January 27, 2025 - The South Caucasus News

SHREVEPORT, LA / PALM BEACH, FL / DALLAS, TX—A series of high-impact advertisements are raising alarms — across targeted districts represented by top congressional leaders — regarding mounting threats to Jerusalem’s historic Armenian Christian Quarter, a pillar of Christian heritage in the Holy Land since the fourth Century.

These ads, appearing in prominent local newspapers like the Shreveport Times, the Sun-Sentinel, Palm & Beach Post and Dallas Morning News, are strategically placed in the constituencies of Speaker of the U.S. House Mike Johnson (R-LA), U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Brian Mast (R-FL,) and Europe Subcommittee Chair Keith Self (R-TX).

Each ad links to an Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) registration page for a Monday, January 27th 6 p.m. – 8p.m. ET online briefing by Hagop Djernazian and Setrag Balian of Save The ArQ, a grassroots movement to save Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter in the face of threats by developers and extremist settlers. To register for the briefing, visit: https://anca.org/save_the_arq_event/

This ad campaign is sponsored by Khachkar Studios, a project launched by the Charles & Agnes Kazarian Eternal Foundation, dedicated to preserving global Armenian religious heritage and empowering a 21st century rebirth of Armenian Christianity. Learn more about the work of Khachkar Studios by visiting: https://khachkarstudios.com

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The Armenian presence in Jerusalem dates back to Armenia’s adoption of Christianity as its national religion in 301 AD. Today, the Armenian Quarter is home to the St. James Monastery, one of Christianity’s oldest religious institutions. The quarter is not only a spiritual center but also a cultural and historic treasure recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Armenian Quarter has come under increasing threat due to an illegal 98-year lease agreement signed in 2021, which transferred control of key sites to Xana Capital, a company tied to settler organizations. This deal, orchestrated without community consent, sparked legal battles, public demonstrations and acts of violence against Armenian residents.

The ANCA has launched a nationwide advocacy portal — anca.org/ArmenianChristianQuarter — to educate elected officials regarding the challenges facing Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter.

Author information

ANCA

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

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