Istanbul to welcome head of Armenian church

[Gavur]

Istanbul Incident during Visit of Catholicos of All Armenians is Barbarism

23.06.2006 18:26 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The protest action against the visit of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II is barbarism, Armenian writer Razmik Davoyan stated in Yerevan when commenting on the incident connected with the visit of Catholicos of Armenians to Istanbul. “It’s impossible to speak of democracy, Eurointegration and adherence to national values in the atmosphere of hatred to the Armenian nation. The Turkish authorities should think over the upbringing of the new generation. In Armenia such incidents are excluded, since our upbringing and historical values are quite different,’ he underscored.

According to Davoyan, Catholicos’s visit was a brave move, since the Patriarch knew “what was waiting for him there”. “For us the most important thing is that our spiritual leader holds meetings with the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople and it’s possible that some important agreements will be achieved,” he added.

According to Agnes

http://armenianow.com/?action=viewCategory&CID=1711&IID=1088&lng=eng&PHPSESSID=03b59e7ebe49b8e5d252decc7fc8b2ff#

EU wannabe Turks threw stones at Armenia’s Catholicos Wednesday.


Razmik Davoyan emphasized that Armenia and Turkey should find ways for normalizing relations. “There are no diplomatic contacts between our states but there is a possibility to normalize personal relations. For this the Turkish authorities should take into account some circumstances including the Armenian Genocide recognition and prevention of incidents of the kind, he remarked, reported Novosti-Armenia.

[Gavur]

Pontiff Of All Armenians Welcomed In The Cathedral Of The Holy Mother Of God

PONTIFF OF ALL ARMENIANS WELCOMED IN THE CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD IN ISTANBUL
AZG Armenian Daily #117, 24/06/2006

On the evening of June 22, having concluded the Fraternal Visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and His All Holiness Bartholomew I, the Catholicos of All Armenians officially began the Pontifical Visit to the Armenian Patriarchate and the Armenian community of Istanbul. His Holiness and the pontifical entourage visited the Mother Cathedral of St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) in Kumkapi, Istanbul, and were greeted by a "Hrashapar" service welcoming the Pontiff. In attendance were high-ranking clergy of the Armenian Patriarchate, representatives of Sister Churches, Mr. Karen Mirzoyan (Representative of the Republic of Armenia in Turkey), and countless Armenian faithful, many who had come to see the Catholicos of All Armenians for the first time.

Following the traditional service of greeting a hierarch, His Beatitude Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, warmly greeted the Catholicos of All Armenians and welcomed him to Istanbul on behalf of the Armenian Patriarchate, the clergy and faithful. His Beatitude then invited His Holiness to offer his words of blessing to the assembled.

His Holiness addressed his message of blessing and love, stating in part, "...We are with you now with our prayers of thanksgiving and praise. At this historic and emotional moment, we turn our gaze to heaven with the prayer of our holy forefathers: ‘King of Peace, Our Lord Jesus Christ, keep and protect Your people under Your holy and revered Cross in peace’.

"This cherished prayer has resounded throughout the halls of this sanctuary for centuries as well. It has been uttered from the lips of many courageous and glorious clergymen, who became martyrs of the faith; the good shepherds who devoted their lives to God for the flock entrusted to them, and with the life-giving light of faith, led them to creativity, loyalty and fidelity. Five Patriarchs of Constantinople, by the will of God and the nation, were called to become Catholicos of All Armenians – the first servant of our Holy Church. Only after kneeling down before this Holy Altar and asking for the intercession of the Holy Mother of God on behalf of the Armenian nation, did they depart to sit on the Throne of the Illuminator. In difficult times, our luminous and brave-hearted Pontiffs protected our people and kept them gathered around Holy Etchmiadzin with the hope and belief in salvation. And now from the Throne of the Illuminator – the holy cradle of our faith – Holy Etchmiadzin, we have come to see you, our dearly beloved sons and daughters, to extend our blessings and love to you all. We have come so that Pontiff and flock can be united once again with the same oath of our holy fathers, and unite our prayers to their appeals for the peace of mankind and for keeping all Armenians dispersed throughout the world reinforced in faith and unified.

