NEW YORK—It was a joyous reunion, sold out weeks in advance, to mark the 20^th anniversary of the founding of the Armenian American Health Professionals Organization (AAHPO) at the famed New York Athletic Club on Nov. 21. And it was celebrated in grand style, as it honored Dr. Raffy Hovanessian (“Ambassador to Humanity and Medicine”), Dr. Nahabed Garo Kasabian (AAHPO founder and past president), and Khoren O. Nalbandian, R.Ph. (AAHPO founder).

The honorees with their wives

A sumptuous reception began the inspiring evening as attendees enjoyed the company of acquaintances they hadn’t seen in years. Among the honored guests were Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Prelacy Vicar General Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Armenia’s Ambassador to the U.S. Tigran Sargsyan, Armenia’s Ambassador to the UN Zohrab Mnatsakanian, AAHPO President Dr. Lawrence Najarian, and honorary chairs of the banquet Nazar and Artemis Nazarian. Also present were representatives of several Armenian-American associations.

Ably taking the reins as master of ceremonies, Hagop Kouyoumdjian introduced the tireless and dedicated president of the organization, Lawrence Najarian, who in his typically ebullient manner welcomed the more than 275 guests sitting at flower-bedecked tables in the elegant grand ballroom. He stated with pride that as AAHPO celebrates its 20^th anniversary of serving the Armenian community, “we are thriving.”

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Raffi Hovanessian, Ambassador Tigran Sargsyan

Giving the invocation, Archbishop Barsamian related that since the birth of AAHPO 20 years ago, the organization has been “a great benefit to our people in the U.S., the New York region, and Armenia. It has been a blessing for our Armenian health professionals to share their expertise and to advance the quality of life for our brothers and sisters. Let us always stand together in mutual love and unity.”

In his dynamic address, Najarian said that AAHPO “is thriving and is more dedicated than ever to the mission of its founding members, many of whom are actively involved with our organization today. Our mission is to improve healthcare awareness, increase disease prevention and early detection, and provide medical support and education to Armenians in the tri-state area as well as our brethren in Armenia. AAHPO’s volunteer-care heroes have been consistent and relentless in their pursuit of our missions,” he related.

Najarian revealed that the organization has more than 450 healthcare volunteers “pursuing its noble mission. Together we have, and are, achieving what none of us could ever accomplish alone. The goal of our many programs—and every project AAHPO is involved with—is to help save lives. Our special aim is to raise the health care in Armenia to the level of America. And our single greatest achievement is that we bring together the healthcare community by providing a platform that channels our collective commitment to make a difference and improve the lives of our fellow Armenians, unleashing our sense of duty that is so deep and powerful,” he declared with passion.

Exemplary success

A video presentation was then shown, detailing how AAHPO has developed over the past 20 years, and effected change in the lives of so many Armenians. Established in 1994 through the vision of Kasabian, Nalbandian, and Dr. John Nercessian, AAHPO grew and expanded into an organization with medical outreach in the tri-state area, holding health fairs, medical forums, and workshops, hosting a bimonthly TV show, having e-mail alerts, an AAHPO website and hotline, webinars, and on-site help, and sponsoring bone marrow and blood drives. After the Armenian earthquake, and Armenian independence in 1991, several AAHPO programs were established in Armenia and in Nagorno-Karabagh, and have since greatly expanded.

A special tribute was also paid to the memory of Dr. Edgar Housepian, an eminent neurosurgeon.

The banquet committee

Honors for the deserving

The highlight of the evening came with the presentation of awards to the three honorees who have served in various capacities the Armenian-American community, and Armenia after its earthquake.

Nahabed Kasabian, one of the three AAHPO founders and the third AAHPO president, was born and raised in New York. Directing urology programs in several hospitals, he has participated in many clinical trials, and has been published in prestigious peer-reviewed journals. In his message of appreciation, he reminisced about starting the first AAHPO membership meeting in the Armenian Presbyterian Church in Paramus, N.J. “Our organization has advanced because it has no political affiliation,” he declared to loud applause.

AAHPO founder Khoren Nalbandian, a noted pharmacist, was born and raised in Aleppo, Syria, and was the head pharmacist and director of the Armenian National Sanatorium in Lebanon. In the United States, he served for more than 30 years as the senior pharmacist at the New York University Medical Center, as well as for 31 years at his own established Junction Drugs and Surgical in New Jersey. Paying tribute to the past and present AAHPO leadership and work, he said, “My challenge is for the new members to carry the torch that was lit 20 years ago, and to lead AAHPO to accomplish its mission in the diaspora, the motherland, and the tri-state community where it all began.”

‘Renaissance man’

Honored as the “Ambassador to Humanity and Medicine,” Raffy Hovanessian, born in Jerusalem, and raised in Aleppo, Syria, became a well-known internist and gastroenterologist, mostly practicing at St. Mary’s and Methodist Hospitals in Indiana. He is a noted benefactor and art patron who has served the Armenian church and schools in Illinois and New York, and at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in many capacities, as well as on the Central Boards of the Diocesan Council, the AGBU, and the Armenian Assembly.

Hovanessian’s devotion and donations to Armenia after the earthquake resulted in the establishment of hospitals during his more than 27 trips with his wife, Shoghag. He also served as the personal physician of the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin I. Hovanessian’s numerous honors include the Prince of Cilicia (1983), the NAACP Golden Heritage Award (1987), Prelacy Man of the Year Award (1988), Ellis Island Award (2000), and the Diocesan Armenian Church Man of the Year (2014).

In his message of appreciation, Hovanessian paid tribute to many of his relatives, teachers, and friends, and especially to his parents. “Sacrifice was the total life of my father, and the total service of my mother,” he related. He recognized his brother Ara, a fellow doctor and previous AAHPO honoree who had journeyed from Beirut, and paid special gratitude to his wife, Shoghag, who is “the center core of my life. Her whole life has been one of total devotion and sacrifice for the church and Armenia. She walks beside me, but most of the time way ahead of me,” he said with obvious emotion.

Making a special presentation, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian awarded Hovanessian with the St. Nersess Shnorhali Medal and Encyclical on behalf of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, in recognition of his “lifetime of vision, virtue, and great work for the Armenian Church.”

This honor was followed by Ambassador Tigran Sargsyan awarding Hovanessian with the Mkhitar Gosh Medal. The Armenian diplomat praised the AAHPO’s work in Armenia—especially in its border villages, as well as in Artsakh and Javakhk—calling it “one of the leading networks of Armenian professionals in the healthcare system.” Sargsyan lauded the 2014 missions which are focusing on thyroid diseases, “a particularly common problem in Armenia,” he said. “Your work multiplies the potential of the Armenian nation.”

Closing the memorable evening, Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Armenian Prelacy, speaking on behalf of Prelate Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, congratulated the AAHPO for its “great mission of healing sorrows and pains. You place your heart in our diaspora, homeland, Artsakh, Kars and Ardahan,” he said. “As an organized body, you express the unity and strength where all our medical professionals join and work together.”

During the program, both the American and Armenian national anthems were sung by Nanor Terjanian, and banquet co-chair Dr. Aram Cazazian expressed his appreciation for the event’s hard-working co-chairs, Vicki Shoghag Hovanessian and Seta Nalbandian, and to committee members Dr. Lawrence Najarian, Dr. Garbis Baydar, Dr. Arthur Kubikian, Dr. Tsoline Kojaoghlanian, Dr. Louiza Puskulian Kubikian, Dr. Vicken Pamoukian, Lucinne Aynilian, Laura Baydar, Ani Karatoprak, Vesna Markarian, Magda Najarian,and Lara Pamoukian.

As a special gift, the talented metal-sculpture artist Michael Aram donated beautiful hand-crafted frames to the attending healthcare professionals. Dikran and Nelly Minassian donated their specially produced medals to the honorees. They were fitting tributes to an organization whose professional and selfless legacy was deservedly celebrated, and will continue for Armenians in America, in Armenia, and in Artsakh.

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WASHINGTON—The efforts of Near East Relief (NER), the unprecedented American campaign of international humanitarian assistance that saved and sustained hundreds of thousands of Armenian Genocide survivors from 1915-30, was spotlighted last week at a Capitol Hill briefing hosted by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Central Valley Congressman Jim Costa with the ANCA-WR’s ‘America We Thank You’ Co-Chairs Vanna Kitsinian, Esq., and Hermineh Pakhanians at the Capitol Hill briefing

Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) were joined by public policy leaders and a bipartisan group of Senate and House congressional staff for the unique presentation by Maurice Kelechian, a member of the ANCA Western Region’s “America We Thank You: An Armenian Tribute to Near East Relief” campaign, who has spent decades researching archives around the world to document this unprecedented American humanitarian aid effort.

Near East Relief expert Maurice Kelechian during his presentation at the ANCA Capitol Hill Briefing on the Armenian Genocide and American philanthropy

Kelechian offered detailed insights into the broad tapestry of U.S. government, religious, civic, and individual participation—from 48 states—in support of Near East Relief, which raised today’s equivalent of more than $2.7 billion to save Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks, and other minorities in the Near East during and after the Armenian Genocide. Established by congressional mandate and supported by three consecutive U.S. presidents, the landmark relief campaign would serve as a model for a host of American international and humanitarian efforts including the Marshall Plan, Truman’s Point-4 program, the U.S. Peace Corps, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Now known as the Near East Foundation, the organization continues its life-saving work in countries around the world.

To view Kelechian’s presentation, visit the ANCA YouTube page at http://youtu.be/ssc1Yk5aeTE.

“In 1915, when the U.S. Congress created the Near East Relief organization, the genocide went from being part of Armenian history to also being a part of American history,” said Rep. Costa, whose office helped coordinate the event. “As a longtime advocate, I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress on a full acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide.” Costa went on to offer a “heartfelt thank you to the ANCA for its steadfast dedication to fostering public awareness in support of a united and independent Armenia.”

“It’s astounding how few people in this country or anywhere else know about this organization [Near East Relief] and its history,” noted Congressman Schiff at the conclusion of the presentation. “That’s why I think that this ‘America We Thank You’ effort is so pivotal, because it is a wonderful way to help educate the public about the Armenian Genocide through the prism of American relief efforts.” View this video at http://youtu.be/D8YBdtNKOPg.

Congressman Pallone concurred, noting, “It’s a fact that the United States government has been very much out front on Armenian Genocide recognition in the past. So it’s important to talk about the history in the context of this era, when our foreign policy, and policy in general, was much more oriented towards what was right, what was justice, what was humane.” To view this video, visit http://youtu.be/dIzpbXrQwfs.

“The incredible outpouring of assistance through Near East Relief—and the U.S. government’s lead role in that effort—should be a point of pride for all Americans, and a reminder of an era when our Armenian Genocide policy reflected our collective morality,” said ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian. “This Centennial year, America can once again become a beacon of truth and justice on this key human rights issue, by speaking clearly and unequivocally about the Armenian Genocide, as we expand international efforts to secure justice for this crime.”

Kelechian and Nahapetian joined “America We Thank You” Co-Chairs Vanna Kitsinian, Esq. and Hermineh Pakhanians for a series of more than 10 congressional meetings regarding Near East Relief efforts, timed just 100 days prior to the international commemoration of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2015. Each congressional office received an in-depth fact sheet about the heroic efforts of their state, as reported in local newspapers and archives, to assist in this unique campaign.

“The response to the NER story has been remarkable,” said Kitsinian, following her meetings. “Many members of Congress and staff have read about the Armenian Genocide but none of them knew the details and depth of their own community’s participation in this relief effort. For 15 consecutive years, America was dedicated to the mission of saving the Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, and others, and when we present the congressional letters and share how every aspect of society was mobilized—from celebrities to politicians to presidents to ambassadors—they are truly amazed,” Kitsinian concluded.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce with ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian and ANCA-WR’s ‘America We Thank You’ team members Maurice Kelechian, Vanna Kitsinian, Esq., and Hermineh Pakhanians

The ANCA Western Region launched the “America We Thank You: An Armenian Tribute to Near East Relief” campaign in March 2014 to recognize the outpouring of generosity by the American people in the immediate aftermath of the Armenian Genocide and to highlight the efforts of Near East Relief in rescuing and providing assistance to hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children who were victims of the genocide.

In 2015, the committee will mark the Centennial of the Near East Relief efforts through various events and programs to express its gratitude to the American people for establishing and continuing the tradition of being the most generous nation.

“The ‘America We Thank You’ effort is a labor of love for our committee members, who are constantly finding new and innovative ways to share the Near East Relief story with the Armenian community and the American public at large,” said Pakhanians. “Whether presenting to students in their classrooms or meeting with legislators in Washington, D.C., and state capitals, our education mission will continue, in tribute to the NER visionaries who saved our nation.”

For more information regarding the initiative, visit www.americawethankyou.org. Photos from the ANCA “America We Thank You” Capitol Hill briefing and meetings are available on the ANCA Facebook Page.

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The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) recently announced the winners of the 2014 Sayat Nova International Composition Competition: Hovik Sardaryan, 21, of Armenia was awarded first prize; Fun Gordon Dic-lun, 26, of Hong Kong received second prize; and Richard Melkonian of the United Kingdom, 25, received third prize.

The Sayat Nova International Composition Competition gala concert at Salle Cortot in Paris in 2012.

As first prize winner, Sardaryan received both the AGBU Carnegie Hall Award and Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra (APO) Award. His piece, “The Flowers of Golgotha,” will premiere at a gala concert in May and will be performed at the annual AGBU Performing Artists in Concert at Carnegie Hall in December 2015. He will also be commissioned to write a 10-minute piece that will be performed by the APO during its 2016-17 season.

The Sayat Nova International Composition Competition is designed to introduce Armenian musical traditions to a wider audience. This year, in commemoration of Centenary of the Armenian Genocide, the competition asked composers to include in their submissions the poetry of Daniel Varoujan, one of the first victims of the genocide.

Submissions arrived from various countries, including Russia, Switzerland, and Brazil, as well as from 14 U.S. states. Sixty percent of the composers were not of Armenian descent. The jury judging the competition was comprised of seven renowned artists—conductor of APO Eduard Topchjan, composer Yakov Yakulov, soprano Hasmik Papian, pianist Jenny Chai, composer Paul Méfano, and composer Michel Petrossian—from Armenia, Austria, France, China and the United States.

Poet Lola Koundakjian served as a consultant to the jury and Hayk Arsenyan, a composer and the artistic director of this year’s competition, advised on the selection of the AGBU Carnegie Hall Prize winner. “This project is one of the brightest examples of what the AGBU Performing Arts department is aiming to accomplish—to introduce Armenian traditional instruments to an international audience and to strengthen cultural connections between Armenia and the rest of the world,” said Arsenyan.

The Sayat Nova International Composition Competition this year partnered with music company Vox Novus, which developed Music Avatar, a software that allowed all submissions and judging to take place online. Robert Voisey, the executive director of Vox Novus, was instrumental in the collaboration. “We are very proud to have worked with AGBU and contributed to making the competition inspirational and creative,” he said.

The works of the three prize winners, which included music for the duduk, violin, piano, and a mezzo soprano, will be showcased at the gala concert and award ceremony on May 11 at Symphony Space in New York. Ara Guzelimian, the provost and dean of the Juilliard School, will give the opening remarks at the gala.

For more information about the AGBU and its worldwide programs, visit www.agbu.org.

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RADNOR, Pa.—Amidst the flurry of activity that takes place at the end of each year, the Armenian Sisters Academy of Radnor was filled with the spirit of Christmas last month.

A scene from the Christmas Pageant

The first week of December, students learned that there is not only joy in receiving but also in giving during the holidays. The 8^th grade sponsored a Christmas Shoppe where students could purchase small gifts to give to family members and friends. This spirit of giving continued throughout the month.

The greater Philadelphia-Armenian community filled the school’s Hovsepian Activity Center on Dec. 19 for the school-wide Christmas Pageant.

On Dec. 9, the Sisters celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the feast day of their order. It is a special day for the Sisters, who renewed their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. The Sisters were presented with a collection of monetary donations and flowers from faculty and students offering their best wishes.

Later that week, on Dec. 11, the Academy’s Ladies Auxiliary hosted its Annual Christmas Luncheon. Nearly 100 guests enjoyed the delicious meal prepared by the ladies, while Montessori students reenacted the nativity story. The 2^nd grade class performed a play about the true meaning of Christmas and was joined by the 1^st grade in singing Christmas carols, as those in the audience sang along. The luncheon also featured a sampling of fragrances from French-Armenian perfumer Francis Kurkdjian’s “Maison Francis Kurkdjian” Paris collection.

The greater Philadelphia-Armenian community filled the school’s Hovsepian Activity Center on Dec. 19 for the school-wide Christmas Pageant. More than 250 people came to see the Montessori and primary-level students depict the story of Jesus’ birth. The choir of angelic voices, comprised of students in the 2^nd through 8^th grades, narrated the nativity story through word and song. The pageant was immediately followed by a musical celebration of caroling in Armenian, English, French, and Italian that featured students accompanying the choir playing various instruments such as hand drums, metallophones, recorders, tambourines, triangles, violins, and xylophones.

Each year in the spirit of giving, the Academy designates a charity to support through its Generosity Tree program. The students erect and decorate the Generosity Christmas tree in the lobby of the school’s Hovsepian Activity Center. The 2014 collection was conducted in support of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Eastern USA’s Holiday Clothing Drive for the children in the Republic of Artsakh (Karabagh). Large collection boxes were placed under the tree where throughout the month students donated new winter clothing, such as coats, hats, gloves, and scarves for children ages 3 months to 10 years old. The clothing will be distributed to students at the ARS “Medz Tagher” Soseh Kindergarten and to children living in the surrounding villages. The 8^th grade students prepared several boxes of winter clothing for shipment.

The Armenian Sisters Academy, an independent Christian Armenian Day School, educates students in pre-kindergarten through 8^th grade. The school offers a comprehensive and rigorous accredited academic program, which includes the study of Armenian language, history, and culture.

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NEW YORK—Scholars Israel Charny, Roger Smith, and David Gaunt are among the confirmed speakers at “Responsibility 2015,” the international conference marking the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, to be held on March 13-15, 2015, at New York’s Marriott Marquis Hotel.

Israel Charny

Charny is the executive director of the Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide in Jerusalem, which he founded with the late Shamai Davidson, M.D., and Elie Wiesel in 1979. He has been devoted to the study of the Holocaust and genocide since the mid-1960’s. He is the editor of Encyclopedia of Genocide, written by nearly 100 experts from many countries. This 2-volume, 720-page reference tool, which brings together the results of decades of scholarship in a single edition, was published in 1999. He is a founder, alongside Helen Fein, Robert Melson, and Roger Smith, of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, which was established in 1994.

Roger Smith

Smith is Professor Emeritus of Government at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, where he has taught political theory and the comparative study of genocide. He has written extensively on the nature, language, history, and denial of genocide. In addition to numerous articles, he is the editor and co-author of Guilt: Man and Society, and editor of Genocide: Essays Toward Understanding, Early-Warning, and Prevention. Since 2003, he has been the director of the Genocide and Human Rights University Program, and since 2004, chair of the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (a division of the Zoryan Institute).

David Gaunt

Gaunt is Professor of History at Södertörn University College in Stockholm, Sweden. He is a social historian who has written widely on the history of minorities and everyday life. He is the author of Massacres, Resistance, Protectors: Muslim-Christian Relations in Eastern Anatolia during World War I, a seminal work on the Assyrian Genocide. Gaunt completed his doctorate at Uppsala University in 1975.

Earlier, the organizers had announced the names of other confirmed speakers, including jurist Geoffrey Robertson, actor and playwright Eric Bogosian, photojournalist Scout Tufankjian, novelist Chris Bohjalian, scholars Richard Hovannisian, Debórah Dwork, Raymond Kévorkian, Roy L. Brooks, Elisa Von Joeden-Forgey, Janna Thompson, and Jermaine McCalpin, and journalists Robert Fisk, Laure Marchand, Guillaume Perrier, and David Barsamian.

The “Responsibility 2015” Conference is being organized by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Eastern U.S. Centennial Committee, under the auspices of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of America, Eastern Region.

Evening sessions bringing together policymakers, political leaders, artists, and celebrities known for their activism and humanitarian work will highlight the theme of responsibility to confront past injustices and struggle towards preventing new ones.

The conference begins with a plenary sessions on Fri., March 13. The final panel concludes on March 15 at 4:30 p.m. Registration will open in February.

Photography and art exhibits with the theme of survival will be held at the same venue for the duration of the conference.

The organizing committee is comprised of the following scholars and activists: Khatchig Mouradian and Hayg Oshagan, co-chairs; George Aghjayan, Kim Hekimian, Antranig Kasbarian, Sarkis Balkhian and Henry Theriault.

For periodic updates, please contact conference coordinator Maral Choloyan at info@responsibility2015.org, or visit the conference Facebook page or the conference website, http://responsibility2015.org.

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Supporters holding Armenian flags, candles, and images of Hrant Dink gathered in midtown Manhattan across the Turkish Consulate on Tuesday evening, Jan. 20, to honor the anniversary of—and seek justice for—the death of the fearless journalist, who was gunned down by Turkish militants eight years ago.

Taleen Babayan delivering her remarks about Hrant Dink’s life and legacy

The candlelight vigil memorial, organized by the New York Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) “Armen Garo” Gomideh, with support from the New York Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), was presided over by Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian of the St. Sarkis Armenian Church in Douglaston, N.Y., and Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian of the St. Illuminator’s Armenian Cathedral in Manhattan.

In her remarks, writer Taleen Babayan highlighted the strength and courage of a man who took a stand against injustice, not only for the Armenian citizens of Turkey but all marginalized groups unable to exercise their freedom of speech.

Supporters at the candlelight vigil in New York City, organized by the New York ARF ‘Armen Garo’ Gomideh

“As a journalist and, more importantly, as a human being, Hrant Dink served as the voice for the voiceless, he spoke out against oppression, and he advocated human rights in a world that needs it now more than ever. He wasn’t afraid to put his progressive thoughts to paper, to write words that fueled discussion and debate, because he did it for the betterment of his country of birth. His reach went beyond Armenians. His message was universal: equality and democracy for all.”

Babayan spoke of Dink’s bravery in the face of threats and the opportunities he had to leave Turkey and live safely in the diaspora like millions of other Armenians, but “he refused to abandon his cause and his people. He maintained his steely will in not only protecting his ideals and beliefs but fighting for them despite the seemingly endless obstacles he faced. And until his last moment on this Earth, he championed the truth and he upheld his cause.”

She urged Armenian communities around the world to allow Dink’s legacy to serve as inspiration and to “find what is missing in our community, what we can do to further our cause for genocide recognition, bolster our homeland, preserve our culture in the diaspora, and fill these needs without criticism but in unity and support of one another.”

The two-hour memorial included informational flyers distributed to passersby, prayers, chants for justice, and readings from Hrant Dink’s last columns by Sosy Tatarian.

“Hrant Dink reminds us that the most powerful way we can stand up to injustice is to stand by our words,” said Sossi Essajanian, a member of the “Armen Garo” Gomideh. “He lived the change he dreamed of in Turkey—of a place where people would be free to share their opinions and a place where being Armenian meant being an equal part of society.”

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MAHWAH, N.J. (A.W.)—On Tues., Feb. 10, Haigazian University President Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian will speak at Ramapo College on “The Scourge of Genocide: A Century of Angst in the Middle East,” exploring a century of violence from the Armenian Genocide to the rise of ISIS—and the angst it created among the peoples of the Middle East.

Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian

Organized by the Gross Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Ramapo, the event will feature a conversation between Haidostian and Khatchig Mouradian, the coordinator of the Armenian Genocide Program at the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights (CGHR) at Rutgers University.

Following a nine-year teaching career at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut, Haidostian was appointed in 2002 as president of Haigazian University, in Beirut, Lebanon.

Haidostian holds a B.A. in psychology from Haigazian University, a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree from the Near East School of Theology, and a Master of Theology (Th.M.) and Ph.D. in pastoral theology from Princeton Theological Seminary. In addition to his local and international responsibilities in educational, ecclesial, and ecumenical organizations, he teaches, lectures, and writes in Armenian, Arabic, and English on a wide variety of topics including Armenian identity, ecumenism, youth, social issues, pastoral theology, and the Middle Eastern community. He is married to Maral Purzekian and they have two daughters, Garin and Talar.

Mouradian is coordinator of the Armenian Genocide Program at CGHR at Rutgers, where he also teaches in the history and sociology departments as adjunct professor. Mouradian was the editor of the Armenian Weekly from 2007-14.

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NEW YORK—Major scholars from around the world will participate in a timely and thought-provoking conference at Columbia University titled, “Monuments and Memory: Material Culture and the Aftermath of Histories of Mass Violence,” on Fri., Feb. 20.

The all-day symposium is organized and hosted by Peter Balakian, the Donald M. Constance H. Rebar Professor in Humanities at Colgate University, and Rachel Goshgarian, assistant professor of history at Lafayette College, and sponsored by the Armenian Center of Columbia University, Columbia’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights, the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society, and the Armenian General Benevolent Union.

The conference will explore the general themes of restoration, restitution, and social justice, and will be groundbreaking in its comparative analysis of Jewish monuments in Eastern Europe, Muslim monuments in the Balkans, and Armenian-Christian monuments in Turkey. Four sessions revolving around these topics will take place throughout the day, each chaired by a member of the Columbia community who will conduct and moderate the question-and-answer sessions.

The first session, “Monuments and Memory: the Significance of Material Culture in the Aftermath of Genocide,” held from 10-11:15 a.m., and chaired by Christine Philliou, associate professor of history at Columbia University, will address the historical contexts for the destroyed or appropriated material cultures of minority peoples in the aftermath of histories of mass violence. The current conditions of these monuments will be analyzed, as well as their roles in the collective memory of both occupying and exiled cultures. Presenters will include Peter Balakian; Andrew Herscher, associate professor of architecture at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; and Marianne Hirsch, William Peterfield Trent Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University.

The second session, “The Medieval Armenian City of Ani: A Case Study in the Politicization of Art History, History, Historical Monuments, and Preservation in a Post-Genocidal Context,” from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., will be chaired by Nanor Kebranian, assistant professor in Columbia University’s Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies. It will include papers on subjects related to Ani’s multicultural past, cultural destruction, restoration projects, depiction in modern Turkey, and place in the construction of Armenian identity. Presenters include Rachel Goshgarian; Christina Maranci, the Arthur H. Dadian and Ara Oztemel Associate Professor of Armenian Art and Architecture at Tufts University; Heghnar Watenpaugh, associate professor of art history at the University of California, Davis; and Yavuz Ozkaya, restoration architect at PROMET Architecture and Restoration Co.

The third session is titled, “Monuments, Memory, Restitution, and Social Justice: What issues do monuments raise in these historical contexts? How can social justice and restitution be achieved decades after the event of genocide or mass-killing?” Held from 2:15-4:30 p.m., it will be chaired by Hamid Dabashi, Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. Presenters include Osman Kavala, the founder of Anadolu Kultur; Leo Spitzer, Kathe Tappe Vernon Professor of History at Dartmouth University; and Elazar Barkan, professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University.

The concluding session will be a roundtable discussion followed by a reception for participants and attendees.

“Rachel [Goshgarian] and Peter [Balakian] are bringing together a wide range of speakers to address the issue of Ani, from historians to cultural heritage advocates, to practicing architects actively engaged in restoration projects at Ani,” said Maranci. “I hope that it will galvanize more dialogue about the fate of the churches and other ancient monuments in and around Ani, because of their historical and architectural importance and because of their structural vulnerability.”

“There is tremendous opportunity here to address the painful history of Armenians…and forge a different way forward regarding Armenian cultural heritage in Turkey,” said Watenpaugh, who recently published “Preserving the Medieval City of Ani: Cultural Heritage Between Contest and Reconciliation” in the Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians. “This is the right time to have a critical and public discussion about this site, and the broader issues it raises.”

Mark Momjian, Esq., the chair of the Armenian Center and an alumnus of Columbia College and Columbia Law School, emphasized his alma mater’s role not only in aiding the survivors of the Armenian Genocide, but in advocating support of the Armenian Republic.

“Ambassador Henry Morgenthau was an alumnus of Columbia Law School, and he is in the pantheon of heroes to the Armenian people. Talcott Williams was the first director of Columbia’s School of Journalism, and he was heavily involved with Near East Relief. George Edward Woodbury, a comparative literature professor at Columbia, assailed the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide. And there are countless others,” said Momjian, a Philadelphia lawyer and community activist. “This symposium marks the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, but it also honors the many Columbians who denounced this terrible crime against humanity and who worked tirelessly to help the Armenian people.”

The event will take place in Room 1501 of Columbia University’s Morningside Campus International Affairs Building, located at 420 West 118th St., from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., with breaks for lunch and coffee. A reception will follow. This event is free and open to the public.

The post Groundbreaking Symposium at Columbia to Focus on ‘Monuments and Memory’ appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

The Armenian Relief Society (ARS), Inc. and ARS Eastern USA are planning a series of events from March 5-7 to commemorate the Armenian Genocide Centennial in the New York/New Jersey area. On Thurs., March 5, from 6-8 p.m., the ARS, along with the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations (U.N.), will be hosting a reception at the U.N. to mark the opening of “Stitching to Survive: Handwork of Armenian Women,” an exhibit on Armenian textiles. The exhibit will be open to the public from March 2-13; those wishing to attend the reception are required to secure a pass to enter the U.N. building by contacting the ARS Central Office at ceb@ars1910.org or the ARS Eastern Region Office at arseastus@gmail.com.

On Friday, March 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., ARS has organized a full-day conference to take place at the Salvation Army Auditorium titled, “Rebuilding a Nation: The Armenian Woman’s Century of Resistance and Empowerment.” Speakers include Dr. Eleni Theocharous, a member of the European Parliament and head of the “EU-Armenia Friendship Group”; Dr. Isabelle Kaprielian-Churchill, Emerita, professor of Armenian and immigration history at California State University, Fresno; Khatchig Mouradian, the coordinator of the Armenian Genocide Program at the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights at Rutgers University; and Bared Maronian, the executive director of Armenoid Productions. Admission is free and includes lunch; registration is required by e-mailing the ARS Central Office at ceb@ars1910.org or the ARS Eastern Region Office at arseastus@gmail.com. The Salvation Army Auditorium is located at 221 East 52nd St. in New York.

The final event will take place on Sat., March 7, from 7-10 p.m. at Waterside Restaurant, 7800 River Rd. in North Bergen, N.J. Under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America (Eastern) and the ARS, Inc., the Cultural Evening will feature award-winning singer/songwriter Hooshere; renowned artist Kevork Mourad, accompanied by cellist Eddie Boghossian; and a recitation from Zervart Balikjian. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased online by visiting www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1238955.

For more information, including hotel information and activities for out-of-town ARS members, e-mail ceb@ars1910.orgor arseastus@gmail.com.

The Armenian Relief Society, Inc. (ARS) is a non-profit organization, founded in 1910, in New York City. Today, with entities in 26 countries and a membership of over 15,000, it is an independent, nonsectarian, philanthropic society serving the humanitarian, social and educational needs of Armenians and non-Armenians alike. The ARS is registered as an NGO with United Nation’s Department of Public Information and, since 1998, is a member of the United Nation’s Economic and Social Commission (ECOSOC) as an international non-governmental organization.

The post ARS to Commemorate Centennial with Events in March appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

RADNOR, Pa.— The winter weather couldn’t keep nearly 250 people from attending the Armenian Sisters Academy’s (ASA) annual Family Night on Sat., Jan. 24. ASA’s Hovsepian Activity Center was packed with students, alumni, parents, faculty, and friends, as well as prospective students and their families. The evening provided a respite from the bitter cold and impending snowstorm the following day.

This year’s Family Night, hosted by the school’s Parent Teacher Council, featured a carnival theme complete with games and popcorn and cotton candy machines.

This year’s Family Night, hosted by the school’s Parent Teacher Council, featured a carnival theme complete with games and popcorn and cotton candy machines. The cafeteria was transformed into an arcade of carnival games created by each class in grades 1-8. Students entertained one another while attempting to eat mini doughnuts dangling from a string, balance a stack of cookies on their foreheads, toss ping pong balls into a cup, draw a simple picture blindfolded, and “fish” dried penne pasta onto a spaghetti noodle held in one’s mouth.

Parent Vahe Ashodian volunteered his artistic talents to paint faces resembling everything from butterflies to lions.

Parent Vahe Ashodian volunteered his artistic talents to paint faces resembling everything from butterflies to lions. The highlight of the evening was the 10’x10′ photo booth. Students, parents, and teachers alike lined up to get pictures taken with each other, some sporting feather boas and giant sunglasses, others cowboy hats and Iron Man masks.

Guests enjoyed a menu that featured gyros and chicken souvlaki catered by Ollo Fresh, a local restaurant specializing in Greek and Mediterranean foods. The menu also included some carnival-themed items such as giant pigs-in-blankets and dipping chicken nuggets. Parent volunteers provided an assortment of baked treats for dessert. Tables were decorated with mason jars lined with class photos and candid shots of students, and filled with colorful, handmade pinwheels. DJ Anto Vartanian provided a mix of Armenian and American music for the evening.

Each family present was entered into a drawing for raffle prizes ranging from an assortment of board games to a set of 25 Red Box movie rentals to a $40 gift card to Arnold’s Family Fun Center, an indoor amusement center, among other items. More than a dozen winners went home with prizes.

The Armenian Sisters Academy, an independent Christian Armenian Day School, educates students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The school offers a comprehensive and rigorous accredited academic program, which includes the study of Armenian language, history, and culture.

Students, parents, and teachers alike lined up to get pictures taken with each other, some sporting feather boas and giant sunglasses, others cowboy hats and Iron Man masks.

The post Sisters Academy Annual Family Night: A Fun Cure for Winter Blues appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

The Society for Armenian Studies (SAS) celebrated its 40th anniversary at its Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C., on Sat., Nov. 22.

A new Executive Council was elected with Barlow Der Mugrdechian (California State University, Fresno) chosen as the new SAS president. Also elected were Vice President Bedross Der Matossian (University of Nebraska, Lincoln); Secretary Lilit Keshishyan (UCLA); Treasurer Sergio La Porta (California State University, Fresno); and advisors Tamar Boyajian (Michigan State University), Marc Mamigonian (National Association for Armenian Studies and Research), and Jean Murachanian (University of New England).

On behalf of the SAS, Der Mugrdechian thanked outgoing President Kevork Bardakjian (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor) and outgoing Secretary Ani Kasparian (University of Michigan, Dearborn) for their dedicated service.

“It is a privilege to be elected as the new president of the Society for Armenian Studies,” said Der Mugrdechian. “The SAS plays an important role as a forum for scholars to meet and exchange ideas. SAS members conduct research in many different fields, but in each case, it is related to the study of Armenia and the Armenian people. The research is shared with other academics and with the public at large, bringing greater awareness about Armenian culture.”

In 2014, SAS held several major activities to mark its 40th anniversary, including an international Armenian Studies Workshop in Yerevan, Armenia, from Oct. 3-5, with the participation of 44 scholars from Armenia and abroad. In November, it sponsored a two-day conference in Washington, D.C. on “Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in the 19-20th Centuries.”

This year, the SAS is planning several activities in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, including co-sponsorship of a major international conference with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of History and Humanitarian Affairs Program titled, “Crossing the Centennial: The Historiography of the Armenian Genocide Re-Evaluated,” which will take place from March 19-20.

The SAS annually publishes the peer-reviewed Journal of the Society for Armenian Studies, edited by Sergio La Porta, as well as a newsletter.

The SAS website, societyforarmenianstudies.com, provides information about events and activities. Readers who wish to financially support the SAS can become a member. The secretariat of the SAS is based in the Armenian Studies Program at California State University, Fresno. For more information, call (559)278-2669 or e-mail barlowd@csufresno.edu.

The post SAS Holds Elections for 2015 Executive Council Officers appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia. See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing, and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.”

These words, by renowned Armenian-American writer William Saroyan, now ring true more than ever as the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide approaches. Although there is continued denial by the Turkish government, and limited international recognition of the genocide, the Armenian Diaspora and the Republic of Armenia have flourished in the century since the genocide was carried out in 1915 by the Young Turk government. The Knights and Daughters of Vartan (KOV) invite high school students to write a 750-1,000-word essay focusing on what can be done in the face of denial to ensure that the Armenian Genocide is remembered in the years to come.

One winner and two runner-ups will be selected by a panel of judges. The first place winner will receive $300; second place runner-up $200; and third place runner-up $100. The winners will be recognized at the Genocide Commemoration in Times Square on Sun., April 26. The deadline for submissions is Wed., March 31. Essays must be a maximum of 1,000 words, double-spaced, 12 point Arial type font; and must include full name, age, teacher’s full name and subject area, name of high school, year in school, hometown/state, phone number, and e-mail address at the top of each page.

Essays should be e-mailed to Taleen at april24nyc@gmail.com by Wed., March 31. The three winners will be contacted directly. Their names will be announced to the mainstream and Armenian media during the week of April 7.

About the Times Square commemoration

Founded in 1985 by the late Sam Azadian, a former Brooklyn resident who lost four siblings during the genocide, the commemoration at Times Square honors the 1.5 million Armenian lives lost. This internationally recognized annual event draws thousands of Armenian and non-Armenian participants to commemorate the solemn occasion. The event features speeches and tributes delivered by prominent political figures and civic leaders, officials of the Knights and Daughters of Vartan, representatives of major Armenian-American organizations, distinguished scholars and educators, as well as high-ranking Armenian and non-Armenian clergy.

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PARAMUS, N.J.—As part of the Armenian Missionary Association of America’s (AMAA) commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, AMAA Executive Director and CEO Zaven Khanjian delivered a memorial lecture about the life of murdered Agos Editor Hrant Dink at the Armenian Presbyterian Church in Paramus on Jan. 31.

AMAA Executive Director and CEO Zaven Khanjian delivered a memorial lecture about the life of murdered Agos Editor Hrant Dink

“Long before there was ‘Je suis Charlie’ there was the slogan, ‘We are all Armenian. We are all Hrant Dink,’” Khanjian told a large and attentive audience, who had braved adverse winter weather to attend the presentation. Khanjian and his wife Sona befriended Dink shortly before Dink’s death, and the lecture included personal reminiscences. The lecture’s point of departure was an impromptu address Dink delivered at the United Armenian Congregational Church (UACC) in Hollywood, Calif., just months before his death. In those remarks, Dink recalled his ties to the Armenian Evangelical movement, and in particular a youth camp in Tuzla, Turkey, that was dear to him.

Dink told the UACC audience that as a boy he lived as an orphan in the “children’s nest” (Bolso Badanegan Doon) on the bottom floor of the Armenian Evangelical Church in Gedik Pasa, Istanbul. The administrator of the orphanage, Hrant Guzelian, had a dream of creating a summer facility where children could enjoy the outdoors and continue their Bible studies. And so, Guzellian began the Tuzla camp.

But Dink recalled that in those early years, Tuzla was a far cry from our notion of a vacation camp. Tents were pitched, and at the age of eight, Dink along with a dozen other boys were taught construction skills, and began the hard work of building the facility that he would later describe as “heaven.” It was, he said, “an untouched shore with fine sand and a piece of lake formed from the sea…a sprinkling of fig and olive trees, and thorny raspberry bushes along the sides of the ditches.”

Not only would Dink work, learn, and play at the Tuzla camp, but he eventually met his wife Rakel there, when she was brought to the camp as a seven-year-old Kurdish Armenian. “We grew up together. We got married there. Our children were born there.”

But eventually, the Turkish government placed Guzelian under arrest, on an accusation that he was “raising Armenian militants,” a notion that Dink ridiculed. “None of us was being raised as Armenian militants,” he said. But Guzelian’s arrest left the camp without a leader and the church without a pastor. And so, every Sunday, Hrant and Rakel would keep the church open: a guard at the door, Dink preaching the Bible from the pulpit, and Rakel and their three children comprising the entire congregation.

