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The Nation (Thailand)
September 19, 2005, Monday
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian <[email protected]>
X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN
SPECIAL: Armenia and Thailand, a historic relationship bolstered by
trade
In November 2002, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all
Armenians visited Thailand as part of his regional tour. He met with
about 50 Armenians living in Thailand. Most of the Armenians here are
in the gem and jewellery, footwear and construction industries.
Last week Virachai Virameteekul, the vice minister of foreign affairs
of the Republic of Armenia, led a Thai delegation to Yerevan, its
capital, to boost bilateral relations. One of the highlights of the
trip was a visit to the Holy Etchmiadzin and St Gregory the
Illuminator Cathedral and its environs. The Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin is the pre-eminent centre of authority in the worldwide
Armenian Apostolic Church.
Located near Yerevan, it is a huge complex consisting of the Mother
Cathedral of the entire Armenian Church, a monastery and monastic
brotherhood, a residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians and
various religious and cultural institutions such as the Kevorkian
Theological Seminary and a museum.
The cathedral is a beautiful structure. Its construction dates back
to the 4th century, and it is reckoned the oldest Christian cathedral
in the world. Christianity was declared the state religion of Armenia
in AD 301. Armenia thus became the first nation to adopt Christianity
as a state religion.
This was largely due to the efforts of Saint Gregory the Illuminator.
Born a nobleman, he converted Armenias King Tiridates III, who had
formerly persecuted the Christians. Conversion of the rest of the
population soon followed. It was St Gregory who built the Mother
Church at Etchmiadzin in AD 303.
The Thai delegation was taken around the compound, visiting the
museum and the cathedral. In 1958, while efforts were under way to
strengthen the structure of the cathedral, workers found underneath a
4th-century altar, which had also been a fireplace. This showed that
the ancient Armenians worshipped fire before Christianity came in.
This marked a triumph of Christianity over paganism.
In the morning, the Thai delegation also went to visit a jewellery
factory called Jacobs Jewellery Armenia. Some elements of the
jewellery products had been prepared in Thailand. The Armenians are
very good at working with gems and jewellery, with good
craftsmanship. Uncut diamonds are imported from everywhere, from
South Africa to Europe.
The Thai delegation also visited Armenias largest brandy-producer,
Yerevan Brandy Co.
Armenia is very famous for making brandy. The Ararat brand, produced
at this plant, is of
the highest quality. There was a guided tour of the facility as well
as a tasting session featuring brandies aged three, 10 and 20 years
old.
Winston Churchill, the British prime minister during World War II,
had brandy shipped from this plant. Yerevan Brandy Co is now turning
out nine million bottles a year. The brandy is exported to 25
countries, though 82 per cent goes to Russia.
Thanong Khanthong
September 19, 2005, Monday
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian <[email protected]>
X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN
SPECIAL: Armenia and Thailand, a historic relationship bolstered by
trade
In November 2002, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all
Armenians visited Thailand as part of his regional tour. He met with
about 50 Armenians living in Thailand. Most of the Armenians here are
in the gem and jewellery, footwear and construction industries.
Last week Virachai Virameteekul, the vice minister of foreign affairs
of the Republic of Armenia, led a Thai delegation to Yerevan, its
capital, to boost bilateral relations. One of the highlights of the
trip was a visit to the Holy Etchmiadzin and St Gregory the
Illuminator Cathedral and its environs. The Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin is the pre-eminent centre of authority in the worldwide
Armenian Apostolic Church.
Located near Yerevan, it is a huge complex consisting of the Mother
Cathedral of the entire Armenian Church, a monastery and monastic
brotherhood, a residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians and
various religious and cultural institutions such as the Kevorkian
Theological Seminary and a museum.
The cathedral is a beautiful structure. Its construction dates back
to the 4th century, and it is reckoned the oldest Christian cathedral
in the world. Christianity was declared the state religion of Armenia
in AD 301. Armenia thus became the first nation to adopt Christianity
as a state religion.
This was largely due to the efforts of Saint Gregory the Illuminator.
Born a nobleman, he converted Armenias King Tiridates III, who had
formerly persecuted the Christians. Conversion of the rest of the
population soon followed. It was St Gregory who built the Mother
Church at Etchmiadzin in AD 303.
The Thai delegation was taken around the compound, visiting the
museum and the cathedral. In 1958, while efforts were under way to
strengthen the structure of the cathedral, workers found underneath a
4th-century altar, which had also been a fireplace. This showed that
the ancient Armenians worshipped fire before Christianity came in.
This marked a triumph of Christianity over paganism.
In the morning, the Thai delegation also went to visit a jewellery
factory called Jacobs Jewellery Armenia. Some elements of the
jewellery products had been prepared in Thailand. The Armenians are
very good at working with gems and jewellery, with good
craftsmanship. Uncut diamonds are imported from everywhere, from
South Africa to Europe.
The Thai delegation also visited Armenias largest brandy-producer,
Yerevan Brandy Co.
Armenia is very famous for making brandy. The Ararat brand, produced
at this plant, is of
the highest quality. There was a guided tour of the facility as well
as a tasting session featuring brandies aged three, 10 and 20 years
old.
Winston Churchill, the British prime minister during World War II,
had brandy shipped from this plant. Yerevan Brandy Co is now turning
out nine million bottles a year. The brandy is exported to 25
countries, though 82 per cent goes to Russia.
Thanong Khanthong