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Karanian Seeks to Elevate Western Armenia in Consciousness of
Armenians with New Book
Wednesday, December 31st, 2014 | Posted by Matthew Karanian
Two Armenian clerics, including the Acting Armenian Patriarch of
Istanbul, officiate at the annual Badarak at Soorp Khatch, on the
island of Aghtamar, on Lake Van. Photo (c) 2014 Matthew Karanian,
Reprinted with Permission.
One hundred years after the Medz Yeghern, the Armenian homeland
remains unknown to many Armenians and non-Armenians alike. The new
book 'Historic Armenia After 100 Years' by Matthew Karanian (Stone
Garden Press, Pub. February 15, 2015) seeks to change this.
There are many reasons that the Armenian homeland has remained off the
map for travelers during the past century. The descendants of the
Armenians who survived the Medz Yeghern--the Great Crime, the Armenian
Genocide--often choose not to return to their homeland because the
memories that they received from their ancestors are so painful.
Others choose not to visit historic Armenia because they believe that
their presence there will provide economic support to the people who
have wrongfully displaced the native Armenians.
Still others, Armenians and non-Armenians alike, do not travel to
historic Armenia because no one has articulated for them a compelling
reason to visit. What is there left to learn about, or see, in the
Armenian homeland? Hasn't everything been destroyed?
The Medz Yeghern began in 1915 and terminated the 3,000-year history
of Armenians in their historic homeland. During the past 100 years,
the population of Armenians in the land of historic Armenia has been
almost completely eliminated.
During the one hundred years since 1915, most of the cultural
monuments of the Armenian nation in historic Western Armenia have been
eliminated, as well. Churches and monasteries have been bombed,
khatchkars have been bulldozed, frescoes have been whitewashed.
But there is still much that remains. Armenian monuments have survived
in every region, and are in abundance in places such as Ani and Van.
Armenian churches still function in places such as Kesaria (Kayseri)
and Diyarbakir. In time, additional churches may be returned to the
Armenians. Everything has not been destroyed.
By traveling to historic Armenia, visitors signal their interest in
these surviving monuments, and in Armenian culture and history. The
current custodians of Armenian monuments may therefore conclude that
an ancient church is more valuable as a tourist destination than as
quarry material for, say, a barn.
These are some of the logical and rational reasons for visiting
historic Armenia. But the most compelling reason for visiting has
nothing to do with either.
Armenians should visit historic Armenia because it is their homeland.
No other reason is necessary.
And non-Armenians should visit to celebrate the culture of the world's
first Christian state, in a region that is as holy as the Holy Land.
'Historic Armenia After 100 Years' introduces the reader, region by
region, to the sites of historic Armenia that exist today, and that
are worth finding, viewing, and enjoying. The sites that are included
are the primary sites that should be on your itinerary.
For the pilgrim who is unable to travel to historic Armenia, this book
is an alternative to making the journey.
The Armenian Genocide began in 1915, and after one hundred years, it
is appropriate to reflect upon all that has been lost in one century.
But we should also celebrate, and rally to support, all that still
remains. Because whether we witness the passage of one hundred years,
or another thousand, this will always be our homeland.
Adapted from 'Historic Armenia After 100 Years,' (Stone Garden Press,
$39.95, Pub. Feb. 2015) by Matthew Karanian. Pre-order now for $35
postpaid in the US from: Stone Garden Productions; PO Box 7758;
Northridge, CA 91327 or pay with credit card by requesting an invoice
from [email protected]
http://asbarez.com/130351/karanian-seeks-to-elevate-western-armenia-in-consciousness-of-armenians-with-new-book/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Armenians with New Book
Wednesday, December 31st, 2014 | Posted by Matthew Karanian
Two Armenian clerics, including the Acting Armenian Patriarch of
Istanbul, officiate at the annual Badarak at Soorp Khatch, on the
island of Aghtamar, on Lake Van. Photo (c) 2014 Matthew Karanian,
Reprinted with Permission.
One hundred years after the Medz Yeghern, the Armenian homeland
remains unknown to many Armenians and non-Armenians alike. The new
book 'Historic Armenia After 100 Years' by Matthew Karanian (Stone
Garden Press, Pub. February 15, 2015) seeks to change this.
There are many reasons that the Armenian homeland has remained off the
map for travelers during the past century. The descendants of the
Armenians who survived the Medz Yeghern--the Great Crime, the Armenian
Genocide--often choose not to return to their homeland because the
memories that they received from their ancestors are so painful.
Others choose not to visit historic Armenia because they believe that
their presence there will provide economic support to the people who
have wrongfully displaced the native Armenians.
Still others, Armenians and non-Armenians alike, do not travel to
historic Armenia because no one has articulated for them a compelling
reason to visit. What is there left to learn about, or see, in the
Armenian homeland? Hasn't everything been destroyed?
The Medz Yeghern began in 1915 and terminated the 3,000-year history
of Armenians in their historic homeland. During the past 100 years,
the population of Armenians in the land of historic Armenia has been
almost completely eliminated.
During the one hundred years since 1915, most of the cultural
monuments of the Armenian nation in historic Western Armenia have been
eliminated, as well. Churches and monasteries have been bombed,
khatchkars have been bulldozed, frescoes have been whitewashed.
But there is still much that remains. Armenian monuments have survived
in every region, and are in abundance in places such as Ani and Van.
Armenian churches still function in places such as Kesaria (Kayseri)
and Diyarbakir. In time, additional churches may be returned to the
Armenians. Everything has not been destroyed.
By traveling to historic Armenia, visitors signal their interest in
these surviving monuments, and in Armenian culture and history. The
current custodians of Armenian monuments may therefore conclude that
an ancient church is more valuable as a tourist destination than as
quarry material for, say, a barn.
These are some of the logical and rational reasons for visiting
historic Armenia. But the most compelling reason for visiting has
nothing to do with either.
Armenians should visit historic Armenia because it is their homeland.
No other reason is necessary.
And non-Armenians should visit to celebrate the culture of the world's
first Christian state, in a region that is as holy as the Holy Land.
'Historic Armenia After 100 Years' introduces the reader, region by
region, to the sites of historic Armenia that exist today, and that
are worth finding, viewing, and enjoying. The sites that are included
are the primary sites that should be on your itinerary.
For the pilgrim who is unable to travel to historic Armenia, this book
is an alternative to making the journey.
The Armenian Genocide began in 1915, and after one hundred years, it
is appropriate to reflect upon all that has been lost in one century.
But we should also celebrate, and rally to support, all that still
remains. Because whether we witness the passage of one hundred years,
or another thousand, this will always be our homeland.
Adapted from 'Historic Armenia After 100 Years,' (Stone Garden Press,
$39.95, Pub. Feb. 2015) by Matthew Karanian. Pre-order now for $35
postpaid in the US from: Stone Garden Productions; PO Box 7758;
Northridge, CA 91327 or pay with credit card by requesting an invoice
from [email protected]
http://asbarez.com/130351/karanian-seeks-to-elevate-western-armenia-in-consciousness-of-armenians-with-new-book/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress