ANTELIAS—Gagik Tsarukyan, an Armenian businessman and chair of Armenia’s Olympics Committee, recently donated $500,000 to the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia to be used for various projects, including Syrian-Armenian relief efforts, according to the official website of the church.
Tstarukyan, who accepted an invitation by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I to visit the Catholicosate headquarters, arrived in Lebanon on July 24, on his way to Europe.
During their one-hour meeting, the pontiff said that the Great House of Cilicia has had an instrumental role in the pursuit of Armenian demands for justice. Whoever contributes to the strengthening of Armenia and Artsakh, to the realization of the collective dreams of the Armenians, and to the betterment of life for the citizens of Armenia, is a beloved and praiseworthy individual, Aram I said.
Arcbishop Shahan Sarkisian, the prelate of Syria, provided Tsarukyan with an update on the Armenian community in Syria, emphasizing the humanitarian losses the community has sustained. Present at the meetings were also representatives of community organizations.
In thanking the Catholicos, Tsarukyan formally announced his foundation’s donation and presented a large silver cross to the pontiff, who in turn presented Tsarukyan with a copy of the Partsrpert Bible—a limited edition publication.
Thank you Mr.Tsarukian I hear you are helping a lot the Armenian people but I have one recommendation for you and to all other Oligarcs.Instead of building useless million dollar churches please buil factories in Armenia so that the people will have jobs and remain in Armenia,that would be a much better gift to the Armenian people.
Exactly. Or help preserve and reconstruct our ancient churches and monasteries instead of building the new ones. Also, strive to get a bit more cultured so to wear business attire when meeting with the Catholicos.
I agree absolutely with you both 100% ! Re-build our ancient historical churches or give to the Armenian people business to maintain him in Armenia
instead of bringing so much money to build pharaonic new churches – like the one you built in Nor-Hadjin
An Armenian old man living in France.
It is disappointing to see the alliance between Armenia’s criminal and ruling elites and the Armenian Church now extending beyond Armenia’s borders. In the light of this “donation” I expect criticism from the Cilicia Catholicosate against the activities at the Etchmiadzin Catholicosate will quietly cease.
It may be “disappointing “ to you and your pure-as-driving-snow keyboard do-gooders, but $500,000 will save a lot of Syrian-Armenian lives.
So how much money have you and your pure-as-driving-snow keyboard do-gooders donated to the Syrian-Armenian Relief Fund ?
When was the last time you and your pure-as-driving-snow keyboard do-gooders actually _did_ anything other than write accusatory hate-posts ?
{“….. Armenia’s criminal and ruling elites….”}
Do you have any _proof_ of any criminal activity, or the mere accusation from you and your pure-as-driving-snow “J’accuse …!” brigade is enough to send them to the guillotine?