NEWS

Dear Readers!
Heritage and testimony – these are the two leading themes of this issue of “Awedis”. Both concepts carry a certain ambiguity referring to the past and at the same time urging us to look to the future in order to transfer them through generations. Being conscious of this task, we invite you, first, on a journey in the footsteps of the Skwera Gospel Book. Many are beautiful manuscripts but not all have such a complex history as this one, which forms part of the Archives of the Foundation for the Culture and Heritage of Polish Armenians and from May 2024 is presented to the general public at an exhibition at the National Library in Warsaw. This manuscript serves as a certain sort of platform between centuries, nations and individual people. We are returning in this edition of Awedis to the subject of this treasure of world culture in conjunction with the premiere of the film “Lost, Found, Hidden,” directed by Vahram Mkhitaryan. The screening at the Palace of the Rzeczpospolita brought together many individuals who have contributed to the preservation, study and generalizing of knowledge about the Skevra Gospels. Przemysław Goławski questioned them about the history, meaning and emotions connected with the research of this extraordinary manuscript.
Secondly, we also highly recommend the text by Rev. Prof. Józef Naumowicz, which highlights the figure and life testimony of the soon-to-be sainted Ignatius Maloyan. “The canonization, taking place in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican will be not only a religious act but also a symbolic reminder of the tragic history of the Armenians and the need to remember the victims of genocide,” the author states.
Witold Repetowicz’s article, which recounts the history of difficult Armenian-Azerbaijani relations is also incredibly interesting – especially in the context of the agreement signed in Washington in August between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

We also invite you to study and analyze of current numerous events reports prepared by Armenian organizations. These reports refer to the entire country – from Pomerania to Silesia. We hope it will be an interesting experience and adventure.
www.awedis.ormianie.pl

Editorial Team

Dear Readers!
The beginning of June brought great joy to the faithful of the Armenian Catholic Church. This was due to the historic visit of Catholicos-Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian who spent three days in Poland visiting cities such as Warsaw and Gliwice. In addition to reporting on these events, we recommend the interview the Patriarch gave to “Awedis” at that time, discussing, among other things, the Jubilee of the Eastern Churches celebrated in Rome with the participation of Pope Leo XIV.
In this issue we also pay a special attention to anniversaries important to Armenians.
On the one hand, those related to the painful history of the Armenian nation including the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide unleashed in 1915 in the Ottoman Empire and the 20th anniversary of the resolution of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland condemning this Turkish crime, as well as ,the 120th anniversary of the Armenian massacre in Baku.
On the other hand, we also remember the joyful anniversaries related to the recent history of Armenians in Poland such as: the 35th anniversary of the Armenian Cultural Society, the 50th anniversary of the priestly ministry of Father Prelate Cezary Annusewicz, parish priest of the Armenian Catholic northern parish, and the 10th National Pilgrimage of Armenians to Holy Mountain Polanowska.
Let us also mention that Dr. Witold Repetowicz continues his series on Armenia’s relations with its neighbors, presenting this time, a less obvious perspective devoted to the history of Armenian-Kurdish relations which are also overshadowed by the history of the Armenian massacre, but in which both nations also find common interests.
We hope that this quarterly review of news from the Armenian world will turn out for you an interesting reading. We leave you with it, wishing you a happy holiday!
Current issue of Awedis: www.awedis.ormianie.pl

His Holiness Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos-Patriarch of Cilicia for the Catholic Armenians, accompanied by Mitred Prelate Nareg Naamoyan, Patriarchal Exarch of Jerusalem and Amman and Deacon Krikor Boyajyan honored the headquarters of the Foundation for the Culture and Heritage of Polish Armenians with his presence on June 7. The guests arrived with our Spiritual Guardian, the Dzharagujny Vardapet, Rev. Prof. Józef Naumowicz.
As befits this special visit, we welcomed our guests with a yeast cake as was the custom among Polish Armenians. We had hosted our distinguished guest at the Foundation many years ago back in its old headquarters and His Holiness noticed the favorable change in surroundings. After a presentation by the assembled Foundation team Armen Artwich led the tour of the museum exhibition, describing the most interesting exhibits and presenting the archives, while Father Professor Józef Naumowicz showed us the reliquaries. The guests viewed the priceless exhibits with interest, asking for details.

