In the morning of the 30th of January there was more than 15cm of snow all around Anjar…

Hamazkayin "B.Sevag" Chapter had organized a mask party on the 26th of January in “S. Zeitlian” center, where more than 75 children were gathered with different dresses and masks to celebrate “Paregentan”.

It was encouraging to see many children camouflaged with different kinds of animals and people of different nationalities.

                            
All the kids were happily playing, singing, dancing and spending wonderful time.

We inform you with our deep sorrow the death of Mr. Bedig Andekian , that happened on Tuesday 23rd of January.
The funeral services were held in the “St. Paul” Church, on the next day at 12:00pm. We also send our deep condolences to the family of Mr. Movses Nashalian, who passed away suddenly on the morning of Thursday 24th of January.

The funeral services were held on the same day, at 2.00 pm in the "St.Paul" Church.

After facing freezing weather for more than two weeks, late in the night of Tuesday January 22, the first snowflakes of the season fell in Anjar.

It continued until the next morning covering Anjar in white. The white blanket covering the village was some 5cm thick. Take a look at the white pictures of Anjar.

The cultural committee of the Hamazkayin "B. Sevag" Chapter invited the director of the Armenian Faculty of The UCLA University of USA, Prof. Peter Cawi, who has been visiting Lebanon to participate in the scientific conference organized by the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia in Lebanon, to give a lecture about the Armenian National Consciousness and Nationality in Cilicia.

For more than one hour Prof. Cawi spoke about the national consciousness of our Cicilian monarchies increasing the interest of our attendants to their history.

The lecture took place on Friday, 18th of January, at 7:00 pm in the "S.Zetlian" Center.

On Friday 18th of January, a group of participants from the scientific conference which was organized by the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia in Lebanon having as a theme "The Culture Of The Cilician-Armenia", visited Anjar.
The group was welcomed by the members of the ARF "G.Ler" Committee's Organizational Committee in the "Zaven Tashjian" hall of the "S.Zetlian" Center. Mr. Yessayi Havatian gave a brief explanation about our history, after which the group headed towards "St.Paul" Church and visited the Mousaler Martyrs' Monument.

We are pleased to inform you that the Cultural Committee of the Hamazkayin "B. Sevag" Chapter resumed its Friday meetings and this week they invited Mrs. Marine Pilavjian to talk about the globalization.

                                          
Mrs. Pilavjian talked about the numerous effects of globalization on our society especially on our new generation. At the end of the lecture, Mrs. Pilavjian shared her thoughts with the audience in order to find ways to decrease the influence on the globalization.

The Christmas Ball organized by Hamazkayin “B. Sevag” chapter took place on Sunday, 6th of January starting from 9:00 pm in "Arev" restaurant, in the presence of more than 350 people, under the auspices of the Municipality of Anjar.

Among the guests were Lebanese Parliament member Mr. Hasan Araji, the mayor Mr. Sebouh Sekayan, representative of the ARF “Garmir Ler” Committee, representatives of different associations in Anjar.

Ms. Vanig Apelian, made the opening words on behalf of Hamazkatin “B. Sevag” Chapter (in Arabic), then she invited Mr. Hagop Aintablian to conduct the feast,  who welcomed the people and invited the singer of the day, Hratch Gayzagian, who created a high spirit beside our well known Lebanese Armenian singers Shake Baghdasarian and extended the feast till 3:00AM, where a substantial amount of donations was  collected.

On the 5th of January at 4:00 pm after the Mass that took place in "St. Paul" church, the choir of the church visited the houses to announce the birth of Jesus.

Later at midnight, the bells of the church invited the people to participate in the Christmas prayers. Rev. Father Ashod Karakashian, the choir, and the people  marched towards the central square of Anjar singing Christmas rhymes, and placing the candles in front of the cave announcing the birth of the Savior.

And on January 6th, the Evangelical and the Orthodox churches of Anjar were full of people who had come to celebrate the birth of the Jesus Christ.

After the Mass, the vestry and the women's associations of "St.Paul" Church invited the people to a gathering in "K.Guilbenkian" hall. The aim of the gathering was to enhance the process of congratulating one another, and starting the New Year with a strong will of cooperation, to accomplish the heavy task of keeping life going in a smooth way in our beloved village.

The women association of the "St. Paul" Church held their annual Christmas party on Friday, 4th of January in restaurant "Arev" at 1.00pm.
After beginning the feast with a prayer, the conductor of the feast Ms. Sevan Atamian welcomed the guests and made her Christmas wishes to them.

The rest of the feast continued in a very cheerful atmosphere, where they danced played games and spent wonderful time with our Armenian songs played by DJ Boggy (Boghos Kendirjian).  At the end Santa Clause visited our women and distributed special gifts for them.

After embracing the zero hour of 2008 with their families and close friends, Anjarians gathered in the front yard of "Sarkis Zeitlian" Center for a collective and traditional celebration of the New Year.

Everyone was in a festive mood and all danced to the beats of the traditional Davoul Zourna. On behalf of the Educational Council of the ARF "Garmir Ler" Committee, Mr. George Apelian welcomed the people and then invited Mr. Hagop Aintablian, who wished them a happy New Year and a Merry Christmas, hoping that the 2008 will be a peaceful and prosperous one for Armenia, Artsakh, the Armenians of the Diaspora, and the Anjarians. 

Then, the microphone was handed over to Rev. Father Ashod Karakashian, who after a small prayer conveyed his warmest New Year's wishes to the Anjarians and the Diaspora Armenian  hoping that this year will be a peaceful year to us. The New year's Eve gathering was ended by beautiful fireworks which lighted the sky of Anjar. Happy New Year to all our visitors.

Christmas celebrations in Anjar extended during the last week, where everyone was on vacation enjoying their holidays.

  
Almost all organizations and chapters including the "Gakavig" children's choir, "Roupen Nakian" Academy, AYF "Haratch" Seniors and LEM "Shavarsh Misakian" chapter celebrated Christmas with its own members, singing dancing and having fun with their own special way.

The ARF “Garmir Ler” Committee wishes Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all Armenians in Armenia and Diaspora and especially to all Mousadaghians all around the world, hoping that 2008 will be a peaceful and a prosperous year to all.