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Ethiopian Armenians: Armenian life in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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  • Ethiopian Armenians: Armenian life in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Ethiopian Armenians: Armenian life in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Azad-Hye, Dubai
    May 28 2005

    In the 29th April 2005 issue of "Addis Tribune" (a publication of
    Tambek International, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, established in 1992)
    printed an article by Garbis Krajian, under the title: "Genocide 90
    years ago - and Denial"

    Garbis Kradjian is a graduate of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government
    and a teacher of ethics courses. His current assignment is in Ethiopia
    and Zambia.

    The article was more than a tribute to the memory of the victims
    of the Genocide. It was a blend of memories on personal, communal,
    national and trans-national levels, all intermingled in an interesting
    way. After all, our life is a reflection of the reality within those
    four circles.

    The article begins with the following statement:

    As a form of introduction, I was born in Ethiopia from Armenian
    parents. My family's history in Ethiopia goes back over 150 years.
    >>From my father's side, I am fortunate to trace my genealogy back
    five generations. From my mother's side, I am only able to go back
    as far as my grandfather. Nonetheless!

    I grew up in the Arat Kilo region and still remember many of my
    childhood friends. I became fluent in Amharic [the majority language
    in Ethiopia] and loved doing everything a child would do in our
    neighborhood. Ethiopia became my home country and home to almost all
    Armenians who live in Ethiopia. Right after the fall of the Emperor
    I left Ethiopia for Canada.

    After living abroad for thirty years, I have returned to Ethiopia
    as an educator. Upon my arrival I learned that the once vibrant and
    prosperous Armenian community that numbered around 1,500 has dwindled
    to less than one hundred. The remaining twenty families still run
    the community school, a club and a church.

    On April 24th, like it has been done for the last 90 years, I also
    went to my church to pray for the soul of my ancestors.

    It is estimated that over ten million Armenians and friends in one
    hundred fifty-two countries gathered in churches, community centers,
    and national assembly halls to commemorate the 90th anniversary of
    the Armenian Genocide.

    I was one of sixty Armenians who congregated at St. George (Kevork)
    Armenian Church [in Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia] to pay
    tribute to my ancestors who were victims of the atrocities committed
    by the Turkish Ottoman Empire during the First World War.

    Needless to say, I could not think of being anywhere else in the
    world at this particular moment than this sacred place in Addis which
    is still situated in the same setting where I regularly prayed as a
    child until I was 19 years of age. This was the same site, where every
    year, on April 24th, a thousand or so Armenian-Ethiopians gathered
    to remember their ancestors, the children, and the elderly who were
    slaughtered by the Ottoman Army. In fact, what makes my conviction
    so much stronger is that I am the grandchild of one of the Forty
    Orphans, the "Arba Lijoch," who survived the genocide and escaped to
    Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, these forty orphans were given shelter at
    the Armenian Monastery later to be adopted by Emperor Haile-Selassie.

    The Emperor brought them to Ethiopia, where they made this lovely
    country their home. These forty young men, who were a band had
    impressed the Emperor with their musical skills. Upon their arrival
    to Ethiopia, they were commissioned, under the directorship of Noubar
    Nalbandian, uncle of Nerses Nalbandian, to compose the National Anthem
    of Ethiopia. It remained as the anthem, "Teferi Marsh" or "Ethiopia
    Hoy," until the arrival of the Dergue [military committee formed in
    1974 after the overthrow of Emperor Haile Sellasie].

    Before I move to the topic of my immediate concern, I pay much
    gratitude to all Ethiopians, present and past, for giving the Armenians
    a home for the last 100 years.

    Garbis Krajian then gives a summery of the Genocide explaining why
    Turkey should recognize it.

    He ends the article by borrowing Reverend Martin Luther King's "I
    have a dream" speech:

    I have a dream that one day little Armenian boys and girls will be
    able to join hands with little Turkish boys and girls as sisters
    and brothers without having to bring up the past. I hope one day,
    my daughters Sara and Ani will be able to play with the children of
    my very good Turkish friend Serdar, without even going there...there
    ...there, to the past, a very sad past that is inevitable to surface
    when an Armenian and Turk meet.

    You can reach Garbis Krajian at the following e-mail.

    Complete text available online.

    70th anniversary of St. George (Kevork) Church in Addis Ababa.

    On the 16th January 2005, the Armenian Community in Ethiopia witnessed
    one of its memorable days, the celebration of the 70th anniversary
    of St. George (Kevork) Armenian Apostolic Church of Addis Ababa,
    the capital of Ethiopia.

    The celebration was presided by Archimandrite V. Rev. Fr. Ashot
    Mnatzakanyan (Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church
    of Egypt and all Africa), Rev. Fr. Myron Sarkissian, Pastor of the
    Community (and other nearby countries such as Sudan) attended the
    ceremony. The celebration enjoyed the support of His Holiness Patriarch
    Abouna Paulos, the Head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. This fact
    in itself was a proof of ages old friendly relationship between the
    Oriental Orthodox Churches of both countries: Armenia and Ethiopia.

    Catholicos Aram I helps the Ethiopians of Lebanon build their first
    church.

    Antelias, Lebanon (10 February 2005)- His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos
    of Cilicia, has contributed to the church-building efforts of the
    Ethiopian community of Lebanon. The community will soon construct its
    first church in the Ainaar village, located in Mount Lebanon. The
    land was registered as a property of the Catholicosate of Cilicia
    [donated by a Lebanese Christian benefactor].

    His Holiness Patriarch Abouna Paulos, the Head of the Ethiopian
    Orthodox Church, had visited the Catholicosate two years ago and asked
    Aram I to assist the Ethiopian Community of Lebanon. Upon his request,
    Catholicos Aram I closely followed the religious activities of the
    community during the last two years. The Ethiopian Patriarch's visit
    has paved the way for continual cooperation between the Catholicosate
    of Cilicia and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

    You can reach Rev. Fr. Myron Sarkissian, Pastor of the Community at
    the following e-mail.

    http://www.azad-hye.com/nuke/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=187
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