The visit concluded with entries in the visitors’ book and a traditional group photo.
The next important element of the distinguished guest’s visit to Warsaw was a solemn Holy Mass in the Armenian rite. The Chapel of Our Lady on Łazienkowska Street was filled with a crowd of the faithful led by the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Poland His Excellency Alexander Arzoumanian and his wife. After the conclusion of the Mass gifts were presented. The Patriarch presented us with a commemorative medal representing the unity of the Churches. His Holiness received a commemorative chapel from Father Joseph from the Częstochowa Sanctuary and we the faithful, received wishes written in Armenian against a background taken from the Skewra Gospels.

There was also a similar gift for a special occasion – the fortieth anniversary of his priestly ordination for Father Professor Józef Naumowicz. Then long conversations followed with questions for the Patriarch which he eagerly and comprehensively answered. The guest was also presented with a letter concerning the martyrdom of priests Dionizy Kajetanowicz and Adam Bogdanowicz with the hope of their beatification. At the end, we met with our guests for the traditional tea, coffee and sweets. Despite the dreary rainy weather this day will long remain in our memory as a cheerful day of visits from an exceptional guest, a particularly warm and straightforward man with immense spiritual charisma.

On June 8, the guests went to the Armenian community in Gliwice and to Radwanowice, where they were praying at the grave of the late Father Tadeusz Isakowicz-Zaleski.

May 17, 2025 … it was quite an exceptional time!

Saturday’s meeting began with a Holy Mass at Łazienkowska Street with the participation of a special guest, a singer from Armenia, Mr. Aram Gabaghchourian from Yerevan. His vocal participation in the liturgy will remain an unforgettable experience. After the Holy Mass Aram Gabaghchourian enchanted us with a performance of three pieces by Komitas. We immortalized the meeting with a commemorative group photo.

Despite the poor, wet weather the Museum Night began at 6:00 p.m. At that time, a walk along the Armenian trail from the Church of St. Anne began too. More guests were already arriving at the Foundation’s headquarters from 6:00 p.m. A large group of young people from the Armenian Youth Organization in Poland also showed up who led Armenian dance lessons. They were a huge success so the young people repeated these lessons with commitment. At first, in the open air and at the end after 10 p.m. in a huge circle the guests led by cleric Narek danced around our central showcase in the Foundation’s headquarters. The sounds of Armenian melodies and dances were met with great applause and brought much joy to the participants.
Apart from the new visitors whom we guided around our two exhibitions with all the strength of our modest Team and the dances there was another extremely

Prelekcja konserwatorki szat liturgicznych p. Ewy Soszko-Dziwisińskiej

interesting event. We were visited by one of the two fabric conservators who take care of our exceptionally rich and priceless collection of liturgical vestments. Her story about their origin, or more precisely about the origin and creation of the fabrics from which they were sewn was fascinating. The gathered listeners asked many detailed questions, including how threads and embroidery made of gold and silver which appear very often in these fabrics are created. The story of how patterned velvets were hand-woven over three hundred years ago was equally wonderful.

Theoretically, we were supposed to end this Night before midnight, but it did not work out. The last guests left well after midnight. Summing up, an exceptional Saturday full of interesting events and the satisfaction and appreciation of the visitors give us great satisfaction and “drive” for further action!

mot, photo Władysław Deńca

Dear Readers!

The 110th anniversary of Medz Yeghern is upon us. The violence unleashed in the Ottoman Empire on April 24, 1915, when 2,345 members of the Armenian elite were arrested and murdered in Istanbul in beastly way. It lasted for years and claimed 1.5 million victims. More than a century has passed since this heinous crime and Armenians still have to fight for truth and justice. And they badly need allies in this. The Republic of Poland, 20 years ago – in the form of a resolution of the Sejm – officially called the Armenian massacre in the Ottoman Empire genocide emphasizing that its condemnation “is a moral duty of all humanity.” Marshal Marek Jurek tells us about the background of the work on this historic resolution and its accompanying repercussions. In this issue, we also recall the figure of Bohdan Gębarski who over half a century ago fought to propagate knowledge on the international forum about the Turkish genocide committed against the Armenian nation in 1915.This earned him the gratitude of the Armenians symbolized by the khachkar on his grave donated by the Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen I. We also encourage you to familiarize yourself with the history of Turkish-Armenian relations dating back to the Middle Ages, which were marked by the cruelty of the Seljuk invaders from the very beginning. However, as Witold Repetowicz reminds us in his article mutual relations also had their brighter moments. This year, the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Armenian Genocide coincides closely with Easter celebrated a few days earlier. May this special time help us look at the painful history of the Armenian nation with the belief that the cross is the beginning of the Resurrection.

