports sent to the Vatican, Archbishop Augusto BONETTINI in Istanbul. In this report, the 19th century at the end of the agenda ‘Armenian question of the forgotten step-by European powers specified, as the cause of this situation, the European diplomacy “Whatever the outcome of the study to protect the integrity of the Ottoman Empire” shows. Archbishop Bonetti, France and Russia, ‘writes that Turkey’s integrity protection targets. According to BONETTINI, France, the region adopts this attitude to his large investments. Russia remains ineffective in relations with Turkey to focus on the Far Eastern policy. The material interests for the sake of Germany, especially by Bonetti is a plug in favor of continuing the war between the Greeks and Turks, Britain’s political interests also said that it is important for Turkey.

‘Vatican documents, will add a new dimension to the study of genocide’
Yektan Türkyılmaz (Anthropologist, Zentrum Modern Orient)

Vatican documents on the Armenian issue and the regulation of genocide and open to the use of this researcher, of course, a very important new dimension to the work in this area will add a fresh perspective. But there are a few main reasons for this archive to ensure that important to us. The first Catholic mission in Syria and Anatolia, the Protestant missions established much earlier than they even existed since the 17th century on. Therefore, these materials will provide a broader perspective on the changing status of the Armenian group of Catholic institutions in the regions in which they operate. On the other hand, Ankara, Erzurum, Van, Harput, Aleppo, Armenian Catholics in many provinces such as Diyarbakir, the other Armenian communities, sometimes quite detached competition and a lot of them and they lived off their interior. Therefore, what we know about these groups much more limited. Another point many Catholic missions were able to stay in place during the genocide. And they tried to intervene in both cases, they were both first-hand witnesses of the massacres and destruction of communities. Of their documentation is accessible also from the foundation modifies what we know about the destruction of the Ottoman Armenian communities, will certainly add an important layer. For example, as an example that comes to my mind first, the Catholic Archbishop of Trabzon Nazlıyan memories are a very important resource. Including his collection containing the personal documents of the Catholic clergy, really will be invaluable importance. Finally, the Catholic Armenians during the genocide, they saw many places in different treatment; The most basic example of this, perhaps the Armenian province of Ankara. Also Another critical areas, the Armenian population mainly consists of the Catholic Mardin. For these places of Vatican documents will greatly materials offer new horizons will think. Also, slowly coming into focus attention outside the perpetrators appeared, especially (foreign) will provide a major contribution to the debate on the exact responsibilities of the state actors in the Armenian Genocide. Austro-Hungarian Empire and Germany’s is that they were not involved in the initiatives of Catholic representatives and why these documents will be very enlightening, I hope, will be included in the published material.

Agos headline: document so anyone who wants to see 76

March 26, 2015 By administrator

“Every Armenian is a document”

Hrant Dink, as stated, “Every Armenian is a document”; but not necessarily in the document insists he should remind those experienced today simultaneous two separate developments.

President Erdogan Diaspora and Armenia “Our our archive here. How much do you document? “Addressed, seemed chorus of the official discourse. Armenians, of course, does not offer document as an attachment to describe the genocide. Because, as it Hrant Dink stated, “Every Armenian is a document.”

If the document but not necessarily so diretiliy today in simultaneous need to remind experienced two separate developments. The first of these, located in correspondence about the Armenian Genocide in the archives of the Vatican and missionary reports, including the formation of new historical documents come to light.

Raymond Kevorkian still considered masterpieces in the area of ’Armenian genocide’ book has also been published in Turkish. Books, regions that are experiencing genocide, towns, villages, one by one in detail, telling the witness. Therefore anyone who wants to see the document too. Are known to look Enough.

Raymond Kevorkian’s ‘Armenian Genocide’ work translates into Turkish Aysen Tashkent Bakeries, rearrangement told the book for two and half years: the difference of this book is in very bare form, to explain everything … Also, given that in terms of detail is very valuable. As the fashion of a man’s disgrace. Every evil there is a surplus, not an end. Now what I read so far, was the transfer of information. In this book, is given wide coverage to testify.

Located in the Vatican archives related to the Armenian Genocide new historical documents, the day comes to light.

Erdoğan Belligerent call Bring your documents, gagrulenet Video Respond

Italy region recognizes Armenian Genocide

March 26, 2015 By administrator

On the occasion of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian Community Council of Rome had addressed a letter to all major regional and city halls of Italy, and with a request for adopting respective resolutions.

In this connection, the Tuscany region adopted a resolution, at Wednesday’s regional parliament session, wherewith expressed support to the Armenian people.

The resolution also states that it shall be sent to the Secretariat of the Armenian Community Council of Rome, so it may be transferred to the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute in Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan.

Montebello Over 600 California Armenian School Students Commemorate Genocide

March 24, 2015 By administrator

Montebello Mayor Jack Hadjinian speaks to Armenian school students

MONTEBELLO, Calif.—Over 600 Armenian school students from across Southern California gathered at the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument in Montebello, California, to honor the memories of their ancestors and commemorate the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

Students, parents, faculty, and administration were present from the following California Armenian schools: Ari Guiragos Minassian Armenian School, Armenian General Benevolent Union Manoogian-Demirdjian School, Armenian Mesrobian School, Armenian Sisters Academy, Charlotte and Elise Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School, and Holy Martyrs Ferrahian Armenian School.

Welcoming everyone on behalf of all the Armenian school principals in his opening remarks was David Ghoogasian, Principal of Armenian Mesrobian School, which hosted the event.
Mayor of City of Montebello Jack Hadjinian was in attendance and spoke alongside Montebello Councilmember Vivian Romero and Montebello City Manager Francesca Tucker-Schuyler who both expressed their solidarity with the Armenian people’s call for truth and justice for the Armenian genocide.

All students sang “Soorperoo Achkeruh”, followed by a performance of “I Remember” by Paola Kassabian along with Ferrahian school students Sose Hovannisian and Shaunt Ghazourian.

“Each of you is a living monument, each of you will continue the Armenian people’s fight for justice,” said Gevorg Iskajyan, Executive Director of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee, in his remarks to the students.

Armenian Sisters Academy students sang “The Martyrs of April” (Abrilian Nahadagner) as students ascended to the monument to take part in the requiem service (‘Hokehankist’ – Repose of Souls) for the victims of the Armenian Genocide and victims of crimes against humanity. Every school presented wreaths that were placed at the monument.

The prayer was led by the Armenian Apostolic Church Western Prelacy’s Father Nareg Pehlivanian, the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church’s Father Sarkis Petoyan, the Armenian Catholic Church’s Father Thomas Garabedian, and the Armenian Evangelical Church’s Reverend Hendrik Shahnazarian.

People left the event feeling moved and inspired by the commemoration and the show of unity between the local Armenian schools and communities.

Armenia To Host More CSTO Drills

March 23, 2015 By administrator

Armenia – Soldiers lined up for a CSTO military exercise near Yerevan,

The head of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) visited Yerevan on Monday for a second time in less than two months to discuss preparations for military exercises which the Russian-led defense pact will hold in Armenia this year.

According to official Armenian sources, the issue topped the agenda of Nikolay Bordyuzha’s talks with President Serzh Sarkisian and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian. They gave no dates for the annual exercises codenamed “Indestructible Brotherhood.”

The most recent CSTO drills took place in Kyrgyzstan in July-August last year. They involved about 1,000 troops from the six ex-Soviet states aligned in the bloc: Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Armenia most recently hosted major CSTO exercises in September 2012. The 2,000 or so participating troops were part of the CSTO’s Collective Operational Reaction Forces (CORF) created in 2009. The war games were watched by then Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.

Bordyuzha and Lieutenant-General Aleksandr Studenikin, the CSTO’s top military official accompanying him, also discussed with the Armenian leaders regional security. Sarkisian’s press office said they spoke about the CSTO’s role in “maintaining security in the Caucasus region.” It did not elaborate.

Bordyuzha expressed serious concern at the latest escalation of fighting in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone during his previous visit to Armenia in early February.

Speaking at a January 30 news conference in Moscow, Bordyuzha reportedly ruled out a direct CSTO intervention in the Karabakh conflict. Armenian critics of close military ties with Russia seized upon those remarks to again accuse the CSTO of failing to honor its defense obligations to a member state.

Ohanian dismissed such criticism earlier in January. He insisted that the Armenian army is strong enough to contain Azerbaijan without a direct Russian or CSTO intervention.

Archbishop Bonetti, tells the pre-genocide

‘Vatican documents, will add a new dimension to the study of genocide’ Yektan Türkyılmaz (Anthropologist, Zentrum Modern Orient)

Hrant Dink, as stated, “Every Armenian is a document”; but not necessarily in the document insists he should remind those experienced today simultaneous two separate developments.

‘Vatican documents, will add a new dimension to the study of genocide’
Yektan Türkyılmaz (Anthropologist, Zentrum Modern Orient)