MEDFORD, Mass.—Tufts University, the Darakjian-Jafarian Chair in Armenian History, the Department of History, the Armenian Club at Tufts University, and the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) will sponsor the Commemoration of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide at Tufts on Wed., April 15, at 7 p.m. The event will feature a lecture by Dr. Claire Mouradian of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CRNS) in Paris, France, entitled, “A Century of Oblivion: The Time Has Come to Listen to the Voices of the Victims.” The evening will be hosted by Ina Baghdiantz McCabe, Professor of History and Darakjian-Jafarian Chair of Armenian History at Tufts University.

The commemoration and lecture will take place in Goddard Chapel on Tufts’ Medford campus. A reception will follow in the Coolidge Room in nearby Ballou Hall.

For the first time, Mouradian explores a collection of private letters written in 1915-19 by survivors in the Ottoman Empire to their relatives in the United States. This correspondence is a first-hand account of events and uncovers an intimate record of their lives. The necessity for scholars to confront the continuing denial of the Turkish state has led historians to give priority to archival research, external diplomatic testimonies, and eyewitness accounts over the voices of the victims. These letters highlight the consequences of the Armenian Genocide on families and individuals and will be read as a tribute to their memory.

Claire Mouradian is a director of research at the CNRS, Paris, and is in charge of the section on the Caucasus within the Centre d’Etudes des Mondes Russe, Caucasien et Centre-Européen (CERCEC) at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS). She is the author and editor of numerous books and articles including, Caucase, terres d’empire, (2005) L’Arménie, (2002), and De Staline à Gorbatchev: histoire d’une république soviétique, l’Arménie (1990).

She has organized many exhibits, seminars, and conferences and has given lectures on Armenian history and on the Armenian Genocide in numerous universities across the globe. She is also the official translator to François Hollande during his trips to Armenia.

For more information about the lecture, contact NAASR by calling (617) 489-1610 or e-mailing hq@naasr.org, or e-mail Prof. McCabe at ina.mccabe@tufts.edu.

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On March 7, Dr. Herand Markarian presented his new book, The Martyred Armenian Writers 1915-1922, at the Armenian Community Center’s Shahnazarian Hall in Glenview, Ill., and then unleashed a group of 7 young and powerful readers, one as young as 17, onto the capacity audience. The readers, representing the youth and future of Armenia, delivered excerpts from the book, and brought many in the audience to tears and rousing applause. The event was organized by the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society as part of the Chicago area’s activities devoted to marking the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

(L-R) Maral Aprahamian, Sona Birazian, Houri Papazian, Alex Boyajian, Dr. Herand Markarian, Greg Boyajian, Khachuig Dakarian, and Meghedi Tamazian

After brief opening comments, Talin Artinian, the mistress of ceremonies, invited Chicago Hamazkayin Chairperson Rita Arakelian to offer her welcoming remarks. Artinian then introduced Markarian, which included a special video message from Armenian Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan, who recognized Markarian’s numerous contributions to Armenian culture. Artinian then invited Markarian to address the audience.

Markarian began his presentation by describing Western Armenian literature as it reached its zenith prior to the genocide. He talked about the arrests of April 24^th, and the impact the genocide had not only on the Armenian nation but also on Armenian culture. He then presented each of the martyred writers featured in his book, asking the audience to note their ages, displaying their photos, listing their pseudonyms, and describing their writing.

Artinian then joined Markarian at the podium, where she introduced seven young Armenians—Maral Aprahamian, Sona Birazian, Alex Boyajian, Greg Boyajian, Khachuig Dakarian, Houri Papazian and Meghedi Tamazian—many of whom were near the same age as the writers whose work they would recite. The readers, dressed in all black and wearing red stoles across their shoulders, turned what could have been an ordinary lecture about a book into an unforgettable miniature drama. During their recitations, Markarian covertly choreographed the production from his seat in the front row, projecting images behind the readers that helped to spiritually connect the audience with the martyred writers. Indeed, many in the audience were moved to tears during the reading of the translation of Siamanto’s “Strangled,” showing the power and authenticity of the translation. The readers concluded their recitations by chanting “Aha, menk goukank!” in unison, which was greeted by a standing ovation from the audience. Markarian then treated the Armenophilic Chicago audience to a work by Siamanto with a recitation in his own impeccable Western Armenian.

Meghedi Tamazian reads an excerpt from Markarian’s latest book.

The program transported the audience back 100 years to once again hear youthful voices long silenced. But across that 100 years, the sad fact is that assimilation, aided by English-language media, radio, television, and now computers, has erected a language barrier between English-speaking Armenians and Armenian literature. Through his book, Markarian has made some of the most powerful passages written by some of the greatest Armenian writers accessible to not only English-speaking Armenians, but also the 700 million other speakers of English worldwide.

The nearly 250-page book is made up of three parts: the first provides a brief background about Armenian identity and Western Armenian literature; the second offers a glimpse at the historical accounts of the Armenian Genocide, including details of the martyrdom of Taniel Varoozhan, Roupen Sevag, and Indra; and the final part includes Markarian’s translations of both pose and poetry from Western Armenian to English. While this book opens the door to Western Armenian literature to English speakers, it is hoped that it will also rekindle interest in works in their original Western Armenian.

At the conclusion of the presentation, Markarian said he always felt the need to close his works with an epilogue to look to the future. He then read the epilogue to his book, which tied the deep sense of loss from the genocide with a vision of hope, illustrated through the light of a candle.

Following the program, the entire stock of The Martyred Armenian Writers 1915-1922 sold out within moments. Despite the disappointment that many felt at not being able to obtain a copy of the book immediately, the audience lingered over coffee and pastries, discussing the powerful program they had just experienced. The book will soon be going into a second printing, and there is already an initiative to sponsor copies for libraries, in an attempt to introduce these great writers to the broader American audience. Readers interested in purchasing the book, or in sponsoring a book for a private or college library in the name of a martyred ancestor, may contact the author by writing to Libra-6 Productions, 160 Waters Edge Congers, NY 10920. Books are available for $20 plus $5 shipping.

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The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Inc. will be holding its 4th Annual Online Charity Auction from March 19-29.

Auctioned items include gift cards to restaurants, spas, and salons, artwork, travel excursions, merchandise, and special priceless gifts, such as sports memorabilia, tickets to the coveted People’s Choice Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, Camp Haiastan campership, and so much more.

All proceeds will benefit ARS Eastern USA projects worldwide. The ARS is a 501©(3) nonprofit organization. To donate a gift, e-mail the committee at arseusaauction@gmail.com. To view the wonderful array of gifts, visit www.biddingforgood.com/arseastusa and get ready to bid!

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HAVERHILL, Mass.—For more than 50 years, Zarouhi (Sara) Vosgarichian was all heart and soul when it came to the Armenian Relief Society (ARS), both inside her own community and with events that demanded international attention.

Sara Vosgarichian

Whether it was coming to the assistance of a local family in need or world strife in Lebanon, she was always there to answer the call of humanity.

Her chapter was not the biggest by any means, but stood in the forefront of devoted service to humanity like all others. Like herself, Haverhill was a little chapter with a big heart.

Members celebrated their festivities, commemorated their historical events, and conducted fund-raisers to subsidize their charities.

Her husband Hemayag was a 50-year Gomideh member and genocide survivor. Their family didn’t include biological children of their own. The Armenian community was their family.

Saturday night suppers at the River Street club gave her every opportunity to spread her wares. While the men indulged in their game of cards and tavlou, Sara and her ARS sisters prepared dinner. Whether it was kheyma or chicken with pilaf, it would be enough to fill a tapeworm and there was always room for dessert.

“The ARS has given me a reason to practice my heritage,” she used to say. “Our chapter in Haverhill stands with others throughout the world in serving our people.”

Sara passed March 16 at Penacook Place Nursing Home, where she spent the final weeks of her life. She was 90 and left behind a legacy for goodness and compassion.

Her funeral service took place March 20 at Armenian Church at Hye Pointe where family and friends gathered to pay tribute. Burial took place in Linwood Cemetery by her husband.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Armenian Relief Society, 80 Bigelow Ave., Watertown, MA 02472.

Sara, as she was affectionately known, immigrated from Cuba and the Castro regime to work in the shoe mills of this city. It was a haven for any refugee, including Armenians, who toiled their fingers to the bone, thankful for the opportunity to live in peace and worship in security.

They spoke their language, practiced their culture, and kept their ethnicity gallantly in the forefront. It was a world that knew no compromise.

Sara attended evening classes at Haverhill High School in an effort to better herself and particularly enjoyed hosting dinners for her family, including her many nieces and nephews. People in her neighborhood would drop by and receive the same hospitality.

She kept updated with all the latest Armenian news through the Hairenik and Armenian Weekly. Among her best moments was taking the train into Boston and attending an Armenian concert (hantess) with her brothers, Daniel and Levon Balian, and their families.

“Sara was everybody’s best friend,” says Levon. “In times when she had taken ill, she never complained and always tried to remain positive. Everyone who knew her loved her and she will be missed.”

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WATERTOWN, Mass.—The Armenian Museum of America opened a new exhibition titled, “The Armenian Genocide: A Silent Testimony,” on view from March 22 through May 10 in the Adele & Haig Der Manuelian Galleries.

‘Lest We Perish,’ 2011,
oil and transfers on canvas
by Hope Ricciardi

“The Armenian Genocide: A Silent Testimony” is a complex interplay of the extremely horrific events of genocide and the artistic expression of the trauma of those events. The various abstract portrayals in the exhibition will explore memories and legacy through the personal experiences and emotional responses of the artists, and explore the emotional impact of genocide beyond statistics.

It will feature contemporary artworks by Lucy Janjigian, Berge Missakian, Apo Torosyan, Berj Kailian, Hope Ricciardi, Daniel Varoujan Hejinian, and others, as well as artifacts from the museum’s collection.

The Armenian Museum of America is located at 65 Main St. in Watertown.

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STANFORDVILLE, N.Y.—Artist Kardash Onnig will unveil a powerful multimedia installation on four consecutive Saturdays, opening April 25 and continuing May 2, 9, and 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the artist’s studio at 76 Halas Lane, Stanfordville. The installation, which is free and open to the public, will pay tribute to victims of the Armenian Genocide. It is also an invitation for all people to mourn and transcend their own grief and sorrow.

“The Mehian,” an acoustic sanctuary sitting atop Kardash’s 11-acre property, will house the “Womb of Sorrow.” Inside, four large speakers handcrafted by Kardash rest on a kilim rug brought from Anatolia by his grandmother, a survivor of the Armenian Genocide. When visitors enter the Mehian, they will encounter four different auditory experiences, establishing an atmosphere for visitors to pay tribute to their own journey of sorrow. These are “Armenian Blues,” a recitation of Vahe Vahian’s poem by Melo Ekizian; “Rhythmic heart beats” by percussionist Mher Vahakn Ajamian on drum; “Vocal resonances” by Zulal, A Cappella Folk Trio; and “A Composition,” mixed by electronic musician Phil Moffa.

Kardash Onnig’s “Transfourming Sorrow”

Visitors will then walk to “The Field of Transfourmation,” an intimate enclosure of 14 panels of studies and 3 dimensional compositions each dedicated to a transference the artist had with others throughout his life, whereby an unspeakable loss and sorrow is transformed. These works are the manifestation of the artist’s lifelong experimentation with his “Tools.” Inspired by the quaternary principle found in all cultures, Kardash’s “Tools” transcend cultural boundaries and the fixities of modern, two-dimensional national alphabets.
Kardash Onnig was introduced to sculpting and direct carving more than 40 years ago and has devoted his life to a path of personal transformation.

For more information about “Transfourming Sorrow,” including directions, visit KardashOnnig.com or e-mail transfourmer@gmail.com.

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WASHINGTON—On Thurs., April 9, the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Washington, D.C., will host a reception and book signing for author Matthew Karanian and his ground-breaking new book Historic Armenia After 100 Years: Ani, Kars, and the Six Provinces of Western Armenia.

Cover of Karanian’s Historic Armenia

Karanian’s presentation will include his photographs from Western Armenia and a discussion about the journey of creating this first-ever guide to the historic and cultural sites of the Armenian homeland.

The presentation is within the framework of events dedicated to the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Centennial, and is under the auspices of the Embassy and of Ambassador to the United States Tigran Sargsyan.

Karanian’s book, Historic Armenia After 100 Years, was released in February, and is the first book of its kind. The book features 125 color photographs and maps that illustrate the current condition of the churches and monasteries that still exist in Western Armenia.

Antique photographs from one century ago are also included, and demonstrate the destruction and vandalism that has occurred since the genocide.

The book “shines a light on the Western Armenia that defies eradication,” says Karanian. He portrays the book as a celebration of the historic Armenian homeland that has survived.

The event begins at 7 p.m. It is free and open to the public. The Armenian Embassy is located at 2225 R St., NW, Washington, D.C.

For more details about the event and the book, visit www.HistoricArmeniaBook.com.

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NEW YORK—More than 200 women traveled from all over the United States and as far away as Europe, Canada, and South America to attend and participate in a series of events initiated by the Armenian Relief Society, Inc. (ARS) to commemorate the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide. The ARS is the oldest Armenian women’s organization in the world, with entities in 26 countries and a membership of 15,000. Beginning on March 5, the week-long succession of events featured the opening of an exhibition at the United Nations (UN), as well as lectures, forums, dinners, and visits to various landmarks in “the city that never sleeps.”

Amb. Mnatsakanyan and Marachelian cut the ribbon, officially opening the exhibit.

On Thurs., March 5, an extraordinary exhibit at the United Nations headquarters, co-organized by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the UN and the ARS, Inc., showcased the unique and treasured “Handwork of Armenian Women: Stitching to Survive.” Among the special guests attending were Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Armenia’s UN Ambassador Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, ARS Central Executive Board (CEB) Chairperson Vicky Marachelian, ARS United Nations NGO Committee Chairperson Valentine Berberian, and representatives of various organizations. Also in attendance were several members of the ARS CEB, ARS Eastern and Western USA regions, ARS Canada, and ARS South America, along with the ARS UN coordinator.

The exhibit showcased exquisite heirloom pieces from the Armenian Museum of America curated by Susan Lind-Sinanian, and illustrated the artistry, technical skills, and cultural artistry of Armenian women in the last 100 years. On exhibit were exquisite laces, embroidery, crochet, and needlework, as well as clothing and accessories.

Calling the ARS “an exceptional society of devoted women, and a miraculous feminine force, dedicated to humanitarian endeavors,” Ambassador Mnatsakanyan briefly traced the ARS’s history, which “emerged from the crucible of oppression and made the daunting journey from the old world to the new, from immigrant to citizen, from refugee to worker, from dependence to self-reliance.”

“The needle,” Mnatsakanyan said, “represented freedom and economic independence for Armenian women and

Needlework displayed at the exhibit

girls,” and paid tribute to their “magnificent artistry, technical skill, and cultural expression, while echoing the trauma of the unspeakable atrocities and deportations they experienced.” He paid tribute to those Armenian grandmothers and great grandmothers who worked endless hours to produce the beautiful works to support their families. “These immigrants survived, and their national identity was remolded to a new land where peace and prosperity were more than just a dream, a land where 105 years ago, the foundations of the Armenian Relief Society would be set, followed by more than a century of ongoing service to the needy.”

He also noted that the ARS, as an Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) accredited NGO at the UN, is participating in the 59th Conference of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW59).

Marachelian then spoke about the “multi-faceted role of Armenian women emerging from the crucible of oppression. Displayed in this exhibit is the precious handwork of 10 decades. It is an exceptional example of Armenian artistry and noble sisterhood,” she related with pride. The event’s highlight came with the cutting of the red ribbon by Mnatsakanyan and Marachelian, officially opening the exhibit, which was on display at the United Nations for dignitaries and personnel, as well as UN visitors, through Fri., March 13.

Rebuilding a nation

On Friday, an all-day conference entitled, “Rebuilding a Nation: The Armenian Woman’s Century of Resistance and Empowerment,” organized by the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of the Armenian Relief Society, took place at the Salvation Army headquarters in New York. Following a moment of silence in honor of those who perished in the Armenian Genocide, initiated by ARS CEB member, Caroline Chamavonian in her opening remarks, CEB member Pauline Getzoyan warmly welcomed the overflow crowd, and recounted the “Armenian woman’s indelible contribution to the survival of our nation and culture. We honor the inspirational women who led the way before us.”

Dr. Eleni Theocharous

Topping the list of prominent speakers was Dr. Eleni Theocharous, an Associate Professor of Pediatric Surgery in Cyprus, and head of the Department of Pediatric Surgery at the Achellion Hospital in Limassol, Cyprus. She has been a member of the European Parliament since 2009, and is the leader of the European Union-Armenia Friendship Group. Her impressive background also includes membership in the Cypriot House of Representatives, Amnesty International, the Ad-Hoc Committee for the Promotion of Peace and Collaboration in the Middle East, and the Cyprus-Armenian Association (as president). A noted human rights activist, she has worked in several developing countries, including Armenia, Lebanon, and Syria. Since 1991, the distinguished physician and parliamentarian has made more than 30 trips to Artsakh (Karabagh), including 20 during the war and ceasefire, to help rebuild the pediatric hospital, and help with school reconstruction and agricultural production.

Starting her address describing the “common principles and values of freedom, courage, dignity, pride, and self-determination” that Greeks and Armenians share, Theocharous proudly declared, “Today I feel 100 percent Armenian, because you gave me the opportunity to participate, to live through and identify myself with the epic struggle of the Armenians for liberty and independence.” She called the Artsakh struggle a “victory of the Armenian people against the bondage of tyranny and criminal indifference of the powerful of the planet.”

Thanking the ARS, she said, “Women are the core-pillar” of this and other Armenian battles, including in the fields of education, art, medicine, infrastructure, democracy, and human and social rights. The Armenian nation has undergone a number of genocides, with women and children being the main victims of violence, she continued. “We are shocked by the brutality of the genocide, and it fills us with horror that, 100 years later, the brazen and aimless Turkish state continues the same policy against the Kurds.”

A powerful plea and promise

Making a powerful plea, Theocharous stated, “Please save the Melkonian School in Cyprus. It is a monument of the genocide, and of equal importance to the one in Dzidzernagapert in Yerevan.” This request brought on thunderous applause.

Concluding her inspiring remarks, Theocharous declared with passion and obvious emotion, “As long as Turkey denies the genocide, the Turks will remain in the collective consciousness of nations as slaughterers. I promise you that as long as I am alive, Turkey will not join the European Union unless it becomes a civilized country and recognizes the genocide.” The audience swept to its feet, giving her a standing ovation lasting several minutes.

Dr. Isabel Kaprielian-Churchill

Dr. Isabel Kaprielian-Churchill, Emerita, professor in the California State University (Fresno) History Department, brought to life the world of “Needle, Thread and Cloth: The Art of Survival,” when thousands of Armenian women and girls, by fashioning beauty and power, “made art the savior of our nation,” during the late 19th and 20th centuries. This extraordinary work was commercialized by American missionaries in Ireland and Germany. Using slides to display this exquisite handiwork, Kaprielian-Churchill explained how handkerchiefs, doilies, altar pieces, and even sweaters and other accessories, made from areas such as Anjar, Urfa, and Aintab, were sold in Europe and the U.S. and “helped Armenians to survive before 1914.”

Before the genocide, many of these unique artworks, especially those with crosses, were pillaged and burned, after gems and gold threads were removed. They were put on display as Turkish art, since Armenian women did not sign their work. After the genocide, the making of tapestries, embroideries, and rugs was partially revived in Aintab, Marash, Urfa, and Sepastia. Near East Relief sold these crafts in the Middle East, the Caucasus, Europe, and the U.S., and used the money to partially support the orphanages. With obvious emotion Kaprielian-Churchill emphasized the themes of this art, which symbolize the women’s resistance to the genocide, survival, and the preservation of our historical techniques. “It was big business with a cultural touch.” Today, these arts are kept alive in Armenia, Syria, Lebanon, and Iran. “Speaking through the needle today is not for economic survival, but for cultural survival,” she said.

Scout Tufankjian, a photojournalist who spent four years traveling to more than 20 countries to document images of Armenian communities, which resulted in the book, There is Only the Earth – Images from the Armenia Diaspora Project, said she wanted to find out what it meant to be an Armenian. “I was angry that books by non-Armenians were writing that the Armenians are no longer here. I wanted to tell the story of survival, not just victimhood. No matter where we live, we’re connected.” Tufankjian also emphasized the powerful role Armenian women have played in that connection and survival.

Dr. Marian Mesrobian MacCurdy, a retired professor and chair of the Writing Department at Ithaca College, revealed

(L-R) Dr. Isabel Kaprielian-Churchill, Scout Tufankjian, Dr. Marian Mesrobian, and Bared Maronian

that her grandfather, Aaron Sachaklian was one of the three leaders of “Operation Nemesis.” She related the life story of her grandmother, Eliza DerMelkonian Sachaklian, a founding member of the ARS in America, who was a survivor of the harrowing 19^th-century Hamidian Massacres and the 1909 Adana Massacres. Like many Armenian women, she supported her family with her needlework skills, which she passed on to her daughter. In her book, Sacred Justice: The Voices and Legacy of the Armenian Operation Nemesis, Mesrobian MacCurdy related this courageous story of tenacity and stubbornness, stressing that women were just as important as the men in the struggle.

Bared Maronian, the executive producer of Armenoid Production, and four-time Regional Emmy Award-winner, has worked on many films, including PBS documentaries. His latest work, “Orphans of the Genocide,” has been shown in film festivals, translated into a number of languages, and won several awards. An audience of 12 million has already seen it on PBS stations. His aim is to increase the audience viewership by the end of 2015 to 100 million in recognition of the Centennial.

His current work, “Women of 1915” will document the plight of Armenian women during the genocide, and the non-Armenian women who came to their rescue. It will explore the question, “What is an Armenian Woman?” Featured notables will include the first Ambassador of Armenia to Japan Diana Apka; Hollywood movie star Lori Mardiganian; Partridge family granddaughter Barbara Johnson, who opened a school and orphanage in Sepastia; Danish missionaries Karen Jeppe and Maria Jacobsen, the founder of Bird’s Nest; and hang-glider Marilyn Hamilton. The film is scheduled to premiere in the New York area in November 2015. Maronian said the ARS Eastern Region has been a major sponsor of “Women of 1915,” and expressed his appreciation for its support.

Accenting the inspiring lectures was a symbolic sculpture of a genocide victim’s face with hollow eyes and an open, shrieking mouth by artist Marla Mekjian. It was reminiscent of legendary artist Edvard Munch’s painting entitled “SCREAM.” Armineh Minassian recited “A Handful of Ash” by the famed poet Siamanto, bringing many to tears.

‘Women and diaspora: from past to post-2015’

Panel on the role of diasporan women, moderated by   Nanore Barsoumian

On March 9, the Permanent Missions of Armenia and Cyprus to the United Nations, in partnership with the ARS, the University of the Highlands and Islands, and the Diaspora African Women’s Network (DAWN), held a side event on the margins of UN CSW59 on to discuss the role of diasporan women. Moderated by Nanore Barsoumian, the editor of the Armenian Weekly, the panel included ARS member Nora Simonian, representing Armenian Diasporan women. “Armenian women have always played an important role throughout history,” Simonian said. “During the past 100 years, Armenian Diaspora women have taken on the monumental responsibility of not only forming and sustaining their families but also preserving the Armenian identity and culture within their families and communities, no matter which host country they settled in.”

“Diaspora women share the responsibilities of the social and economic development of Armenian women worldwide so that they may continue to play a crucial role in preserving the Armenian culture and traditions in post-2015,” she added. The theme of this panel was a fitting conclusion to the commemorative events, honoring the role of the Armenian woman before, during, and after the genocide.

Ambassador Zohrab Mnatsakanyan

Clothing displayed at the exhibit

A group shot of the participants of the symposium titled ‘Rebuilding a Nation: The Armenian Woman’s Century of Resistance and Empowerment’

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This past weekend, the Genocide Centennial Committee met in Washington, D.C., with national committee representatives present. Also attending were Primate of the Eastern Diocese Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Primate of the Western Diocese Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, and Diocesan Legate in Washington D.C. Archbishop Vicken Aykazian.

“There has been an overwhelming response to the May 7-9 Centennial of the Armenian Genocide commemoration in Washington, D.C.,” said Dr. Noubar Afeyan, chairman of the National Genocide Commemoration Committee. “It is still two months before the climactic event, and hotel reservations are almost sold out, and concert and banquet tickets are going fast.”

“Details of this historic commemoration at our nation’s capital were firmed up at this meeting,” he reported. “There is very serious work going on almost round the clock. The list of dignitaries attending our three-day program is growing daily.”

Following the meeting, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian commented on the importance of the Centennial in D.C. “The most important aspect of this Centennial in Washington is unity,” he related with special emphasis. “All Armenian-American religious, cultural, benevolent, and political organizations are united in this crucial effort. We have already had, and will continue to have, Centennial events throughout the year, but the Washington commemoration is the climax, and the most important,” he noted.

“The Washington Centennial will show to our leadership in Washington, D.C. that we are a united Armenian-American community, and this is powerful,” he declared. “Just as importantly, we are united in front of our martyrs who will be sainted in Holy Etchmiadzin on April 23 by the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I.”

This special ceremony in Armenia is “spiritually uplifting, and we will be saying to the world that because of the spiritual power of our martyrs we Armenians are living, contributing to our communities, and flourishing. After the genocide, the surviving Armenians who came to America were called the ‘starving Armenians.’ Now, we are in leadership roles,” he said with pride.

Archbishop Barsamian continued by pointing out this important milestone is not only to remember the tragic events of a hundred years ago, but also to commit ourselves to justice and peace. It is very important that the entire world recognize what the Armenians suffered a hundred years ago.”

The commemoration is “to proclaim that these types of events should never happen to anyone in the world. It is very sad that since 1915, the same atrocities have been and are being repeated today in different parts of the world.”

He added that the Washington Genocide Centennial “is not only for Armenians,” and that the National Council of Churches and the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops have invited President Obama, members of the U.S. Congress, and other high-ranking government officials and diplomats to the Ecumenical Service at the National Cathedral on May 7 at 7 p.m.

The President of the Republic of Armenia Serge Sarkisian is also expected to be present at the May 7 Ecumenical Service.

At the banquet on the evening of May 9, individuals and organizations that helped the Armenians before and after the genocide, as well as the ambassadors of countries who have recognized the Genocide, will be thanked and honored by the two Catholicoi.

Archbishop Barsamian strongly repeated that the main purpose of the event is “to show our unity in Washington, D.C., the capital of our country.”

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Anticipation was peak as a record crowd gathered at the Holocaust Museum Houston on Sat., March 14 for an emersion into a fascinating lecture on Raphael Lemkin, the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and cultural destruction.

Balakian speaks at Holocaust Museum Houston

Tamara Savage, the director of the Holocaust Museum Houston, introduced Balakian, the Donald M. and Constance H. Rebar Professor of the Humanities at Colgate University, who has made the genocide a key part of his life’s work as an award-winning writer, poet, and genocide expert.

Balakian started by praising the history of Jewish rescue, witness, and intellectual work on the Armenian Genocide. From Ambassador Henry Morgenthau to Raphael Lemkin, to Franz Werfel and into the modern era of Jewish scholars working on and standing up for the Armenian Genocide discourse, Balakian noted that “the role Jews have played in bearing witness to and later defining the Turkish genocide of the Armenians has been profound.”

It was Lemkin who became the father of the U.N. Genocide Convention of 1948. It was Lemkin who coined the phrase “Armenian Genocide” in the 1940’s. As a graduate student he challenged his professor after learning about the Turkish massacres of the Armenians, asking, “How can it be that if one man kills another he is charged with murder, but if a whole nation-state kills more than a million people they are allowed to do it without any consequences?” This moment ended up changing his career path.

Among the many layers of Lemkin’s understanding of genocide as a crime is the concept that the destruction of culture is a vitally important aspect of the genocidal process. At the core of every group identity are the cultural institutions that codify group identity.

The official number of dead in the Holocaust, according to the U.S. Holocaust Museum, is 5.1 million. In the Armenian case, Lemkin put the death toll at 1.2 million. The epicenter of killing was in 1915 and 1916. About two-thirds of the Armenian population perished.

Balakian discussed some defintions of culture as essential to the identity of any ethnic or group. He also analyzed some of the tactics of Turkish assault on Armenian culture in 1915. He discussed the destruction of about 4,500 churches and schools; the killing of the culture producers—the writers, teachers, editors, clergy, and journalists—on April 24 and after thoughout Turkey; and the forced conversion of Armenians to Islam as a way of eradicating ethnic identity.

Balakian discussed the the city of Ani in eastern Turkey as an example of the politicization of historical monuments and their preservation in a post-genocidal context. Ani, which Balakian suggested might be seen as the equivalent of Florence for Italy, was the medieval capital of the Armenian Bagratid Kingdom in the 10th and 11th centuries, and is today on the Turkish-Armenian border. It was celebrated for the artistry of its churches and other structures. The city was abandoned in the 17th century and has since been subjected to earthquakes and destruction that have left it in ruins.

Balakian referred to Grigoris Balakian’s The Ruins of Ani to suggest that scholars might now see the erosion and falsification of Ani by the Turkish government through a post-colonial lens. He emphasized the connection Armenians have to eastern Turkey, but also the experiences of exile and loss because of what he called the “lock out syndrome”—the result of Ankara’s policy of disallowing even proper identification on the signage of historic Armenian churches.

In response to a question from the audience about the U.S. government’s refusal to go on official record about the Armenian Genocide, Balakian noted that the State Department remains afraid of standing up to Turkish coercion and pressure, and this seems to be a failure of ethical courage. Twenty-two countries have passed a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide, including Poland, Sweden, France, Greece, and Switzerland.

Vreij Kolandjian thanked Balakian for his lecture and the Holocaust Museum Houston for emphasizing the importance of the Armenian Genocide by hosting two lectures and one exhibition on the topic three months in a row. Balakian’s talk stunned the audience to rapturous applause.

The post Balakian Discusses Genocide, Cultural Destruction at Holocaust Museum Houston appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

By Georgi-Ann Oshagan

DETROIT, Mich.—The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) “Maro” Chapter of Greater Detroit hosted a town hall meeting to learn and explore the dynamics of human trafficking in Michigan, Armenia, and throughout the former Soviet Union and Middle East. The event was held on Feb. 27 at St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church Lillian Arakelian Hall. Guest speakers were University of Michigan Law School Professor Elizabeth Campbell and author Vahan Zanoyan.

Prof. Elizabeth Campbell

St. Sarkis Church Pastor Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian opened the evening with a prayer. Chapter chair Simone Topouzian welcomed the crowd and introduced the event topic as important and worthy of attention.

“Tonight is an opportunity to raise our own awareness of a terrible trend occurring locally and internationally,” said Topouzian. “Human trafficking is yet another tragic obstacle for not only Armenians, but also for all people to overcome.”

