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LIMBO EASED
September, 2009 - The Kaghakatzi website has been in
limbo for a while primarily due to the dearth of new genealogical
data (there are still many gaps to be filled). There has also been a
brief trip to Jerusalem culminating in a report that is being
serialized on this website and syndicated to the worldwide Armenian
press. The first five parts are already online - they are accessible
via the Newsreel page.
3,000 NAMES IN DATABASE
We have now approached the 3,000 name mark, quite an achievement
when compared with only the 300 we had a year or so ago. There are some
inevitable duplications because of the input from various sources, but
these are being sorted out gradually. We have now reached a stage where
it is possible to create individual family charts (ancestors or descendants)
for any single clan, or person so wishing. The charts can also be printed,
either in black and white or color, with or without a logo, emblem,
crest or picture. We are now working on creating general individual
clan charts and will post them online when ready. These can be viewed
using the key already issued.
200 NEW NAMES ADDED TO DATABASE
We have added 200 new names to the
main Kaghakatzi family tree database, thanks to inputs from Ardash Shahinian
and John Zakarian, giving the project a shot in the arm by filling some
of the blanks. The total number of names now stands at over 2600 - compared
with just 300 one or two years ago. There are some duplications because
of the different inputs, but we will sort those out in time. It will
be possible now to print out the genealogical chart of any clan, beginning
with any name selected, showing ancestors and descendants, and including
pictures or family crests as well. The printing can be done either in-house
or outsourced. In either case, there would be some operational costs
- but these will be kept at an absolute minimum and will cover the expense
of purchasing media, etc: this is a nonprofit project, we are not out
to make any money.
DID JESUS PLAY CRICKET?
It is possible, just possible, that
cricket, the game venerated all over the Commonwealth, is older than
currently thought. In fact, Jesus may very well have played the game
(or a similar bat and ball contraption) as a child himself!
MAIN DATABASE UPDATED
The main database containing genealogical
details of the Kaghakatzi Armenians of Jerusalem has been updated. Bookmarks
pointing to over 50 clans have been created for easy access. The PDF
file is password protected. The different spelling of some family names
has been made uniform for the sake of consistency.
MORE NAMES ADDED TO MAIN DATABASE
New genealogical details of three Kaghakatzi
clans have now been added to the main Kaghakatzi Famil Tree main database:
Sarkis Bedevian, Krikor Mukhalian and Shoghig Shahinian have been kind
enough to send us the information. The database will be updated accordingly,
with new pages and bookmarks.
ALL "DOMAR" PAGES NOW ACCESSIBLE ON LINE
All 283 pages of the three official
"domar"s recording the birth, marriage and death details of the
Armenians of Jerusalem are now available on the Kaghakatzi family tree
project website. We are working on indexing all entries for easy accessibility
- so far, only about a third of the Baptism register has been indexed.
However, we have created links to all pages (arranged chronologically).
The "domar"s list the names of all Jerusalem Armenians, regardless of
whether they are Kaghakatzi or Vanketzi, but we are attempting to index
only members of the Kaghakatzi community. Because there is no indication
of who is who, we might sometimes inadvertently index Vanketzis as well.
ARMENIANS OF JERUSALEM
"DOMAR"S POSTED
Some of the 283 pages (primarily from
the Baptism Domar) of the registers of the Armenians of Jerusalem have
now been posted on the Kaghakatzi Family Tree project website, on a
trial and evaluation basis. The pages are located at
http://www.kaghakatzi.org/baptism.htm
and are accessible to key holders.
ODAR'S INTEREST IN FAMILY TREE PROJECT
We have been receiving a lot of correspondence
from several non-Kaghakatzi people who have shown great interest in
the Kaghakatzi family tree project. In most cases, the email senders
are seeking information about the database - some are asking outright
for a list of the names in the database. To one and all, there is only
one reply: Sorry, NO. The database is the property of the Kaghakatzi
community and remains accessible only to community members whose names
appear there.ere.
ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE COMPUTERIZES RECORDS
The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem
has taken steps to computerize and preserve the genealogical records
of community members dating back over a century and a half, rescuing
them from oblivion and the ravages of time and weather.
BOOK TRACES GULBENKIAN TIES TO JERUSALEM
For most of the world, Calouste Gulbenkian
will always be known as Mr Five Percent, the man who held that much
stock in the Iraqi Petroleum Company. But for Armenians in general,
and their Old City of Jerusalem in particular, the name Gulbenkian evokes
notions of a much grander and more lasting perspective: this is the
family that has, for over two centuries, held Jerusalem above all their
joys, lavishing upon it veneration, affection and largesse that can
never be quantified.
FAMILY TREE PROJECT: TURNING POINT
We have now reached a turning point
in our efforts to preserve the culture and history of our Kaghakatzi
entity. Our database currently boasts over 2,400 "names", a far cry
from only 300 we had over a year ago. The number is impressive but not
all inclusive. There are still some families or members of families
missing from the overall mosaic of the Armenian Quarter.
CHURCH GIVES GO-AHEAD TO REGISTER PHOTOGRAPHY
The Supreme Synod (Cyraco3n
Adyan) of the Armenian Patriarchate
of Jerusalem has given its official blessing to our request for the
registers of births, baptisms, births and marriages of the Armenians
of Jerusalem, to be photographed and stored electronically on our website.
LIST OF 1950 ARMENIAN FAMILIES DISCOVERED
We have obtained a list of over 540 Armenian Kaghakatzi
and Vanketzi families who resided in the Armenian Quarter of the Old
City of Jerusalem during the early 1950s. The list had been prepared
for UNRWA to help in rendering aid to the community after the devastating
1948 Arab Israeli war.
JEWS, ARMENIANS MARK GENOCIDE DAY
Jewish sympathizers joined the Armenian community in Jerusalem
last week to mark the anniversary of the Armenian genocide in a somber
ceremony at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
PHOTO GARO GEARS UP TO COPY REGISTERS
Garo Nalbandian, one of Jerusalem's
leading photographers, is getting ready to photograph the 150 pages
contained in three old registers of Kaghakatzi births, baptisms, marriages
and deaths. These will be invaluable in helping us validate the entries
so far and in filling in gaps in our database.
NEW DATABASE ENTRIES
Apraham Mnatzaganian, who teaches in
England, has contributed his own labors to augment our database. We
have now added about 40 new names to the main file with genealogical
information on his own immediate family, and relatives on his father's
and mother's sides.
GREEKS VIOLATE STATUS QUO AGAIN
The Greeks have again violated the
Holy Land "status quo" - raising temperatures in Jerusalem and marring
the sanctity of the Easter season festivities, according to the Armenian
Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
ALEX MNATZAGANIAN CONTRIBUTES SONG
Alex Mnatzaganian, son of Abraham Mnatzaganian, has contributed
a beautiful song on the occasion of Easter. It is called "You wash my
feet" and is meant to be sung on Maundy Thursday.
NEW DATA CONTRIBUTIONS
Syliva Bedevian and Gayane Karen Merguerian are the latest
to provide additional information for inclusion in the family tree database.
Gayane happens to be the daughter of Barbara Merguerian,
former editor of the Armenian Mirror Spectator. She lives in Boston,
MA.
Sylvia is the grand-daughter of Oshine Bedevian, currently
living in Amman. Haroutune Khatchadourian was her grandfather. Her elder
brother is an architect in Dubai. Her father has been working on the
family tree and Sylvia has promised us a copy.
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