Social

Ambassador of Children in Armenia

Mario Matus came to Armenia as a result of circumstances: his wife got an assignment of Ambassador of Brazil to Armenia. By the councel of one of his friends, Mario Matus visited Kharberd Specialised Orphanage, came to understand the issues children face and started seeking solutions. Owing to his efforts, many of the children can now talk, see, move independently, and they even learnt reading and writing. “This state that the children are in, is not because they chose to be, but they are there by a twist of fate. Therefore, we should do everything possible and impossible to improve their lives”.

The Danger: So Close, So Far

Labor migration keeps to be the main subsistence for a vast number of Armenian families since the indepence of Armenia. Basically men from 22 to 55 leave to work in another country. It's them and their families that become vulnerable for HIV....
The heroes of the film are real people with their real stories. How and why did their fate change, what did in their lives change after the detection of HIV, was there a chance to avoid it....
The film also provides HIV-related statistics in Armenia. The film is produced with the financial support of World Vision Armenia and the European Union.

Counterpoint

The film is a distant conversation between two believers. Members of Armenian Church, well-known artists Daniel Yerazhisht and Michael Mkrtchyan, present their substantially different perceptions and approaches on the issue of religious tolerance. The video has been produced with the scope of the project "Promoting Religious Tolerance in Armenia".

Nazarians

Nazar and Artemis Nazarians bear the honorable name of National philanthropists. For decades, Nazarian family stood beside the Armenian Church, contributed to the community, educational and social program of Armenia and Diaspora, served as the advocate and propagator of preservation of the Armenian identity. One of the major programs in Armenia was the construction of the Chancellery of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the YSMU Radiology Center, and new AGBU office. The undertakings of Nazarians were highly appreciated by the Presidents of independent Armenia, spiritual leaders. Charity is the expression of genuine Christian faith and spirit. It is this idea that guides the noble family of Nazarians. His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians makes a speech of appreciation in the film about Nazarians. The participants include also Ashot Ghazarian, Director of AGBU (1991-2011), Bishop Arshak Khachatrian, Mother See Chancellor, Father Partev Barseghian, Mother See Vice Chancellor, Marina Movsesyan, radiologist in YSMU Radiology Center, Vasken Yacoubian, Central Board member of AGBU, as well as Nazar and Artemis Nazarians and their grandson - Mathew Nazarian.

Support to Syrian Armenians

The war which broke in March, 2011, shattered the normal lives of Armenians too, living in Syria. Around 70 thousand Armenians reside in Syria, or used to reside, before the break of civil war. Approximately 7000 Syrian Armenians immigrated to Armenia for the last year, of which over 90% found shelter in Yerevan. Most of them needed house, food, essential supplies, education and job. In response to the needs of immigrants, the World Council of Churches, Inter-Church Round Table Foundation of Armenia initiated "Rapid Support to Syrian Refugees in Armenia" project. The film tells about the program implemented with the support of "Action by Churches Together for Development" Act Alliance.
Participants:
Ruzanna Danielyan, a refugee from Syria
Karen Nazaryan, Executive Director of WCC Inter-Church Round Table Foundation Armenia
Fr. Grigor Grigorian, officer for Rapid Response
Deacon Raffi Guyumjian, Volunteer of Rapid Response
Ani Melkonyan, a refugee from Syria

Golden Apricot 2012

In 2012, July 8-15, the 9th Golden Apricot International Film Festival was held in Yerevan. There were exceedingly high number of applications submitted for the festival this year -- over 1200 from 70 countries. The main highlight of the Golden Apricot this year was the award presented by the Armenian Apostolic Church. For the first time in the history of the international "Golden Apricot" Film Festival an award has been presented by the Armenian Apostolic Church. As suggested by the Pontiff, it was titled "Yeghitsi Luys" (Let there be Light) and will be presented to those having significant investment in the world film art for propagating spiritual, cultural and human values. Harutyun Khachatryan, the founder-director of Golden Apricot film festival, Peter van Bueren, film critic, Alexander Sokurov, film director, Victor Erice, film director, Agnieszka Holland, film director, Laura Guerra (wife of Tonino Guerra) and Vahram Martirosyan, writer, script-writer talk about the path of the festival and the achievements it made in the international arena.

Power and Honor

It's been over 15 years since we have spiritual servants serving in all military units of Armenia, in compliance with the Agreement signed between the Government of Armenia and Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. It is a common knowledge that often inter-personal relationships get tense in the Armed Forces and the soldiers have difficulties in adapting to new environment. The priests serving in the Army help them overcome the hardships of army life. They teach History of Armenian Church and organize pilgrimages. The number of soldiers baptized in the Army is big, where they were introduced to and participated in the Feasts of Armenian Church.

Condemnation. part 2

What are the consequences of condemnation? Self-examination, forgiveness, penitence and conversion... How does the assessment of personal mistakes affect one's inner world, can the condemnation become a means of self-improvement? The issues are discussed by the clergy, lawyers and public figures:
Rev. Fr. Ruben Zargaryan, Chaplain of RA Criminal-Execution Institutions, Fr. Zacheos Ohanian, a priest of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Gevorg Danielyan, Doctor of Law, Professor, Ashot Bleyan, Headmaster of "Mkhitar Sebastatsi" EduComplex, Tatevik Khachatryan, Advisor to the Human Rights Defender

Condemnation. part 1

What is condemnation, what is the borderline between the condemnable or non condemnable acts? Who are the judges? How is judgment expressed in individual and pubic life? What values do the relations between the judicial system and citizen rely on? The issues are discussed by the clergy, lawyers and public figures:
Rev. Fr. Ruben Zargaryan, Chaplain of RA Criminal-Execution Institutions, Fr. Zacheos Ohanian, a priest of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Gevorg Danielyan, Doctor of Law, Professor, Ashot Bleyan, Headmaster of "Mkhitar Sebastatsi" EduComplex, Tatevik Khachatryan, Advisor to the Human Rights Defender

Clinical Death

It is accepted to think that death is the termination of vital functions of live body. In the borderline of life and death, there is a condition called clinical death. Only in rare cases one returns from death to life. The desciption of people who experienced clinical death are almost the same: dark tunnel, white shimmering light, meeting with the dead…

Doctor Artur Hakobyan experienced clinical death and remembers every single detail of those fantastic feelings he had for just a few minutes.

Father Kyuregh Talyan is convinced that death would have been terrible had we not the hope of resurrection.