Editor’s Office
www.awedis.ormianie.pl

110th Anniversary of the Genocide – Commemorations in Warsaw

This year’s 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was commemorated by the Armenian minority community in Warsaw
with the respect due to this anniversary. Events prepared by various minority organizations lasted for three days. The commemorations of the victims of the Genocide of 1915 began with a concert organized on Wednesday, April 23 in the Evangelical-Augsburg Church of the Holy Trinity in Warsaw by the Armenian-Polish Social Committee.

Concert in the Evangelical Church of the Holy Trinity in Warsaw

The concert was preceded by speeches by, among others, the representative of the clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Poland – Bishop Markos, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Poland HE Alexander Arzoumanian, the President of the Armenian-Polish Social Committee – Hracjia Bojadzhyan, the organizer of the concert. In the concert program the audience heard pieces by Komitas, M. Masztoc, A. Babadżanyan, H.M. Górecki and contemporary Armenian music performed by the Silesian Chamber Orchestra led by Grigor Arakelian, a conductor from Armenia and the choir “Resonans con tutti” from Zabrze prepared by Arlena and Waldemar Gałązka. The concert and especially the wonderful composition by the conductor Grigor Arakelian to the words of Mesrop Masztoc enjoyed particular recognition from the listeners.

Scientific conference at the University of Warsaw

Another day of the anniversary of the events that were so painful for the Armenian nation 110 years ago, April 24, was commemorated with the conference “Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day” which was prepared by the Armenian Youth Organization in Poland bringing together young Armenians studying in Warsaw universities. During this conference there were thematic panels organized in which both experts and people deeply involved in commemorating the tragic history were taking part. The speeches were very interesting touching on the subject of Genocide, its perception in the world in the scientific and media space. The fact of the 20th anniversary of the resolution of the Polish Sejm, by which Poland joined the countries recognizing the barbarity of 1915 as genocide was also recalled.

Ecumenical prayer at the Armenian Square

After the conference everyone went to the Armenian Square at Powsińska Street in Warsaw where HE the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Poland, Alexander Arzoumanian took the floor emphasizing the importance of historical memory and dialogue among nations. Then a prayer was said for the victims, led by: the pastor of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Poland, Fr. Minas Hachwerdian and the pastor of the Armenian Catholic Church in Poland, Fr. Professor Józef Naumowicz. In the following part of the ceremony delegations from several institutions, parliamentary groups and social organizations laid wreaths, flowers and lit candles arranged in the shape of a cross.

April 25 is another, already the third day of the celebrations of the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. These celebrations were held under the honorary patronage of the Metropolitan of Warsaw, Archbishop Adrian Galbas, the Ordinary of Catholics of the Armenian rite in Poland. Due to his participation in the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis His Excellency was unable to take part in that day’s events in person.

Discussion panel “Armenian Genocide in the eyes of the world” at the House of the Archbishops of Warsaw

Panel dyskusyjny „Ludobójstwo Ormian w oczach świata” w Domu Arcybiskupów Warszawskich, fot. Instytut Inicjatyw Kulturalnych NUR

At 4:30 p.m. on Miodowa Street in the seat of the Metropolitan Curia a discussion panel “Armenian Genocide in the eyes of the world” took place referring to the 20th anniversary of the resolution of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland condemning the Genocide prepared by the Association of Armenians in Poland from Gliwice named after Archbishop Józef Teodorowicz . The event was honored by the presence of His Excellency Bishop Rafał Markowski. The panel included Rev. Prof. Józef Naumowicz, former Marshal of the Sejm and co-initiator of the aforementioned resolution of the Sejm – Marek Jurek, scientist and publicist, expert on the Middle East – Dr. Witold Repetowicz and co-founder and former president of the Foundation for the Culture and Heritage of Polish Armenians – Jan Abgarowicz. The event was hosted by editor Krzysztof Ziemiec. At the end of the conference, a prayer for the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide was led by Rev. Prof. Joseph Naumowicz.