A scene from the event

Eventually, the Turkish government asserted that title to the Tuzla land had been granted to the Armenians in error, and evicted the children’s camp altogether. To illustrate this portion of the lecture, Khanjian showed the audience the documentary “Swallow’s Nest” by Sehbal Senyrt and Nedim Hazar, in which Dink is seen walking through the neglected ruins of the Tuzla camp, the “heaven” of his childhood and early adulthood. As he walks, Dink recalls the injustice of the seizure of the land, and finds in that experience the roots of his passion for social justice for Turkey’s minority communities.

Because of his advocacy as a journalist, Dink was eventually charged by the Turkish state with a violation of the infamous Article 301, which criminalized offending Turkishness. He was convicted and given a suspended sentence, but Dink realized that, even if he was not sentenced to jail, the conviction made him a marked man. He remained in Turkey, he said, out of respect for the many thousands who supported him, but he said he lived like a pigeon, “obsessed just as much [by] what goes on my left, right, front, back. My head is just as mobile…and just fast enough to turn right away.”

Dink continued, “I may see myself as frightened as a pigeon, but I know that in this country people do not touch pigeons. Pigeons can live in cities, even in crowds. A little scared perhaps, but free.”

Tragically, Dink would not share that freedom. On Jan. 19, 2007, a 17-year-old, Ogun Samast, shot Dink to death as he left his newspaper office. The subsequent investigation revealed that Samast was acting at the behest of members of the so-called “Deep State,” ultra-nationalist forces within Turkey, believed to include officials in government and law enforcement. Those legal proceedings continue.

In recounting the life of Dink, Khanjian emphasized the values for which Dink lived and died. Those causes included the Christian faith he learned at the Evangelical church, the orphanage, and the summer camp; and the inviolable civil rights of all minorities living in Turkey. Those causes also included a commitment to freedom of expression, a commitment so absolute that Dink vehemently opposed the enactment of a statute criminalizing Armenian Genocide denial in France.

Mr. Khanjian ended on an optimistic note, predicting that the forces opposed to the truth will eventually be defeated, and expressed his hope that goodwill—and recognition of the truth of the Armenian Genocide—will prevail.

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MEDIA, Pa.—The cast of “Where Is Your Groom? (Pesad Oor Eh)” performed for an enthusiastic crowd in a sold-out show at Delaware County Community College on Jan. 31, in an event hosted by the St. Gregory Armenian Church of Philadelphia.

Siroun (played by Daniella Baydar) shows her son Saro (played by Haig Minassian) her hars list to help him find an Armenian wife.

The comedic play, written and directed by Taleen Babayan, sheds light on relevant and significant issues facing both the younger and older generations of Armenians in the diaspora, and tackles the themes of assimilation, cultural identity, and ethnic preservation.

“Where Is Your Groom?” crosses ethnic boundaries and delivers shared laughs as it follows the story of an Armenian-American family’s quest to find their daughter a suitable husband. The warm-hearted comedy shows the lengths one family will go to in order to maintain their ethnic ties while living in America.

“Where Is Your Groom” is a laugh-out-loud comedy of the typical Armenian household,” said Norair Miller of Philadelphia. “It is a very entertaining, well-done play with a hilarious script and I highly recommend seeing it.”

Fellow audience member Silvia Mashikian Manoukian echoed Miller’s sentiments. “Thank you to the cast for such an incredible performance and for a memorable night for the whole family,” she said. “Somehow every Armenian needs to see this show.”

The group’s Philadelphia performance marked its sixth since its debut at the off-Broadway the Players Theatre in New York City in October 2013. Following its initial performance, the cast has staged the production for Armenian communities across the country, including in California, Massachusetts, Maryland, and New Jersey.

A scene from ‘Where Is Your Groom?’ in which Lara brings home her odar date, Mike. (L-R) Aris Hamparsumian, Daniella Baydar, Haig Minassian, Lori Cinar, Joseph Hovsepian, and Taleen Babayan

“It’s always an enjoyable experience to perform ‘Where Is Your Groom?’ but even more so in Philadelphia where the effusive spirit of the audience translated to us on stage,” said Babayan. “A special thank you to St. Gregory Armenian Church and to Lucinda Stamboulian, whose initiative and efforts brought our group to Philadelphia.”

The cast and crew consist of a group of exuberant young Armenian-American professionals from the New York/New Jersey community who have a desire to share the cultural elements of being Diasporan Armenians on stage in an entertaining manner.

Der Hayr (played by Levon Asdourian) is invited over by the family’s patriarch (played by Aris Hamparsumian) to bring along a suitor for Lara (played by Scott Toppi)

“Taking part in an Armenian satire with familiar undertones in Armenian culture, family, and humor was so amazing,” said Scott Toppi, who played the role of Paul, a seminarian who is set up by the family’s priest to meet Lara. “For me, the enthusiasm and vitality of the Philadelphia community truly brought the feeling and emotion of the play to fruition.”

“I had a great time with the ‘Pesad Oor Eh’ family performing our play,” said Daniella Baydar, who played the matriarch Siroun. “The Philadelphia community and St. Gregory Armenian Church were very welcoming and the reaction from the audience was great. Another successful and rewarding show!”

For more information about “Where Is Your Groom?”, visit www.whereisyourgroom.com or www.facebook.com/whereisyourgroom.

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The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Eastern USA Board of Regional Directors recently announced the establishment of a $15,000 scholarship fund in honor of Vergine Jamgotchian, a lifelong ARS member, by her daughter Dr. Meliné Karakashian.

Vergine Jamgotchian

Annual scholarships in the amount of $500 will be given to two refugee female students from Aleppo who are currently studying at the Melankton & Haig Arslanian Jermaran in Beirut, Lebanon. Annual scholarships of $500 will also be given to three refugee girls from Aleppo, currently studying at the Azkayin schools in Beirut. The duration of the fund will be six years.

Ungerouhi Vergine Jamgotchian was born in Athens, Greece, in 1922, and relocated to Lebanon with her family. Her father Ghevont, a college graduate, engaged in an export business to America. He encouraged Vergine to learn a trade, that of dress designing, and said, “With sewing, you will never stay hungry in life.” This is a trade she enjoyed late into her years. While in Lebanon, Vergine served LOKH (the ARS in Lebanon) for many years as a member and as treasurer. Devotion and loving reunions characterize her family. Over the course of her life, Vergine’s greatest joy has been reuniting with aunts, uncles, and cousins in North and South America.

Vergine joined the ARS in New Jersey and, because of her lovely voice, served on the choir of St. Stepanos Church in Elberon, N.J. To this day, she sings, “Ays al gantsni.”

She valued education, encouraged her children to seek higher education, and offered scholarships to the needy. Her grandfather, the Very Rev. Haroutoune Armaghanian (1855-1931), had a great impact on her; and his children and grandchildren have carried on his legacy.

The ARS of Eastern USA Board is grateful to Vergine Jamgotchian and Meliné Karakashian for establishing the fund, which gives young, impoverished Armenian women the opportunity to pursue higher education.

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By Ruth Bedevian

The Armenian International Women’s Association (AIWA) New Jersey affiliate is organizing a commemorative luncheon on Sun., March 8, at the Villa Amalfi restaurant in Cliffside Park, N.J., in observance of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, as well as International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month.

The program will feature Bared Maronian, who will present highlights from his upcoming documentary film, “Women of 1915.” The film focuses on the integral role of women survivors of the genocide and their efforts during the darkest era of 20^th-century Armenian history. To learn more, visit www.armenoidteam.com.

Musical entertainment will be provided by Shant and Raffi Massoyan. Ani Kasparian, Esq., senior counsel at Holland & Knight, will serve as mistress of ceremonies for the event.  The luncheon will begin at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person. Villa Amalfi is located at 793 Palisade Ave. in Cliffside Park.

‘100 Years, 100 Donors’ fundraiser

As part of its effort to raise awareness in connection with the Centennial, AIWA NJ has launched a special fundraising initiative, “100 Years, 100 Donors,” in support of “Women of 1915.” The public is urged to participate in this campaign by donating $100 to honor a beloved female genocide survivor (mother, aunt, grandmother, or great-grandmother, etc.). Submit a picture of the honoree (in jpeg/png format), along with her name and birth city and e-mail to aiwanjaffiliate@gmail.com.