"...For six hundred years, the churches of the Armenian Patriarchate kept the belief in Christ and hope of salvation alive and vibrant in the souls of our people. For six hundred years, our mother tongue was proclaimed undefiled in our schools, where our national traditions transformed into the spirit of our people. Connected with the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople are the brightest achievements of our culture – in literature, art, music and architecture...

"It is with these emotions that we have come to visit you, to see our ancient, incense-filled churches, which remain vibrant through your presence. We came to see our educational and cultural institutions, which continue to remain alight through your vigilant efforts. We came to bless your lives, to encourage your devoted spirits, your resolute will and selfless allegiance, through which you are firmly standing on the foundation-stone established by Saint Gregory our Illuminator, keeping the light of Holy Etchmiadzin sparkling in your souls, which has always shined and glowed in the monasteries and churches of the Patriarchate.

"We have brought the boundless yearning and love of the Mother See of All Armenians to you, dear faithful, and greetings from your brothers and sisters in Armenia, Artsakh and the Dispersion, who are always with you in their warmest of prayers. We have also brought the optimism of the reborn new life of our homeland, and our people’s hopes for strengthening our unified spiritual and cultural life. Our Church is strong and alive with all of her children, and steadfast in the path of her mission, which is the same yesterday, today and always – to lead the small flock of the Armenians toward the life-giving and saving light of faith, toward God Who makes peace and creates beneficence. Let us stay loyal to the Holy Gospel of our Lord, loyal to our Holy Church, and loyal to our inherited appeal for peace."

In his remarks, His Holiness also offered prayers to heaven, asking for God to grant rest to the souls of the Armenian Patriarchs of Constantinople of blessed memory, as well as long years of health and fruitful reign to His Beatitude Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian.

At the conclusion of the service, the special Pontifical Encyclical of the Catholicos of All Armenians was read, wherein His Grace Bishop Aram Ateshian, a member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, was elevated to the rank of "Archbishop" by His Holiness Karekin II. Archbishop Ateshian was commended by the Pontiff of All Armenians for his devotion and efforts as Chairman of the Religious Council and Sacristan of the Armenian Patriarchate.

[Joseph]

VISITING ISTANBUL, ARMENIAN ORTHODOX LEADER SAYS TURKS COMMITTED GENOCIDE AGAINST ARMENIANS

AP Worldstream
Jun 25, 2006

Armenian Orthodox leader Karekin II said in Istanbul Sunday that Turks
committed genocide against Armenians, a statement that is likely to
increase tensions during the last two days of his weeklong visit here.

Karekin II, whose official title is Catholicos of All Armenians, has
been facing protests since his plane landed at the Istanbul airport
on Tuesday.

The protesters included prominent lawyers from the Turkish Lawyers'
Union, who previously pushed for the prosecution of novelist Orhan
Pamuk after he said that Turks had killed 1 million Armenians.

Turkey vehemently denies that the killing of Armenians by Ottoman
Turks around the time of World War I was genocide, and several cases
have been brought against those who say otherwise. The cases have
been opened under a law making it a crime to "insult Turkishness."

Armenians say that as many as 1.5 million of their ancestors were
killing in an organized genocidal campaign by Ottoman Turks, and have
pushed for recognition of the killings as genocide around the world.

Karekin II was unreceptive Sunday to Turkey's requests that Turkey and
Armenia, which are neighbors but have no diplomatic relations, open
their historical archives to researchers from both countries to try
to ease tensions and reach an objective conclusion about the killings.

"For our people research is not an issue. This is something that
happened and it needs to be recognized," the Dogan news agency quoted
Karekin II as saying. "The genocide issue has been researched for 90
years by academics."

Karekin II said the protests hadn't affected him.

"They didn't break my spirit and they don't reflect my visit," he
said. "But if these kinds of protests continue, it shows that we have
a lot of work so that these two societies can live together."

[Joseph]

KAREKIN BLESSES TURKEYS ARMENIANS

Turkish Daily News
Jun 26, 2006

The head of the Armenian Orthodox Church, Karekin II, yesterday led
a Sunday service at the Armenian Patriarchal church in Istanbul

Karekin II has been in Turkey since Tuesday for a week-long visit to
the Armenian community. He held talks with both Fener Greek Patriarch
Bartolomeos and Turkish Armenian Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan.

