WATERTOWN — Hrag Papazian, a Lebanese-Armenian graduate student in his late 20s, is studying the Armenians of Turkey. He came to the United States recently to give a series of lectures at the Institute of Armenian Studies at the University of Southern California. On his way back across the Atlantic, he stopped by in Boston to give a lecture on the Nor Zartonk movement of Istanbul (see https://mirrorspectator.com/2018/10/11/hrag-papazian-to-speak-at-inaugural-zoravik-event/) and gave an interview on his work.

Papazian graduated from Hamazkayin’s Melankton and Haig Arslanian College (formerly called Hay Jemaran) in Antelias, Lebanon, in 2010 and then attended American University in Beirut, from which he received a bachelor’s degree in communication arts. Deciding to switch his focus to anthropology, he went into a master’s program at the University of Oxford in 2013. He wrote on the Christian Armenians citizens of Turkey living in Istanbul for his thesis, but upon starting the doctoral program at the same university in 2015, decided to broaden his topic to include two other types of Armenians, migrants from the Republic of Armenia to Istanbul who came beginning in the 1990s due to the collapse of the Soviet Union, and Muslim Armenians, who began to come to media attention in the early 2000s.

Papazian moved to Turkey where he did ethnographic field work for 18 months, and then went to Armenia to begin to write his dissertation, which he says he has half completed and plans to finish by the summer of 2019.

In it, Papazian said, he primarily deals with understandings of Armenian identity and Armenianness, including the production, reproduction and interpretation of the latter. He compares how the three groups of Armenians mentioned above who are living now in Istanbul each perceive and define Armenian identity. Papazian said, “It turns out that it is quite different. For the local Christian Armenians, Armenian identity is mostly an ethnoreligious identity. It is very much tied with being a member of the Armenian Church.” Papazian explained that the reasons for this includes the Turkish state’s categorization of Armenians as a religious minority and its oppression or censorship of trans-religious understandings of Armenianness. The state tried as much as possible to encourage the religious aspect and to make Armenians assimilate in other realms so that they no longer are an ethnic or national minority with national ethnic claims. The Treaty of Lausanne, which laid the foundation of the Republic of Turkey, also guarantees religious rights. A concomitant reason for the ethnoreligious identity is the religious discrimination which took place throughout the history of the Turkish republic. It made them conscious of their religious difference. Papazian also pointed to what he calls the experiential pairing of Christian and Armenian. People in that community always experience one in tandem with the other. They learn about Armenianness through the church and religious classes in schools because the history of Armenia and the Armenians itself is banned as a subject to be taught in schools.

As for the Armenian migrants, Papazian finds their main ideological pillars of Armenian identity to be different. It starts with Armenia as a homeland. Consequently, they expect Armenians to show concern, interest and love toward Armenia. If they see these lacking, they would immediately start to question their Armenianness. Papazian related an incident recalled by one migrant who worked for a local Istanbul Armenian. There was a debate about politics and his boss told him “you are a guest here — go back to your country if you do not like this one.” The migrant replied, “how come that country is my homeland and not yours? Are you also not an Armenian? If this is your homeland and not Armenia, then what is the difference between you and the Turks? How can I count you as an Armenian?”

A second important pillar according to Papazian is morality. The migrants speak about moral norms or traditions of Armenianness, particular behaviors that are Armenian and others that are not like Armenians. Kinship and gender are also involved. If one acts in accordance with these traditional moral norms, then one is an ideal Armenian, but if not, they start questioning that person’s Armenianness.

The third group, the Muslim Armenians, said Papazian, lack institutions that the migrant and local Christian Armenians have which somehow dictate, define and reproduce Armenianness. For the local Armenians, that is the church and community system, while for the migrants, the Armenian state. “The only thing the Muslim Armenians have,” Papazian said, “is a lost past, a lost memory. For them, it is very much lineage-based. You are an Armenian if you have Armenian origins. If you learn that your father or grandfather is Armenian, then you are Armenian, period. There is no religious condition, there is no morality or state…It is about learning about one’s Armenian origins and trying to recuperate what was lost in terms of culture and knowledge and content. They mostly learn this from the elders or from discrimination.”

Some of them did not even have a clue about their Armenian origins until they were discriminated against as infidels or Armenians. This made them realize that changing religion and knowing nothing about Armenianness cannot help them escape being identified by others as Armenian and discriminated against as such.

This identity is also connected to the Anatolian, Turkish and Kurdish environment where people live in clans or asirets. Growing up the Muslim Armenians begin to realize that they do not belong to any tribe or clan and eventually realize why — because of their Armenian origins.

Papazian found that with such different understandings and definitions of being Armenian, when these three groups coexist in one city, there are identity conflicts, and a lot of social and symbolic boundaries emerge. Christian Armenians often even reject the expression Muslim Armenian, finding it to be an example of cognitive dissonance — how can one be both a Muslim and an Armenian — because of their religious understanding of Armenianness.

The migrants do not deny the Armenianness of the local Armenians yet do really question it. They see, Papazian said, a lack of enthusiasm toward Armenia, occasional pro-Turkish statements by the local community representatives, and cultural and linguistic Turkification. Many of the migrants as domestic workers see how local Armenian family relationships and gender roles are played. They find it very different than back home in Armenia. Some women told Papazian that the local Armenian men were not real men, as they were not strict enough with their women. In fact, they said, “the wives control the husbands,” which they felt was against Armenian traditions, as was the placing of elderly parents in old age homes.

While analyzing the intra-Armenian boundaries in Istanbul between the three different groups, Papazian argues that it is necessary to always take into account the boundaries between these groups and the Turkish state and the Turkish majority population. For example, the boundary between Christian and Muslim Armenians can be explained through the understanding of Armenianness as well as the symbolic and political relationship of these two groups with the Turks. When the boundary between Christian Armenians and Turks is primarily a religious one, if the Christian Armenians accept Muslim Armenians as Armenians, they would automatically jeopardize their own boundaries with the Turks.

When asked if he would make any comparisons of the Armenians in Turkey with those of various diasporan communities, Papazian replied that he has not done it academically, but could reply informally about the Lebanese Armenians based on personal experience. He said that though the Armenian Church was still important for the latter, their Armenianness was not an ethnoreligious identity because there were ways other than through the church to be Armenian. The transreligious dimensions of Armenianness were not banned, so that political parties and secular schools could exist. You could be an Armenian without having contact with the church in Lebanon, unlike in Turkey.

A short-lived exception to the situation in Istanbul arose in the 1990s with a minority within the Armenian Christian minority that started to challenge the religious understanding of Armenianness. They claimed ethnic rights and the recognition of Armenian history and the contributions of the Armenians to the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey, and raised their voice against the injustices faced by Armenians. The political climate in Turkey had changed. Various Kurdish organizations had claimed their rights as an ethnic minority, though part of the religious majority. When the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power and made some initial steps toward democratization, partly as part of the process to access the European Union, this had its influence on Armenians too. The movement around Agos and Hrant Dink, and the Aras publishing house emerged, demanding rights for Armenians as a national minority.

The youngest generation of Armenians created the Nor Zartonk or New Awakening movement. They saw Hrant Dink as a role model and when he was shot they decided to go public in the Armenian community. They were active as democratic leftist activists in Turkish political circles and began to at the same time involve themselves in Armenian activism. They thought, according to Papazian, that Armenians could not solve their problems by looking inward. Instead they must take part in the general political changes in Turkey. Armenians could have their rights respected only if there was a democratic, non-nationalistic and more diverse Turkey.

Papazian said that they understood that they had to be active in movements like the Gezi Park protests, environmental movements, feminism, LGBT movements, and the defense of workers’ rights in order to represent the Armenian minority in this progressive democratic faction of Turkish society. By this, Papazian said, they also challenged the institutions of the Armenian minority. They advocated a secular representation of minorities such as Armenians in the place of the Armenian Patriarchate, pointing out that there were Armenian atheists and now Muslim Armenians raising their voices.

However, starting in 2015-16, when the AKP put aside democratization and returned to an authoritarian approach, the crackdown on the progressive pro-minorities movements in Turkey had its impact on the extension of these movements in the Armenian community. Some of the Nor Zartonk members left the country like their Kurdish and Turkish counterparts.

