July 7-Feast of Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ

On June 7, at 11.00-17.00-in Lovers' Park will host "Vardavar 2013" event, which aims to revive  popular  holiday  for  national customs and  traditions.

  The Feast  of the Transfiguration of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is one of the  five  main «Tabernacle»  feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Church.  It  commemorates the transformation  or the «transfiguration» that  came  over Jesus  while  He  was praying.  Christ's face  shone  like  the sun and his clothes became  a radiant  and gleaming  white.    The Apostles  Peter, James  and john  witnessed  the  event, which  occurred  on a high  mountain named  Tabor.

  Evangelists  St. Matthew,  St. Mark  and  St.  Luke  testify  about  the transfiguration  of Jesus  in the Gospels  (Matthew  17:1-13; mark 9:1-12,  Luke  9:28-36).

…  As  they  looked  on, a  change  came  over  Jesus: his  face  was  shining like  the  sun  and  his  clothes  were dazzling  white.  Then  the three disciples  saw  Moses and  Elijah  talking  with  Jesus.  So  peter  spoke up and said to Jesus,  « Lord, how good  it is  that  we  are here! If  you  wish  i  will  make three  tents  here, one  for  you, one  for Moses  and  one  for  Elijah».  While  he was  talking,  a  shining  cloud  came  over  them,  and a voice  from  the  cloud  said, «This  is  my  own  dear  Son,  with  whom I  am  pleased-listen  to  him!» When  the disciples  heard  the  voice,  they  were so terrified  that  they  threw  themselves  face downward  on the ground.  Jesus  came to them  and  touched  them.  «Get  up, «  he said.  « don't  be afraid!»  So  they looked up  and  saw  no one  there but Jesus. (Matthew  17:2-8)

   In the Armenian  church, the Feast of the Transfiguration  of Our Lord Jesus  Christ  is  celebrated  98 days  after Easter.  It  is  a movable  holiday  and  may  occur  during  the period  from  June  28  to August  1.  The Feast  is  also  known  by the common  name of  «Vardavar».  This  day  is  an  ancient  ritual  dating  back  4-5 millennia,  established  by the Forefather Noah,  and is  associated  with  an  old  Armenian  tradition  of  pouring  water on  one  another. On  that  day, Armenians  weave  wreathes  of  colorful  flowers,  especially  red  roses  ( in Armenian  « vard»)  to  decorate  their  temples  and  churches.  They  also  swim  in  rivers  and  release  doves  in  remembrance  of  Noah  and  the  deliverance  from  the  deluge. Just  as  before  the  Feast  of the Holy  Mother's  Transfiguration,  when  people  are  not  allowed  to  eat  grapes,  people  are not  allowed  to  eat  apples, the  tradition  know  as  «Apple  Feast».  In various  regions  of  Armenia  Vardavar  is  celebrated  with  a  variety  of  festivities. According  to the  national  tradition, on  the  night  of  Vardavar,  divine  light  descends  on the  tombs  of  the  saints  and  whoever  witnesses  it  will  have  his  most  sacred  dreams  fulfilled.  Some  sources  attribute the  tradition  as  a remnant  of an Armenian  pre-Christian  celebration. The  Monday  following  the  feast  is a  Memorial  Day.  Masses  are  served in  churches  on that  day  followed  by  liturgical  rituals,  after  which  people  pay  visits to their relatives'  graves.  

           This material has  been  courteously  provided by the press service of the  Ararat Patriarchal  Diocese at       www.qahana.am

