Gagrule.net

Gagrule.net News, Views, Interviews worldwide

Armenian-Americans named among nominees of 2017 Ellis Island Medal of Honor

By

May 17 will be a special day for eight Armenian-American who are slated to receive the Ellis Island Medal of Honor during an official ceremony at the iconic and historic gateway for hundreds of thousands who were welcomed into the United States by the Statue of Liberty and made America their home.

From successful businessmen, to a pioneering physician, to artists who enrich our lives through art and music and those who dedicate their lives to the advancement of our community through philanthropy, service to church and our organizations, the eight Armenians represent a cross-section of our ever-expanding reality, Asbarez reports.
The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, which awards the medals, announced that Varant Frank Melkonian, Dr. Garo M. Tertzakian, Ara Tekian, Joan Agajanian Quinn, Lucine Mardirosian, Harvey, Andy Andranik Madadian, Ruth Bedevian and Kurken Yetvart Berksanlar will receive medals of honor.
According to the NECO website, “the Ellis Island Medals of Honor embody the spirit of America in their celebration of patriotism, tolerance, brotherhood and diversity. They recognize individuals who have made it their mission to share with those less fortunate their wealth of knowledge, indomitable courage, boundless compassion, unique talents and selfless generosity; all while maintaining the traditions of their ethnic heritage as they uphold the ideals and spirit of America. As always, NECO remains dedicated to the maintenance and restoration of America’s greatest symbol of its immigrant history, Ellis Island.”
Past Armenian-American Ellis Island Medal recipient s include, Harry Nadjarian, Mike Sarian, Vahe Karapetian, Elizabeth Aghbabian, Maria Mehranian, Dalida Keuroghlian and Christopher Atamian among dozens of others.

Armenia’s Central Bank has issued commemorative medal dedicated to Pope Francis’ visit to Armenia

By

Commemorative medal popeAdoption of Christianity as a state religion in Armenia in 301 AD is associated with the name of Saint Gregory the Illuminator who is a saint recognized by all traditional Christian Churches, the pres service of Armenia’s Central Bank reports.

For centuries his venerated relics were spread all over the Christian world.

Lending importance to strengthening of the existing brotherly relations between Christian Churches, in 2000 His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians paid a visit to the Roman Catholic Church and her leader, His Holiness Pope John Paul II, who, in his turn, in 2001 participated in celebrations dedicated to the 1700th Anniversary of adoption of Christianity as a state religion in Armenia.

Obverse: the Monastery of Khor Virap against the Mountain Ararat and the date of Pope Francis’ visit.
Reverse: the statue of Saint Gregory the Illuminator in the niche of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican (2005, sculptor – Khachik Ghazanchyan), the Coats of Arms of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

The commemorative medal is in limited quantity and has historic-cultural value.

Armenia’s Sargsyan is awarded Gold Medal from Pope Francis

By

pope-armenian-presidentPresident of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on Friday met with a delegation led by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches in the Roman Curia (administrative apparatus of the Holy See).

Catholicos Patriarch of Cilicia of Armenian Catholics, Krikor Bedros XX Gabroyan, also attended the talk.

The President noted that Armenia-Vatican City State diplomatic relations are distinguished by their high-level political discourse, and that the bilateral ties continue to strengthen.

In addition, Sargsyan awarded Cardinal Sandri with the Order of Friendship.

The President also noted that it is hard to overestimate the Holy See’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

The interlocutors also underscored the development of cultural collaboration between Armenia and the Vatican City State.

Cardinal Sandri, for his part, expressed gratitude for the high Armenian award bestowed upon him, and the warm reception.

And the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches in the Roman Curia, in turn, handed to the President of Armenia the Gold Medal that was awarded to him by Pope Francis.

Gold medal for the Armenian dairy company “Ashtarak-Gat” to “World Food Moscow 2015”

By

unnamed_20_5_-2-480x271-480x271During the exhibition the “World Food Moscow 2015” in Moscow, the Armenian dairy company “Ashtarak-Gat” (Milk-Ashtarak) won the Gold Medal of the product quality. 10 Armenian companies specialized in food consumer goods participated in this exhibition and sale of Moscow. An exhibition in the presence of 1,700 international companies. “Ashtarak-Gat” presented a wide range of its products to foreign partners and has signed numerous orders. Four products of “Ashtarak-Gat” were recognized as the best products. This is Madzoun yogurt, cheese and Lori Yogou-Mokou Modjo and yoghurt.

Krikor AMIRZAYAN

ARS Receives ‘Medal of Service to the Armenian Prelacy of Aleppo’

By

PR038_20141030_Att3WATERTOWN, Mass.—During the course of his informative tour to the Armenian-American communities of the United States, on Wednesday, October 22, the Prelate of Aleppo Archbishop Shahan Sarkisian, visited the international office of the Armenian Relief Society, Inc. During the visit, Archbishop Sarkisian met with both the ARS Central and Regional Executive Board members. He was accompanied by the Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan.

During this meeting, discussions focused on the problems facing the Syrian-Armenian community. Archbishop Sarkisian expressed his profound appreciation for the continuous humanitarian aid and assistance sent to the beleaguered populations across Syria, made possible by the collective efforts of the international network of ARS entities.

On the evening of October 22nd, a public briefing was held and organized by the Watertown “Leola Sasouni” and Cambridge “Shoushi” Chapters of the ARS/Eastern USA Region. As the keynote speaker of the evening, Archbishop Sarkisian, referring to the benevolent efforts of the ARS, stated that the Armenian Relief Society was the first organization to rush substantial assistance to meet the educational, social and medical needs of the stricken Syrian-Armenian community.

As an expression of appreciation and gratitude for the sustained humanitarian efforts demonstrated by the diligent and devoted membership of the global ARS family over the last few very difficult years, Archbishop Sarkisian bestowed the “Medal of service to the Armenian Prelacy of Aleppo” upon the ARS.

To date, the ARS has expended half-a-million dollars in relief aid directed to assist the traumatized Syrian-Armenian community in its struggle to survive in these dire circumstances. These efforts include several educational, social, and other humanitarian programs made possible by the tenacity of the ARS’ global membership and the generosity of its loyal supporters.

As the ARS Central Executive Board Chairperson, Vicky Marachelian summed it up: “This Medal, bestowed upon us by the Armenian Prelacy of Aleppo, is in recognition of the collective humanitarian endeavors of our Society’s entities. At this time, we give our assurances that our humanitarian assistance to our brothers and sisters will continue unabated, as long as their need for our helping hand is apparent. It will continue until the survival of the Syrian-Armenian community is guaranteed.

Turkey: Main opposition leader calls on Erdoğan to return ‘medal of courage’ given by Jewish lobby

By

ANKARA

The leader of Turkey’s main opposition party has called on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to return the “medal of courage” given to him by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in 2004, in reaction to Israel’s kamaloffensive against Palestinians.

“Be a man of your word for once: Take it off from your neck and return it!” Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), said in a written statement on July 17, responding to Erdoğan’s allegations that Kılıçdaroğlu had condemned neither Israel nor Syria.

“I have condemned all who oppressed the people whoever they are. I have not applied a double standard like you,” the CHP leader added, recalling that Erdoğan and Bashar al-Assad had once gone on holiday together with their families.

Kılıçdaroğlu also claimed that the jet fuel of Israeli warplanes was provided by Turkey and asked Erdoğan to cut this supply.

The prime minister has frequently slammed the opposition for allegedly siding with Israel and Syria, while the opposition recalls the government’s past deals with the leaderships of both countries.

Kılıçdaroğlu again returned to the fact that Erdoğan has had to postpone his planned visit to Gaza three times in the last two years. “Remember what you said on April 14, 2013 about visiting Gaza. You won’t remember because remembering will not suit your work. You can’t dare to remember. Because U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told you not to go to Gaza on April 21, 2013. What did you do? You said Kerry’s statement was ‘not good,’” he said, adding that it had been two years since Erdoğan first vowed to go to Gaza.

“What you did was just lying and deceiving the people as usual. And after all that you want to be the president?” Kılıçdaroğlu said.