Cameraman Vram Khanamiryan

Official Baku’s coordinated assault on Armenian culture and the rights of Armenians continues. It was recently revealed that Azerbaijan has appealed to Interpol to include the khachkars (cross-stones) and frescoes of Dadivank in the "Stolen Works of Art" database. An Azerbaijani official has even accused the Armenian side of presenting them as Armenian works of art abroad. Anna Sargsyan speaks with Raffi Kortoshian, co-director of the Research on Armenian Architecture Foundation.

"Encroachments against the Armenian Church will land the Armenian authorities in serious trouble before international bodies. Neither the government nor the parliament can decide who leads—or does not lead—a religious organization, how advancement occurs, or which internal regulations are adopted. Commissioning a report and raising certain issues does not create any legitimate grounds for interfering in these matters or for enacting unconstitutional laws. That sort of thing might happen in neighboring Azerbaijan." — Anna Sargsyan in conversation with Anna Melikyan, a lawyer for the NGO "Protection of Rights without Borders."

Father Ararat Poghosyan and prose writer Hovhannes Yeranyan discussed the Armenian Church’s historical, educational, cultural, and identity-preserving mission in Artsakh—spanning the Soviet era and the reopening of the diocese to the 44-day war and the forced displacement. They addressed the protection of the rights of Artsakh’s people, the return of captives held in Baku, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the Church’s ongoing initiatives, emphasizing that Artsakh—now excluded from the state agenda—is not merely a matter of the past, and that historical justice must be restored.

 

Why does Christ speak about not judging, not condemning, forgiving, and giving? What parable does He tell regarding the blind, the speck, and the log?

Does refraining from judgment and condemnation preclude speaking about sin or offering reproof? How should we act when we see sin in another person? What does it mean to forgive and to deal honestly in our dealings with others? Why do we face such calamities and hardships today?

When do our words become impactful and bring about real change in another person? Who has the right to lead, and what should a true teacher be like? This Gospel passage is expounded by Fr. Markos Mangasaryan.

 

When and how does Moses receive a sign from God, and why does he then begin to raise objections to the Lord? Where was God when an entire people was suffering in slavery, facing the prospect of death?

What is essential in the God-human relationship, and how does God relate to man? When does Moses finally undertake his mission?

The commentary is provided by Bishop Ruben Zargaryan.

On September 19, the newly built Holy Mother of God (Surb Astvatsatsin) Church in the city of Byureghavan (Kotayk Diocese) was consecrated by Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. The church was constructed through the benefaction of Russia-based brothers Mkhitar and Yuri Aroyan, based on a design by architect Edik Poghosyan.

Clergy of the Mother See, diocesan prelates of the Armenian Church, and numerous pilgrims participated in the consecration ceremony.

In his paternal message, the Catholicos of All Armenians emphasized that the Lord’s sanctuaries are built and consecrated through faith, and that the spiritual unity of the faithful is strengthened around them.

On September 17, a court hearing took place at the Etchmiadzin seat of the Armavir Province Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction regarding the criminal case involving Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, as well as two archbishops and four bishops who are members of the Supreme Spiritual Council.

The defense team submitted motions arguing that the criminal prosecution was unconstitutional and unlawful, and emphasizing the Church's constitutional right to autonomy.

The next court hearing was scheduled for October 30 at 3:00 PM.

 

Is the national agenda a concept of political science? Which institutions drive the realization of this agenda? How do persistent injustice and the humiliation of national dignity erode state security from within, and what roles do the elites and the Church play in this hybrid war? Why does Azerbaijan target our historical narratives, and why has the national agenda become a primary prerequisite for preserving statehood today? A conversation between Anna Sargsyan and political scientist Ara Poghosyan.

In the "Taghavar" studio, Reverend Father Ararat Poghosyan and prose writer Hovhannes Yeranyan discussed the losses suffered by the Armenian Church, the preservation of the memory of the Genocide, and the Church's role as a major center for humanitarian aid. They also addressed the massacres of the late 19th century, the significance of the 2015 canonization, and the Church's responsibility regarding the restoration of historical justice.