Gagrule.net

Gagrule.net News, Views, Interviews worldwide

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • GagruleLive
  • Armenia profile

Christmas trees in Aleppo? Jerusalem? and centuries-old Surp Giragos Armenian Church in Diyarbakir?

December 25, 2017 By administrator

Jerusalem, the Custody of the Holy Land and the Armenian Church, centuries-old Surp Giragos Armenian Church in Diyarbakir, Aleppo christmas tree

The Trump administration’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, which led to the United States being scolded by 128 countries at the UN General Assembly last week, has constrained some, but not all, of the joy of Christmas for Christians in the Middle East.

In addition to the calamitous diplomatic fallout, which we assessed here last week, Pope Francis, the archbishop of Canterbury and the leaders of Christian churches and communities in Jerusalem and throughout the region all opposed the decision. As Amr Mostafa reported from Cairo, Egypt’s Muslim, Coptic and secular groups united in opposition to the Jerusalem decision. US Vice President Mike Pence, an evangelical Christian, who had to postpone his travel to the region because of congressional action on tax reform, would have been poorly received, if received at all, by representatives of Christian communities.

Despite the developments on Jerusalem, there was still joy in Bethlehem, where, as Ibrahim Abdelhadi reported, the “Al-Mahd Church, better known as the Church of the Nativity, is greeting Christmas with a fresh face this year following a major rehabilitation of its roof and ancient mosaics.”

A UNESCO World Heritage site and, Abelhadi said, reportedly the world’s oldest church in daily use, “Al-Mahd’s original basilica was built in the fourth century by Roman Emperor Constantine I above a cave where Virgin Mary is said to have given birth to Jesus. In the early medieval period, other ecclesiastical buildings were incorporated into the original site. Consequently, today the Church of the Nativity is overseen by members of the Greek Orthodox Church, the Custody of the Holy Land and the Armenian Church. It’s considered one of the most important Christian churches in the world after the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.”

Unfortunately, one of the most revered churches in Turkey has fallen upon harder times. Mahmut Bozarslan reported that the centuries-old Surp Giragos Armenian Church in Diyarbakir, which had been restored after years of disuse and abuse in 2012, only to be damaged and desecrated as a result of the fighting in 2015 between Turkish security and Kurdistan Workers Party forces, has suffered subsequent vandalism and desecration. Bozarslan wrote that for church board member Gaffur Turkay, “The fact that hammer-wielding vandals could enter and damage the house of worship while members of the church board could only go there after receiving permission is a bitter pill to swallow.”

The defeat of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria offers some welcome good news, allowing those displaced by the war to return and rebuild their cities, towns and villages. In Iraq, as Omar Sattar reported in October, there are about 450,000 Christians with varying political alignments. Sattar wrote, “Iraqi Christians’ pursuit of living in security and having their civil rights safeguarded exceeds their search for a political and administrative independence. This is due to the harassment they have suffered at the hands of armed groups and militias, as well as their political exploitation by various Iraqi parties that view the minority card to be of a major importance in acquiring land and obtaining international support and sympathy.”

It is perhaps fitting that we close our column with a return to Aleppo, where there have been Christmas celebrations and a proliferation of Christmas trees, as citizens of different faiths use the holiday to express hope for an end to war and a return to normalcy. Last month, parts of the ancient souk reopened. The slow turnaround in Aleppo, while fragile (there was an attack by armed groups this week), reminds us of what we wrote here almost two years ago, at the height of the war: “A Syrian government victory in Aleppo could be the beginning of the end of the sectarian mindset that would have been alien to the city prior to 2011. There is no more appropriate city to begin Syria’s healing. A Syrian government victory in Aleppo will make it harder to rationalize Western backing for jihadi groups who want to keep up the fight against long odds in the rest of the country. IS and al-Qaeda may prefer, over time, to begin to relocate to Libya and other countries where they can avoid the pounding from the US-led anti-IS coalition and Russian- and Iranian-backed Syrian forces. This may already be happening, and if so, it is to be cheered by those who seek a unified, secular and nonsectarian Syria, as outlined in the Vienna Communique, and as is Aleppo’s tradition.”

Pope Francis’ Christmas greetings this week offered a sense of hope for the Middle East based on shared respect and compassion, when he said, “Those who are different, either culturally or religiously, should not be seen or treated as enemies, but rather welcomed as fellow travelers, in the genuine conviction that the good of each resides in the good of all. Sincerity of intentions, because dialogue, as an authentic expression of our humanity, is not a strategy for achieving specific goals, but rather a path to truth, one that deserves to be undertaken patiently, in order to transform competition into cooperation.”

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/12/christmas-trees-aleppo-syria-diyarbakir-jerusalem.html#ixzz52HU1zu1r

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Aleppo, christmas, tree

Tree planting with, on behalf, and in memory of heroes fallen during the April war

June 15, 2017 By administrator

Tree planting heroes fallen during the April warDaniel Davtyan, who was severely wounded to head on April 3, 2016 during the military aggression launched by Azerbaijan at the Nagorno Karabakh Line of Contact, continues his treatment of paralysis with muscle fatigue and weakness still felt on left side of the body. Daniel, along with number of April war veterans accompanied by People’s Artist of Armenia Tigran Mansuryan participated in a tree planting event in memory of the servicemen killed during the horrendous days of the April war.

“The April days forged out strength, our resistance and came to show the power of our country. All the soldiers died during the four-day war represent our pride and power, unfortunately, sometimes at the expense of their lives,” Daniel told reporters.

He next spoke of his dreams that never came true due to the war. “I had dreams that were suspended when I was wounded. The only dream I cherish today is about the soon recovery and getting back to all those unfulfilled dreams,” Daniel said, sharing his desire to complete the military service, start working, and to marry.

Daniel’s fellow serviceman Armenak Arustamyan, who attended the tree planting on wheelchair told he had been injured from a 60mm mortar shelled by Azerbaijani forces.

“We didn’t learnt lessons, we taught lessons,” Arustamyan said with proud references to the displayed heroism and bravery of the Armenian soldiers during the war.

Gor Darmanyan who had been wounded in 2015 while repelling the sabotage infiltration attempt of the adversary, studies at Yerevan State University to become a lawyer. Gor calls for soldiers to keep vigilance.  “They should stay vigilant, protect the posts,” he said.

Composer Tigran Mansuryan told reporters the coming April will commemorate not only the victims of the genocide but also the guys fallen during the April war. “Me and Daniel who participated in the military actions planted a tree together. This symbolizes the continuity of the life – a ceremony to give a new life to the life,” maestro Mansuryan added.

 

Source Panorama.am

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: april, Armenia, planting, tree, war

Terrorist State of Turkey army destroyed ‘2,717’ olive trees in Syria

January 17, 2017 By administrator

Turkey’s army cuts 2,717 olive trees in Afrin, Syrian Kurdistan. Photo: SM

AFRIN, Syrian Kurdistan,— Turkish army has cut 2,717 olive trees in the lands adjacent to Qarmatlaq village in Sheyeh province in Afrin canton of Syrian Kurdistan paving the way to build a barrier within people village possessions, on the artificial borders between Turkey’s Kurdish region and Syrian Kurdistan especially in the area between Qarmatlaq village and Halbly Police Station in the next part of the border, ANHA news reported.

Khyrieh Hikmat the Kurdish citizen of Qarmatlaq village said “more than 150 olive trees were cut by the Turkish occupation army and its possession went back to its family, and she stated that the olive trees were of people village possessions.

Khyrieh Hikmat demanded the International Society to afford responsibilities of what is happening on the border and put an end to the Turkish state excesses and restore the land to its owner.

1,300 trees also were cut in Qarmatlaq village by the Turkish army on Monday, to pave to way for building a barrier. In addition to that 600 trees were cut in Arab Jumaa village in Shara province.