Opening of the exhibition “Armenians – Baku – 1905” in Armenian Lane (Ormiański Zaułek) at Freta street in Warsaw

The next act of the celebrations of the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide that day was the opening of the exhibition

Na otwarciu wystawy głos zabrał kanclerz Kurii Warszawy, ks. prałat dr Janusz Bodzon

“Armenians – Baku – 1905” at 6:30 p.m. prepared by the Foundation for Culture and Heritage of Polish Armenians. The events of 1915 were not the beginning of the extermination of the Armenian nation. Tragic acts had been taking place since the end of the 19th century. One of the manifestations of this barbarity was the several-day massacre in 1905 in Baku – carried out by Muslim Caucasian Tatars, later called Azeris, on the Armenian community of the city. A family of Polish Armenians, Stanisław and Zofia Łukasiewicz left the territories of Austria-Hungary at the end of the 19th century and settled in Baku, then the “oil Eldorado”. The several days of riots and the murders of the Armenian population were deeply etched in the memory of this family. After several years when they left Baku they took with them the collected photographs documenting these events. Several years ago, the great-granddaughter of the Łukasiewicz family donated them to the Foundation Archives. Using this gift the Foundation for the Culture and Heritage of Polish Armenians prepared an outdoor exhibition on the 120th anniversary of the massacre, “Armenians – Baku – 1905”.

Armenian Catholic Mass in St. Jacek’s Church in Warsaw

The exhibition is on display until May 4 in front of the Dominican Church at 8/10 Freta Street. After the ceremonial opening of the exhibition, we participated in the Armenian Catholic liturgy celebrated by Rev. Prof. Józef Naumowicz. We pray

Występ sopranistki Hasmik Baghdasaryan-Dolukhanyan podczas koncertu w kościele św. Jacka w Warszawie, fot. Skarbnica Polskich Ormian

ed for the

peace of the souls of 1.5 million innocent Armenians murdered in this first genocide of the 20th century. In his homily, the

Armenian Catholic pastor in Poland recalled the historic Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica in 2015 on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide and also recalled the figure of Blessed Archbishop Ignacy Maloyan, Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Mardin, a martyr for the faith, the decree on his canonization was one of the last decisions of Pope Francis. The priest also recalled the canonization of all the Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide by the sister Armenian Apostolic Church.

After the Holy Mass, the next event of the day was an Armenian music concert prepared by the NUR Cultural Initiatives Institute Foundation. The performers were three Armenian artists – a special guest from Armenia, the wonderful singer Mrs. Hasmik Baghdasaryan-Dolukhanyan (soprano), who as well enriched the liturgy with her wonderful singing, Nelli Martirosyan playing the duduk, and violinist Kristine Harutyunyan.

Archbishop Adrian Galbas appointed the new ordinary of the faithful of the Armenian Catholic Church in Poland
The Holy Father Francis has appointed Archbishop Adrian Galbas the new ordinary of the faithful of the Eastern Catholic Churches in Poland including the faithful of the Armenian Catholic Church – the Apostolic Nunciature in Poland announced at noon.Archbishop Adrian Galbas will assume the function of Ordinary for the faithful of the Eastern Catholic Churches living in Poland which do not have their own administrative structures.

In addition to the Roman Catholics which have an extensive administrative structure in Poland (archdioceses and dioceses) the faithful belonging to the Eastern Catholic Churches also live in our country. These are Churches originating from Eastern traditions but remaining in unity with the Pope. Among them we can mention Armenian Catholics, Greek Catholics, Maronites and Copts. These churches differ from the Latin Church in liturgical tradition, canonical discipline (they are subject to a separate Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches) and the specificity of theological terminology. They should not be confused with the Orthodox Churches because they recognize the authority of the Pope, while maintaining their Eastern liturgical and canonical tradition. HE Archbishop Adrian Galbas will also fulfill a very important function for the Foundation for the Culture and Heritage of Polish Armenians – he becomes its principal. The Foundation was established in 2006 by the then Ordinary of the Faithful of the Eastern Rites, the Metropolitan of Warsaw, the late Cardinal Józef Glemp. The next superior until this year was His Excellency Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz, whom the Foundation would like to thank for his many years of care.
More information: https://archwwa.pl/aktualnosci/abp-galbas-mianowany-nowym-ordynariuszem-wiernych-obrzadkow-wschodnich-w-polsce-2/

photo Jakub Szymczuk

In a note from the Editor we read:

Dear readers,

On the first page of this issue of “Awedis”, shortly after the anniversary of the surrender and the great exodus of the Armenian population from Nagorno-Karabakh, we return to the problem of magnificent Armenian monuments, the fate of which under Azerbaijani rule remains – to put it mildly – uncertain. And all thanks to the exhibition “Nagorno-Karabakh: endangered Armenian heritage” opened in Warsaw. The exhibition is another voice in defense of heritage that is not only Armenian or Christian, but definitely global.

It so happens that this time our pages are full of exhibitions. But this does not mean that it is monothematic. Only – as you will see for yourself in a moment – downright cosmopolitan. After all, Armenian traces can be found on the coast of France, in the heart of Argentina, in the east of Ukraine, and in nearby Płońsk…

We invite you on this fascinating journey with “Awedis”. Enjoy your reading!