For more on Papazian’s analysis of the Nor Zartonk movement, see the video of his recent talk in Cambridge, Mass. for the Zoravik Armenian Activist Collective (https://www.facebook.com/zoravik/videos/314684859307974/?fref=mentions&__xts__[0]=68.ARCqY_al2P_BX_X2HXADaiMPB1GGdPC-Wo9N5KIeKzMIRwe74hJovu9pM-ujQAqIfc3ym_sl-MEhZ4OXSxOEvIJyXRuFDmcMSVDEJ4ZI1T2F1Pc-IfXRdVPHHMmKAm6S-sil8XscUh37jomUL6vagm3EPDeUzImkspLHfE_BXZU1Wu2O4KzzNzb9ipebfOAWHsp80CDs_XY&__tn__=K-R). He also has published the article “Between Gezi Park and Kamp Armen: The Intersectional Activism of Leftist Armenian Youths in Istanbul” (Turkish Studies, vol. 18:1, 2017) and “Armenians and Other Armenians in Turkey” (https://repairfuture.net/index.php/en/identity-standpoint-of-armenian-diaspora/armenians-and-other-armenians-in-turkey, 2017), which covers much of the same topics he discussed in the present interview.

The post Hrag Papazian Explores Armenian Identity in Turkey appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

ARLINGTON, Mass. — While science expands our understanding of our environment and the universe, poetry, since time immemorial, has nurtured the minds, souls and imagination of humanity with universal ideals. For more than five decades, Armenians in general and the Armenian-American community in particular had the fortune of enjoying in their midst the impressive career, “a rare and enormous talent,” poet Diana Der Hovanessian.

On Sunday, November 4 at 3 p.m., the Armenian Cultural Foundation and the New England Poetry Club in collaboration with eight Boston area cultural organizations: Amaras Art Alliance, Armenian General Benevolent Union – New England, Armenian International Women’s Association, Armenian Museum of America, The Friends of the Longfellow House, Hamazkaine Armenian Cultural and Educational Society, National Association for Armenian Studies and Research and Tekeyan Cultural Association of the United States and Canada will pay tribute to the life and literary legacy of Diana Der Hovanessian.

Born in Worcester, the oldest Armenian community in America, Diana Der Hovanessian, grew up in a traditional Armenian family, including her grandparents, until age 5. The youngest of three daughters and a son born to John Der Hovanessian and Mariam Israelian, her paternal grandparents were originally from Tadem, Kharpert, Western Armenia, while her maternal grandparents were from Worcester. Her parents’ families, on both sides, were wiped out during the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Diana’s upbringing shaped her early life as her family prospered and helped waves of Armenian immigrants to find work and attend school.

Reading in general and recitation of poetry were integral parts of the Der Hovanessian family culture. Diana’s first exposure to poetry came through the words of the martyred Armenian poets Daniel Varoujan and Siamanto. Her father recited their poems in Armenian, while her mother acquainted her with American and English poetry by literary giants such as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. All of the Der Hovanessian children, according to Diana, were not only encouraged but “expected to write poems for gifts for special days.”

To further her education, she attended Boston University, where she obtained an A.B. in literature. Later as a graduate student at Harvard she studied with Robert Lowell. Concurrently she worked as a journalist for the Medford Mercury. Later in New York City, she was a writer for the Associated Press and then for a young people’s weekly news magazine called Young America.

Moving to Cambridge, Mass., where she lived for the rest of her life, Diana began writing and publishing poems in various newspapers and magazines. Over the years more than 25 books of her poetry and translations were published, including How to Choose Your Past, Songs of Bread, Songs of Salt, and Dancing at the Monastery. She taught American literature, poetry, and translation, and also conducted poetry workshops in various academic institutions, including her alma mater Boston University, Stetson University, Bard College, Columbia University, the University of Connecticut, the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, and Yerevan State University, Armenia.

At the same time Diana was a visiting poet in Massachusetts schools and worked as visiting faculty and writer-in-residence at various universities in the United States. She was Fulbright professor of American poetry at the Yerevan State University in Armenia in 1994 and 1999. Diana served on the governing boards of the Poetry Society of America, and the Columbia University Translation Center. Garrison Keillor has read poems from her books on his “Writer’s Almanac” program on National Public Radio.

During her illustrious career, serving on the boards of many literary and cultural organizations, Diana made major contributions to the development of literature, poetry in particular. These associations included the Massachusetts Council on Arts, and Humanities; the International Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and Novelists Association; the Poetry Society of America; Boston University Collegium of Distinguished Alumni; and the Writers Union of Armenia. Diana also served on the editorial board of several literary and academic journals, such Ararat Literary Quarterly, and the Armenian Review.

As a member, and later president, of the New England Poetry Club, founded in 1915 by Amy Lowell, Robert Frost, and Conrad Aiken in Cambridge, Diana served with distinction. She transformed the Club from being “insular and provincial, with meetings held at the Brahmin enclaves of Beacon Hill and the Harvard Faculty Club” into a more open and vibrant society by inviting poets of diverse backgrounds and nationalities, such as Andrei Voznesenky and Yevgeni Yevtushenko, scores of South American and Latin American poets, as well as prominent American poets, among them Robert Creeley, X. J. Kennedy, and Robert Pinsky. During her tenure spanning over three decades, in addition to her administrative duties and recognition of the outstanding work of poets, younger ones in particular, she initiated in 2006 the Daniel Varoujan Award, in memory of the prolific Armenian poet martyred during the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Later, in her honor, the Club established the Der Hovanessian Awards for translation works from any language, authored by someone other than the translator. For the past decades over fifty promising young poets have received awards. As president of the New England Poetry Club. she also initiated and presided over the popular summer poetry reading festivals at the Longfellow House in Cambridge.

Diana’s interest in translating Armenian poetry, nurtured by her father from an early age, blossomed decades later, making a major literary legacy unmatched in English-language Armenian diaspora literature. The first attempts were a set of Armenian sharakans (hymns) for a Boston Pops concert conducted by Rouben Gregorian, a close friend of her father’s. The second consisted of a set of six pieces for a lecture on Daniel Varoujan her father was giving. Encouraged by positive reactions, Diana submitted them to her editor, who to her surprise took the whole batch. Shortly after, an invitation from the Christian Science Monitor to launch a page of international poems marked the beginning of Diana’s translation work. Her first works included pieces by Vahan Terian, followed by Nahapet Kouchak, the Armenian minstral Sayat Nova, tenth-century theologian Gregory of Narek, and then a long list nineteenth and twentieth century Armenian poets.

Today Diana’s translated works by over 200 Armenian poets, appear in 10 volumes of anthologies as well as in volumes dedicated to individual poets such as Varoujan, Kouchak, Tekeyan, and Emin. In her 2005 anthology, The Other Voice, Diana dedicated an entire volume to her translation of poems by Armenian women writers, beginning with old lullabies and magic chants and continuing through the ages to contemporary works. Her Anthology of Armenian Poetry, edited and translated with Marzbed Margossian, won the Anahid Award from the Columbia University Armenian Center.

In addition to the Armenian, Diana also translated works by Russian, Romanian, and Arab poets such as Anna Akhtamova, Maria Banus, Nizar Qabbani, Abd al-Razzaq and Abu al-Wahid.

Diana’s poems, exceeding a thousand, have appeared in over one hundred literary journals and magazines, among them Agni, American Poetry Review, Ararat, Christian Science Monitor, Poetry, Partisan, Prairie Schooner, Nation, Kroonk, and the Armenian Review, and in anthologies such as Against Forgetting, Women on War, On Prejudice, Finding Home, Leading Contemporary Poets, Orpheus and Company, Identity Lessons, Voices of Conscience, and Two Worlds Walking, select number of Diana’s works, in three volumes, have been translated into Armenian, and also into Russian, French, and Greek.

Perhaps unknown to many, Diana, wrote a number of plays. Two — “The Secret of Survival” and “Growing Up Armenian” — in 1984 and 1985 were produced on many college campuses, telling the Armenian story with poetry and music. The Secret of Survival with Michael Kermoyan (and later with Vahan Khanzadian) was also performed in the early 1990s to raise relief funds for victims of the December 1988 earthquake in Armenia. Both pieces are built around themes of Armenian American history and identity.

Decades of impressive literary output, scholarly work, academic accomplishments, and service to the literary culture in the United States brought praise from prominent writers and institutions. Specifically her contributions were recognized by some of thirty-four institutions and publication, and won her their highest awards, among them the prestigious PEN/Columbia Translation Award (1979), Paterson Poetry Prize (1998), Prairie Schooner, George Herbert Award of the World Order of Narrative Poets, Writers Union of Armenia, The PEN-New England GOLDEN PEN Award, the Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award (2009), and the Armenian Writers Union Award.

More specifically prominent American, Russian, and Armenian literary figures such as John Updike, D. M. Thomas, William Saroyan, F. D. Reeve, Yevgeni Yevtushenko, Robert Penn Warren, Peter Viereck, and Andrei Voznesensky praised Diana. The London Times Literary Supplement referred to Diana as “a brilliant poet who has opened up a new world to the English reader.”

