ANTELIAS, Lebanon – A statement published by the Office of Information of the Catholicosate of Cilicia informed the public that the Catholicosate will not attend the inauguration of the Holy Cross Armenian Church. This position differs from the Etchmiadzin Catholicosate that will be sending a low-level two clergy delegation.

In an attempt to convince the European Union and UNESCO that Turkey safeguards the cultural heritage of its occupied lands, the government restored the Holy Cross Armenian Church building, but instead of keeping it as a church, transformed it into a museum, the statement reads. »»»»»

Shahan Arzruni, an accomplished piano virtuoso based in New York, has accepted an invitation to perform at the church services that will take place on September 19 on the island of Akhtamar, Lake Van.

My long-time desire is about to come true. The Turkish Consulate General in New York, with the cooperation of the Van Governor’s Office, the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organized and put together a full-length concert in a most satisfying way,” Arzruni told the Hürriyet Daily News. »»»»»

GLENDALE — Los Angeles County prosecutors now consider vandalism to a stone monument at St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church to be a hate crime.

The vandalism charges filed against 23-year-old Glendale resident Victor Petrescu were amended Thursday to reflect the change roughly one week after he was arrested in front of the church. Witnesses said he used a sledgehammer to smash a stone monument. »»»»»

A 23-year-old man who allegedly used a sledgehammer to smash a religious monument outside St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Glendale has pleaded not guilty to felony vandalism, officials said.

Victor Petrescu of Glendale appeared in court Thursday to answer charges that included felony vandalism of religious property with an enhancement for damages exceeding $50,000, a misdemeanor count of possessing a sledgehammer with the intent to commit vandalism and graffiti, and having a suspended and revoked driver’s license, said Glendale police Sgt. Tom Lorenz. »»»»»

By Muath Freij

AMMAN - The Armenian neighborhood in Ashrafiyeh is one of the oldest areas in modern Amman and a window into the lives of generations of Armenians.

The story of the Kingdom’s Armenian society began 95 years ago, when they first moved from Armenia to Jordan. Between 1915 and 1920, they began settling in different parts of the country such as Maan, Karak, Ruseifa and Amman, according to retired Armenian language teacher Jariar Harutiun. »»»»»

A 23-year-old Glendale man used a sledgehammer to smash a sacred monument outside St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church could face felony vandalism charges, this according to today’s Glendale News-Press.

Victor Petrescu was arrested about 10 a.m. Tuesday after he was seen using a sledgehammer to break off pieces from the church’s monument on the 500 block of South Central Avenue, causing roughly $80,000 in damage, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said. »»»»»

While there are no official statistics, the number of Armenians residing in Belgium today is said to number from 10,000 to 12,000.

Gevorg Minasyan, President of the Federation of Armenian Organization in Belgium and the Chief Editor of the Armenian language Lragir periodical says that the number might even reach 20,000. »»»»»

The following article by Poulomi Banerjee, regarding the situation at the Calcutta Armenian Philanthropic Academy, appeared in today’s edition of The Telegraph of Calcutta.

The unrest at Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy, which was rocked by a students’ agitation and expulsion of two boys last week, seems to have its roots in the past. »»»»»

The RoA Ministry of the Diaspora has announced a series of forums for the fall.

A Pan-Armenian Forum of Artists (painting, sculpture, design, graphic arts, etc.) will be held in Yerevan from September 6 to 7, 2010. »»»»»

The authorities of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy said on Friday two boarders were being sent back home to Armenia. The two led the group of 35 that had gone on hunger strike on Monday to protest the alleged highhandedness of the authorities.

Father Ktrij Devejian, a senior representative of the Armenian Church, told Metro that the poor grades of the two boys and their acts of indiscipline had led to their expulsion. He has been sent by the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II, to look into the matter. »»»»»

According to today’s The Telegraph of Calcutta, students who had gone oon hunger strike at the Armenian Philanthropic Academy to protest the high-handed disciplinary actions of the school’s administration are being sent home to Armenia.

The paper says their number is uncertain. Neither the boys nor the administration were available for comment. The only confirmation was a Facebook post by one of the boys that says: “I hate to tell you, but I am going back to Armenia.” »»»»»

By Matt Porter

KAYSERI, Turkey — Rows of homes that used to be part of Kayseri’s Armenian quarter and housed up to 400 families are now dilapidated and lay empty or are filled with squatters.  The district is a symbol of the tragic history between Armenians and Turks during the last century, a history plagued by animosity and violence. »»»»»

Students at the Calcutta Armenian Philanthropic Academy have ended their two day hunger strike.

A delegation from the Holy See at Etchmiadzin has been dispatched to Calcutta to investigate student claims of abuse and improper conduct on the part of the administration. Apparently, the students have decided to end their protest in light of this development.

Years ago, when the school faced another such crisis, the administrator at the time, Sonia Jon, was removed and Father Ktridj Devechian, the Catholicos’ personal assistant was dispatched to take over. This time too, it is likely that Father Ktridj will be dispatched to the school since according to his Facebook page, he has been urgently been called away on business…to India.

Despite assurances coming from Etchmiadzin to the contrary, the hunger strike at the Calcutta Armenian Philanthropic Academy is continuing.

Students at the school have just contacted Hetq to say that the strike is on and that they are waiting for school administrator Father Khoren to present his proposals as to how students and the administration can work together to create a normal learning environment.