To download “Awedis” No. 60 visit www.awedis.ormianie.pl

CORRECTION: In the printed version of issue 60 of “Awedis”, in the “Important addresses and telephone numbers” section, we provided outdated data of the Representative of the Armenian Minority in the Joint Commission of the Government and National and Ethnic Minorities. It should be: Hraczja Bojadżjan;
e-mail: sekretariat.ormianie@gmail.com. We sincerely apologize for this oversight.

                                                                                                Editorial Staff

Monday, September 30, in Płońsk was dedicated to the memory of Jan Jędrzejewicz (1835-1887) – a doctor, meteorologist and outstanding astronomer, resident of Płońsk. On this day, the 12th edition of the Scientific Award named after Jan Jędrzejewicz for the best Polish-language book devoted to the history of science and technology was determined. The subject event was organized jointly with the Polish Academy of Sciences. In addition to the speeches of the winners for 2023 (the award funded by the Płońsk City Council was awarded to Przemysław Dominas for the book “Central Trans-Andean Railway Callao – Lima – La Oroya, the work of the Polish engineer Ernest Malinowski”), there was a lecture on the use of artificial intelligence in astronomical research. The mayor of Płońsk, Andrzej Pietrasik and numerous school students laid flowers and lit candles on the grave of Jan Jędrzejewicz. Shortly afterwards, a charming mural by Tytus Brzozowski was unveiled (on two buildings, ul. Grunwaldzka 28 and 35) commemorating Jan Jędrzejewicz. The students presented a performance referring to astronomy, the hero of the city and the tragic fate of its Jewish inhabitants. The Planetarium and Astronomical Observatory in Płońsk showed one of the eight films available there, including two in 3D format, followed by Adam Derdzikowski (in the photo) from the Płońsk Astronomy Lovers’ Club. Jan W. Jędrzejewicz, coordinator of the Planetarium and co-organizer of all celebrations that day, presented sunspots through a telescope placed under the observatory dome.Jan Jędrzejewicz will be mentioned at a temporary exhibition organized by the Polish Armenian Culture and Heritage Foundation, which will present various figures from the Jędrzejewicz-Jędrzejewicz family. The planned opening date of the exhibition is November 24, 2024. We invite you now!

Monika Agopsowicz

The exhibition dedicated to the Moszoro family, was carefully prepared by the Institute of National Remembrance as a part of the Archive Full of Memory project under the leadership of the director Marzena Kruk. The interesting exhibits are complemented by a wonderful arrangement by Jarosław Kłaput, as always. This unique event in Warsaw was attended by three generations of the Moszoros family, mainly from Argentina, led by brothers Antoni, Bartłomiej and priest living in Poland. Stefan Moszoro-Dąbrowski. Welcomes and words about the exhibition were delivered by the president of the Institute of National Remembrance – Dr. Karol Nawrocki, the host of the place – the director of the Independence Museum – Dr. Tadeusz Skoczek, the Ambassador of the Republic of Argentina in Poland – Alicia Irene Falkowski and the main curator of the exhibition Marzena Kruk, who finally thanked everyone involved in the creation of the exhibition , also the Polish Armenian Culture and Heritage Foundation for providing access to materials from the APO resources. We also listened to an extremely moving statement by the representative of the Family, Bartłomiej Moszoro – Honorary Consul of Poland in Argentina, who repeated his statement in Spanish for the large family who came from Argentina.There was also an artistic part – we could listen to musical pieces that referred to the family’s Lviv roots, to the Argentinian sounds of Astor Piazzolla’s tango. Then there was a collective opening of the door leading to the exhibition itself, which consisted of a lot of family souvenirs, including those donated by the family to the Institute of National Remembrance. An interesting exhibition, showing the extraordinary, sometimes tragic fate of the family, the cultivation of Polishness and traditions worth the highest recognition – it is worth visiting this exhibition, we recommend it! Yesterday’s ceremony continues today at the headquarters of the Polish Armenian Culture and Heritage Foundation. Representatives of the Moszoro family visited the Treasury of Polish Armenians and became acquainted with the museum exhibition with great interest. They asked about details related to history, migration and the preservation of the Armenian language by Polish Armenians. The temporary exhibition full of private souvenirs aroused great interest. It was even closer to our guests because members of their family followed similar trails to that of our hero Zachariasz Gregorowicz.

text and photos: mot