“Maro” Chapter Executive Board secretary and event co-chair Alidz Oshagan introduced Campbell, a clinical assistant professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School Human Trafficking Clinic. Campbell’s research and teaching centers on human trafficking, immigration, domestic violence, and criminal law. She is a member of the Michigan Human Trafficking Taskforce.

Although Michigan is known to be a state with a high rate of human trafficking, Campbell noted that the real number of trafficking victims is unknown.

“We don’t have good statistics for Michigan, for the United States, for the world,” she said. “It’s out there. We don’t know how much, but it’s out there and we have to stop it.”

Human trafficking victims in the metropolitan Detroit area hail from a variety of areas, including east and west Africa, Russia, and Asia.

“It’s pretty much coming from everywhere,” said Campbell.

Human trafficking exploitation falls into two general categories: labor and sex. Campbell noted that most of the University of Michigan Law School’s Human Trafficking Clinic clients are victims of labor trafficking. These victims are of all ages and can be found working mostly at restaurants, construction sites, nail salons, and hair-braiding establishments. Other victims find themselves locked into domestic servitude in the home of the trafficker or “buyer” of the trafficking victim.

Campbell outlined the process that is used to lure vulnerable people into the trafficking world—a process that preys on the victim’s desire to escape poverty or undesirable family circumstances for a better life.

The victim is recruited by force, fraud, or coercion. The “chains” on the victim are normally psychological, not physical. “I have not had a client who was shackled,” said Campbell.

Campbell also explained that many assume that “trafficking” involves long-distance travel between the home of the trafficking victim and their destination, but long-distance movement isn’t necessary for trafficking.

“You can be trafficked on the block you were born,” said Campbell, adding that the essential element of trafficking is exploitation. “They have multiple forms of trauma when they come to me,” she added about her clients. “The common denominator in my clients is vulnerability.”

Campbell related 2 major cases she recently worked on, that of 19-year-old Tina of Romulus, Mich., and 15-year-old Ben of Ypsilanti, Mich., by way of Ethiopia, whose parents had trusted a well-respected member of their community to ensure that Ben would receive a good continuing education in the United States.

Tina, the native Michigander, struggled as a victim of sexual trafficking for several years, while Ben was a model student who was a victim of domestic servitude under the control of his “patron.” Both victims were ultimately freed from their imprisonment through the University of Michigan’s Human Trafficking Clinic.

The human trafficking story continued with Zanoyan, who was introduced by ARS “Mar”o Chapter member and

Vahan Zanoyan

event co-chair Meline Topouzian.

Zanoyan, a global energy consultant, tapped into his experiences meeting young Armenian sexual trafficking victims to speak out against the crime through fiction. Zanoyan’s first novel, A Place Far Away, was published in 2013, sparked by a chance encounter he had with a 16-year-old Armenian sex trafficking survivor he met in Dubai. The second novel, The Doves of Ohanavank, published last year, continues the story of the first novel’s fictional heroine, Lara Galian.

While Campbell related the legal basis for human trafficking and discussed the process for victims to be vindicated through the criminal justice system, Zanoyan focused on sexual trafficking victims from Armenia and other areas of the former Soviet Union who find themselves far from home and victims of exploitation.

“This is not an Armenian phenomenon,” Zanoyan emphasized. “It’s a global phenomenon.”

Zanoyan framed human trafficking as a social issue in Armenia, beginning with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Social and economic supports disappeared and other local conditions created an environment conducive to luring young Armenian women into a world of sex trafficking.

“In Armenia, [the post-Soviet Union conditions] were worse because you had the Karabagh War and people going to work in Russia and leaving their families,” Zanoyan explained. “You had the most fertile ground for this [trafficking] activity to occur.”

Zanoyan conducted research for his first book by interviewing 12 Armenian sex trafficking victims in Dubai. The

Zanoyan and Campbell

heroine of his novels is a composite of those interviewed.

Zanoyan compared his literary advocacy against human trafficking to Campbell’s legal work.

“Why novels?” he asked. “I am convinced there’s no substitute for a lot of continued noise on this matter. The [Armenian] government does not make this a priority at all. Without public outcry, nobody cares. Mixing the victim with the criminal is chronic. In that severe poverty, they’re dying for a promise.”

Zanoyan and Campbell both advocated more discussion for a greater understanding of the crime of human trafficking and its victims. Audience members were urged to remain interested and ra

An audience member asking the speakers a question

“It’s too shameful. It’s too painful,” Zanoyan noted. “We think, ‘Let’s not talk about it.’ Your silence to this issue means you are an accessory to the crime. Public awareness is critical to make government more diligent in doing its job. And awareness and noise matter, but it has to be constant.”

The ARS “Maro” Chapter is selling copies of Zanoyan’s books for $20 each. Zanoyan donates all sales proceeds to various non-profit organizations in Armenia that fight human trafficking or serve as a safe haven for vulnerable young people and children.

Books are available by contacting a “Maro” Chapter member. More information about this local, national, and global issue can be found online at www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking and through the National Human Trafficking Resource Center by calling (888) 373-7888.

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BERLIN, Germany—On March 7, the Maxim Gorki Theater in Berlin launched an artistic program titled “It Snows In April” dedicated to the 100^th year anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Consisting of plays, a film series, concerts, lectures, and screenings, it will run until April 25.

The “Musa Dagh” documentary theater (photo: Esra Rotthoff – gorki.de)

The opening premiere featured the “Musa Dagh” documentary theater, an adaptation of Franz Werfel’s novel, The Forty Days of Musa Dagh. The night kicked off with a keynote speech by Yerevan-based journalist Harout Ekmanian and was attended by politicians and government representatives, including Chief for Cultural Affairs at the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andreas Görgen; former State Secretary for Cultural Affairs of Berlin Andre Schmitz; Alliance ’90/Green Party chairman Cem Özdemir; German Bundestag member and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Markus Meckel; and member of the German Bundestag from the Left Party Azize Tank.

The saved fragments of Armenian Genocide survivor Aurora Mardiganian’s film “Ravished Armenia” was screened by filmmaker Fred Kelemen as the opening of the film series “Anrufung” (invocation) on March 7.

Actress Arsinée Khanjian from Toronto is developing a reading for the main stage, while film director Atom Egoyan will have seven models recite the text of “Ravished Armenia” in his video installation in front of the Gorki Theater. The seven models refer to the seven substitutes that replaced Aurora Mardigian after a nervous breakdown prevented her from embarking on the promotional tour for “Ravished Armenia.” At the center of “It snows in April” are two performances on the main stage—Franz Werfel’s “Musa Dagh,” a documentary theatre project by Hans-Werner Kroesinger, and the music theatre piece “Komitas” by Marc Sinan, as well as the series of films curated by Fred Kelemen.

A five-day storytelling celebration will take place over Easter. Diverse voices from around the world will gather and unite the stories of the Armenian Diaspora.

To view the full program, visit http://english.gorki.de/programme/special-events/it-snows-in-april/.

In 2014, German theatre critics named the Maxim Gorki Theater as “Theatre of the Year.” Productions staged by the Gorki Theater during the last theater season were selected as among the 10 most remarkable shows in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

The artistic director of the Maxim Gorki Theater, Shermin Langhoff, is one of the best-known artists of Europe. She was born in Bursa, Turkey, and immigrated with her family to Germany. Recently, she was awarded the “BZ Kulturpreis” by the biggest Berlin tabloid newspaper for her work at the Gorki Theater. Langhoff has transformed the Gorki Theater, making it an artistic landmark in Berlin; she achieved a milestone when she successfully converted an off-theater called “Naunynstrasse” to a state theater. Langhoff envisages her work as political theater.

