Fr. Mesrop Ash

Acquiring the Spirit of God is the true aim of our Christian life, while prayer, fasting, almsgiving and other good works done for Christ’s sake are merely means for acquiring the Spirit of God.

Photo: The Vaskenian Theological Academy on the picturesque peninsula of Lake Sevan.

The Vaskenian Theological Academy of Sevan was re-established in 1990 on the picturesque peninsula of Lake Sevan. The Academy was opened during the Pontificate and with the blessings of His Holiness Vasken I, of Blessed Memory, and by the direct initiative of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, who was then the Vicar of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese. As the re-opening of the Academy was encouraged and approved by His Holiness Vasken I, it was decided in 1994 by His Holiness Karekin I, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenian of blessed memory, the Academy should be renamed the Vaskenian Theological Academy in honor of His Holiness, Vasken I.

During the first stages of its existence the Academy was housed in the ancillary building that was constructed in 1897 by the Catholicos of All Armenians, Mkrtitch I Khrimian (1892-1907) as a building of the Seminary. However, it was never used for that purpose. In the early 1990’s it served both as classrooms and a dormitory building for the students of the Seminary, and a portion of the building was made into a dining room. As the seminary grew, the Seminary property was extended and a stone building was added, to be used as classroom. The original building was converted to a complete dormitory.

SOURCE: “The Armenian Church, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin ” - armenianchurch.org.

Armenian Diaspora : Ethiopia

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In the early 1900s, when Armenians were faced with genocide orchestrated by the Ottoman empire, scores of families escaped and some arrived and settled in Ethiopia. Armenians make up one of the oldest immigrant communities in Ethiopia. Vahe Tilbian, a 4th generation Ethiopian-Armenian, told TADIAS magazine that “historically Armenians worked as goldsmiths, carpenters, builders, teachers, embroiders, silk makers, and carpet makers.” His great grandfather Tavit Aslanian was a carpet maker in Empress Zewditu’s palace, his paternal grandfather was a tailor in Addis and his maternal family members were cobblers.

Armenians have likewise contributed heavily to Ethiopian modern music. Kevork Nalbandian was an Armenian who composed the first national anthem for Ethiopia as well as served as the musical director of Arba Lijoch. His nephew Nerses Nalbandian was involved in the founding of the famed Yared Music School as well as led the Municipality Orchestra.

Besides Ethiopia, a small Armenian community also exists in Sudan. The capital, Khartoum, features an Armenian church. South Africa, too, has seen an Armenian population growing in number over the past decades, with some community organisations and activities taking place.

Individual Armenians have for their part found their way for this reason or that to all sorts of corners of that giant continent. One off-beat story is that of cargo airline pilots from Armenia who were arrested for unwittingly being involved in a coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea in 2004. They were later released. Another much more to-the-beat story is that of George Avakian, a South African Armenian who made an impression beatboxing on a television talent show. To give another example, Armenians from the United States, Belgium, and Lebanon have established businesses in the mining sector in Ghana in recent years.

And then there is Krikor DerBalian who moved from Egypt in 1964 to Swaziland – a tiny kingdom of about a million people mostly within South Africa. A corner of the land he bought became the site of the Sourp Haroutun Armenian Chapel, which was built by hand between 1985 to 1989 by him and with local help. The furniture, seating up to 24 people, and other religious items, were donated by both Armenian and non-Armenian friends.

TEZETA is a small reflection of a much larger Ethiopian-Armenian historical and cultural romance. It’s focused on music as a vehicle to deliver a broader and deeper history to a larger international audience. There are books that are being written that aim to thoroughly document the history of the two cultures. Currently, there are plans to create a museum celebrating the long history and legacy of Armenians in Ethiopia. I would say that there is hope, even though the community has declined over the years. ( Aramazt Kalayjian, film maker of TEZETA)

Points of interest : Historic Overview of Ethiopic Writing System’s possible influence on the development of The Armenian Alphabet

Coins of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia

Outside the Armenian Highland and distinct from the Kingdom of Antiquity, Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia in the south of Asia Minor was formed by refugees fleeing the Seljuk invasion. In 1198, with the crowning of Levon the Magnificent, Armenian Cilicia became a kingdom. The capital was originally at Tarsus, and later at Sis. Cilician Armenia thrived economically, with the port of Ayas serving as a center for West and East trade. The kingdom adopted Western European feudalism and customs for the nobility including chivalry, fashion, and the use of French titles, names and language. The fall to the Mamluks, of Sis and then the fortress of Gaban, put an end to the kingdom in 1375.

The dome of the new St. John Church in Abovyan, Armenia.

Photo credits: Edgar Harutyunyan.