Turkey which still denies the constitutional existence of Kurds, fears the creation of an autonomous Kurdish region in Syrian Kurdistan — similar to the Kurdish region in Iraqi Kurdistan — would spur the separatist ambitions of Turkey’s own Kurds who make up around 22.5 million of the country’s 79-million population.

On August 24, Turkey and Ankara-backed syrian rebels have launched an incursion into northern Syria to stop the US-backed Kurdish YPG forces from connecting Syrian Kurdistan’s Kobani and Hasaka in the east with Afrin canton in the west. Turkish military operations mostly focused on Syrian Kurdish forces and not Islamic State, observers say.

In 2013, Syrian Kurds have established three autonomous zones, or Cantons of Jazeera, Kobani and Afrin and a Kurdish government across Syrian Kurdistan (northern Syria) in 2013. On March 17, 2016 Syria’s Kurds declared a federal region in Syrian Kurdistan.

Syrian Kurds on Dec. 30, 2016 have approved a blueprint for a system of federal government in Syrian Kurdistan, reaffirming their plans for autonomy in areas they have controlled during the civil war.

Source Ekurd.com

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: destroy, olive, Syria, tree, Turkey

Los Angeles Armenian Genocide memorial tree project underway

September 9, 2015 By administrator

genocide_tree_project.thumbThe Los Angeles City Council Tuesday approved funding for the Armenian Genocide Memorial Tree Project, spearheaded by Councilmember Paul Krekorian and with the aim of planting 100 pomegranate trees across city parks and in each of the 15 council districts to mark the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.
The first pomegranate tree was planted earlier this year at City Hall on April 23 during LA’s commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Asbarez reports.
“Los Angeles has unquestionably taken the lead in showing solidarity and standing on the side of justice
and recognition for the Armenian people,” said Councilmember Krekorian. “This project will serve as a living genocide memorial and symbol of the Armenian people’s history as we commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.”

“Anyone who comes to City Hall or travels throughout our city will see the pomegranate trees, which will continue to flourish as the Armenian community has. It will stand as a sign of hope, rebirth, and survival,” added Kerkorian.

Krekorian, chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee, represents Council District 2, which includes North Hollywood, Studio City, Valley Village and other communities in the east San Fernando Valley. His website is cd2.lacity.org, where you can sign up for news updates.

source: tert.am

Filed Under: Articles, Genocide Tagged With: Armenian, Genocide, Los Angeles, Memorial, Project, tree

Support Gagrule.net

Subscribe Free News & Update

Search

GagruleLive with Harut Sassounian

Can activist run a Government?

Wally Sarkeesian Interview Onnik Dinkjian and son

https://youtu.be/BiI8_TJzHEM

Khachic Moradian

https://youtu.be/-NkIYpCAIII
https://youtu.be/9_Xi7FA3tGQ
https://youtu.be/Arg8gAhcIb0
https://youtu.be/zzh-WpjGltY





gagrulenet Twitter-Timeline

Tweets by @gagrulenet

Archives

Books

Recent Posts

  • “Nikol Pashinyan Joins the Ranks of 7 World Leaders Accused of Betrayal, Surrender, and Controversial Concessions”
  • The Myth of Authenticity: Why We’re All Just Playing a Role
  • From Revolution to Repression Pashinyan Has Reduced Armenians to ‘Toothless, Barking Dogs’
  • Armenia: Letter from the leader of the Sacred Struggle, political prisoner Bagrat Archbishop Galstanyan
  • U.S. Judge Dismisses $500 Million Lawsuit By Azeri Lawyer Against ANCA & 29 Others

Recent Comments

  • administrator on Turkish Agent Pashinyan will not attend the meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State
  • David on Turkish Agent Pashinyan will not attend the meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State
  • Ara Arakelian on A democratic nation has been allowed to die – the UN has failed once more “Nagorno-Karabakh”
  • DV on A democratic nation has been allowed to die – the UN has failed once more “Nagorno-Karabakh”
  • Tavo on I’d call on the people of Syunik to arm themselves, and defend your country – Vazgen Manukyan

Copyright © 2025 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in