The post Berlin’s Gorki Theater Commemorates Genocide Centenary appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

The 2015 Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Youth Connect program took place on Feb. 28-March 1, at New York University. Program Director Khatchig Mouradian, the coordinator of the Armenian Genocide Program at the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights at Rutgers University, ran the program for the second year in a row. The theme of this year’s program was “Beyond the Centennial.” The speakers were engaging, and encouraged the participating students and young professionals to find novel and creative ways to contribute to their local Armenian communities, and the Armenian culture in general, on the eve of the centennial. There were four speakers in the program: film director Eric Nazarian, photojournalist Scout Tufankjian, writer Matthew Karanian, and Mouradian, adjunct professor of history and sociology at Rutgers University.

A scene from the event

Nazarian began his talk with an anecdote. In his time in New York, he asked strangers a simple question: What is one story that you think would make for an excellent film? A recurring theme in the answers was tragedy and loss. Tragedy has a powerful influence on us and moves us to tell a story that can really connect with an audience, said Nazarian. Tragedy brings people together far more than comedy, for instance. Nazarian lamented about the relative obscurity artists like Sergei Parajanov faced during their lifetime. It was only when titans of the big screen such as Federico Fellini and Martin Scorsese studied Parajanov’s work that his genius was finally recognized. He argued that the artists among us that try to tell stories deserve our support because it is important to tell stories about our past, to engage in our future, and to cultivate the next Aram Khatchadourians and Gomidas.

Tufankjian spoke about her experiences as a photojournalist traveling to 22 countries to document the various Armenian communities for her Armenian Diaspora project. While each community was unique in its own way, the similarities outnumbered the differences, she said. Sitting at the Armenian dinner tables in the different communities invoked the same familiar feeling for Tufankjian. Going into her project with no expectations, Tufankjian went from the Aghpalian agoump in Beirut, to a wedding in Ethiopia, to a church in India, to the genocide commemoration in California.

(L-R) Scout Tufankjian, Matthew Karanian, Eric Nazarian, and Khatchig Mouradian

Karanian spoke about his experiences traveling to Western Armenia and the importance of engaging with the historic Armenian homeland. For a long time, he had refused to go to Western Armenia where his ancestors were from, said Karanian. He finally visited Western Armenia in order to attend a friend’s wedding. That generated the spark that caused him to return many times to document various historic sites, which became the subject of his book, Historic Armenia After 100 Years: Ani, Kars, and the Six Provinces of Western Armenia. The question he posed was: “Were we wrong for not returning to this part of our homeland?” Karanian gave participants a glimpse into this part of Armenian history, raising awareness of the state Armenian cultural sites were in, and the urgency with which they needed to be preserved.

Mouradian spoke about the Armenian diaspora community of China. He based his talk on his research in China, which was made possible through a fellowship by the Gulbenkian Foundation. Mouradian shared stories from survivors of the Armenian Genocide who made their way to China, where they settled. He shared the contents of letters exchanged between a member of the Armenian community in China and his brother who lived abroad, as examples of life of the community there. He also spoke about the diplomatic influence of the community throughout the years.

The ARS YCP gives participants the opportunity to meet other young Armenians who are interested in various disciplines of science, business, and art, but are united by an interest in Armenian issues. The program provides a space for productive discussions, with talented speakers acting as guides. Participants were inspired to engage in their communities to bring about change for the better.

2015 ARS YCP participants

Tufankjian speaking about her project

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Special for the Armenian Weekly

‘France is working to pay off its debt to the Armenians for not having made every effort to save them and prevent their disappearance from the Ottoman Empire between 1918 and 1923.’

PARIS (A.W.)—A three-day academic conference titled “The Genocide of the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire in the Great War” kicked off on March 25 at the Great Amphitheater of La Sorbonne. Historians, researchers, political analysts, and journalists gathered to share their work and reflections on 100 years of research on the Armenian Genocide. The conference was organized by the International Scientific Council (CSI), with the support of “Mission 2015” of the Council of Armenian organizations of France (CCAF) and the Regional Council of Paris and surrounding areas.

France’s Minister of Education and Research Najat Vallaud-Belkacem (Photo: Fiona Guitard)

“One hundred years ago, one of the most horrifying episodes in the history of Europe and the world was being crafted. The political project of the Committee of Union and Progress, which was aimed at the total extermination of the Armenian people, was about to be put into execution, activating a mass murder, genocide—the first contemporary genocide.” With these words, France’s Minister of Education and Research Najat Vallaud-Belkacem started her speech.

Vallaud-Belkacem expressed her gratitude to historians, and paid tribute to all the intellectuals who lost their lives simply because “they were Armenians.”  She spoke about Komitas, “the greatest genius of Armenian music” who “saved from oblivion the most beautiful Armenian folk songs.” She also remembered the poet Daniel Varoujan and the novelist Zabel Yessayan.

Minister Vallaud-Belkacem reminded those present that France publicly recognized the Armenian Genocide through a law passed on Jan. 29, 2001. She spoke about the Armenians who perished during the genocide and shared her thoughts on Hrant Dink, the Agos newspaper editor assassinated in 2007. She also thanked the Turkish intellectuals seated in the amphitheater—among them Ragip Zarakolu and Bursa Ersanli—for their work and presence.  She concluded by paying tribute to the history teachers in France, who work every day to make the new generations sensitive, tolerant, and respectful.

Pierre-Cyrille Hautcoeur, the president of l’École des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), was the second speaker on the first day of the conference. He noted that it was not until April 1984 that we witnessed a court session—the Permanent People’s Tribunal in Paris—on the genocide. He reminded attendees that during this session, historian Pierre Vidal-Naquet compared the Armenian Genocide to the Holocaust. During that trial, Vidal-Naquet even used the term “great denial.” It was a great denial not only employed by the Turkish state, but also by its allies, “even by the United Nations,” said Hautcoeur.

Jean-Paul Huchon’s official representative from the Regional Council of Paris told the story of Missak Manouchian, a resistance fighter during World War II. Manouchian was orphaned after 1915, and worked to keep the Armenian culture alive. The representative paid tribute to the 60,000 Armenians who came to Marseille to find a safe haven, and who contributed to the development of France. She announced that the Council will distribute the magazine “Histoire,” which chronicles the history of the Armenian Genocide, to all high schools in Paris and the surrounding areas. In addition, an event is scheduled to take place on May 27 to commemorate the genocide. Taron Margarian, the mayor of Yerevan, will be present.

Vincent Duclert, who emceed the opening of the conference, concluded his remarks with the following words: “France is working to pay off its debt to the Armenians for not having made every effort to save them and prevent their disappearance from the Ottoman Empire between 1918 and 1923.” Duclert was referring to efforts, like the conference, that aim to raise awareness about the Armenian Genocide.

Yves Ternon, an historian and president of the CSI and a member of the Scientific Council of the Shoah Memorial, delivered the keynote address at the opening. He offered a detailed account of the history of the Armenian Genocide. Ternon’s was a powerful speech. He noted, “It becomes more and more obvious that the eruption of war releases moral constraints, transforming individuals, civilians, and the military into murderers.” He explained how the genocide took place, beginning with the putsch of July 1908 and the emergence in the 19th century of nationalists in the Balkans, and ending in 1923. He mentioned the recent massacres of the Yazidis in Sinjar. “The news shows us that sometimes history returns to the scene of a disaster, that the massacres committed yesterday by delirious nationalists are reproduced a century later in the same places, that the monster is back, with another mask, one of fanaticism.” Ternon spoke for an hour, and received a standing ovation.

(L-R) Mikaël Nichanian, Raymond Kévorkian, Gaïdz Minassian, Hamit Bozarslan, and Claire Mouradian (Photo: Fiona Guitard)

The opening ended with a roundtable discussion chaired by Gaïdz Minassian, a political analyst and journalist. He was joined by Claire Mouradian, Mikaël Nichanian, Hamit Bozarslan, and Raymond Kévorkian.

Mouradian said that research about the Armenian Genocide has moved forward in the past 20 years. “It was necessary to reconstruct the facts, which were facing denial,” she said. Now, not only are historians dealing with the research, but also anthropologists, authors, and sociologists. She added that even if the three days of the conference are intense, they are not enough to cover all the research available.

Kévorkian explained that “the ground was cleared collectively these past decades, but there is considerable work to be done.” Kévorkian hopes that new perspectives will soon be explored. “There are interesting perspectives. Micro history is becoming a real important tool,” he said. He gave the example of the brutalization of civilians during war, which can add a different perspective to the study of the Armenian Genocide. He also mentioned another central element that could offer a new angle: the Young Turks’ project of homogenization.

Nichanian insisted that one third of the research presented at the conference is from the specificity of Turkology. He reminded attendees that the conference brought together multi-disciplinarily approaches to research on the genocide.

Bozarslan said that 25 years ago Turkish history could be discussed without even mentioning the genocide of the Armenians. Historians who started to talk about it were marginalized. Turkish national history was not questioned until the 1980’s, he said, and explained the important role Turkish historians could play in Armenian Genocide research.

The conference concluded on Sat., March, 28, at the National Library of France. Videos of the event will soon be released on the CCAF’s “Mission 2015” website.

The post Paris Conference on Genocide Draws Experts from Around the World appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

From April 10-12, the Philadelphia Armenian community will host a symposium and exhibit titled, “We Not Only Survived, We Thrive,” in commemoration of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide and in celebration of the valor of our ancestors, at St. Sahag & St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church in Wynnewood, Pa.

“I remember and demand.”

The weekend-long event, sponsored by the five Philadelphia area Armenian churches—the Armenian Martyrs’ Congregational Church (Havertown), Holy Trinity Armenian Church (Cheltenham), St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church (Philadelphia), St. Mark’s Armenian Catholic Church (Wynnewood), and St. Sahag & St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church (Wynnewood)—will kick off with a reception on Fri., April 10 with music provided by “Armenian Public Radio,” a trio of Los Angeles musicians who will be making their debut East Coast appearance in Philadelphia.

The symposium will be held on Sat., April 11, and will feature keynote speaker Dr. Richard G. Hovannisian, Professor Emeritus of Armenian and Near East History at UCLA and the world’s foremost scholar on modern Armenian history. Participating speakers are Teresa Alajajian-Hayrapetian, long-term co-editor of the AGBU’s “Aragast” literary magazine, speaking on “The Formula for Survival”; Dr. Russell Kashian, Professor of Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, addressing “Migration Patterns of Residence and Mobility”; Ani Boghikian-Kasparian, University of Michigan at Dearborn, sharing “Oral Histories of Life in Eastern Turkey after the Genocide”; Dr. Alfred Mueller II, Dean of Arts and Sciences at Neumann University, discussing “An Identity Carved in Stone: The Armenian ‘Khatchkar’ as a Rhetoric of Identity”; and Dr. Siobhan Nash-Marshall, Professor of Philosophy at Manhattanville College in New York, focusing on “Principles, Property and Genocide.” Additionally, five graduate students from Manhattanville College will comprise a panel discussing “Personhood and Genocide.”

According to symposium co-chairs Alfred Mueller II and Lusine Hampartzumyan-Mueller, “Given that the Armenian Genocide was launched with the killings of Armenian intellectuals, we think it is only fitting that we commemorate its 100th year with a scholarly gathering.”

The exhibit, which will run until Sunday at 5 p.m., will showcase the Armenian immigration experience from pre-American Civil War to the present. Among the several hundred items documenting the Armenian massacres from 1894 through the genocide in 1915 are rare books, pamphlets, posters, postcards and pins, as well as signed letters and documents written by former U.S. presidents and dignitaries during World War I. A selection of Armenian-related ephemera will also be on display to demonstrate the way in which Armenian Diasporans overcame their tragic past and built prosperous lives in their adopted country.

The exhibit is co-chaired by Mark and Melineh Momjian. Mark Momjian is one of the top family lawyers in the country and has served on the boards of numerous organizations, including the Armenian Assembly and Armenian Bar Association. “Our focus,” Momjian said, “is to not only ensure that the sacrifices made by those who perished will not be forgotten, but also pay tribute to the thousands of survivors and their descendants who were scattered across the world, and under harrowing conditions, managed to keep the Armenian spirit alive. The exhibit is also an expression of profound gratitude to Americans who participated in relief efforts. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania alone, leaders like industrialist Howard Heinz, banker Andrew Mellon, manufacturer Samuel Fels, and merchant John Wanamaker joined countless Pennsylvanians in raising funds, organizing clothing and food drives, and traveling to the Near East to provide necessities and comfort to the survivors, especially scores of Armenian orphans.”

The weekend will conclude with a memorial luncheon on Sun., April 12, following Divine Liturgy services.

The charge for Friday’s reception is $35 per person, reservations for which can be made by contacting Fran Torcomian by calling (484) 433-3959 or e-mailing wesurvivewethrive@gmail.com. There is no charge for Saturday’s symposium or for viewing the exhibit on Saturday or Sunday; however, reservations are required. The exhibit will stay open until 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The event is one of many community events being organized in cooperation with the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of Philadelphia, with the specific focus of educating the public about the tragic events of 1915, when the Ottoman-Turkish government attempted to erase the entire Armenian population in Anatolia (present-day Turkey). For more information on this or other local Philadelphia commemoration activities, visit www.armeniangenocide100philly.com.

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LOWELL, Mass.—On March 18, Lowell High School (LHS) hosted a scholarly panel in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the start of the Armenian Genocide—on April 24, 1915—in the Ottoman Empire; 1.5 million Armenians would ultimately be killed in the genocide.

Panelists Lisa Menasian Colloca, Asya Darbinyan, and Julianne Tavitian

The panel was conceived and organized by LHS Social Studies teacher Lisa Menasian Colloca, who participated in the panel along with Julianne Tavitian (University of Massachusetts Lowell 2014) and Asya Darbinyan, a genocide scholar. Darbinyan, former deputy director of the Armenian Genocide Museum and Institute in Yerevan, Armenia, has held fellowships in Paris and Los Angeles.

The event began with a welcome from LHS alumnus Aram Jeknavorian (LHS 1956), who, with his four siblings, is a first-generation Armenian American. His father, Abraham, survived the genocide and made his way to Lowell, along with many other Armenians who formed an important community here. Abraham became a fixture of the community, founding the Post Office Locksmith Shop, which is still run by his son, Armen. Aram Jeknavorian drew parallels between his family’s experience and the later experience of other refugee immigrant groups, especially the Cambodian community.

Menasian Colloca teaches AP courses at LHS, has traveled to Armenia, and is a board member of the Boston branch of the Society for Orphaned Armenia Relief. She conceived of the panel in early 2014 as a way to honor her grandparents and other survivors and victims of the genocide. She also hoped that the lessons of the genocide would find resonance for students at LHS who have experienced similar horrors in places like Burma and Iraq. In her talk, Menasian Colloca gave a geography and history lesson that sketched the early history of Armenia, pointing out that it was the first country to formally accept Christianity, in 301 A.D. She showed some of the impressive architecture and art of medieval and present-day Armenia and mapped out the position of Armenians in the Ottoman and Russian Empires.

Asya Darbinyan covering the international law that applies to genocide.

Darbinyan went into great detail about the mechanics of the genocide, which began with government edicts that set in motion multiple waves of oppression, massacres, and large-scale death marches from April 1915 until 1918. Her presentation also focused on the politics of the Armenian Genocide in Turkey (the successor state to the Ottoman Empire) and independent Armenia today, as well as the Armenian Diaspora in the United States and the role of Americans in response to the genocide. Americans, led by the child movie star Jackie Coogan, gave $110 million (the equivalent of $5 billion today) in relief aid to surviving Armenians during and after World War I. Finally, Darbinyan, a native of Yerevan, Armenia, noted that the genocide is not specifically an Armenian event, but an event against humanity, a fact that must be understood for every genocide, no matter where it occurs.