The event on November 4 at 3 p.m. will be held at the Armenian Cultural Foundation (441 Mystic Street, Arlington). The keynote speakers include award-winning poet and educator, Dr. Vivian Shipley, a member of the University of Kentucky Hall of Distinguished Alumni and Connecticut State University Distinguished Professor at Southern Connecticut State University and Dr. Askold Melnyczuk Professor of English and MFA Graduate Program Director, College of Liberal Arts, University of Massachusetts Boston. Other speakers will include Dr. Robert Mirak, ACF president, Mary Buchinger, president of the New England Poetry Club, Maro Dalley, Diana’s daughter, and Dr. Barbara J. Merguerian, co-founder, Armenian International Women’s Association. The program, followed by a reception, will also include recitations of her works in English by Diana Der Hovanessian, Marc Mamigonian and Regie Gibson and Ani Arakelian in Armenian.

For more information and details, contact the ACF office during office hours (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

The post Community Celebrates the Legacy of Diana Der Hovanessian appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

By Kevork Keushkerian

ALTADENA, Calif. — Catholicos Karekin I of the Great House of Cilicia had declared October to be commemorated as cultural month. This year the feast of the Holy Translators was on Saturday, October 13. The cultural month denotes the translation of the Holy Bible by the disciples of St. Mesrob Mashtots, the founder of the Armenian alphabet.

Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Pasadena-Glendale Chapter Committee organized an evening of artistic renditions to commemorate the Armenian Cultural Month. It took place on Sunday, October 14, at TCA’s Beshgeturian center in Altadena.

In commemoration of the Armenian Cultural Month, Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Los Angeles Chapter had organized a lecture about novelist Zabel Yesayan on Wednesday, October 10, at 7:30 p.m. at the Glendale Central Library. The lecturer was Dr. Minas Kojayan.

In the same spirit, the newly-founded Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Los Angeles Metro Chapter is organizing a comedy night on Saturday, October 27, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. at Pasadena’s Rococo Restaurant. It will feature comedian Harout Soghomonian, with the participation of Maro Ajemian and Narine Avakian. It is a sold-out event.

Now, back to the TCA Pasadena-Glendale Chapter’s event. In his opening remarks, Kevork Keushkerian briefly dwelled upon the significance of the Cultural month and then invited the various artists to participate in the program. The program consisted of vocal renditions, poetic recitation, and dance performance.

Raffi Kerbabian was phenomenal in his rendition of 3 Armenian popular folk songs and an English song from our famous Charles Aznavour (Yesterday when I was young), which was in tribute to the late singer-song writer. Following this, Keushkerian asked the audience to stand and observe a moment of silence, in his memory.

Asdghig Dadourian eloquently recited two poems from poet Vahan Tekeyan and poet Henrig Toumanyan. Pateel and Cynthia Albarian intermittently performed 3 dances, the last of which was in memory of the Sardarabad victory.

Finally, Khatchig Nahabedian of our chapter committee rendered three songs, the first of which was from Sayat Nova. This one was also in tribute to the late Charles Aznovour, as he had performed this with his daughter, Seta.

At the close of the artistic renditions, Very Reverend Father Kegham Zakarian of the St. James Brotherhood in Jerusalem, recited the Lord’s Prayer and dismissed the audience with his Benediction. This was followed by a light reception, when the audience had a chance to congratulate the artists and the committee members for an evening of highly acclaimed performances.

The post Celebrating Armenian Cultural Month appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

By Monique Svazlian

Special to the Mirror-Spectator

SAN FRANCISCO — With the recent change in government in Armenia, there is a renewed sense of hope for the future of the country. It feels like the timing couldn’t be better to complement the recent influx of future-forward initiatives and projects that have nudged Armenia toward progress such as the Tumo Center, UWC Dilijan College, Aurora Prize and an increasing presence of technology and venture capital focusing on social, cultural and economic development in Armenia.

One prominent name behind some of these projects has been entrepreneur Ruben Vardanyan, whose vision for the future of Armenia is no secret. His most recent venture is the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST), focused on science and technology innovation in Armenia. I recently had the chance to speak with FAST’s CEO, Dr. Armen Orujyan, about what he sees as the opportunities and possibilities in Armenia.

Orujyan was born and lived in Armenia until age 16. He left in 1989 for the United States and completed all his schooling up till his PhD in the US. He has been an entrepreneur and innovator his entire career, having built organizations and initiatives such as the Athgo Corporation, one of the world’s leading entrepreneurship platforms in consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, UN Department of Public Information, and the World Intellectual Property Organization. Earlier in his career, he joined the UN’s Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID) as a Founding Member. He further served as a Commissioner on the UN’s venerated Broadband Commission for Digital Development through 2015.

A lesser known fact — he was also one of the founders of the Armenian Genocide March that takes place in Hollywood every year on April 24.

In 2017, he met Ruben Vardanyan in Los Angeles, after which he invited him to go to Armenia to explore the country. “It was incredible to see the progress since I had been there last in 2007. That’s when Ruben introduced me to his vision for making Armenia a science and technology hub. He was looking for someone to take over that initiative, so I agreed to go for six months to get to know Armenia better, to know the team and it was like falling in love – both with the country and the people working on these incredible initiatives like UWC Dilijan and IDeA, it was really exciting. I’ve been involved ever since.”

FAST is a nonprofit organization that reinforces intellectual, financial, and network capacities of the science and technology ecosystem in Armenia and beyond. Focused on producing an ecosystem that drives scientific advancement and technological innovation, under Orujyan’s leadership, FAST has launched a Fellowship for the top 10 percent of all PhDs in Armenia in STEM, deployed numerous scientific grants, and established the first Science and Technology Angels Network in Armenia.

FAST is focusing on developing four main areas, specifically data sciences (AI, machine learning, big data and analytics), bio-technology, advanced materials and micro-electronics. They plan on doing this through concentrating resources behind select breakthrough innovations, inventions, and multi-stakeholder projects, and coordinating activities of scientists, inventors, and entrepreneurs to amplify their work and impact both in Armenia and the world. “The goal is to successfully advance these four verticals, to make Armenia a very competitive country, grow the GDP in line with Western standards, stop the brain drain and think about the brain gain in the country and attract Armenians from the Diaspora as well as non-Armenians from other countries,” says Orujyan.

The bigger objective is to turn Armenia into a Top 10 Innovation country. Currently, Armenia is number 69 on the list. “It’s going to take a big cultural and socio-economic shift, as well as lots of out-of-the-box thinking to get there. Culturally, however, Armenia is ready to embrace science – we love studying physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics. The instruction level is fairly low in the country, so education and knowledge needs to be improved, but it’s an issue that exists and we can correct that. But we do have the talent, the drive and the passion that can help us grow exponentially.”

I asked him why he thought this was such an important initiative for the country, given all the other challenges it faces currently. “Armenia is very small, we don’t have many natural resources. Our best resource are our people, we have human capital. Science doesn’t require big numbers, it requires intellectual capital and we can do that with the people that are in Armenia.”

Currently, the organization is looking to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to turn Armenia into a science and tech hub, through philanthropic investment, impact investment, and return on investment. “We need intellectual capital as well as coaches and mentors for our young fellows in various areas of science. We also need to develop our network capacity to get in touch with top notch institutions around the world we can collaborate with. We welcome everyone’s support – we can’t and don’t want to do this by ourselves!”

To learn more about FAST, visit https://fast.foundation/

The post Dr. Armen Orujyan Wants to Put Armenia in the FAST Lane appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

WASHINGTON — On Sunday October 28, the Parish Council of St. Mary Armenian Church and Knights and Daughters of Vartan organized a joint farewell reception in honor of outgoing Ambassador of Armenia Grigor Hovhannissian, who left the United States with his family on Monday October 29.

Sarnie Zenian, chairman of Parish council welcomed the ambassador, diplomatic corps and community members and wished the ambassador, his wife Victoria and daughters Mariam and Michelle the best in their life in new Armenia.

Kevork Marshlian, commander of the Knights of Vartan, thanked the ambassador for his service to the Armenian nation, reminded the audience that the ambassador was selected in 2016 as Man of The Year by the Grand Council of Knights of Vartan in 2016 and assured the present that the Ambassador does not have orders from the government of Armenia to make contradictory remarks, as US Ambassador Richard Mills did after completing his tenure in Yerevan, and chose to leave Armenia while making incendiary remarks rather than parting with fond memories.

Prior to his Washington appointment, Hovhannissian had served as Armenia’s ambassador to Mexico, Costa Rica and as Armenia’s Consul General in Los Angeles.. and before his career in the diplomatic service, he has held a number of positions in United Nations programs and specialized agencies, working in Africa and the Middle East. He was a UNESCO Team Leader and emergency Planner for the Middle East Peace Process in Jerusalem and United Nation Field Coordinator in Palestinian territories.