Karekin blessed worshippers yesterday of the Armenian community in
Istanbul who formed a long queue at the church in the Kumkapi district,
following the three-hour "Divine Liturgy or Holy Mass (Soorp Badarak),"
which is the main service in the Armenian church on Sundays, starting
at 10:30 a.m.

High security precautions were taken near the church, the Anatolia
news agency reported.

Police tightened security to protect the visiting cleric from Turkish
nationalists who protested his arrival on Tuesday night, prompting
the police to accompany Karekin out of the airport through a separate
entrance

On Thursday, a group led by Kemal Kerincsiz, president of the
Turkish Lawyers' Union -- which describes itself as a "nationalist"
organization -- protested Karekin during his visit to the currently
closed Heybeliada (Halki) Greek Orthodox Seminary.

[Joseph]

KAREKIN PROTESTORS SLAP DOWN OLD WOMAN

B?A, Turkey
June 26 2006

Group of protestors including rightwing lawyers stage protest against
visiting Armenian Patriarch Karekin and attack old woman on Heybeliada
(Khalki) island. Police detain one suspect but release Muammer
Kocadagli who is reported to have hit the victim.

B?A (ISTANBUL) - Rightwing Jurists Union members lawyer Kemal Kerincsiz
and have staged an attack on an old during the visit of head of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II to the Heybeliada
(Khalki) Island, 20 miles to the south of ?stanbul on Marmara Sea.

Lawyer Kerincsiz and friends are a unique group of fierce nationalists
who fight against liberal reforms along Turkey's EU membership
bid. They were responsible for the ban on the Ottoman Armenians
Conference in Istanbul after a complaint to a local administrative
court and as well as a series of criminal complaints against a number
of leading intellectuals including author Orhan Pamuk and journalist
Hrant Dink, Attempting to stage a protest against Karekin, the group
of nationalists attacked the unidentified woman in front of witnesses
when she verbally objected to their presence and said "don't disturb
us, just go".

Witnesses of the incident said the person in the group who hit the
woman on her face was Muammer Kocadagli who was briefly detained
and released after opening a protest placard near the Aya Triada
Monastry. Police on the scene detained one suspect and escorted the
woman to safety.

Police on the island had to barricade the roads from the Heybeliada
port to the Clergy school when the group attempted to march there.

Attorney Kerincsiz, who's acts at court against Turkish intellectuals
and freedom of expression defendants have reached aggressive
proportions, told the police if they were not allowed to march, he
would go to the school using a horse coach. The police told him to
go to Buyukada where he could travel in a coach.

The first visit to Turkey by the head of the Armenian Apostolic
Church triggered protests by ultra-nationalist and Islamist Turkish
groups immediately after his arrival in Istanbul last Tuesday from
the Armenian capital, Yerevan.

At the airport Karekin II was greeted by dozens of protestors waving
Turkish flags and boasting a banner "We won't let any Christian
clergyman into our homeland!" Police had to intervene and escorted
the cleric out of the terminal using another door after detaining
four protestors.

[Gavur]

His Holiness Karekin Ii Completes Pontifical Visit To Istanbul

AZG Armenian Daily #120, 29/06/2006




His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, having completed his first Pontifical Visit to Istanbul, returned to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in the early morning hours of June 28. The seven-day visit included a two day fraternal visit to the Ecumenical Patriarch, followed by five days with the Armenian community of Istanbul and the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Although His Holiness’ flight arrived in Yerevan in the middle of the night, waiting for him in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin at 4:00 AM, were hundreds of faithful who had come to welcome him home. His Holiness’ procession was escorted into the Mother Cathedral under the singing of the "Hrashapar" hymn. Standing before the Holy Altar of Descent, the Catholicos of All Armenians offered prayers of thanks to heaven and thereafter conveyed the unforgettable and warm impressions from his pontifical visit to all those present. His Holiness Karekin II joyfully reflected on the enthusiastic reception he received from the Armenian community of Istanbul, as expression of their love and devotion to the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

His Holiness stated, "Glory and thanksgiving to God. We return from our pontifical visit to our sons and daughters in Constantinople with a content heart. Our soul was filled with joy to personally see and meet our faithful children, their enthusiastic devoted faith, and their patriotic spirit. We communed with 600 years of history and treasures of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople."