Tavitian spoke passionately about her experience as a second-generation Armenian American and how her travel in Armenia has transformed her understanding of the genocide and what it means to be Armenian American. She also spoke out strongly against genocide deniers, noting the experience of many members of her family. One LHS student said that Tavitian’s emotional discussion of how she was shaped by her grandparents’ experiences in the genocide resonated strongly with what he feels from his own parents’ experience with the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.

During the question and answer period, the issue of “crimes against humanity” and genocide law was raised. Darbinyan had already noted that the first recorded use of the term was made during the genocide, when it was mentioned in an international memorandum. She further spoke about how Raphael Lemkin, a Polish Jew who coined the term “genocide” and is considered the father of modern human rights and genocide law after World War II, had begun his work in the area following the trial in Germany of an Armenian charged for the assassination of one of the three Ottoman architects of the genocide.

The audience was warm in its appreciation and comprised a large number of students, educators, and members of the greater Lowell Armenian-American community. The panel is part of Lowell High School’s Occasional Series on Contemporary Issues, which was instituted last spring and seeks to bring scholars of significant standing to the school as well as to showcase the expertise of faculty at LHS. The next OSCI panel, “The Black Experience of the Public School Community,” will take place on April 7 from 2:45-4:15 p.m. in the Little Theater of Lowell High School. It is free and open to the public.

Further commemorations of the Armenian Genocide in Lowell include the Whistler House Museum of Art’s current exhibit, “Pursuing Justice through Art,” which runs from March 18 through April 25.

The post Lowell High School Marks Genocide Centennial appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

WATERTOWN, Mass.—The opening reception of two new exhibitions, “The Armenian Genocide: A Silent Testimony” and “Along the Trails of the Armenian Orphans,” will take place on Sat., April 18 at 2 p.m. at the American Museum of America (AMA).

‘Lest We Perish,’ 2011,
oil and transfers on canvas
by Hope Ricciardi

“The Armenian Genocide: A Silent Testimony” is a complex interplay of the extremely horrific events of genocide and the artistic expression of the trauma of those events. The various abstract portrayals in the exhibition explore memory and legacy through the personal experiences and emotional responses of the participating artists, and explore the emotional impact of genocide beyond statistics. It will feature contemporary artworks by 26 different artists. The exhibition will be on view through May 17, in the Adele & Haig Der Manuelian Galleries, 3rd floor.

“Along the Trails of the Armenian Orphans” tells the story of the humanitarian mission of

Near East Relief using images from the Near East Foundation collection at the Rockefeller Archive Center, restored by the Naregatsi Art Institute (NAI). This rare collection of photographs illustrates the story of Near East Relief, an American-led humanitarian mission that saved thousands of Armenian orphans following the genocide. The exhibition will be on view through May 17 in the Terjenian-Thomas Gallery, 3rd floor.

Light refreshments will be served and admission is free. The Armenian Museum of America is located at 65 Main St. in Watertown.

Along the Trails of the Armenian Orphans will be on view through May 17

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Below is the full text of a communique released on March 27 by the executive director/CEO of the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA), Zaven Khanjian.

Dear Friends of the AMAA,

The AMAA has a strong commitment to transparency, a strong sense of responsibility, and a tradition of prudent management of all entrusted funds.

Recently an internal review and investigation of internal records revealed fraudulent activity and misappropriation of funds by a former employee.

Law enforcement authorities were quickly notified, who after a diligent and efficient investigation, arrested the former employee. We are committed to cooperate with law enforcement in the prosecution of this matter and will pursue all available avenues for the recovery of misappropriated funds.

In the meantime, we have enacted several internal control measures to avoid any repetition of similar incidents in the future. Working with our auditors, we will continue to examine our operations to ensure integrity in every aspect of our financial transactions.

It is management’s utmost responsibility to protect the long standing reputation of the Armenian Missionary Association of America and ensure that every dollar is used for the donors’ desired purposes. We shall spare no effort to ensure that the AMAA lives up to its reputation.

Our firm determination and pledge to our esteemed donors is that the investigation will vigorously continue until all pertinent facts are uncovered and that all donor wishes are prudently met and honored.

As always, please accept our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support and prayers.

Sincerely,

Zaven Khanjian

Executive Director/CEO

Armenian Missionary Association of America

The post AMAA Releases Communiqué on Fraudulent Activity appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

Robert Joseph Kessel passed away on March 1, in Gaylord, Mich. He was born in Pontiac on June 17, 1934, on Fathers’ Day. Bob was the only child of Bertram and Marguerite Kessel. His father was a metallurgist at GM Pontiac Motor Division. Robert grew up spending summers on Elk Lake, near Attica. His loves were fishing, boats, classic cars, and his family.

Robert Joseph Kessel

Robert graduated from Pontiac Senior High School, where he was an accomplished Drum Major and a Latin class standout. He entered the U.S. Army in November, 1954, during the Korean War. Stationed in Europe, he helped to build military camps in France.

After returning to civilian life, he married Betty Apigian in 1963, and gave a loving home to his wife and two sons, Robert Bradley and Brent. He was also a proud grandfather of Cole and Armen Kessel. Bob and Betty were always together. In 1964, they bought a party store in Pontiac and operated it for a number of years. Although he was held up several times, and was shot one time, Bob refused to give in to the criminal element and remained in business. A hard working man, he worked 15 hours a day, 7 days a week, in the store.

Robert was a quiet man who, together with Betty, attended kebab dinners, Armenian lectures, book signings, and many other Armenian activities, caused people to call Bob an “ABC”—Armenian By Choice! He took pride in his wife’s weekly columns in the Armenian Weekly; he learned and respected Armenian history from his father-in-law, Mamigon Apigian, who had introduced Bob to his daughter, Betty. The family enjoyed summer nights on the Apigian porch, drinking cold beer and eating his mother-in-law, Takouhie’s cheese, or hamburger beoregs. Notably, among his many virtues, as a veteran and a patriot, Robert remained a steadfast member of the American Legion for the rest of his life.

Military Honors and interment committal took place on March 5, in Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Mich.

***

The Armenian Weekly editors and staff wish to extend their sincere and heartfelt condolences to longtime Armenian Weekly columnist Betty Apigian Kessel for the loss of her beloved husband Robert Joseph Kessel, who passed away on March 1.

The post Robert Joseph Kessel (1934-2015) appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

Lecture to Focus on Doctors, Pharmacists, and Nurses during the Genocide

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass.—Khatchig Mouradian, the coordinator of the Armenian Genocide Program at Rutgers University and former editor of the Armenian Weekly, will deliver a lecture entitled, “Don’t come, Doctor, There is no Cure: Physicians, Nurses and the Armenian Genocide,” at Boston College on April 9.

Khatchig Mouradian

The lecture explores, through a wealth of archival documents and photographs, the role that doctors, pharmacists, and nurses played throughout the Ottoman Empire during the Armenian Genocide, with a particular focus on Aleppo and the concentration camps along the Euphrates River from Meskene to Der Zor.

The illustrated lecture, which is in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, is organized by Boston College’s Department of Slavic and Eastern Languages and Literatures, the Armenian Students Association, the Islamic Civilization and Societies, and the Armenian American Medical Association.

The event, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will take place at Boston College’s Stokes Hall (S195 Auditorium), 140 Commonwealth Ave., in Chestnut Hill. It is free and open to the public. To view the campus map, visit http://goo.gl/gFz6mu.

Mouradian is the coordinator of the Armenian Genocide Program at the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights (CGHR) at Rutgers, where he also teaches in the history and sociology departments as adjunct professor. He was the editor of the Armenian Weekly from 2007-14. Mouradian is also a Ph.D. candidate at the Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Clark University, currently completing his dissertation on the second phase of the Armenian Genocide.

The post Mouradian to Speak at Boston College on April 9 appeared first on Armenian Weekly.