Donations can be made online through PayPal or via check.  All donations are tax-deductible.

Collected photos will be placed in a special commemorative poster. The deadline for submissions is March 1. For questions or more information, call Lisa Stepanian at (201) 927-9072.

The post AIWA NJ Plans Commemorative Luncheon, Campaign for March 2015 appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

By Gilda Buchakjian (Kupelian)

PARAMUS, N.J.—The Seasons Banquet Hall was abuzz with guests at the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA)-Haigazian University (HU) Friendship Dinner on Feb. 7, graciously hosted by Serge and Anita Buchakjian. AMAA Board members, HU trustees, alumni, and friends were delighted to celebrate the only Armenian University in the diaspora, in high spirits, camaraderie, and philanthropy.

A scene from the event

In his welcoming address, Serge Buchakjian, a member of the HU Board of Trustees, offered heartfelt words about his first alma mater on the occasion of its 60th anniversary this year. How fortuitous that HU was the launching pad for his education and career in the aerospace industry, only two decades after the production of the first rocket in the Middle East led by Manoug Manougian and his HU team. Buchakjian underscored the fact that in addition to preserving the Armenian heritage, “[HU] impacts lives beyond just education. It teaches tolerance and fosters a culture of understanding through the open exchange of ideas across ethnic and religious backgrounds.” Buchakjian said he was proud to call HU “a jewel of a university.”

Rev. Berj Gulleyan, pastor of the Armenian Presbyterian Church of Paramus, said grace with an inspirational invocation.

The new executive director and CEO of the AMAA, Zaven Khanjian, was pleased to ascertain that education was the legacy of the Armenian Evangelical community to the nation. Khanjian spoke of the pioneering work in creating “a colossal network of educational institutions from kindergartens to elementary and secondary schools, institutions of higher education–colleges and schools of theology. We have pioneered in the education of women, introduced music and physical education, and raised the level of literacy, education, enlightenment, and culture within our people,” said Khanjian, adding, that the genocide “severed the trunk of our existence. It wiped out innumerable dreams and the unlimited potential of a nation.”

Still, continued Khanjian, “out of the ashes the Phoenix rose again, the AMAA was born in 1918. Education took precedence. Schools were built again and spread wherever our remnants took refuge. Visionaries were active again, and so in collaboration with the AMAA, Haigazian was born.”  Khanjian concluded his remarks by praising the spirit of philanthropy that has supported the efforts of all those who stood steadfast behind this institution.

As a token of appreciation, Khanjian offered the hosts, Serge and Anita Buchakjian, whose wedding anniversary coincided on that day, a sculptural artifact of the ark on Mt. Ararat, by artist Michael Aram, symbolizing overcoming adversity and reaching new heights.

The dynamic president of HU, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidotsian, thanked the hosts, the AMAA, and its board members for their support. Haidotsian pointed out that “2015 coincides with the 60th anniversary of Haigazian University. … many events and celebrations will be planned in Beirut, Dubai, and the U.S. But more meaningfully, our institution is named after a famous educator, Armenag Haigazian, who fell victim to the genocide, and we are honoring and paying homage to his legacy as well.”

“How can one tell whether Haigazian University is still true to its mission, and successful at that?” asked Haidotsian. “Our graduates are doing very well in graduate programs around the globe. They are successful in the job market. Our financial aid office is one of the most central functions at HU, and the support to Syrian-Armenian students was yet another testimony of that. Our community outreach, research, and publication efforts are bearing fruit. And we are regularly organizing conferences and educational events. We are still preparing leaders for the community, and acting as bridge-builders among all parties. What will sustain these efforts is the need for ongoing and generous support of everyone in more significant ways than before.”

Joyce Philibosian Stein, a staunch supporter of HU for decades, following in her parents Stephen and Sirpuhi Philibosian’s footsteps, was happy to herald the call for continued philanthropic efforts to help sustain the level of excellence achieved by HU, over the years.

Similarly, Tina Siegel continues her commitment to this institution of higher learning that has remained a solid beacon of erudition despite years of trials and tribulations. Siegel’s journey with HU began when she overheard her mother and uncle repeatedly use the words AMAA and Haigazian in their household. That piqued her interest and, after visiting the university with her parents, she embarked on her philanthropic work following in her parents Joseph and Joyce’s footsteps.

Friends, alumni, HU Trustees Chair Dr. Nazareth and Dr. Ani Darakjian, Haigazian University Board members Gary Phillips and his wife Arsine, Hasmig Baran and her husband Arsen, Harry Najarian and his wife Cheryl, Robert Kurkjian, AMAA Past President Andy Torigian, West Coast Executive Director Levon Filian, Dr. Raffy and Shoghag Hovanessian, Khoren and Seta Nalbandian, Maurice and Berjouhi Gulesserian, and many others enjoyed a cheerful evening replete with good food, music, and dancing—all for a good cause. After all, as Buchakjian so aptly put it, “Heat warms the body, but friendship warms the heart.”

The post AMAA, Haigazian Host Friendship Dinner in NJ appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

Next Lecture on Feb. 26 at George Mason University

WASHINGTON—The Knights of Vartan (KoV) Ani Lodge in Washington has begun a three-part academic lecture series touching upon different aspects of the Armenian Genocide.

The first lecture, “Oil, Politics, and the Genocide in Armenia: The First World War Retrospect,” featured Professor Christopher Simpson, a professor of journalism at the School of Communications at American University. The event was held on Jan. 29 at American University.

The second lecture will feature Prof. Simpson on the same topic on Thurs., Feb. 26, at George Mason University.

The third and final lecture will feature Dr. Gregory Stanton, a research professor in genocide studies and prevention at George Mason University, in a presentation on “Why Denial Violates the Genocide Convention: The Genocides of Armenians, Native Americans, and Tutsis in Rwanda.” The event will take place on Thurs., March 19, at the George Washington University Law School.

“The Knights of Vartan and the entire Washington, D.C. Armenian American community is grateful to Professor Simpson, Dr. Stanton, and these esteemed universities for advancing genocide and Holocaust education in our nation’s capital,” said Ani Lodge Commander Jake Bournazian. “Engaging the American public is a critical part of genocide education efforts. The Armenian community is intrinsically interested in the subject, and it is up to us to show the relevancy of studying the Armenian Genocide to issues that are important to the American public today,” he added.

Simpson is internationally recognized for his expertise in democracy and media theory and practice. He has authored five books and won national awards for investigative reporting, historical writing, and literature. His lecture will discuss the lucrative concessions that U.S. oil companies received from the Ottoman Turks and the subsequent aggressive congressional lobbying by American oil companies for the U.S. government’s silence on the Armenian Genocide.

Stanton served as a foreign service officer in the State Department from 1992-99, where he drafted the UN Security Council Resolutions (955 and 978) that created the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. In 1992, he also drafted the UN Peacekeeping Resolutions that helped end the Mozambique civil war of 1977-92. In 1999, Stanton founded Genocide Watch, the International Campaign to End Genocide, which is the first international anti-genocide coalition. He served as president of the International Association of Genocide Scholars from 2007-09 and vice president from 2005-07.

All three lectures are produced by the Knights of Vartan Ani Lodge with the support of their co-sponsors, the Armenian Bar Association, the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research, and Genocide Watch. Historical and archival material is provided by the Armenian National Institute.

The Feb. 26 event will be held at George Mason University, 10423 Rivanna River Way, Fairfax, Va., from 2-4 p.m. The March 19 event will be held at the George Washington University Law School, Michael K Young Faculty Conference Center, 2000 H Street NW, in Washington, from 4-6 p.m. Space is limited and RSVP is required. For media inquiries or to RSVP, e-mail the KoV Ani Lodge at kovanilodge@gmail.com.

The post KoV ‘Ani’ Lodge Begins Lecture Series Marking Centennial appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

NEW YORK—Although the Armenian Genocide occurred a century ago, descendants of victims are still grappling with the consequences of this historic calamity and what the hundred year mark means to them and to the future of the Armenian nation and diaspora. These issues are explored in the play, “From Sacred Wrath,” which will be performed on April 18 and April 19 at the Davenport Theatre in New York City.

