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PRESS RELEASE
Parish of Armenian Apostolic Church of Crescenta Valley-Educational
Committee
6252 Honolulu Ave., La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel (818) 303-5566
[email protected]
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La Crescenta, CA.- Mr. Harut Sassounian, publisher of California Courier
Newspaper, will be the honorary guest speaker on " Aktamar Holy Cross Church
Divine Liturgy, Church Service or Political Show" lecture & discussion at
Armenian Apostolic Church of Crescenta Valley on September 19, 2010 at 1pm.
A prominent public figure, analyst and a commentator, Mr. Harut
Sassounian,who is well known in the Armenian world community for his long
years of public service and involvement, has on many occasions commented on
issues involving restoration and the upcoming liturgy at this medieval
Armenian church.
Questions have been raised about the prudence of attending the Sept. 19
church services in Akhtamar to which the Turkish government has invited
Armenians from around the world, members of the international media and
foreign Ambassadors and dignitaries.
In his two articles:" Why Would Armenians Go to Akhtamar, and become Tools
of Turkish Propaganda?" and "Exploiting Akhtamar Church Again",which were
published in Armenian Weekly and appeared in numerous websites
worldwide, Mr. Sassounian has urged all Armenians to boycott this new
propaganda ploy unless Turkish officials officially designate Holy Cross as
a church, not museum, opening it for year-round worship services, rather
than for one day only. He also has urged placing the church under the
jurisdiction of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey, not Ministry of
Tourism, and allowing Divine Liturgy to be celebrated regularly, after Holy
Cross is properly consecrated in accordance with Armenian religious rites.
Mass will be celebrated at the 10'th-century church of Surp Khach (Holy
Cross) for the first time in nearly a century on September 19, three years
after the church was renovated by the government of Turkey and converted to
a museum by allowing Turkey's Armenian Christian community to hold religious
services there once a year.
Many argue that the restoration of the Akhtamar church was a political act,
done for political reasons. Critics argue that the restoration was the
result of political imperative rather than archaeological necessities. It
may have been paid by Turkey, but it was largely instigated by pro-Turkish
elements within the EU and elsewhere who wanted Turkey to make a highly
visible gesture that would show to its critics that all is well within
Turkey regarding its treatment of cultures.
Built between 915 and 921 A.D., the Akhtamar church is one of the few
surviving examples of the ancient Armenian civilization in what is now
eastern Turkey. Thousands of Armenian churches built there since the early
middle Ages were destroyed, ransacked or turned into mosques during and
after the 1915 Genocide of more than 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman
Empire.
Mr. Sassounian is the president of the United Armenian Fund and Senior Vice
President of Kirk Kerkorian's Lincy Foundation. He was a human rights
delegate at the United Nations for 10 years and has played a leading role in
recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the U.N. in 1985. From 1978 to1982,
Mr. Sassounian worked as an international marketing executive for Procter &
Gamble in Geneva, Switzerland. He has a Master's degree in International
Affairs from Columbia University and an MBA from Pepperdine University. He
is author of " The Armenian Genocide: The World Speaks Out, Documents and
Declarations, 1915-2005," published in English and Arabic. Mr. Sassounian
has been decorated by the President and Prime minister of the Republic of
Armenia, the heads of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic churches and the
recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
The lecture & discussion will take place on Sunday, September 19, 2010, at
1:00 pm, following
the church services at Western Prelacy Hall, located at 6252 Honolulu Ave.,
in La Crescenta, California. General public is invited and welcomed to
attend this invaluable lecture. Admission and parking is free. Refreshments
will be served.
From: A. Papazian
Parish of Armenian Apostolic Church of Crescenta Valley-Educational
Committee
6252 Honolulu Ave., La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel (818) 303-5566
[email protected]
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La Crescenta, CA.- Mr. Harut Sassounian, publisher of California Courier
Newspaper, will be the honorary guest speaker on " Aktamar Holy Cross Church
Divine Liturgy, Church Service or Political Show" lecture & discussion at
Armenian Apostolic Church of Crescenta Valley on September 19, 2010 at 1pm.
A prominent public figure, analyst and a commentator, Mr. Harut
Sassounian,who is well known in the Armenian world community for his long
years of public service and involvement, has on many occasions commented on
issues involving restoration and the upcoming liturgy at this medieval
Armenian church.
Questions have been raised about the prudence of attending the Sept. 19
church services in Akhtamar to which the Turkish government has invited
Armenians from around the world, members of the international media and
foreign Ambassadors and dignitaries.
In his two articles:" Why Would Armenians Go to Akhtamar, and become Tools
of Turkish Propaganda?" and "Exploiting Akhtamar Church Again",which were
published in Armenian Weekly and appeared in numerous websites
worldwide, Mr. Sassounian has urged all Armenians to boycott this new
propaganda ploy unless Turkish officials officially designate Holy Cross as
a church, not museum, opening it for year-round worship services, rather
than for one day only. He also has urged placing the church under the
jurisdiction of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey, not Ministry of
Tourism, and allowing Divine Liturgy to be celebrated regularly, after Holy
Cross is properly consecrated in accordance with Armenian religious rites.
Mass will be celebrated at the 10'th-century church of Surp Khach (Holy
Cross) for the first time in nearly a century on September 19, three years
after the church was renovated by the government of Turkey and converted to
a museum by allowing Turkey's Armenian Christian community to hold religious
services there once a year.
Many argue that the restoration of the Akhtamar church was a political act,
done for political reasons. Critics argue that the restoration was the
result of political imperative rather than archaeological necessities. It
may have been paid by Turkey, but it was largely instigated by pro-Turkish
elements within the EU and elsewhere who wanted Turkey to make a highly
visible gesture that would show to its critics that all is well within
Turkey regarding its treatment of cultures.
Built between 915 and 921 A.D., the Akhtamar church is one of the few
surviving examples of the ancient Armenian civilization in what is now
eastern Turkey. Thousands of Armenian churches built there since the early
middle Ages were destroyed, ransacked or turned into mosques during and
after the 1915 Genocide of more than 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman
Empire.
Mr. Sassounian is the president of the United Armenian Fund and Senior Vice
President of Kirk Kerkorian's Lincy Foundation. He was a human rights
delegate at the United Nations for 10 years and has played a leading role in
recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the U.N. in 1985. From 1978 to1982,
Mr. Sassounian worked as an international marketing executive for Procter &
Gamble in Geneva, Switzerland. He has a Master's degree in International
Affairs from Columbia University and an MBA from Pepperdine University. He
is author of " The Armenian Genocide: The World Speaks Out, Documents and
Declarations, 1915-2005," published in English and Arabic. Mr. Sassounian
has been decorated by the President and Prime minister of the Republic of
Armenia, the heads of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic churches and the
recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
The lecture & discussion will take place on Sunday, September 19, 2010, at
1:00 pm, following
the church services at Western Prelacy Hall, located at 6252 Honolulu Ave.,
in La Crescenta, California. General public is invited and welcomed to
attend this invaluable lecture. Admission and parking is free. Refreshments
will be served.
From: A. Papazian