Jihadists Destroy Armenian Cathedral of Aleppo

The Cathedral of the 40 Martyrs, Destroyed
on April 28th, 2015 

(Beirut) "Just in time" for the 100th anniversary of the genocide of the Armenians, jihadists destroyed the Armenian Cathedral of Aleppo. Ignatius Joseph III. Younan, Patriarch of the  Syrian Catholic Church of Antioch in union with Rome, speaks of a "tragedy in Aleppo", the second largest city of Syria. On April 28, the city was bombarded by Islamist militias. Here also, the Cathedral of the Forty Martyrs  of the Armenian Apostolic Church was destroyed.

The cathedral in the Christian district Jdeydeh is dedicated to the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. It was built in 1429 in front of a smaller predecessor. In its present form, it was enlarged 1499/1500. She is one of the oldest churches in the Armenian diaspora and the old city of Aleppo.

The patriarch spoke of his visitations in twelve Syrian parishes. In all he had found a precarious situation, but above all the desire of Christians and Muslims, "that the slaughter come to an end as soon as possible".

"West Does not Want to Understand Real Problem"

The bell tower of the cathedral before destruction

In Syria there is an incumbent, internationally recognized government, "which can not be put on the same footing as the rebels," said the Patriarch to the daily newspaper Avvenire. "But the West, particularly the United States, France and Great Britain, do not want to understand the real problem: that the Sunni majority does not accept the various minorities."

The West must seriously ask themselves whether or not to put an end to this tragedy, said the Patriarch. "If we really want, then the flow of arms must stop. In addition, the borders must be controlled so that the jihadists who come even from Indonesia and Nigeria can not just to enter the country. Unfortunately, the West also gets its advantage from the war, because some thought to be able to resolve the crisis at least in part, by selling weapons to the fighters. "

Of the Islamic State, the Patriarch said: "I can not discuss the Islamic state. The problem of IS would be solved within a short time if it were not militarily  supported by some countries in the region such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with the tacit approval of the West."

Turkey and Genocide: "Why the Patriarch of Antioch Can Not Reside in This City?"

Magnificent Reliefs of Armenian Religious Art Were Lost

Regarding the Turkish reactions to Pope Francis, who spoke about the genocide of the Armenians, Ignatius Joseph III .Younan said: "Last Sunday we commemorated the tragedy of our Armenian brothers with a Holy Mass who also included  both Catholics and Orthodox Syrians. The genocide took place. If the Turks do not want to acknowledge this, that's their problem. But that's the truth. We need not be afraid of their reaction. We should rather ask: Why is there, in the area of ​​present-day Turkey, where Christianity was represented historically since ancient times, only a population of 50,000 Christians out of 80 million?  Why did none of the five patriarchs of Antioch, three Catholic and two Orthodox headquarter in this city? I myself am the son of refugees. My mother and my father had to leave Turkey when I was a kid. Given certain attitudes we must firmly and decisively remain here."

EU could make great contribution to the solution of the Middle East conflict

Considering the EU the Patriarch added, "I think of the European Union in a particular way. If the EU is united, their cultural identity rediscovered and  not be determined by the United States: Where does that leave Turkey? Unfortunately, the West is often a prisoner of a certain cowardice, which is reflected in a politically correct mentality. In reality, the EU could make a major contribution to solving the Middle East problem."

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: ora pro Siria
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches...
AMDG

Pope Raises Armenian Saint to Doctor of the Church

Catholic Christianity gets a new Doctor of the Church - According to observers, the Pope's decision of Gregory of Narek could be made in the context of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.

Vatican City (kath.net/KNA) In the anniversary year for Armenians, Catholics worldwide will receive an Armenian Doctor of the Church. Pope Francis has confirmed this weekend the raising of St. Gregory of Narek as a "Doctor of the Universal Church", as the Vatican announced on Monday. It will follow shortly. The Armenian monk, mystic and writer, was born in 950 in Armenian Andzevatsik in the former kingdom of Vaspurakan. He died around 1005 in Narek. Both towns are located in eastern Anatolia in modern Turkey.

The Holy Catholic Church, honors Saints who make significant contributions for the Doctrine of the Faith. In total there are 35 Church doctors so far. From the German-speaking comes Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179), Albertus Magnus (1200-1280 to) and the Jesuit, Peter Canisius (1521-1597).

Christians world wide will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. According to observers, the Pope could be making this decision on Gregory of Narek in this context. As part of the commemoration of the genocide, the victims of the 1915 massacres in the former Ottoman Empire will be canonized by the leadership of the Armenian Apostolic Church on 24 April in Etchmiadzin. Pope Francis wants on April 12 to celebrate a memorial service in the Armenian rite in St. Peter's Basilica with the Armenian Catholic bishops.

Gregory's life fell into a more peaceful era in Armenia shortly before the Turkish and Mongol invasions, when the country experienced a golden age in literature, painting architecture and theology. Gregor's father Khosrov was later bishop and author of the first commentary on the Divine Liturgy of the Armenian Church, his mother Anania Vartabed, who died young, was abbess of the convent of Narek. Like his two brothers, Gregory was already a monk in early adolescence and at 25 ordained to priesthood. He taught at the convent school of Narekavank at Narek and wrote major writings on music, astronomy, geometry, mathematics, literature and theology. Gregory's letters, liturgical chants, songs and sermons were also widely spread. Many prayers written by him have been included in the Armenian Rite of Mass.