The Mystery of the World’s Oldest leather Shoe

Nothing  fits  like an old shoe -- especially if  that shoe walked the  earth  five  thousand five hundred  years  ago.  Researchers in  Armenia found  the world's oldest  leather shoe, and they say it  was in  surprisingly good  condition. Doctoral  student   Diana  Zardaryan of the Institute of Archeology  found  it  in a cave near the  border  with  Iran and Turkey. She said "even the shoe laces  were  preserved."It fact, the  team of archeologists  first  thought  it was about six or seven hundred  years  old.  Then two  laboratories in the United States and  Britain did radiocarbon tests. The  dating  showed it  was four  hundred  years older than the  Stonehenge formation in England -- and a thousand  years older  than  the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.The cool and dry  conditions in the cave  protected the shoe and  other  objects.  So did a  thick,  solid  layer of sheep  dung  covering the floor.  This acted as a seal to  prevent damage.   The shoe was made from a single piece of cowhide.  The researchers  believe the  shoe was shaped to fit the wearer’s right foot.  The shoe is small -- a European size thirty-seven, or a women's size seven in the United States. The  lead  author of the  research  says he does  not know  if the  shoe was made for a  man or a woman. Ron Pinhasi of University College in Cork, Ireland, says it could have fit a man from that time period.  His team also  found  grass  packed  inside the shoe. They say the grass  might  have been  used to keep the  wearer’s foot  warm. Or it  could  have been used to hold  the  shape of the shoe while it was not being worn. The shoe is  similar in  design to "pampooties." These  were  shoes worn on the  Aran Islands, in the  west of  Ireland, until the nineteen  fifties. This kind of shoe appears to have been worn for thousands of years across a large area of Europe and beyond.  The team of  scientists also found large containers of wheat, barley and  apricots in the cave, along  with a broken pot and  sheep's horns. They also found the graves of  children  buried near the back of the cave. They do not know why all  these things were found together in one place.  They do not know  what the  purpose of the cave was. The archeologists published their findings in the online scientific journal PloS One, from the Public Library of Science. They are  continuing their work in Armenia. They say there are many other parts of the cave they have yet to  explore. The oldest footwear of any kind ever found are sandals made of plant material. Scientists believe sandals found in the Arnold Research Cave in the  American state of   Missouri are about seven  thousand  five hundred years old. That makes them  about two  thousand  years  older  than the leather shoe found in Armenia.

Resources:     http://learningenglish.voanews.com/content/the-mystery-of-the-worlds-oldest-leather-shoe-99016799/116739.html

TRIUMPHANT SPRING

                         

   Spring  is the  period  of blossom,  the  time  for  awakening  of nature,  emotions,  dreams, and  specifically  for  Armenians,  a period  of triumphs  and  victories.  Somehow,  through  some  magical  influence,  the  turn  of the  wheel  of  fortune  has  been  bringing   victories  to  Armenians  in May,  and  not  just  victories,  but  significant,  fateful  and  decisive  victories.

 

A LIGHTNING  ROUND  IN HISTORY

 The Battle  of  Avarayr

May  26, 451A.D.

 The  battle  of  Avarayr  took  place  near  the  village  of  Avarayr  between  the  Armenian  forces  and the regular  Persian  army,  at the  peak  of the  national  liberation  movement  of  Armenians  against  Sassanid  Persia.

  The  Armenian  army,  consisting  of the regular  forces  and the  people’s  volunteer  corps,  was  headed  by  Marshal  Vardan  Mamikonian,  who  fell  as a  hero  in the  battle  glorifying  his name  for  centuries.

 An  eyewitness  of the  battle,  the  historian  Yeghise,  wrote  that  the Armenian   army  had  66  thousand  warriors,  whereas  the Persian  military  counted  more  than  200thousand.  Although  the  Armenian  forces,  outnumbered  by the  Persians,  actually  lost  the legendary  battle  of Avarayr,  the  battle    portended  the end  of the Armenian’s  struggle.  Yezdegerd  I  was  compelled   to  call  back  his  army,  abandon  efforts  to  convert  and  assimilate  the  Armenians, and  to  consent  to a  much  higher  level of  autonomy  for  Armenia.

 The  battle  of  Avarayr  thus  became the  first  warfare  in the  history  of  mankind  for the  Christian  faith.  The struggle  of  Vardan  and his  adherents  was a “ war  for  the  faith  and  for the  fatherland”.

The Heroice  Battle  of Sardarapat  may21-29, 1918

 This  heroice  battle  against the  Turks,  in the fields  of Sardarapat, on the  mountain  slopes  of  Bash-Aparan,  and  in the  valleys of  Karakilisse, proved  the  resolve  and the  unberding  will  to live  of the  Armenian  people.  Thanks  to this  victory,  obtained  at  the  price  of  blood,  a new leaf  was  turned in Armenian  history.  The  Armenian  National  Council   declared  the  independence  of the  Democratic  Republic  of  Armenia,  through  which  the  Armenian  people  reclaimed  the  statehood  that  they  had  lost  600 years  prior,  with  the fall  of the Cilician  Armenian   Kingdom  in 1375.