Rev. Hovsep Karabedian, pastor of St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church spoke about the dedication of Hovhannissian, his positive efforts towards the Armenian communities throughout United States and wished him success in his new career as Deputy Foreign Minister, and like to welcome him again in Washington DC.

The post Farewell to the Ambassador appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

BATON ROUGE, La. — Parishioners of the St. Garabed Parish of Baton Rouge gathered over the weekend of October 13-14 to remember the heroic defenders of the city of Hadjin. Visiting pastor Fr. Tateos Abdalian traveled to share in the occasion.

As they do every year, the parishioners made an offering of the madagh of jidaboor. The preparation of the traditional meal began on Friday evening, with Abdalian conducting the Rite of the Blessing of Salt. The salt — a symbol of cleansing — would be added to the large pots of meat and barley in which the jibadoor meal would be cooked.

Members of the community, old and young alike, gathered at around 9 p.m. on Saturday night to begin the vigil of cooking. Women of the parish had already prepared the meat by cutting it into tiny pieces; this was put into several large pots along with barley and spices. The process of cooking would involve continually stirring the mixture in the pots.

A little after 2 a.m., the process was completed. The pots were taken to the church hall to await a proper blessing, which would be conferred at the close of badarak on Sunday.

It was during the badarak that Fr. Abdalian spoke the prayer of intercession for the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide, invoking with special emphasis the martyrs who died defending the city of Hadjin.

Requiem prayers were offered for the departed souls of families descended from the survivors of Hadjin; and for the repose of Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, the late Patriarch of Jerusalem and Diocesan Primate; for Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian, a greatly-missed friend to the Baton Rouge parishioners, whose Name Day was marked on Saturday; and for Bishop Hovsep Garabedian, pastor of the St. James Church in Watertown, during the late 1940s, who baptized Abdalian.

Afterwards, the faithful gathered in the church hall for the Blessing of Madagh. As they consumed the jibadoor meal, parishioners broke into songs about the heroic Armenians of Hadjin.

Present for the occasion were two visiting scholars: the Rev. Dr. Abel Manoogian of Geneva, Switzerland — a son of Hadjin — who has recently published a book on Swiss humanitarian contributions during the Armenian Genocide, and Anahid Khosroeva, a well-known historian from Armenia who is presently teaching in Chicago.

The historic defense of Hadjin began in earnest on March 31, 1920. In the prior cataclysm of the Genocide, a population of some 20,000 had been reduced to 8,000. For seven months the Hadjin Armenians defended their town against savage attacks from an overwhelming Turkish force.

But by mid-October, with only 480 men remaining, the defenders could no longer hold their position and chose to abandon the city, fleeing in small groups south towards Feke and on to Adana. Those who could not escape were massacred without mercy.

The dramatic episode of history has been marked annually for some three decades by the Baton Rouge parishioners — many of whom trace their family roots to Hadjin.

The post A Traditional Meal Honors the Heroes of Hadjin appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

WATERTOWN — For the first time in their history, a substantial portion of the archives of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) and the first Republic of Armenia, held in the Hairenik Building in Watertown, have been opened to the public. On the evening of October 25, leaders of Boston-area Armenian organizations were invited to the Papken Suni Armenian-American Social Club for a wine-and-cheese reception and a first look at the archives next door. The event was intended as an educational part of the celebration of the centennial of the first Republic of Armenia.

Joshua Tevekelian, chairman of the ARF Boston Sardarabad Committee, welcomed the organizational representatives. He said that a group of members of the ARF and sister organizations already have been given this tour and that now the wider community is being invited. Tevekelian declared that, “The archives do not belong just to our organization, but to the independent Republic of Armenia and therefore to all of us.” A repeating slide show of some of the photographs and documents in the archives was on display throughout the evening.

George Aghjayan, chairman of the ARF Central Committee of the Eastern Region of the United States and director of the archives, gave a brief background of the archives, which were moved from Europe to the United States eventually after World War I. In 1986, when the Hairenik Building was built, a vault was placed in the basement specifically for the archives. A few years ago, when Aghjayan was appointed as director of the archives, he took the pragmatic approach of starting with doing the possible, not the ideal maximum, which would be prohibitively expensive. He had the space improved with equipment that people could use and updated the humidity control system. Recently scholars have come to use the archives.

Afterwards, guests went to the Hairenik building in groups of ten and were given a brief tour by Aghjayan. A series of interesting documents and photographs were placed on display there, including the original declaration of independence of the Republic of Armenia of May 30, 1918 and an original manuscript of Simon Vratsian’s book, Hayastani hanrabedutiwn. A report by Haroutiun Khachadoorian, a graduate of the University of Vermont and native of Aintab who accompanied the Harbord Mission from the United States as translator and engineer, on a proposed railway system for Armenia after World War I, was shown along with a list of the population of regions of Russian Armenia found in his papers. A stamp that was used by the first republic’s consulate in Sofia, Bulgaria, a copy of an ARF membership card, and pictures of various ARF fighters were on a table along with a newsletter published in the early 1960s in the US for ARF membership only on the arrest of Syrian ARF members.

Aghjayan defined the archives as having four sections. First is the ARF party archives from 1890 onward. Of these, the entire ARF collection from 1890 to 1926 has been fully catalogued and microfilmed. Only this part is accessible for use. The remaining materials have been placed in archival boxes but not catalogued. This is a project to be done in the future.

Up until the 1980s, Aghjayan explained, all regions of the party continued to send archival materials to Watertown, but after that it became untenable. Furthermore, the electronic age has now changed the nature of correspondence.

The second part is composed of the archives of the first Republic of Armenia, from 1918 to 1920. Only a small portion of this has been catalogued — roughly 10-15 percent, according to Aghjayan. The uncatalogued part is not available for the general public, but historians would be allowed to use the uncatalogued section. Some like Richard Hovannisian had done so a long time ago.

The third major section contains over 30 boxes of photographs, which need to be digitized and catalogued. Project Save has provided advice on their preservation and digitalization, said Aghjayan. The fourth section is still being assembled. It is composed of private papers, including those belonging to members of the party like Abraham Gulkhandanian, who served in various posts in the government of the first republic and later actually was the first to start cataloguing the archives.

There are even some film materials that have been found in the archives.

After a long period of time during which scholars, or at least those not affiliated with the ARF, were unable to access this rich storehouse of material, the opening of the ARF archives no doubt will give new impetus to the study of many topics in modern Armenian history. It can even be useful to individuals seeking information on relatives and ancestors. Those who are interested in seeing the archives should contact George Aghjayan via email at sakratpalu@gmail.com.

The post ARF Archives Open to the Public for First Time appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

Dr. Ani Aprahamian, director of the Alikhanyan National Science Laboratory in Yerevan, Armenia, and Freimann Professor Experimental Nuclear Physics at the University of Notre Dame, will give a talk titled “Science, Technology, and Education in Armenia” at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Tuesday, November 6, at 7:30 p.m. in MIT Building 1, room 190.

This program is presented by the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) / Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Series on Contemporary Armenian Issues and the MIT Armenian Society.

Aprahamian was appointed director of the Alikhanyan Laboratory (Yerevan Physics Institute) in April 2018.  She is the first woman and the first diasporan Armenian to hold this position.

Aprahamian was born in Lebanon, and is a descendant of Armenian Genocide survivors.  She holds a B.A. and Ph.D. from Clark University, Worcester. She has given more than 200 talks at various conferences and has been published more than 200 times in peer reviewed journals, book chapters, etc. She is active in numerous international and national advisory committees in nuclear science. Among the many honors recognizing her achievements, she is an Elected Fellow of Science Academy of Republic of Armenia, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Physical Society.

This event is open to the public and will be followed by a reception.  For more information please contact NAASR at hq@naasr.org or the MITAS at mitas_officers@mit.edu.

The post Head of Armenia’s National Science Lab Aprahamian to Speak at MIT appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — On October 27 and 28, the Tekeyan Cultural Association (TCA) of Greater New York hosted an art exhibition featuring the works of Simon Samsonian an Armenian cubist-impressionist painter.

The opening reception took place on October 27 and the exhibition opened to the public on October.

The committee organized a reception and program for this acclaimed artist. A selection of works curated by Samsonian’s grandson, Alan Semerdjian, was shown at the reception, set up to resemble a gallery at the Tekeyan Center.

More than 100 guests attended the two-day event, among them Mher Margaryan, the ambassador for Armenia at the United Nations, second secretary Zoya Stepanyan, Simon Samsonian’s daughter Hilda Semerdjian, Armenian philanthropists Sarkis and Ruth Bedevian, and longtime Tekeyan benefactor Artemis Nazarian and her daughter, Seta.

Hilda Hartounian, chair of TCA of Greater New York, opened the program and invited Margaryan to make brief remarks.

The ambassador praised the Tekeyan Chapter for being the a cultural leader in the community and cultivating strong ties with the UN Mission for many years.

The program continued with a reading by poet George Wallace, the first poet laureate of Suffolk County, NY, and a friend of the Samsonian family. Wallace read a poem by Vahan Tekeyan to commemorate the 140th anniversary of Tekeyan’s birth.

Hartounian also invited Simon Samsonian’s brother-in-law, Nubar Kupelian, to share a few words about the artist in Armenian. Kupelian has been the Armenian language Secretary for the previous Primate Khajag Barsamian and his predecessor for the past 48 years.

He spoke about Samsonian’s orphaned childhood, then his life in Egypt when he became an accomplished painter.

Samsonian was separated from his parents in the Armenian Genocide of 1915, and was never able to see them again. As a young boy in the orphanages of Greece and Egypt, his talents in painting and sculpting didn’t go unnoticed. He was given a scholarship to attend the Leonardo Da Vinci School of Art in Alexandria, Egypt. He excelled as a student there and later became a teacher at the school. His works are seen and admired around the world in museums, galleries, and private collections.

The guests enjoyed a lavish reception and  mingled among the beautiful artwork. The program attracted guests from several generations, including budding painter Nanar Bouldukian, 5, who said she loved Samsonian’s painting titled “Compositions.”

Samsonian’s works are on display in various museum collections, including the National Art Gallery in Yerevan, Armenia, the Museum of Modern Art, Cairo, Egypt, the Musée Arménien de France, the collection of the Mekhitarist Fathers’ Monastic Order, Vienna, Austria and the Hecksher Museum of Art in Huntington, NY.

Hagop Vartivarian concluded the program by speaking about the connection between the Tekeyan Cultural Association and Simon Samsonian. He mentioned how Samsonian met Vahan Tekeyan just prior to coming to the United States, and conversed about how much he read and admired his poetry. The poet Tekeyan encouraged Samsonian to meet with the Tekeyan circle in New York. There, Samsonian campaigned for and started a new committee — whose chair he became — featuring newcomers from the Diaspora as members. Since then, Vartivarian stated, “Tekeyan strives to invite new members to the organization to add diversity, thus creating new ideas, concepts, and projects to promote our Armenian heritage.”

Samsonian died in 2003 at the age of 81.

One of the program’s highlights was the impressive performance of 11-year-old cellist Arno Hajjar, son of Dr. Roger Hajjar and Teni Apelian. The guests were blown away by the young perfomer’s rendition of Robert Schumann’s The Two Grenadiers. He is a student of cellist Ani Kalayjian, who is the daughter of Barkev Kalayjian, treasurer of the TCA chapter. Hajjar has previously joined Ani Kalayjian and the Elizabeth Morrow Orchestra Ensemble in opening for Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman.

Alan Semerdjian thanked the Tekeyan Greater NY committee and Hartounian for organizing this event. On behalf of the family, he donated a Samsonian painting to the Tekeyan Center.

“A lovely cultural gathering centered around the prolific artistic work of Simon Samsonian, an Egyptian-born painter of Armenian heritage, said Linda Tarzian, a TCA supporter.

In 2019, TCA Greater New York will celebrate its 50th Golden Anniversary. The committee has a clear-cut mission to continue to promote the Armenian heritage, language, and identity through cultural and educational programs including lectures, concerts, book presentations, and art exhibits.

Samsonian

1 of 14

The post TCA Greater New York Celebrates Art of Simon Samsonian appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

WASHINGTON — Armenian-American leaders and activists from across the country gathered earlier this Fall in the nation’s capital for the Armenian Assembly of America 2018 National Advocacy Conference and Gala in a unified effort to strengthen congressional support for United States-Armenia relations and to raise concerns in the House and Senate. As part of its Advocacy Conference, the Assembly organized a panel of experts sharing their insights of the realities of the persecuted Christians in the Middle East.

The conference attendees heard from National Council of Churches (NCC) President and General Secretary Jim Winkler, General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church Director Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe, and The Religious Freedom Institute (RFI) Executive Director Kent Hill, and asked questions about what can be done on Capitol Hill to help this minority community. The panel was moderated by Armenian Church of America (Eastern Diocese) Diocesan Legate Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, former NCC president and member of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Committee on Faith Based Initiatives.

“I think this is an excellent contribution to this assembly to know about the suffering of Christians in the Middle East — the forgotten minorities,” Aykazian said.

RFI Executive Director Hill started the discussion by describing his experience traveling to Armenia while representing the US Government and US Agency for International Development (USAID), and expressed his admiration at seeing some of the oldest churches in Christian history.

He then continued with daunting facts about the current Christian population in the Middle East, and shared with the audience findings and statistics that he prepared for congressional testimony this past June. “Of the three million Christians who are estimated to have been living in Iraq and Syria in 2003, 75-80 percent of them have been forced to abandon their homes because of sectarian violence, civil war, the rise of the brutal Islamic State. Of the 1.5 million Christians in Iraq in 2003, perhaps only 200,000 remain, and many of them are IDPs (internally displaced persons),” he said.

“Despite repeated Administration promises and Congressional pleas to respond quickly to be of assistance to the IDPs in the quest to return home, this simply did not happen, though I am pleased to report that in recent months there seems to be a commitment to do more in the future than has been done in the past,” Hill added. “It is not too late to make a difference. We are capable of moving much more quickly than we have been moving, but that will never happen if we are not persuaded that this is really a priority.”

Hill is part of an advisory committee to USAID mandated by Congress, comprising faith-based organizations. He assured the conference attendees that, according to Congress, more money will go to help the minorities.

Crowe explained that she has “traveled to several Middle Eastern regions throughout the years” and has “seen some of the disastrous results of economic, political, and nationalistic aims. And, very often, it does in fact affect religious minorities and indigenous peoples.”

After speaking about updates in the region, she pressed the participants to take the next step to help the Christian minorities. “Being with the people and hearing the stories of what their lives are like on the ground are very, very important. So, I urge you to continue to go and see, and then to go back to your homes and tell the stories of the Christians in the Middle East,” Crowe concluded.

The NCC president, who recently traveled to the region, encouraged everyone to engage in public policy advocacy and fight for the Christian population. “Life is harder and harder for Christians throughout the Middle East, and Christians in the United States must stand and act with solidarity on their behalf,” Winkler said.

“We believe that Christians in the United States must be made more aware of the dire situation of our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Middle East and that education about their situation must be our priority for action,” he continued. “We believe that Christians of the United States must engage in public policy advocacy — such as what you are doing — that supports the well-being of our church members of the Middle East. This includes constructive remedies for the extremist violence and responses to human rights violations throughout the region.”

The post Panel Addresses the Disappearing Christian Population in the Middle East appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

HACKENSACK, N.J. — The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) announces the award of a $2,000 grant from the NNJCF’s Andrea Tilbian Halejian Memorial Fund to the Center for Peace, Justice and Reconciliation (PJR) at Bergen Community College in Paramus. The NNJCF, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization based in Hackensack, concentrates on education, public health, civic engagement, arts, philanthropy, and the environment.

The fund remembers Wyckoff resident Andrea Tilbian Halejian and contributes to qualified charitable organizations she supported. Andrea Tilbian Halejian, her family and many of their friends cared for Armenian efforts on local, national and international levels. Previous grant recipients include the Fund for Armenian Relief and the Armenian General Benevolent Union.

“As a person of Armenian ancestry, Andrea Tilbian Halejian was committed to Armenian genocide awareness and education. The program for high school students offered by the Center for Peace, Justice & Reconciliation at Bergen Community College gives participants the opportunity to learn about identity and genocide, in alignment with Andrea’s dedication to her heritage,” said Christine Badach, a member of the fund’s advisory committee.

Working with local and global communities, PJR develops skills in conflict resolution and ethical decision making to promote social justice and global citizenship. A key part of its mission is a focus on the Armenian genocide, the first one in the 20th century. The grant will support daylong seminars on identity and genocide for area high school students.

During its 20th anniversary year, the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation continues to serve the community and asks, What can we do together that we can’t do alone?. The NNJCF offers a comprehensive menu of philanthropic opportunities. Donor-advised funds, tax-saving annuities, and trust options provide donors with flexible, efficient, and tax-effective ways to ensure their charitable giving has maximum impact.

