Posted on 17 September 2003
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Archbishop Goriun Babian, Catholicosal Vicar of the Diocese of Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, arrives Dubai today for a one week visit to the Armenian Communities in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
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The program of the visit was not announced, but it traditionally involves some prominent Community leaders, who will be briefing His Eminence about the activities of the Armenians living in the UAE.
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Speaking about Abu Dhabi, it has been noticed that the number of Armenian cultural, social and commemorative events taking place in the city has sharply dropped from 22 events during 2001 and 14 events during 2002, to a merely 5 (five) events from January to September 2003.
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Armenian Ladies and Youth Associations have not held any functions for more than one year, the number of children attending the ?Sunday School? has been reduced to?less than the half. Furthermore, schoolchildren attending the Armenian weekly School show very low interest (even they express dislike), the UAE Armenians bimonthly periodical (called Shepor) has ceased to exist without even printing a farewell issue. These are just a few of the many remarks.
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Some believe that the visit of the Archbishop might bring changes and new spirit to the Community. Others say that the above figures about the annual Armenian events are misguiding, because the slowdown of the Armenian activities was affected, like anything else in this region, by the war in Iraq. There are also people who are not interested to discuss such issues, because even if there were 50 Armenian events per year, the frequency of their attendance will remain the same (sometimes below the zero).
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Notes:
Archbishop Goriun Babian is a known scholar. His latest book, has the following title: ?THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE ARMENIAN AND GEORGIAN CHURCHES, According to the Armenian sources, 300-610?, published in Antelias, 2001, by Kevork Melidinetsi?Literary award and devoted to the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as state religion in Armenia (301-2001).
Archbishop Goriun Babian is a known scholar. His latest book, has the following title: ?THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE ARMENIAN AND GEORGIAN CHURCHES, According to the Armenian sources, 300-610?, published in Antelias, 2001, by Kevork Melidinetsi?Literary award and devoted to the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as state religion in Armenia (301-2001).
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His Eminence?s address is as follows:
DIOCESE OF KUWAIT AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
ARMENIAN PRELACY
Archbishop Goriun Babian, Catholicosal Vicar
Saint Vartan Church
PO Box 8157
Kuwait
Phone: (+965) 5614392
Fax: (+965) 5638312
E-mail: [email protected]
ARMENIAN PRELACY
Archbishop Goriun Babian, Catholicosal Vicar
Saint Vartan Church
PO Box 8157
Kuwait
Phone: (+965) 5614392
Fax: (+965) 5638312
E-mail: [email protected]