The Great  Patriotic  War May9,  1945

On  May 8 1945  in Carlhorst,  a  Berlin  suburb,  at 22:43 p.m. local   time (in  Moscow  it was already  May 9 ),  World  War  II  was ended  when representatives  of the  allied  Supreme  Commands  signed  the  declaration  of  unconditional  capitulation of  Fascist  Germany,  which  was  at  war  with 54  countries. 

  As  assessed  by the  global  community, the soviet  Union  (to  which  Armenia  belonged)  played  a major  role in the anti-Hitler  alliance. 

  Six  divisions  were formed  by  Armenians  during  World  War  II and  more  than 60thousand  Armenian commanders  directly  participated  in the  management  of  military  operations  on  all  fronts.  Among  them  were  Marshals  Hovhannes  (Ivan ) Baghramian (1897-1982),  Sergey  Khudyakov (Armenak  Khemferiants,  1902-1950),  and  Hamazasp  Babajanian  (1906-1977),  and  Admiral  Ivan  Isakov  (Hovhannes  Isakian,  1894-1967).  Thousands  and  thousands  of Armenian  soldiers  were  rewarded with  medals  and  orders.

Liberation  of  Shoushi  May8-9,1992

Liberation  of  the  town of Shoushi  in  Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh)  was a  historical  inevitability  aimed  at  the  restoration  of the Armenian’s  right  to  live on their  ancient  land,  which  signified a new  phase  in the  heroic  liberation  movement  in  Artsakh.    

 The  military  campaign  for the liberation  of  this  old Armenian  fort was  launched  from  ssout  impeccably  under  the  name of  “Nuptial  in the  Mountains”, was  headed by  commander  Arkady  Ter-Tadevosian,  with  major-general  Gourgen  Dalibaltyan,  Serzh  Sargsyan,  the  chairman  of the  Defense  Committee  of  Karabakh  and the present-day  president  of  Armenia,  and  Felix  Gzoghlian,  the  commander  of the  Defense  Headquarters  of  Karabakh.

  The  night  of  May8 was  highlighted  by  a simultaneous  assault  carried  out  by four 1200-man  self-defense  squads and  one  reserve  group.  The  opponents  were provided the opportunity  to  leave  the  fort through  an  assigned  corridor.  On  the  evening  of the  same  day, the operation  of  freeing  Shoushi  was  completed. The ancient  Armenian  stronghold  was  liberated  on  May 9, 1992.

 

Dorians - Lonely Planet-Armenia 2013 Eurovision

Dorians will represent Armenia at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden with the song ''Lonely Planet ''

This is an incredible song about world peace!

Here is, you can enjoy it

Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ

   The  Feast  of  the Glorious  Resurrection  of  Our  Lord   Jesus  Christ  or  the  Easter  Feast  is one of the  five  major  feasts of   the   Armenian  Church.  The main  origin  of the  feast  is the  following.

  The  king  of  Egypt  didn’t    agree  to allow  the  Hebrews to  travel  into the  desert  to offer  sacrifices  to Lord  the God,  and the  last  punishment  of   God  on the  king  of  Egypt  that should  force  the king to let  the  Hebrews  out  of  the  country  was the  death  of every  first-bom  son and every  first-bom of  all cattle  in Egypt.  In  order to save  the Hebrews  from  that  punishment  the lord spoke  to Moses  and by  means of  Moses  ordered  the  Herbrews  to kill a lamb and   taking  some of some of the  blood  and  put it  on  the  doorposts  and above  the doors  of the houses.  On  the  night  when  He would go through  the land of  Egypt  to kill  every  first-bom  male,  both human  and  animal, He would  see  the blood  on the  doors  and  would  not  let the Angel  of  Death  enter the  house.  He  would  pass  over  and wouldn’t  harm  the  Hebrews  when  punishing  the  Egyptians.  Finally,  after  that  punishment, the  king allowed the  Hebrews  to leave  the  country,  and the Hebrews left  Egypt.  So, mankind   obtained life thanks to the Blood  of  Christ,  the Lamb of  god , in  order  reach  the  Christians’ blessed  land-the  Kingdom  of  Heaven.  