“The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation helps donors connect with issues they care about. These committed, civic-minded donors and their charitable interests are vital to the region and our communities’ health and well-being,” said Danielle De Laurentis, associate director of the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation.

For more information, visit www.nnjcf.org.

The post Northern NJ Community Foundation Awards Grant for Genocide Education appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

LOS ANGELES — One simple — yet key — question set into motion 30 years of research: how many Armenians were actually massacred during the Armenian Genocide?

This question was posed to Dr. Sarkis Karayan in 1971, when he was serving as chief of the American University of Beirut’s Maternal and Child Health Center, by Dr. Stanley Kerr, chairman of the Department of Biochemistry at AUB. Close friends and esteemed colleagues, Kerr was working on his soon-to-be published book Lions of Marash, which focused on the eyewitness accounts of the American Near East Relief’s efforts during the Armenian Genocide. Kerr knew that Karayan was not only Armenian, but possessed the passion for history and research that would lead him to the accurate findings.

He was right.

Karayan made this quest one of his life’s missions and after countless hours of research and decades of dedication, Armenians in Ottoman Turkey, 1914: A Geographic and Demographic Gazetteer, was recently released by the Gomidas Institute, an independent and academic institution based in London (www.gomidas.org).

Although Karayan passed away earlier this year, the significant efforts of the Gomidas Institute, the Armenian Film Foundation (AFF) and Dr. Silva Karayan, his widow, ensured that this thorough and first-of-its-kind volume would see the light of day. The book’s publication was marked by multiple symbolic events throughout the Diaspora, from a discussion in London to a special ceremony at the University of Southern California (USC) Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles to Abril Books in Glendale to a talk at Fresno State and concluded with a panel discussion at the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of America in Burbank.

The events, co-sponsored by the Armenian Film Foundation, Fresno State Armenian Studies Program and the AGBU Yervant Babayan Institute of Pedagogy for Research and Development, further explored Karayan’s research and its ramifications not only for the Armenian community but for academia and society as a whole.

While there were many estimates about how many Armenians perished during the Armenian Genocide, Dr. Karayan’s systematic and detail-oriented approach dug into archival records and peeled back layers of history, shooting straight to the core. He researched how many Armenians factually existed in these historic Armenian villages and towns before deducing the actual number killed. By utilizing his fluency in both Ottoman and Modern Turkish, Eastern and Western Armenian, Classical Armenian, French and German, he compiled a comprehensive list of 4,600 towns and villages that were home to Armenians in pre-genocide Turkey through researching books, maps and a myriad of sources in various languages.

The results of this book, which lists both old Armenian and new Turkish names, geographical coordinates, maps and sources, place over 2.4 million Ottoman Armenians in these towns and villages. He cites them all, one by one, profiling the demographics of each, a tedious approach that required a search for names of villages that had changed during the Turkification process in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide. These villages and cities vanished overnight when the government wiped their maps clean of Armenians in 1959 but for the first time ever, Karayan resurrects these ancestral lands for the entire world to learn the breadth and depth of the Armenian presence in the Ottoman Empire.

Honoring the publication of the book and Karayan’s memory, a notable commemoration was held at the USC Shoah Foundation, where the original manuscripts of Karayan’s research are housed, thanks to a donation by his wife. This was followed by a discussion featuring historian Ara Sarafian, executive director of the Gomidas Institute, hosted by Abril Bookstore in Glendale on Tuesday, October 23.

Dr. Carla Garapedian, a member of the Board of Directors of the Armenian Film Foundation and a film producer and director, welcomed guests and traced the connection of Karayan’s book to the founder of AFF, Dr. Michael Hagopian, who used this study to locate historic Armenian cities and towns in modern day Turkey while documenting Armenian Genocide testimonies.

During his talk, Sarafian pointed out that this book is not only a resource for Armenians but for Turks and Kurds as well, who also have questions about their history. Sarafian noted that at the book’s launch in London on October 17, one third of the audience was Turkish.

“Dr. Karayan puts Armenia back on the map in Turkey,” said Sarafian, who highlighted a period in the 1970s and 1980s when Turkish and American scholars “downgraded” the Armenian presence in the region.

“This book is a critique of denialist history,” said Sarafian. “Dr. Karayan engages in this denialist debate and opens up a new genre of historical evidence, making his thesis certifiable and breaking down the number of Armenians who perished from 1915-1923.”

Sarafian said that due to the Turkification process after the Genocide, Armenians were written out of historiography and that Karayan “challenges the Turkish government’s monopoly of their revised history.”

Emphasizing that Karayan’s book reverses denialist claims, Sarafian said it’s up to the current generation to challenge revisionists and partake in historical debates in order to present the Armenian voice and perspective.

He noted the importance of learning how to use this resource well in order to “reclaim the Armenian identity and ancestral lands and to raise healthy questions in Turkish society.”

“This is a political weapon and it’s a form of resistance,” said Sarafian who stated that donations of this book should be made to every municipality in Turkey as well as to human rights organizations, “who will ask the right questions when exploring where the Armenians in these towns and villages went.”

Karayan’s book also “builds bridges” and engages debate with the Turks, according to Sarafian, because they don’t have the knowledge but want to learn about their own histories.

“This work has opened up new possibilities,” said Sarafian, emphasizing the importance of using knowledge as a weapon. “Dr. Karayan encapsulates the memory of lost villages and creates an opportunity for contact, human dialogue and interactions.”

Born to Armenian Genocide survivors in Aleppo, Syria, Karayan was raised in Beirut, Lebanon, where he graduated from the American University of Beirut Medical School and was appointed Chief of AUB’s Maternal and Child Health Center. During the Lebanese Civil War, he moved with his wife and daughter, Zella, to the United States in 1976 where he was the recipient of a Fellowship in Developmental Disabilities at New York Medical College. He then joined the University of Massachusetts Medical School as clinical faculty in pediatrics and developmental disabilities before moving to California where he was appointed Chief of Service at Camarillo State Hospital’s Developmental Disabilities Center. Although his profession was that of a medical doctor, his devotion to uncovering the number of Armenians who were massacred during the Armenian Genocide was fueled by his own families experiences in Aintab, which he uses as a case study in his book.

A special panel discussion was organized on Friday, October 26 at the Western Diocese in Burbank, under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, featuring Ara Sarafian, Dr. Garabed Moumdjian, Crispin Brooks and Dr. Garbis Der Yeghiayan.

In her welcoming remarks, Garapedian said that the evening “marked a beginning and an end.”

“It’s a beginning of this study’s debut as a book and the beginning of a discussion in both the academic and public domain,” said Garapedian, who praised Dr. Silva Karayan’s “steadfast” efforts that led everyone to this day. “Without her dedication to this publication, I can say without hesitation we would not be here tonight.”

In memory of her beloved father, Zella Karayan Karagozian shared insights about his passion for medicine, history, music and research.

“My father’s book is the product of decades of research, his passion to ensure that information and facts about Armenians, especially the Armenian Genocide, are documented accurately and his hope and desire that Armenia’s towns and villages, past and present, are not erased from the map,” said Karayan Karakozian who then introduced the musical interlude of the program as a tribute to Dr. Karayan’s love of classical music and opera.

Piano pieces by Arno Babajanian and Aram Khatchaturian were played by Nanor Der Bedrossian and tenor Suren Mkrtchyan performed compositions by R. Amirkhanyan and a classic Italian piece by Rodolfo Falvo and Enzo Fusco.

Opening up the discussion, Sarafian called Armenians in Ottoman Turkey, 1914: A Geographic and Demographic Gazetteer an “exemplary scholarship” that “undermines the efforts of the Turkish state.”

“This is the first of its kind in the English language to uncover the genealogy demographics,” said Sarafian, who noted that Americans and Turks worked together in their denialist enterprise.

Brooks, curator of the USC Shoah Foundation’s Visual History Archive, said the work is “invaluable.” Home to the Armenian Film Foundation’s Armenian Genocide testimonies since 2010, Brooks has been working on filmed interviews of survivor testimonies.

“Geography is a challenge when trying to uncover the places survivors talk about since the towns and villages have been renamed,” said Brooks. “We use a systematic approach with multiple sources to find the existence of the place and where it is.”

Brooks said the foundation is now utilizing Dr. Karayan’s book as one of its main sources to verify the existence of names of towns and cities.

“These places don’t appear on a modern map but since we also work in the electronic medium, we are able to place them back there because of this work,” he said.

An independent researcher and historian, Dr. Garabed Moumdjian was familiar with Dr. Karayan’s research and the articles he had published in newspapers about his findings. Dr. Moumdjian referred to the book as a “national treasure” that creates an opportunity to discuss various important points, including the issue of Islamized Armenians. Dr. Moumdjian noted that the numbers were long-debated with Turks saying 1-1.2 million Armenians existed in historic Armenia, while the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople had recorded 2.2 million.

“In this book you will see 2.2 million is accounted for,” said Dr. Moumdjian, noting that Dr. Karayan reaches the same number as the Patriarchate. “There is a gap in the numbers, we say 1.5 million died, therein exists the Islamized Armenians, who stayed behind in those days but to us are lost and counted as dead.”

He highlighted that Islamized Armenian are now resurfacing and it’s up to the current generation to “continue the debate and find these answers.”

Dr. Moumdjian also expressed the importance of Armenian as an academic language, arguing that there aren’t enough specialists in the Armenian language and that it’s time to reconnect with the Armenian intellectual tradition.

Dr. Garbis Der Yeghiayan, President of the Los Angeles-based Mashdots College, referred to the book as a “game changer” and as an answer to the denialists, historians and members of the Turkish government “who are trying to rewrite history.”

“We owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Karayan for his monumental research,” said Dr. Der Yeghiayan, who leads pilgrimages to Cilicia, Cappadocia and Western Armenia. “I have traveled to the region more than 25 time and I wish I had this publication in my hands in order to find all the villages.”

Crediting Karayan’s passion as a “truth seeker,” Der Yeghiayan said the book is “unprecedented and unmatched” because it redefines the Armenian map.

“He has resurrected the Armenian consciousness and Armenian roots and when I visit our ancestral land next summer I will carry this book with me and Dr. Karayan will serve as our guide,” said Der Yeghiayan.

“If there is any reconciliation, Dr. Karayan will be the godfather of that reconciliation between Armenians and Turks,” concluded Der Yeghiayan.

He expressed profound gratitude to the Babayan and Karayan families, the Gomidas Institute, and the Armenian Film Foundation for seeing through the publication of this book, “that will be so valuable for our generation but for many generations to come.”

Closing remarks were made by Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, who thanked Dr. Silva Karayan for being “the architect” of this publication which brings “the Armenian Genocide under a new light for us.”

Derderian noted the panel discussion was an “educational session” for the audience and reaffirmed the importance of educating the present and future generations to learn about the depth of history of the Armenian Genocide in order to be “informed of the historical facts.” He encouraged schools to remain open on April 24 and to be commemorated not only as a day of remembrance but also as a day of learning.

“The late Dr. Karayan certainly lived a meaningful life and left us with an invaluable legacy,” said Archbishop Derderian. “We will cherish this book as a treasure as it will open new doors to better understand what happened in the history of Armenians and in the history of humanity.”

The post From Mundane Details to Great Revelations appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

MEDFORD, Mass. — New Paths Bridging Armenian Women will host on Friday, November 16, a book launch and conversation for Emma Arakelyan, author of The Business Caring Formula, at Tufts University, Alumni Lounge, 40 Talbot Ave., 7-9 p.m.

Mistress of Ceremonies will be Kristin Asadourian, founder of KA Coaching. Guest speaker and writer of the book’s Foreword, Robert J. Gates, Partner Technical  Architect at Microsoft from New York City, will introduce the author. The event is free and open to the public with light refreshments provided by Prelude Bakery of Newton, after program.

Arakelyan is managing director of Open Mind Productions, CEO and co-founder of Orion Worldwide Innovations and an adjunct professor at New York University. The book addresses leadership and how to navigate, succeed and make an impact in the world of international business. According to Arakelyan, The Business Caring Formula is written for college students, managers, CEOs, entrepreneurs and individuals who are in leadership positions in the private and public sectors, providing them with the formula to succeed during any stage of life. Arakelyan shares practical advice and challenges you to take steps on your own to “care” being mindful of coworkers, family, friends and the community you live in.

Readers are quickly engaged with thought-provoking questions and prompts: know who you are, know your preferences and your leadership style, learn with care about others, to dream is not an action item it is a daring vision of a future state, challenge the status quo by making exceptions to the rules which aren’t working and making exceptions for progress.

Her approach is grounded to improve operational efficiency and to actualize more innovative business processes. Throughout her career she has been committed to identify, mentor and promote professionals at all levels.

The implementation of caring is eloquently summarized by Gates: The Business Caring Formula” a call to action by Emma Arakelyan confronts the biggest problem eroding our potential everyday: the lack of care in the way we conduct business and interact with each other. As a successful, senior-level executive in various industries, Emma is esteemed around the world for her business acumen and an unparalleled ability to inspire everyone around her to affect progress. She is a testament to true leadership built around a simple principle: propelling progress through the simple application of caring.”

Arakelyan operates her LLC Open Mind Productions across three cornerstones: author, board advisor to business and non-profits and an Adjunct Professor at New York University’s School of Professional Studies. She earned her master’s degree in political economy from the University of Economics, Armenia and a Bachelor of Science in economics from Armenia State University of Economics. She lives in New York City with her family.

New Paths-Bridging Armenian Women, based in Massachusetts, is an online women’s networking group on social media with members worldwide. Providing educational resources, inspirational themed success stories and fosters an inclusive environment for women of Armenian heritage, supporting each other in our daily lives, empowering each other in our professional lives and together, creating a positive impact in our communities. For more information about the event and NPBAW or to rsvp, email newpathsinfo@gmail.com.

The post New Paths Hosts Book Launch and Conversation with Emma Arakelyan appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

WINCHESTER, Mass. — The Armenia Tree Project (ATP) and a group of volunteer ambassadors are organizing a benefit concert on Sunday, December 2 with the a cappella group Boston Jazz Voices.

Boston Jazz Voices is an 18-voice a cappella ensemble devoted to vocal jazz. The original singers came together to perform the arrangements of Gene Puerling whose penchant for dense and unexpected harmonic progressions created a genre of singing that is emulated by all the best known jazz a cappella groups today. This past year, they were finalists in WGBH’s “Sing that Thing” vocal competition.

“We’ve expanded our outreach in the local community with environmental education in the Armenian diaspora schools, recycling at church bazaars, and wine and cheese receptions in cities across the country. For Christmas, we decided to try something fun and host a benefit concert,” explained director of development Hillel Korin. “Our team of volunteers had so much fun organizing the Kentucky Derby benefit event, they wanted to keep the momentum going.”

The volunteer committee is led by Linda and Karnig Ostayan.

ATP is currently raising funds for its 2018 Annual Appeal, and donations all go toward tree planting, environmental education, and poverty reduction initiatives in Armenia.

The December 2 event will be held at the Jenks Center, 109 Skillings Road, Winchester, at 5 p.m. The event will include a performance, refreshments, raffle and silent auction. Tickets available via www.armeniatree.org/acappella.

The post Boston Jazz Voices A Cappella Christmas Concert to Benefit ATP’s Environmental Programs in Armenia appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Trinity Men’s Union of Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Boston will host Hunter Mack, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, as its guest speaker at their dinner and meeting on Monday, November 12. Mack’s topic is “The Role of Combustion in an Evolving Energy Landscape.” He will explain the differences between all the alternative sources of energy available today and show how combustion will still need to play a role in the future.

The rise in renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, has greatly impacted how electricity is generated. However, more than 80 percent of energy comes from traditional processes that rely on combustion to convert fuels into energy. How combustion is used and where fuels are found will play a major role in meeting future energy demands, reducing harmful emissions, and enabling next-generation transportation concepts.

Mack’s research focuses on combustion, biofuels, and energy efficiency. Prior to joining the University of Massachusetts Lowell, he was a project scientist and lecturer at the University of California at Berkeley, a senior engineer at solar concentrator start-up Banyan Energy, and a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Combustion Analysis Laboratory at UC Berkeley. He received his MS (2005) and PhD (2007) from UC Berkeley with an emphasis on multi-component fuels in Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) engines. He also holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Washington University (St. Louis MO) and a B.A. in physics from Hendrix College (Conway, AK).

The dinner/meeting will be held in Johnson Hall of Holy Trinity Armenian Church, 145 Brattle St. All are welcome to attend. The social hour begins at 6 p.m., and dinner at 7 p.m. RSVP is requested by November 11 by emailing tmuhtaac@gmail.com.

The post Hunter Mack to Speak at Trinity Men’s Union Dinner and Meeting November 12 appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

PASADENA, Calif. — A sold-out crowd laughed out loud all night during An Evening of Comedy, hosted by the Tekeyan Cultural Association Metro Los Angeles chapter on Saturday, October 27 at The Rococo Room.

The event marked the kick-off for the new chapter that seeks to uphold the Armenian culture through arts and educational programming and activities.

Headlining the night’s comedy line-up was Harout Soghomonian, along with performers Maro Ajemian and Narine Avakian. All three drew on the nuances of daily life while connecting with audiences and eliciting laughter.

“Organizing an event like this requires devotion and determination and I saw that first-hand in the dynamic committee members,” said Soghomonian. “Keep gathering young crowds for future events and you will always be successful.”

A wide range of generations attended the event, socializing with friends and learning more about the TCA Metro Los Angeles chapter as committee member Mihran Toumajan served as the evening’s master of ceremonies and elaborated on the aim of the group. In addition to Toumajan, the other members of the group are Carl Bardakian, chairman, Aleksan Giragosian, vice-chairman, Shahnour Hovsepian, treasurer, Armand Yerjanian, secretary, Taleen Babayan, media, and members Maral Kojayan Beylerian, Hasmig Chilingirian Karayan, Talene Hachikian, Armen Toumajan and Arno Yeretzian.

“Congratulations to the TCA Metro LA committee for bringing a new generation of Armenians together,” said Ajemian. “I hope everyone enjoyed the show as much as I enjoyed performing.”

“We are grateful to Harout, Maro and Narine for making our inaugural event a memorable evening,” said Bardakian. “We are thankful for the tremendous support we received and because of the positive feedback we are already planning our next comedy night.”

The TCA Metro Los Angeles chapter has planned a full slate of events in the year ahead, including an educational discussion on Captain Jim Chankalian with Aram Arkun, the executive director of the TCA as well as the assistant editor of the Armenian Mirror-Spectator, on November 18 and a cultural event on February 9, 2019 featuring the Element Band Trio.

“This event was a breath of fresh air for young professionals, leaders and community families hosted by a major cultural organization that is bridging the Armenian Diaspora communities with one another,” said committee member Hasmig Chilingirian Karayan. “We hope that TCA continues to lead the way in preserving our culture.”

The post Sold Out TCA Comedy Night Launches TCA Metro LA Chapter appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

WATERTOWN —On Monday, December 3, the St. James Armenian Church Men’s Club dinner meeting at the St. James Charles Mosesian Cultural and Youth Center in Watertown will feature Gregory Vartanian, Esq., a Boston based immigration attorney.

Vartanian has 19 years of experience as a practitioner of immigration law. He is currently the Managing Partner of Vartanian & Vartanian, LLP, a full-service immigration practice. There he has concentrated in various employment based immigration issues as well as all other areas of immigration law and real estate related matters. Since 2013 he has been the Founder and Director of the New England Regional Center for Economic Development, Inc. a USCIS approved Eb5 Regional Center. Mr. Vartanian has been a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association for the past 19 years, and is a member of the Council of Armenian Executives. In his presentation, “Current Hot Immigration Topics,” he will provide an overview of US immigration laws and regulations. He will also discuss cases of Armenians and non-Armenians in various parts of the world seeking asylum and those just wanting to immigrate to the US to be with family, to work, to go to school, or to marry. He will also present his opinions on issues with the US immigration system, the Presidential proclamation affecting Muslim countries, and how to interpret what one hears and reads in the news on the subject.

The social hour and mezza, which will take place at the Charles Mosesian Cultural and Youth Center – Keljik Hall, 465 Mt. Auburn St., will begin at 6:15 p.m. and the dinner at 7 p.m.

Ladies are invited.

The post St James Armenian Church Men’s Club Dinner Meeting to Feature Immigration Lawyer Gregory Vartanian appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

NEW YORK — In the wake of the massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on October 27, prominent New York religious leaders gathered for an interfaith prayer service at Manhattan’s venerable Park East Synagogue on Wednesday, October 31.

The Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, the Very Rev. Daniel Findikyan, joined Roman Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Greek Orthodox Archbishop Demetrios, and others at the invitation of Rabbi Arthur Schneier, senior rabbi of the synagogue and president of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and the Vatican’s Observer to the UN Archbishop Bernardito Auza, also attended and spoke in a show of solidarity among the city’s religious, diplomatic, and elected officials. A congregant of the Tree of Life Synagogue, Lauren Myer, was also present.

Findikyan, in his remarks, extolled the spirit of unity among all godly people.

“Despite the very visible differences among us in our approaches to faith, we are united in a vision for humanity that is so much more exalted than what we see around us in recent times,” he said.

He continued: “We must inspire our congregations, and our fellow citizens, to a higher vision of humanity.”

The entire service of about 75 minutes’ duration was recorded by CBS News and can be viewed at https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/10/31/interfaith-service-for-pittsburgh-synagogue-shooting-victims/

The post At Interfaith Memorial, Primate Extolls ‘Higher Vision’ Uniting All Faithful appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

WATERTOWN — Dr. Susan Pattie will present her newly published book, The Armenian Legionnaires: Sacrifice and Betrayal in World War I, at the AGBU New England Center, 247 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, on Thursday, November 29, at 7:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR).

Pattie will be joined for this lecture by Varak Ketsemanian (PhD student, Department of Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University), author of a chapter in the book.

Following the devastation resulting from the Armenian Genocide in 1915, survivors of the massacres were dispersed across the Middle East, North and South America and Europe. Not content with watching World War I silently from the sidelines, a large number of Armenian volunteers joined the specially formed Légion d’Orient. Trained in Cyprus, the Legion fought courageously in Palestine alongside General Allenby, playing a crucial role in defeating the German and Ottoman forces in Palestine at the Battle of Arara in September 1918.

The Armenian Legionnaires signed up on the understanding that they would be fighting in Syria and Turkey and, should the Allies be successful, would be part of an occupying army in their old homelands, laying the foundation for a self-governing Armenian state.

Pattie describes the motivations and dreams of the Armenian Legionnaires and their ultimate betrayal as the French and the British shifted their priorities, leaving the Armenian homelands to the emerging Republic of Turkey. Complete with eyewitness accounts, letters and photographs, The Armenian Legionnaires provides an insight into relations between the Great Powers through the lens of a small, powerless people caught in a war that was not their own, but which had already destroyed their known world.

Pattie is an honorary senior research associate at University College London and former director of the Armenian Institute in London. She holds a PhD in anthropology from the University of Michigan and is also the author of Faith In History: Armenians Rebuilding Community.

This event is free and open to the public.  A reception and refreshments will take place before and after the program.

The post Susan Pattie to Discuss Armenian Legionnaires at NAASR Lecture appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Zoravik collective invites the public to an informal talk and discussion with environmentalists and human rights activists based locally and in Armenia on Sunday, November 18. The Amulsar mine is one of several internationally funded-mining projects in Armenia, and it is the most recent to become the focus of local environmental activists. For many Armenians, Amulsar symbolizes the expansion of corporate greed at the expense of long-term environmental and human health.

Activist Arpineh Galfayan will join the discussion from Yerevan via Skype to discuss the current state of the campaign to shut down the Amulsar project and will provide ideas for diaspora-based activists who want to support activists in Armenia. Dr. Henry Theriault will help to frame the issues of the Amulsar project within in an international perspective and Ursula Kazarian will moderate the event.

Galfayan is an environmental activist, human rights activist and a feminist. She is also engaged in organizing non-formal education for young people on active citizenship and non-violent civil resistance.

Theriault is associate vice president for Academic Affairs at Worcester State University and president of the International Association of Genocide Scholars.

Ursula Kazarian is the founder and former president of the Washington, DC-based Armenian Environmental Network.

Internationally-funded mining projects are often portrayed as profitable for emerging economies across the globe. Proponents of mining projects often argue for responsible resource exploitation as a means to support political independence and national security interests, as well as to empower local communities through new and relatively stable employment opportunities. Mining companies and their financial partners also often promise direct economic investment in public infrastructure as “bonuses” for impacted communities. These “extra” investments typically include school upgrades and new roads that will provide improved and long-lasting market access for economic development. However, the realities following such projects typically fall far short of those promises.

Time and again, impacted communities have experienced severe public health impacts due to irreversible environmental damage from mining activities, including the contamination of air, soil, and water used for drinking and agriculture. This is particularly likely when mining activities have not been properly regulated or monitored over a significant period of time due to poor governance and/or limited oversight resources, as has long been the case in Armenia. Now, with renewed government support for the rule of law in regulating mining activities, locally based activism focused on stopping the damage caused by current and future mining projects is critical in empowering communities affected by mining projects.

This event is planned as the first of a series to encourage diaspora-based environmental activism. The program will take place at Hilles Room, P-14, Harvard University, 59 Shepard St., Cambridge, at 1p.m.

All interested are encouraged to attend and participate in the discussion. A question-and-answer session will follow the scheduled presentations.

The post Zoravik Collective Hosts Discussion on Environmental Effects of Mining in Armenia appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.