Raffi Wartanian

The story centers around the Armenian-American Khatchadourian family, who shares mixed emotions as the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide approaches: A grandmother is unable to share her story of survival, as she is still traumatized by her escape; a young woman forges ties with a Turkish journalist, much to the chagrin of her patriotic father; and a brother vows to fight for the future of his homeland by enlisting in the Nagorno-Karabagh Defense Army.

This timely play, written and directed by Taleen Babayan, reflects the various outlooks and struggles facing Armenians around the world today, as the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide approaches. The themes of denial, nationalism, reconciliation, and human rights abuses are explored and come to life on stage through the talented cast of diverse and professional actors, including Karnig Nercessian, playing the role of Hovsep, the patriotic patriarch of the family; Constance Cooper as Aghavni, an Armenian Genocide survivor; Ani Djirdjirian as Areni, a history teacher who has a more modern outlook of reconciliation; Raffi Wartanian as Soghomon, an American-born Armenian who feels a desire to return to his homeland; Cihangir Duman as Cemal, a Turkish journalist who is unable to call the Armenian massacres a genocide; Jamie Alana as Ayesha, a Darfur Genocide survivor; and Haig Hovnanian as Alex, a childhood friend of the family’s.

Cihangir Duman

“Soghomon’s burning patriotism is something that exists within me and has evolved over the years,” said Wartanian, a New York City-based performer, writer, and musician who received his theater training with John Astin, Krista Smith, Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, and the New York Neo Futurists. “Soghomon gives me an opportunity to embrace a passion and certainty for something I question. He allows me to stop questioning, and to believe once again in something greater than myself in the form of nation and identity. Yet at the core of his struggle is a universal journey of self-discovery by coming to terms with love for family. Soghomon is a complicated ball of contradictions ripe for exploration and embrace on the stage.”

Wartanian, who as a musician has performed throughout Armenia and the United States as well as in Beirut and Prague, spent a year living in Armenia as a Fulbright Scholar. He brings his own personal experiences to the role as an Armenian born in Baltimore to grandparents who fled the Armenian Genocide and parents who left Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War.

“I have witnessed and chewed on a whirlwind of political, socio-economic, and existential vantage points,” said Wartanian, a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and Columbia University. “Central to these has been a passion for social justice. I hold strong convictions about identity, culture, and history and will infuse that same passion into the content justifying Soghomon’s passions.”

Cooper, a performing artist and composer/improviser, plays the role of Aghavni, the matriarch of the Khatchadourian family, who cannot bear to tell her story of escape from the Armenian Genocide in 1915, when 1.5 million Armenians were massacred by the Young Turks, and which to this day goes unacknowledged by the Turkish government.

Constance Cooper

“This play, drawing on Armenian-American experiences of trauma and diaspora, nevertheless brings us in touch with international dilemmas that are with us, at this moment of the 21st century, more than ever,” said Cooper, a native New Yorker, who holds a Ph.D. in composition from Princeton University. “In addition, what draws me to ‘From Sacred Wrath’ is its excellent writing: its sober and undeviating devotion to its topic.”

In order to prepare for her role, Cooper found herself withdrawing from confrontations with the lesser traumas of her private life. “In my own attempts to flee difficulties, I find the verities of Aghavni’s long silence and ways to use my voice and body for her statements about the uselessness of communication,” said Cooper, who has invented improvisation structures for groups such as the electro-acoustic trio First Avenue Ensemble at Merkin Hall, and who was awarded the Gustav Mahler prize for a double concerto with improvising violinist and cellist.

She is also working on making a surreal video about hostages taking shelter in her body and to whom she is pitiless. “No doubt the characterization required by this role of victimizer will help me characterize, by contrast, the victimhood of Aghavni.”

Babayan, who was awarded the Armenian Youth Foundation grant and the Mabel Fenner Scholarship of Holy Cross Armenian Church to help stage this production, wrote the play with the intention of presenting it not only to the Armenian community but to a more encompassing audience.

“My aim is to bring the Armenian Genocide to the forefront while incorporating the tragic event into the greater theme of human rights abuses that unfortunately continue to this day around the world,” said Babayan, who appreciates the support from those organizations that see the vision of staging a relevant and meaningful play such as this.

“‘From Sacred Wrath’ is a production that has been 100 years in the making—a powerful and contemporary story of the Armenian Genocide and its continued impact on the diaspora today,” said Stepan Kanarian, chairman of the Armenian Youth Foundation. “Given the Armenian Youth Foundation’s charter of supporting efforts and organizations of educational, cultural, athletic, and camping significance, we felt it our responsibility to help ensure that this story was told.”

Babayan’s recent play, “Where Is Your Groom? (Pesad Oor Eh),” a comedic story that follows an Armenian-American family’s desire to preserve their ethnic ties while living in the diaspora, has been performed for enthusiastic audience members in six Armenian communities across the country since its off-Broadway debut in 2013. As the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide approached, Babayan, who as a journalist has interviewed Armenian Genocide survivors and who grew up hearing about her grandparents’ escape from the genocide, felt that her most worthy contribution to the cause would be through the arts.

“We as Armenians know about the Armenian Genocide. It has, to an extent, become our narrative. But what is instrumental as we commemorate the 100th anniversary is to ensure that in another 100 years, the genocide will not become a mere footnote in our history,” said Babayan. “My goal was to write a story that is thought provoking and to spur discussion not just in our community, but beyond.”

“From Sacred Wrath” will be performed on Sat., April 18 at 7 p.m. and Sun., April 19 at 3 p.m. at the Davenport Theatre, located at 354 West 45th St. in New York City. The play is in English with some Armenian lines, which will be translated in the commemorative play booklet. Run time is 1 hour and 30 minutes, including one intermission. Limited seating. For tickets and more information, visit www.fromsacredwrath.ticketbud.com.

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The Center for Holocaust, Human Rights and Genocide Education (Chhange) will be hosting a number of events in commemoration of the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide.

Commemorative reception

On Sun., April 12, the Chhange at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, N.J., will host a special reception that will showcase “A Journey to Life: Armenia,” an interactive exhibit that features the personal histories of local Armenian survivors and their families. Internationally recognized Armenian scholar Khatchig Mouradian will introduce the exhibit and its historical content. In addition, the commemoration will reveal “Illuminating Images: A Hundred-Year-Remembrance,” an exhibit of 3-D artistic cityscapes of Armenian life before and after the genocide. It reflects the collaborative efforts of hundreds of middle school, high school, and college students throughout New Jersey.

At the event, Chhange will also release its latest publication, Hundred-Year Legacy of Courage: Celebrating the Lives of Armenian Genocide Survivors in Our Community. This publication shares the personal accounts of 54 Armenian survivors from across the Ottoman Empire. The book honors individual survivors by preserving their voices—a demonstrated, powerful vehicle to teach genocide history and its lessons. In conjunction with publishing Hundred-Year Legacy, Chhange has launched a Kickstarter fundraising campaign to help with the publication costs.

‘Narrating Genocide’: Featuring Mouradian, Bohjalian

On April 20, Chhange will host “Narrating Genocide,” featuring Khatchig Mouradian and renowned author Chris Bohjalian. They will explore different routes to the past, through history and literature, and discuss how each genre informs the other. Discussion will be moderated by renowned scholar Deborah Dwork, Ph.D.

‘Operation Reality’: Featuring Eric Bogosian

In October 2015, Chhange will sponsor “Operation Reality: Historical Perspective on the Assassination of Talaat Pasha.” Actor, novelist, and historian Eric Bogosian will present his recent research and book about the assassination of Talaat Pasha, the mastermind of the Armenian Genocide.

Chhange will also present a commemorative public broadcast, “Commemorating Genocide: Celebrating Survival.” This multi-part TV series with 30-minute segments will contain interviews with staff/consulting scholars of Chhange, as well as members of the local Armenian community.

Founded in 1979, Chhange is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, volunteer organization. Its mission is to educate about the Holocaust, genocide, and human rights; promote the elimination of racism, anti-Semitism, and all forms of prejudice; and develop creative programs regarding these crucial human issues.

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