   The Mystery  of  Easter  is the  mystery  of  Jesus  Christ,  His  Salutary  Holy  Blood  shed  for  mankind and  His Rising  from  the dead for  mankind. The  Son of god  should  incamate, be   subjected  to  tortures,  be crucified,  buried  and the  third  day  raise  from  death (Ps  15:9-11,  29:4,  40:11-13,  117:16-17,  Ho  6:2-3).

 Following  the  crucifixion  and death  of Jesus  Christ  body  was  taken  off  the  cross  and placed  into the  tomb  and the entrance  to the  tomb  was  closed  by a  large stone  and the  soldiers  were  ordered  to control the  entrance  to the  tomb. After  three  days  the three women,   who  had  followed  Jesus  from  Galilee,  Mary  Magdalene,  Mary, the  mother of James  and  Joseph,  and  the  wife  of Zebedee  brought  spices    and  perfumes  to  anoint  the  body  of Jesus.  They found  the  stone  rolled  away  from  the  entrance  to the tomb,  so they  went  in but  they  didn’t   the  body  of the  Lord.  They   stood  there puzzled  about  this,  when  suddenly  two  angels  dressed  in  white  appeared  and said  to them.  Why  are  you looking  among  the  dead  for one  who  is alive?  He  is  not  here, he  has  been  raised.  The women  returned  from  the  tomb  and told  all  these  things to the  eleven  disciples  and the rest. According  to  Peter  more  than 500 people  saw Christ  who  had  risen   from  the  dead.  So,  this is the evangelical  tiding  of the  fact  of  Easter  or Holy   Resurrection.

  Resurrection  of Christ  became  the  basis  of the  Christian  doctrine  and   faith.  If  that  is true,  it means  that  Christ  has  been  raised  from  death,  then  we have  nothing  to preach  and you  have  nothing  to believe.

  Christ  rose from the  dead,  by  means  of His  Death  He destroyed  Death  and  granted  etemal  life. I  am  the  Resurrection  and  I am the  Life. Whoever  believes  in me will  live,  even  though  he  dies:  and  whoever  lives  and  believes  in me will  never  die.

  Christ  died  for the  salvation   of mankind  any  by  His  blood  took  away the sin the  world,  so that we should  inherit  etemal  life.

  On  the day  of the Easter  feast  people  dye  eggs  red  as a symbol  of fruitful  life ,  salvation  and joy.  St. Gregory  of  Datev  considers  the  egg  to  be  the symbol  of the  world,  the  shell of  which  is the sky, the  membrane  is  the   air,  the  white  is the  water and the  yolk  is the earth.  Dyeing   eggs  red  symbolizes  the salvation  of the world  by  means of   Blood  of  Christ.

  The Armenian  Church  celebrates  the  Easter  Feast  on the  first   Sunday  following  the  full  moon  of the  veal  equinox,  with 35  days  move ability,  during  the period  from  March 21 April26.

  The  Armenian  Church  traditionally  celebrates  evening  Divine  Liturgy  on  the evening  prior  to Jesus Christ's  Glorious  Resurrection  (Easter).  Following  the conclusion  of the Liturgy,  the assembled  faithful  take  lit  candles  home,  symbolizing  the  Light  that  Christ  brought  into  the   world.  The  Liturgy  celebrated  on the  eve  is the start  of the  festive  ceremonies.  On  Sunday,  the  day of  the  feast,  a  morning  service  is  conducted  the  Andastan  Service  is performed  wherein  the  four  comers  of the  world   are  blessed,  afterwards  the  Divine  Liturgy  is  celebrated.  That  day  the  faithful  welcome  each  other  occasion  of  the  Glorious  Resurrection  of  Christ  conveying  the  great  tiding:  Christ  is Risen  from the  dead  and receive  the answer. Blessed  is  the   Resurrection  of  Christ.

  Fifty-day  period  beginning  from  the Easter  Feast  the Holy  feast  of the glorious  Resurrection  of  Our Lord Jesus Christ-and lasting  till  Pentecost  in the Holy  Armenian Apostolic  Church  is  called  Hinounk  or  Hainan’s period  is dedicated  to the mystery  of   Resurrection  of the Lord,  and that  is why  it is Dominical  period.

