The Georgian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church has been publishing the “Norashen” religious, cultural and news periodical since January, 2006. Now, however, a lacks of funds has placed the editorial staff in a quandary. The sixteenth edition of the periodical is being readied for publication but, given the lack of funds, the staff can’t say for sure whether this issue or subsequent issues will ever see the light of day. “We are preparing this issue so that we complete out the year. You can consider it an act of charity. His Holiness has promised to do something to at least cover the printing expenses. The work for this issue is continuing but things are up in the air at the moment. Even if we choose not to get paid or receive our honoraria the printing costs still won’t be less than $3,500,” worries Ruzanna Gabrielyan, “Norashen’s” Chief Editor. Archbishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, Primate of the Georgian Diocese, says that, “We have gone to several organizations and individual businessmen regarding the sponsorship of the “Norashen” periodical and we are hopeful that we will shortly receive funding in kind.” Archbishop Mirzakhanyan has assured the periodical’s readers that the sixteenth issue will be published in March. However, they still can’t guarantee that future issues of “Norashen” will be published. Currently, the periodical is sponsored by several individual benefactors. Archbishop Mirzakhanyan says, “It goes without saying that there are huge costs associated with the publication of a sixty page color periodical. Naturally, the benefactors, having financial problems, haven’t been able to completely subsidize the periodical or sponsor it for so many years. Nevertheless, we are grateful to all these patrons of the arts.” When asked by “Hetq” if the Mother See of Etchmiadzin provides assistance for the publishing of “Norashen”, Archbishop Mirzakhanyan replied that certain issues of the periodical had been printed at the Etchmiadzin printing house and since the Mother See is allocating huge resources for the restoration of the Holy Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi, the Diocese doesn’t wish to burden the Mother See with new concerns. “Faith in the return of the Norashen Church and its sacred mission hasn’t died out and firmly clutching this torch of faith “Norashen” is called upon to unite us all and to lead us to a joint struggle in the name of peace and the preservation of national identity,” states Archbishop Mirzakhanyan. In his words, the Norashen Church is a symbol of the restoration of historical justice and thus the periodical was given the same name and became an all encompassing symbol of the struggle. The mission statement of “Norashen” is the strengthening of Christian faith, the illumination of church life, broaching of issues of concern to the Diocese and community and the elucidation of theological, historical and cultural matters. In the editorial of the periodical’s premier issue it is written that, “The primary mission of the newly launched periodical Norashen is that it joins the ranks of those cultural resources of the Georgian-Armenian community, to appropriately appreciate the past, to chronicle the present and consequently, build the future.” “Here the only paper that is published is “Vrastan” and it is political. We strive to reflect on history, culture, the actual life of today, but removed from politics. True, you can’t always avoid it, e.g. when it comes to developments surrounding the Holy Norashen Church,” states Ruzanna Gabrielyan. The monthly is bilingual, Armenian and Russian. “The translation of Armenian related issues into Russian is the only means to awaken feelings of devotion and duty towards the Holy Mother See of Etchmiadzin and Mother Armenia in those that don’t know Armenian and who live outside the historic homeland,” Archbishop Mirzakhanyan adds. About $5,000 is spent to publish one issue of “Norashen”. Due to financial problems in 2007 the frequency of the periodical was cut back. During 2006-2007 the periodical came out every two months and once every three months in 2008 at 60 pages per issue with a print run of one thousand. The Chief Editor noted, “We tried to maintain the quality at minimal cost.” Actual printing expenses run about $3,500, the rest being spent on staff, honoraria and editorial costs. Editor Gabrielyan mentions that they also have transportation issues since “Norashen” is printed in Yerevan. It’s not printed in Tbilisi because printing costs there are greater than Yerevan, even though the first three issues were printed in Tbilisi. Staff Secretary Ruzanna Sahakyan explained that, “Since the sponsors came from Yerevan, “Norashen” started to be printed there and then delivered to Tbilisi.” The “Norashen” office in Yerevan has four permanent staff members – editor, secretary, typesetter and copy editor. Three or four reporters work out of the Tbilisi and there are freelance writers as well. The editorial offices are in Yerevan and the basic copy is collected in the Armenian Diocese in Georgia. From there it is sent via the internet to the Yerevan editorial office which is located in the Theological Faculty at Yerevan State University. Articles by Armenian writers and intellectuals residing in Georgia and Armenia appear in the periodical. A portion of the issues of “Norashen” are distributed in Armenian churches and schools in Samtskhe-Javakhk, Kvemo-Kartili, Batumi and Tbilisi. Copies are also distributed to representatives of diplomatic missions, to the government, the Patriarchate of the Georgian Orthodox Church, religious communities and cultural centers in Georgia, important cultural and scientific circles in Armenia, as well to the Holy See of Etchmiadzin and dioceses in Armenia. Articles in the periodical cover the daily life and lifestyle of Tbilisi Armenians and the problems they confront. Under the heading “Famous Georgian Armenians”, one will find articles regarding noteworthy activists in the cultural, political and public spheres or interviews with these personalities. On the cover of each issue are photos are various Armenian churches with an article inside on the particular church chock full of historical and archival tidbits. On the last page of all issues is a sample of a particular Georgian-Armenian artist. This has been an ongoing tradition of “Norashen” for quite some time. In addition to cultural, religious and diocesan news, a substantial portion of the periodical is dedicated to information regarding Armenian Church rituals, ceremonies and holy days, as well as religious-educational advice. Archbishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan declares that the periodical has proved it merit many times over but that its print run of a mere one thousand for a Georgian-Armenian community of three hundred thousand, leaves something to be desired. This is borne out by their steady stream of correspondence to the Tbilisi Diocese and to the Samtskhe-Javakhk Diocesan Vicar. “The Armenian reading public eagerely awaits each new issue of “Norashen”. This is borne out by the steady stream of correspondence we receive both at the Tbilisi Diocese and by the Samtskhe-Javakhk Diocesan Vicar,” declared Archbishop Mirzakhanyan.