The Pontiff of All Armenians stated with contentment that the Armenian community of Istanbul, a community that lives, breathes and speaks Armenian, is active today with a vibrant national life. The community has 39 churches, 17 Armenian schools and many institutions, the largest of which is the Holy All-Savior National Hospital. His Holiness also fondly recalled his meetings with Armenian intellectuals and youth of Istanbul.

As the visit of His Holiness was widely covered by the Armenian and Turkish press and media in Turkey, His Holiness spoke of the press conference convened in Istanbul on Sunday, June 25, following the Pontifical Divine Liturgy, during which the Armenian Genocide was discussed. (The full text of the press conference will be available tomorrow on the website of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, www.armenianchurch.org). In reply to the concerns about the prospect that His Holiness’ statements on the Armenian Genocide could negatively affect the attitude of the Turkish authorities towards the Armenians of Turkey, the Catholicos stated, "We do not believe that our thoughts and words can affect the attitude of the authorities towards our Armenians in Istanbul, because we never expressed hatred or enmity, we simply stated the reality and the truth. Taking into account the process of democratization, which the Turkish authorities desire to achieve in their country, we also do not believe that extremist nationalistic forces will succeed in sowing hatred and enmity toward the Armenians or other minorities living in Turkey."

His Holiness continued, stating that as many countries have recognized the Genocide of the Armenians, so too must Turkey recognize the Genocide, for which there exists no need for deliberations.

Regarding the protests that had been organized in Istanbul during his visit, noting that the Turkish authorities characterized them as the "actions of extremist groups", His Holiness emphasized that in no way did they diminish his impressions from the trip. Due to the unprecedented security measures which were implemented, they did not obstruct the activities of the Pontifical Visit and generally remained unnoticed by the delegation.

Just before daybreak in Holy Etchmiadzin, as His Holiness concluded his remarks, he once again expressed his appreciation to the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople and the faithful people of Istanbul for the warm reception, and offered his prayers for the stability and vibrancy of the Armenian Patriarchate. The Pontiff of All Armenians also warmly expressed his thanks to all those present who had waited all night long to greet him upon his return to Armenia.

[Joseph]

[QUOTE=fatih han]
May you live in fascinating times and meet interesting people.

[Joseph]

No pig latin!

And all that writing too!

[Gavur]

This is what Im talking about a specimen of Islamofascist that the state has nurtured.They are really insincere about both religion and nationalism because their extreemism really nullifyes both concepts .They are another bunch of nobodus used by outside forces looking for an identity and dying for a false identity,I wish all Turks were like them unfortunatly for us they are not.
Theres a saying better to have a smart enemy then a dumb friend,Well Turks you are paying for your forefathers sins one way or another ,what else can I say.

[imported_RUDO]

Armenian Catholicos Karekin Investigated(Turkish Welcome)

Armenian Catholicos Karekin Investigated
By Cihan News Agency
Published: Thursday, June 29, 2006


An investigation has been launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecution Office into the world leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II, following claims that he 'denigrated Turkishness' in remarks made during his recent visit to Istanbul.

A complaint was lodged at the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecution Office by both Recep Akkus and the strongly-nationalist Turkish Lawyers Union.

The Istanbul Prosecution Office has opened an investigation into the matter.

Catholicos Karekin-II stated last Sunday evening at a press conference at the Turkish Armenian Patriarchate in the Kumkapi quarter in Istanbul that Turkey must recognize the Armenian claims of genocide during the final years of the Ottoman Empire.

In his remarks Sunday, the Armenian Catholicos expressed his wishes for more progress in Turkish-Armenian relations.

Remarking that the issue of genocide had been debated by researchers for 90 years, Karekin-II said: "For our people it is not a subject for research. It is an event that took place and it must be recognized." He said that the genocide issue was one of the problems that had to be solved for the normalization of relations between the two countries.

Armenian Catholicos Karekin arrived in Istanbul on Tuesday of last week as the guest of Turkey's Armenian Patriarchate Mesrob II and the Fener Greek Orthodox Partriarchate Bartholomeos. He has since left Turkey for Armenia.

The fate of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire during WWI and after is still a sensitive issue in Turkey.

Armenians claim that 1.5 million Armenians living under the Ottoman Empire were killed as part of an intentional and systematic genocide campaign during World War I.

Turkey denies the allegations that 200,000 Armenians died during forced migrations due to cold weather and bad transportation conditions.