   The name   Hinounk  comes  from  the word  hisuonk (fifty). The  first  forty  day  the  period  are  dedicated  to the  appearing of  Rosen   Christ . For  forty  days  after  his  death  he appeared  to them  many  times  in ways  that proved  beyond  that he  was alive.  They  saw  him,  and he  talked  with them about  the Kingdom  of  God( Ac 1:3) .

  The  last ten  days of the  Hinants period  are dedicated  to the  ascension  of Christ.

 Hianats  period  is concluded  with  the Feast of  Ascension.  According  to the  Church  laws  there are  no  fasting  days  during  all  fifty days  of   Hinants  period,  which  means that all  people  can eat everything  during that  period.

 This material has  been  courteously  provided by the press service of the  Ararat Patriarchal  Diocese at       www.qahana.am

Hotels in Dubai

    

   The Palm

  The Palm  Islands,  also  referred  to as  The  Palm  Dubai  and The Palms,  are the  three  largest  man-made  islands  in the  world,  which  are being  built  on the  coast of the  emirate  of  Dubai,  in  the United  Arad  Emirates (UAE).  Its  concept  was  announced  in May  2002  and  the three  resort  islands are  expected  to  maintain  Dubai’s  position  as  a  premium  tourist  destination.  The  Palm  Islands  is  also  the  self-declared  “ Eighth  Wonder  of the  World”.

  Each  of  the islands ( Palm  Jumeirah,  Palm  Jebel  Ali,  and Palm Deira) are  being  built  in  the  shape  of  a  date  palm  tree  and  consist  of  a trunk,  a  crown  with  fronds,  and  are  surrounded  by a crescent  island  that  acts as a breakwater.  The  island will  support  luxury  hotels,  freehold  residential  villas,  unique  water  homes,  shoreline  apartments,  marinas,  water  theme  parks,  restaurants,  shopping malls,  sports  facilities,  health  spas,  cinemas  and  various  diving  sites.

 The World

 3000 islands,  300 opportunities:  nothing  in Dubai  is   impossible  and  this  was once  again  confirmed  when  the  Nakheel  Corporation  today  unveiled  concept  plans  to  construct  another offshore island  development  just  of  the  coast  of Dubai.  Conceived  by  His Highness  Shelikh  Mohammed  Bin Rashid  Al Maktoum,  the  development  is called  “ The World” and  will  consist  of a series of 200 islands,  positioned  strategically to form the shape of the world map.

“The  development  will  be positioned 5  kilometers off  the coast of Dubai.  It will  be 5.5 kilometers in length  and  width,  and will  cover 60 million  square  feet, including 10 million square  feet  of beach”,  said  Sultan  Ahmed Bin Sulayem,  Executive  Chairman,  Nakheel.

 Further  commenting  on the project Sulayem  said, “The  World”  is set to be the most exclusive and  private  water retreat  available  in  Dubai. It will  provide  an  intruding  and one of a kind haven for investors  looking  for  exclusive and world-class real  estate  opportunity.

 The 200  islands  will  vary  in size and will be themed  to  show some similarities  to the specific country they are representing.

 To ensure the island ambience is maximized  restrictions have  been placed on the height of  developments. A series of waterways, canals  and  lakes  have also been  integrated  into the overall  design.  Considered a first of its kind, this  development  is expected  to  cater  specifically  to the elite  residential  and tourist  market. Access  to the island will  be  entirely  by marine transport only-there  will  be no road access. To protect the development,  two  types of  breakwater will be built  to surround it;  these include an  above water revetment  and a submerged  reef.

 The  first  stages  in construction  of  the islands, know  as  reclamation,  have commenced  in  late 2003  and total  completion  of the project  is forecast for 2008.

 Dubai  over the last few  years  has become the living  embodiment of innovation,  ambition  and forward  thinking.  Much  of this is down to Sheikh  Mohammed’s  influence  and  unshakable  desire to  create  a  contemporary  role for his  country  as a  major world centre  for business, tourism and as a  model  of multi-cultural  living.

