Religion Archives - Onnik James Krikorian - Journalist, Photojournalist, Consultant

Tbilisi’s Armenian Community Celebrates Christmas

Jan 8, 2024 | Armenia, Georgia, Minorities, Religion

Almost two weeks after Christmas was celebrated elsewhere in the world, and a day before Georgia celebrated Orthodox Christmas, Tbilisi’s ethnic Armenian community celebrated its own on 6 January this year. According to the census in 2014, some 53,000 ethnic Armenians reside in the Georgian capital while some 168,000 ethnic Armenians make up Georgia’s second largest ethnic minority, not including those residing in the breakaway region of Abkhazia.

Religious diplomacy should be factored into the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process

May 14, 2023 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Commonspace, Religion

“Religion has taken a place in the narratives that depict two warring sides locked into perpetual battle, and the international media nearly always frames the conflict as one between “Christian Armenia” and “Muslim Azerbaijan”, implanting that image in the minds of readers,” writes Onnik James Krikorian in this op-ed for commonspace.eu.

Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Jan 4, 2014 | Religion

I don’t usually do the tourist thing when traveling for work, but there was no way I couldn’t on my first visit to the Arab world in February last year. I didn’t have much time to spare during my stay in Abu Dhabi to speak at an intergovernmental seminar on counterterrorism and combatting violent extremism online, but I did have a few hours after the conference ended and having to leave for the airport.

Another Visit to Tbilisi's Catholic Armenians

Oct 5, 2013 | Georgia, Minorities, Religion

As I mentioned in a previous post, a message posted to a mailing list saw me pay a visit to an Armenian Catholic center in Tbilisi. Although Armenians are mainly Apostolic, Catholic Armenians are still an important minority in both Armenia and Georgia. Today’s return visit wasn’t just to photograph the kids at the center though. It was also to help them with their English language skills.

Catholic Armenians in Tbilisi, Georgia

Sep 28, 2013 | Georgia, Minorities, Religion

Part of work on minorities in Armenia and Georgia.

Religious diplomacy in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict

Dec 2, 2011 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Religion

The war fought between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh in the early 1990s claimed approximately 25,000 lives and forced a million to flee their homes. An additional 3,000 are also believed to have been killed in cross-border skirmishes since the 1994 ceasefire put the conflict on hold. Earlier this year, however, the International Crisis Group warned of the dangers of an ‘accidental war’ breaking out given an increase in the number of clashes.

The Long Road Home

May 15, 2007 | Armenia, Minorities, Religion

“Five years ago, when I was 75, I thought it was time to rest and pray in preparation for the last joyous journey to be with our Father in heaven, but it was not to be,” said Father Hovsep Behesniryan, a priest of the Armenian Catholic Armenia Congregation. After serving more than 64 years in ministries in Venice, Paris, Los Angeles and New York, “I was called into service once more, this time in Mekhitarist.”

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