Video: Armenian Mig 29 Airplanes

Here's a neat little video that documents the Mig 29 airplanes in Russia's 102nd airbase. Not only are they considered by many to be among the best ever, but these airplanes help to safeguard Armenia day in and day out!

Oh yeah, it's in Russian - but you don't have to hear the guy to enjoy the video!

Turkey Refuses Cross on Akhtamar Church

Remember the Holy Cross Church on Akhtamar Island? Sure you do! We've covered it here, here, and here. If that doesn't refresh your memory, on opening day it was the only Armenian church surrounded by Turkish flags. Oh, and there was another problem.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has rejected the proposal of Patriarch of Constantinople Mesrob Mutafyan to hoist a cross on the Holy Cross Church on Akhtamar island.

"There is not a cross even at Hagia Sofia Temple, since it’s a museum. The Church on Akhtamar will also function as a museum and hoisting a cross on its dome would be a wrong step," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

If you look at the links above, it is clear that Turkey is using a historic Armenian church to exploit tourist dollars. The restoration was shoddy and before massive protests, the slated opening date was to be April 24th. And now, they're removed basically all symbols of Armenia and Christianity in the name of it being a museum.

It is clear to anyone with half a brain that Turkey is being anti-Christian and anti-Armenian. Anyone who buys into the "Turks extending an olive branch" argument is either half-brained or just Turkish.

Source: PanArmenian

Armenia to Privatize Historic Structures

This is just great. What's next, the selling of xachkars to the highest bidder?

Courting serious controversy, the Armenian government on Thursday paved the way for the privatization of thousands of old buildings that have been deemed part of the country’s historical and cultural heritage until now.

Yes, this is the correct path to making sure our history is slowly erased, by none other than an irresponsible government and its wealthy cohorts.

Source: ArmeniaLiberty

Really Old Pictures of Armenians

Time to reconnect with our past! Click on each picture to enlarge.



Left to right: Garce Vartanian, Anne Vartanian, Carol Henenian, Alice Horanesian dance at International Day representing Armenia during opening day at Disneyland. 1958.



Shahnazan Keotahian with his sister and nieces at port of Pireus, Greece. The women are repatriating to Armenia. 1947.



Members of the Altoonian and Kazarian families, ca. 1927. Both families came to the U.S. from provinces in historic Armenia in the late 1800s.



Embroidery workshop in Marash, Armenia. The older women teach the younger women (back row). Eglantine Koshkarian is child at far right. Ca. 1925.



Portrait of the Pashigian family, ca. 1918.



Harry (right) and Kerop Chitjian, ca. 1918.



Group photo of the Sisters in Christ Church Ladies Guild, ca. 1910.



Portrait of the Guleseria family. Setrak Guleseria, the small boy standing in front, survived the massacres and was taken by Kurds to be a shepard. Years later he escaped to Aleppo and contacted Near East Relief to get in touch with his father in Philadelphia. Ca. 1910.



Group of Armenian "freedom fighters". Vagharshag Shavanian is at far right (#7). Ca. 1910



Armenian-American family in Boston in 1908.

Pictures from the Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection