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On Sunday 7 September, the Primate with Diocesan and Church Councillors welcomed newly-arrived Syrian-Armenians with their families as they participated in the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Holy Resurrection followed by a reception in the hall.

Some 37 newcomers were warmly addressed by the Primate and the Chairmen of the two Councils, extending a continued hand of support and well-wishes for their settlement in our hospitable country. His Grace Bishop Haigazoun Najarian presented the 12 families with Bibles, encouraging them to remain steadfast in their faith and to the Armenian Church as they embark in this new chapter of their lives in Australia.

As a Sponsoring Community Organisation under the DIBP Community Pilot Scheme as well as providing assistance to families applying under the Refugee/Special Humanitarian program, the Diocese has assisted in the migration of more than 130 displaced Syrian-Armenians with a number of families already relocated in Sydney and Melbourne these past months.

On Friday 11 July, Dr Judith Crispin, Director of Manning Clark House with Dione McAlary will present a talk to the Armenian community about their ongoing project to recreate the Djulfa cemetery from existing photographs as a virtual 3D projection.

The presentation will take place in the Edgarian Hall at 7 p.m. Click on Pamphlet.

In November 2013 Manning Clark House instigated a pilot project to collect photographic and other records of the destroyed Armenian medieval cemetery at Djulfa, Azerbaijan. This pilot aimed to assess the feasibility of a large-scale virtual heritage project to recreate the cemetery as a photogrammetric projection. We have now completed that pilot project.

The historic medieval Armenian Cemetery at Djulfa stood until 2006 in the border area between Iran and Nakhichevan, on a hill divided by three valleys, to the west of the ruined city of Jugha. At its peak it held more than 10,000 khachkars, dating from the 15th to the 17th century, alongside tombstones from the late 6th century – none of these stones remain From 1998 the cemetery was subjected to systematic wilful destruction by military forces and, between 2005 and 2006, was definitively destroyed. The Armenian Government took numerous steps to alert the international community to the destruction of cultural heritage at Djulfa, including official approaches to UNESCO.

In 2006 documentation was submitted to UNESCO by an international parliamentary delegation representing Switzerland, France, Greece, Canada, the United Kingdom, Belgium and Scotland. This documentation urged UNESCO to condemn in no uncertain terms the destruction of the cultural sites at Jugha, including the medieval cemetery. The document notes that “given the impossibility of any reconstruction of the destroyed site and its khachkars – now literally pulverised – and in consideration of the fact that under the surface there are still the buried bodies of people to whose memory the former khachkars had been erected, we suggest to transform this gross act of out-spoken hatred into a positive step towards confidence-building and reconciliation.”

It is in the spirit of such a positive transformation that Manning Clark House has begun this project to recover the now-destroyed Djulfa cemetery.

In celebration of the month of October, dedicated to the Holy Translators and the founding of the Armenian Alphabet, the Sunday School hosted a Children’s Art Exhibition with contributions of artwork from students of AGBU Alexander School and Galstaun College. The artwork was on display for two sessions on 19-20 October with an opening celebration held on Saturday evening in the presence of the Primate. The exhibition attracted more than 75 creative entries and prizes were awarded to three ‘Choice’ categories: Primate, People and Teachers’.

On Saturday 19 October, students and teachers of the Hamazkaine Tarkmanchadz Saturday School spent the afternoon at the Church of Holy Resurrection learning about our Church and the importance of faith life.

Click on the link for more on these youth happenings in our Church during the month of October .

It has now become a regular event for students of AGBU Alexander School to host the coffee and tea service after church on the last Sunday of each month. Under the guidance and supervision of their teacher, Mrs Seta Keoshgerian, the students offer our parishioners an array of delectable cakes and sweets with their bright and cheerful smiles.

It is uplifting to see such enthusiastic and high-spirited youth so diligent in community service. The joy on their faces is reciprocated by the appreciation of everyone who takes part in this time of fellowship.

A number of AGBU students, past and present, are also members of the Church’s Karasoun Mangounk Children’s Choir who partake in the Divine Liturgy consistently each month.  So it is encouraging to have dedicated families who uphold traditional values and instil the importance of church life in the next generation.

Photo: Students enjoy the opportunity of an intimate chat with His Grace Bishop Haigazoun Najarian

On Friday 26 July, a casual evening of fellowship brought together the servants of our Church in a warm atmosphere in the Edgarian hall created with the theme of Christmas in July. The purpose of such occasions is to strengthen the bonds among those who serve closely and passionately in our sacred Church.

Bishop Najarian presided over the evening enlightening everyone with a message on the celebrations of Christmas both in the universal church and the Armenian Church. As the spirit of Christmas is the expression of love, it should be celebrated not only on the nominated church calendar dates but every day of the year. With four official dates prescribed – 25 December, 6 January (Eastern Christianity), 7 January (Gregorian calendar), 19 January (Julian calendar) – Christmas in July has now become a fifth notable occasion for celebration in Australia. The evening was filled with great joy and high spirits as everyone joined in carol singing, games and lively discussions.

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