  According  to  studies, tourism to Dubai  is  growing  exponentially,  with the current number  of  visitors standing at 5 million due  to  reach 10 million by 2007, and  an incredible 40 million by 2015. 

Hotels in Dubai

   What  Dubai’s  hotels  lack  in subtlety,  they  make  up  for with  marble  fittings,  gold-leaf  fixtures  and  other nouveaux  riches  trappings.  The city’s  landmark  hotels  can  be  wildly  imaginative,  with a vast  sense  of  scale.  Business  hotels  are either  on the  Creek  or on the main  business  roads (Sheikh  Zayed  Road,  Creek  Road  (Deira  side),  Bank  Street  and Umm  Suqeim  Beach Road.)  The resorts on Beach Road  are  convenient for Dubai  Media and  Internet  City.  Note  that  finding  anything  decent  with  fewer  than  four  stars  can  be a  problem.  Prostitution  is  rife in  certain  hotels.  During  the height  of the  tourist  season  (November  to  April),  hotel  vacancies  are  scarce.  In summer  (mid-May  to  mid –September),  rates  drop by up to  half.

BURJ  AL  ARAB 

 The Burj  Al  Arab  is Dubai’s  most  famous  landmark.  The minimalist  white  structure,  which  resembles  a billowing  sail,  stands  on  its  own  island 280 meters  offshore.  No-one is  saying how  much  it cost to  build,  but  most  hoteliers in Dubai  are  convinced  it  will  never make  money rather,  it  pays  for  itself  by  creating  a potent  marketing  symbol  for Dubai.  This  public  relations  strategy  has,  however,  begun  inauspiciously:   in  Dubai  the  hotel  is  affectionately  known  as the  “giant  cockroach”,  thanks  to its  shell-like  exterior.

  If   you  like  golden  fountains,  mirrors on ceilings,  fawning  staff  and an ooze of opulence,  you  will  be in your  element  here.  Guests are met  at the airport  and  chauffeured  to the hotel  in  a white  Rolls  Royce,  then  whisked  to  their  rooms  by  a white gloved,  personal  butler  who  remains  on call  24  hours  a day.  Adding  yet  more  drama,  the  escalators  are  flanked  by  two  gigantic  fish  tanks.  Don’t  be  surprised to  see  scuba  divers  inside  cleaning  the  glass.    Some  guests  may  feel  a  bit  cut  off  at the  Burj.  In the  hushed  lobby,  staff  tiptoe  about,  and  gawking  tourists must  pay  an  entrance  fee just  to  step  inside.  There is  no  beach though the staff  can  drive  you to the nearby  Jumeirah  Beach  Resort  in a   golf  cart.  Not  everyone  will  want to stay  at  this  kind  of hotel,  but it is an interesting place to  visit.  The   view  from  the Al  Muntaha  restaurant  on the  top  floor is one  of the best you will  get in Dubai,  with  food  to  match.  Most  of  Dubai’s  buffets  offer  mass-produced  food  that  has  been  congealing  in  hotplates for hours in end.   At  the  Burj,  think  pan-fried  foe  grass,  seven  different  types  of  caviar,  and Kobe  beef  carved  at  your  table.  Not  bad for Dhs300(&80)  without  wine.

THE  RITZ-CARLTON  DUBAI

Arguable  Dubai’s  best-loved  hotel,  the  Ritz-Carlton  flies  in the face  of the  city’s  hospitality  norms.  While  most hoteliers  here  wage an  endless  war  to build  the  biggest,  brashest  properties  imaginable,  this hotel  is subtle  and understated,  With  just 138  rooms , a  friendly  and knowledgeable staff,  afternoon  tea  and butler  service,  it has a charm  and  intimacy  that  would  befuddle  its more  celebrated  rivals.  Instead  of  hiring  as  many  cheap  Asian  staff  as  budgets  will  stretch  to,  training  them  in  basic  English  and  putting  them on  a  crash  course  in emptying  ashtrays,  the  Ritz- Carlton  employs at  least a handful  of  staff with whom you can  have  an  instructive conversation about food and drink. The  hotel’s  sommelier, for example,  keeps  a fine cellar, which  he is happy to discuss at  length, particularly  when  hosting a regular  wine-tasting evening. The  hotel  also boasts the  prettiest  gardens on Jumeirah  beach.