The blessing by wine of the book

PASADENA, Calif. — Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Pasadena-Glendale Chapter organized a book presentation that took place on Sunday, July 14, at Tekeyan’s Beshgeturian Center Hall in Altadena. Asdghig Khanjian was master of ceremonies. There were about 80 people in attendance.

The book, titled The Armenian and Armenia in the Holy Bible was authored by Dr. Hovhannes Ahmaranian and presented by Kevork Keushkerian. There was also a cultural program composed of poetic recitations by Norayr Dadourian and renditions of Armenian patriotic songs by Khatchig Nahabedian.

Dr. Hovhannes Ahmaranian was born in Beirut, Lebanon. He has earned a B.A. in Theology and an M.A. in Philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He also has earned a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern History from the National Academy of Armenia. He is fluent in Armenian, Arabic, French, Italian, and English. He has published 29 books: 15 in Armenian, 6 in English, 6 in Arabic, and 2 in French.

Ahmaranian has an extensive experience in education and teaching. He taught Combat Arabic and History of Iraq at the US Marines Corps at Camp Pendleton in California from 2004-05. He taught at the Kevorkian Academy in Echmiadzin from 2006-07. He was the Provost/Dean of the Armenian Evangelical Academy in Yerevan, Armenia from 2010-11.

His book, The Armenian and Armenia in the Holy Bible, is a picturesque publication composed of 180 pages and divided into 19 chapters. In his preface to the book, Rev. Serop Mgrtichian, pastor of the Armenian Evangelical Cilicia Church in Pasadena, wrote: “In his meticulous research, Dr. Ahmaranian shows the existence of the Armenian in the Bible, starting from the Creation to the presence of the horses in Armenia. Armenians have been biblical people.”

In his introduction to the book, Ahmaranian reveals that neither Armenian nor Armenia are mentioned in the Holy Bible, rather Urartu and Ararat, which are synonymous to Armenia.

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The first chapter, Creation, dwells upon the pre-Christian myths that were prevalent all over the world, including Armenia where Vahakn was a well- known epic hero.

Following that assertion, Ahmaranian leads a discussion about the name of God. In the pre-Christian era, says the author, there were many gods worshipped by different people, so names were necessary to distinguish them from each other. For example, Egyptians had Ra and Armenians had Anahid, among other nations.

However, continues Ahmaranian, following the pagan era, when the existence of one God was established and accepted by Christians, Jews and Muslims, there was no need for a name to identify the only God worshipped by the three religions.

Another chapter deals with the geographic location of the Garden of Eden. The book of Genesis, chapter 2, verses 10-14 says: “And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted and became into four heads. The name of the first is Pison, the name of the second is Gihon, the name of the third is Hiddekel and the name of the fourth is Euphrates.”

Dr. Ahmaranian addresses the audience.

Ahmaranian claims that all four rivers mentioned above; Pison (Armenian Dorokh), Gihon (Armenian Araxes), Hiddekel (Armenian Tigris) and Euphrates are in Historic Armenia. Therefore, he concludes, The Garden of Eden must have been in Armenia.

Here is a quotation from Lord Byron that reiterates the above claim. “If the Scriptures are rightly understood, it was in Armenia that Paradise was placed. Armenia, which has paid as clearly as the descendants of Adam for that fleeting participation of its soil in the happiness of him who was created from its dust. It was in Armenia that the flood first abated, and the dove slighted.”

Next, a whole chapter is devoted to Mount Ararat. We read in Genesis, chapter 8, verse 4: “On the seventh day of the seventh month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.” In Genesis, chapter 9, verse 1, God said to Noah: “Be fruitful, increase in number and fill the earth.”

Furthermore, according to the Book of Genesis, Noah came out of the ark with his sons and their wives and all the animals. He planted a vineyard and when he drank some of the wine, he became drunk.

Ahmaranian goes on saying that Ararat has been also mentioned in the Holy Bible in three other books; Isaiah, Second Kings, and Jeremiah.

It’s worth mentioning that, at the end of each chapter, the author has listed the sources that he has used. Also, at the end of the book, there is a synopsis in English.

Kevork Keushkerian

The presentation of Ahmaranian’s book has been an eye opening experience for this writer,

as there is a wealth of information that is new to me, and I am sure, new to many people in our community.

After the presentation, a question-and-answer session was held, which was followed by  a reception.

  • Kevork Keushkerian

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