Another Assault by a Yesihva Student on an Armenian Priest
Armenian New Network/Groong
January 6, 2005
by Bedross Der Matossian
JERUSALEM
While Armenians all over the world were celebrating Christmas on the 6th of January, Armenians of Jerusalem were celebrating the feast of Saint James the Lesser First Bishop of Jerusalem and the feast of King David.
On the same day Father Avedis Ipradjian woke up early to go to the Church of Virgin Mary in order to conduct a mass. After completing his duties in the church of Virgin Mary, Father Avedis returned back to the Monastery of St. James in order to take part in the Holy Mass.
`While I was standing in front of the Monastery's main gate, a Yeshiva student came and spat on me' father Avedis said. Father Avedis, who did not resort to any kind of violence, tried to convince the Yeshiva student to go with him to the police station and resolve the issue there peacefully. `I told him that he has to apologize for the incident and go with me to the police station but on the contrary he continued cursing me' father Avedis said furiously during a phone conversation late this evening.
While the scuffling between Father Avedis and the Yeshiva student was taking place, a taxi carrying four Yeshiva students stopped nearby. The students who were in the taxi immediately came to aid the Yeshiva Student. `Suddenly one of them attacked me and I still did not resort to any kind of violence' Father Avedis said. Meanwhile, a representative from the Foreign Ministry, who happened to be in the area and was accompanied by European diplomats and Israeli security, immediately came to the aid of Father Avedis. `The official immediately ran towards me and asked me if I need any help' Father Avedis said. `Then he tried to stop the Yeshiva students but he himself was assaulted. Consequently, the Israeli security interfered and tried to detain the Yeshiva students'.
After the arrival of the policemen, the four Yeshiva students were arrested and taken to the nearby police station. Father Avedis was also called to give a statement. Immediately Bishop Aris Shirvanian, director of ecumenical and foreign relations of the Patriarchate of the Armenian Orthodox Church in the Holy Land, who had gone directly to the police station, contacted Mr. Mordechai Levi the newly appointed advisor on Christian affairs to Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski. `Straight away, Mr. Mordechai Levi rushed to the police station and condemned the incident' Bishop Shirvanian said.
That same evening the Jerusalem Post reported that the assault on the priest was immediately condemned by the New York-based Anti Defamation League, and, later, by the Mayor of Jerusalem. "This kind of behavior is outrageous, inappropriate and goes against all Jewish teachings, said the Co-Director of the ADL's Israel Office Laura Kam Issacharoff to the Jerusalem Post. Moreover, according to the Jerusalem Post, Mayor Uri Lupolianski also condemned the attack which he called a "despiccable act" which is "likely to harm the delicate relations that exist in Jerusalem." In the article the Mayor added "Jewish people, who were subject to centuries of persecution abroad, should be the first to show tolerance and moderation to others."
According to Bishop Shirvanian this kind of assault is not only against the Armenians but it is directed against all the Christian denominations. Bishop Shirvanian said that this kind of behavior is only restricted to an extreme segment of Orthodox Jews. `During a meeting between the Christian church leaders and the Jewish Orthodox Rabbis last month, the Jewish Orthodox leaders condemned these kinds of acts'. Bishop Shirvanian said.
Father Norayr Kazazian who also rushed to the police station expressed his concern that such incidents are still taking place and continued saying: `We all have to learn to live peacefully with each other and respect each other. Jerusalem is not only a Holy place for the Jews, but also for Christians and Muslims.'
This is the second assault on an Armenian clergy in the last three months. In October 2003, Bishop Nurhan Manoogian the Grand Sacristan of the Armenian Patriarchate was assaulted by a Yeshiva students while leading a procession marking the Exaltation of the Holy Cross near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City.
Armenian New Network/Groong
January 6, 2005
by Bedross Der Matossian
JERUSALEM
While Armenians all over the world were celebrating Christmas on the 6th of January, Armenians of Jerusalem were celebrating the feast of Saint James the Lesser First Bishop of Jerusalem and the feast of King David.
On the same day Father Avedis Ipradjian woke up early to go to the Church of Virgin Mary in order to conduct a mass. After completing his duties in the church of Virgin Mary, Father Avedis returned back to the Monastery of St. James in order to take part in the Holy Mass.
`While I was standing in front of the Monastery's main gate, a Yeshiva student came and spat on me' father Avedis said. Father Avedis, who did not resort to any kind of violence, tried to convince the Yeshiva student to go with him to the police station and resolve the issue there peacefully. `I told him that he has to apologize for the incident and go with me to the police station but on the contrary he continued cursing me' father Avedis said furiously during a phone conversation late this evening.
While the scuffling between Father Avedis and the Yeshiva student was taking place, a taxi carrying four Yeshiva students stopped nearby. The students who were in the taxi immediately came to aid the Yeshiva Student. `Suddenly one of them attacked me and I still did not resort to any kind of violence' Father Avedis said. Meanwhile, a representative from the Foreign Ministry, who happened to be in the area and was accompanied by European diplomats and Israeli security, immediately came to the aid of Father Avedis. `The official immediately ran towards me and asked me if I need any help' Father Avedis said. `Then he tried to stop the Yeshiva students but he himself was assaulted. Consequently, the Israeli security interfered and tried to detain the Yeshiva students'.
After the arrival of the policemen, the four Yeshiva students were arrested and taken to the nearby police station. Father Avedis was also called to give a statement. Immediately Bishop Aris Shirvanian, director of ecumenical and foreign relations of the Patriarchate of the Armenian Orthodox Church in the Holy Land, who had gone directly to the police station, contacted Mr. Mordechai Levi the newly appointed advisor on Christian affairs to Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski. `Straight away, Mr. Mordechai Levi rushed to the police station and condemned the incident' Bishop Shirvanian said.
That same evening the Jerusalem Post reported that the assault on the priest was immediately condemned by the New York-based Anti Defamation League, and, later, by the Mayor of Jerusalem. "This kind of behavior is outrageous, inappropriate and goes against all Jewish teachings, said the Co-Director of the ADL's Israel Office Laura Kam Issacharoff to the Jerusalem Post. Moreover, according to the Jerusalem Post, Mayor Uri Lupolianski also condemned the attack which he called a "despiccable act" which is "likely to harm the delicate relations that exist in Jerusalem." In the article the Mayor added "Jewish people, who were subject to centuries of persecution abroad, should be the first to show tolerance and moderation to others."
According to Bishop Shirvanian this kind of assault is not only against the Armenians but it is directed against all the Christian denominations. Bishop Shirvanian said that this kind of behavior is only restricted to an extreme segment of Orthodox Jews. `During a meeting between the Christian church leaders and the Jewish Orthodox Rabbis last month, the Jewish Orthodox leaders condemned these kinds of acts'. Bishop Shirvanian said.
Father Norayr Kazazian who also rushed to the police station expressed his concern that such incidents are still taking place and continued saying: `We all have to learn to live peacefully with each other and respect each other. Jerusalem is not only a Holy place for the Jews, but also for Christians and Muslims.'
This is the second assault on an Armenian clergy in the last three months. In October 2003, Bishop Nurhan Manoogian the Grand Sacristan of the Armenian Patriarchate was assaulted by a Yeshiva students while leading a procession marking the Exaltation of the Holy Cross near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City.
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