A masterpiece of the mystic is considered to be the book of Lamentations, a well-known also as "Narek" collection of 95 prayers, each of which bears the title "Talk to God from the depths of the heart." They are read today by faithful Armenians.

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Kath.net...
AMDG

Kasab The City of the Armenians is Liberated --- All Churches Destroyed by the Islamists

(Damascus) On the 14th and 15th of June the Syrian army regained control of Kasab.  The city, inhabited by Armenians city in northwestern Syria, is less than three kilometers from the Turkish border and 17 kilometers from the Mediterranean. It had been captured in March by anti-Assad rebels.

 As the Armenian Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Catholic Tarmouni explained,   the advancing Syrian soldiers provided a picture of devastation. Alle Kirchen der Stadt wurden von den Islamisten zerstört. All the churches of the city were destroyed by the Islamists.   The crosses were torn from the churches, the icons damaged or burned, statues smashed.  The churches were burned down and the walls smeared with Islamist slogans and the Koranic suras.

 The reclaiming of Kasab  was attended by the regular Syrian associations, self-defense units formed by Syrian Armenians in part and associations of the Shiite Hezbollah from Lebanon.

 Islamists Systematically Destroyed Christian Symbols

  Desecrated icons of Kasab

 On March 21, the attack of the Islamists had begun. Particularly active was   the Al-Qaida Salafist associated Al-Nusra Brigade. The Islamists moved from the border mountains of Turkey into the city.  More than 700 families were evacuated from the city. What remained were units of the Syrian army and the young Armenian men who formed a self-defense militia to defend the churches of the town.  After heavy fighting, however, they had to retreat before the overwhelming power of the Islamists. Now they have returned to their liberated city.

  The Armenian Catholic Patriarch called on the refugee population to return to Kasab and participate in the reconstruction of the city.  The Armenians of Kasab are mainly engaged in agriculture. The city has a symbolic character for the Armenians.   Since 1915 they have had  been expelled by the Turks in the great genocide of Cilicia, and Kasab is the last Armenian enclave of this area.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi  
 Picture: Ora per Siria
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches...
AMGD

Syria: Islamists Descend on Christian Town

About 80 dead - 670 families from Kasab fled to the port city of Latakia Kasab (kath.net / idea ) In north-west Syria, Islamist rebels have attacked the predominantly Christian town of Kasab. The reports are from the Christian Hilfsbund (Bad Homburg) working there in the Orient, citing eyewitnesses. As the director of federal assistance, Andreas Baumann, the Protestant news agency 'idea' said it has so far the area on the Syrian-Turkish border has been relatively quiet and safe. In the 3500 population city and twelve surrounding villages, there live mainly Christian Armenians. Even Armenian refugees from the city of Aleppo and other parts of the country have sought refuge there from the fighting. On 21 March an offensive had been launched by the Islamists. 670 Christian families then fled or were evacuated by the Syrian military - more than 60 kilometers south from the port city of Latakia. They lived there with relatives or in churches. Partner organizations of Christian auxiliary Federal supplied them with food.

Turkey Syrian Shoots Down Syrian Jet.

Baumann showed himself very concerned about the development. Government troops had tried in vain to repel the insurgents. So far, 80 people have been killed. Rebels had beheaded 13 Armenians. In the fighting, the Turkish military had shot down a Syrian fighter aircraft, according to the media reports it had penetrated Turkish airspace. According to Baumann it is believed that the rebels had advanced from Turkish soil to Kasab. The place is located just three kilometers from the Turkish border. Meanwhile, Latakia was being attacked with rockets, Baumann said. The Armenians are considered as the oldest Christian nation in the world. During the First World War they were the victims of genocide by the then Ottoman Empire, now Turkey. He noted an estimated 300,000 to 1.5 million Armenians fell victim. Turkey denies this genocide. Of the 21 million inhabitants of Syria, 90 percent are Muslim and 6.3 percent Christian, of which three percent are Catholics and Orthodox, plus small groups of Protestants before the Civil War. The rest of the population consists of non-religious people or followers of other religions. The Christians enjoyed relative freedom of belief under the regime of President Bashar al-Assad; they are hunted by the insurgents as his allies.

  Link to kath.net....

 AMGD

Pope Names New Eparch for Armenian Catholics in Canada and US

Editor: An Eparch is a Bishop who rules a particular territory, like a Diocese or an Eparchy. Armenia is the eldest daughter of the Church, the first Land to embrace Catholicism back in the two hundreds, even before the St. Constantine the Great's Edict of Toleration. They say Mass differently but share the Catholic Faith whole and entire.


WASHINGTON — Pope Benedict XVI has named Archpriest Mikaël Mouradian, superior of the Convent of Notre Dame in Bzommar, Lebanon, as the new bishop of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg in New York for Armenian Catholics.

The appointment of Lebanon-born Bishop Mouradian was publicized in Washington, May 21, by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States.

Bishop-designate Mouradian, who succeeds Bishop Manuel Batakian, 81, is a member of the Lebanon-based Institute of the Patriarchal Clergy of Bzommar. Among positions he has held is head of Caritas Armenia.

The New York-based eparchate includes about 25,000 people in the United States and 10,000 in Canada. The largest communities are in Los Angeles and Montreal.

Read at, The Diocese of Lake Charles.

H/t: Doc Frey