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50th Anniversary
Special Issue

Profile of the Month

Anna Mayilian
Anna Mayilian was born in Yerevan, Armenia. After studying in the Piano Department at the Music School N 20, she studied in the Vocal Department at the Romanos Melikian Music College in Tamara Hampartsumians class. Upon graduation, she studied in the Gomidas State Conservatory's Vocal Department in Yerevan and received her post-graduate vocal education in Prof. Anna Sarajevas class. She specialized in vocal performance at the European Mozart Academy in Poland, at the Villecroze Academy in France, and at the Hariklea Darklee Academy in Romania. She studied with notable instructors such as Prof. Kerstin Mayer (Sweden), Prof. Eva Blahova (Czech Republic), Prof. Anna Reynolds (Germany), Prof. Marianna Nicolesco (Romania), Carol Smith (Switzerland) and Arax Davtian (Armenia). Anna Mayilian has received numerous medals in national and international vocal competitions. Since 1995, Mayilian is a soloist of the Cathedral Church of Kotayk Diocese. She teaches in the Classic Vocal Faculty at Gomidas State Conservatory since 1998. Anna Mayilian is the founder and the artistic director of the Ethno Vocal Trio of traditional and sacred music. In 2003, Mayilian received a gold medal from the Armenian Ministry of Culture. On the 28th of June, 2008, Anna Mayilian was conferred with the title of "Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia" by the order of the Armenian President. In 2010, she was conferred with the title of Docent of the Gomidas State Conservatory. Since 1992, she has undertaken numerous concert tours in Armenia and abroad. The repertoire of Anna Mayilian includes numerous musical compositions of different genres. She stands out for her original interpretation of songs and for her dramatic stage presence. Mayilian enjoys performing various genres of singing, but she mainly focuses on Armenian music (folk and sacred songs, romances, classic and modern vocal music).

Babken Harutyunyan (1941–2013)
Babken Harutyunyan was born in 1941 in Yerevan. In 1958, after graduating with a gold medal from No. 72 Secondary School named after Hrachya Ajaryan, he was enrolled in the Faculty of History at the Yerevan State University, from where he graduated with honors in 1962. From 1963–1966, he was a doctoral student at the same university. In 1968, he defended his doctoral thesis titled “Vayots Dzor from ancient times to 1045.” Alongside his work as a scientist and a lecturer, Harutyunyan studied (1972–1977) and graduated with honors from the distance learning program of the Yerevan State University’s Faculty of Law. In 1993, he defended his doctoral thesis titled “The System of Political and Administrative Division of Great Hayk, According to ‘Askharatsoyts’ (Western and Southern Worlds).” In 2005, Harutyunyan received the title of professor, and in 2006 he was elected a corresponding member of the RA National Academy of Sciences. From 1969 until his death, he lectured at the Yerevan State University. In 1993–1994, he also lectured at the Hamazkayin Higher Institute of Armenian Studies in Beirut, and in 1995–1996 at the University of Michigan-Dearborn (USA). In 1970–1971, he was the Dean of the International Students Program at the Yerevan State University. From 1983 to 1985, he was Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee at the same university. From 1985 to 1988, he served as the Director of Yerevan University Press. From 1993 to 2004, Harutyunyan served as the Dean of the Yerevan State University’s Faculty of History, and from 1997 to 2004, he was Head of the Department of the History of Countries Neighboring Armenia. In 2003, he was elected as the Head of the Department of Armenian History at Yerevan State University, a position he held until 2007. In 2007–2008, he also served as Academic Secretary of the RA National Academy of Sciences. Harutyunyan was awarded the Gold Medal of the Yerevan State University, the medal of Nobel Prize Winner Albert Schweitzer, as well as the Russian Order of “Catherine the Great” and German Order of “Gold Eagle with Gold Crown.” In 2006, he received the Movses Khorenatsi Medal, and in 2009 the title of “Honored Scientist of the Republic of Armenia.”

Antoine Kehyaian (Sir)
Antoine Kehyaian was born in Adana (Cilicia), on February 5, 1922. As a refugee, he passed through several cities before finally settling in Cyprus. Kehyaian first studied at the Terra-Santa College in Cyprus, and after completing primary school, he studied at the American Academy in Cyprus, where he specialized in accounting and English language. He continued his high school education at the International College in Beirut. Upon graduation, he started his career first as an office employee, and soon afterward as a teacher, after meeting Levon Shant. “I owe my love for teaching to Levon Shant. He was the one who ordained me as a teacher and taught me Armenian,” Sir said. Sir began teaching English in Djemaran in 1949; with his unique methodology, he taught his students accurate pronunciation and grammar. In 1954, he was appointed head of the Djemaran dormitory, a position he held until the discontinuation of that department. A man of many interests, Sir had a wide knowledge in literature, pedagogy, and politics.

E. Mirzoyan (1921-2012)

Galia Novents (1937-2012)
Galia Novents was born in 1937, in Yerevan. Her artistic life was launched in 1958 when she graduated from the acting department of Yerevan State Theater Institute and started working at the State Theater in Kaban. Afterward, for many years she worked at the Gabriel Sundukyan National Academic Theater, as well as the Vardan Achemyan Theater in Gyumri, the Yerevan Drama Theater after Hrachyan Ghaplanyan, and the Hamazkayin (Pan-Armenian) State Theater lead by Sos Sargsyan. In her final years Galia Novents worked at the Paronyan Musical Comedy Theater. A prominent master of Armenian theater and film, Galia Novents brought to the screen the character of the Armenian woman; her agonies and silent sobs. She has played more than 50 characters in different theater and radio performances, but her biggest presence was in the movies where she has had roles in such films as “Parev, yes em” (“Hello, it’s me,”) “Menk enk, mer sarere” (“We are our mountains,”) “Ais Khachmerougoum” (“On this crossroads,”) “Hin oreri yerke” (“The song of old days,”) “Nahapet,” “Mer mangoutian tangon” (“The tango of our childhood,”) “Gikor,” “Sbidag anourchner” (“White dreams,”) “Gdor m yergink” (“A piece of sky,”) and other some 30 films. Galia Novents has received many awards and rewards, as well as been laureate of the USSR State Award and a winner in international film festivals.

Zabel Yessayan (1878-1943)
Zabel Yessayian was born in Sgyudar, Constantinople in 1878. She received her primary education at the Armenian school of her birthplace. In 1895 she went to Paris and pursued her higher education in literature at the Sorbonne. While in Paris, she contributed to the French press, including “Mercury de France” and “Humanite’” among others. In 1908 Ms. Yessayian returned to Constantinople and became involved in the local Armenian literary life. In 1909, after the massacres of Cilicia, she went to Adana and studied the consequences of the tragedy and after returning to Constantinople, published the volume “Averagnerou mech” (“In the ruins.”) She survived the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and escaped to Bulgaria and then the Caucasus. Ms. Yessayian traveled to Persia, Vienna and other places. In 1927 she visited Soviet Armenia and after returning to France published “Prometey azadakrvadz” (“Prometheus unchained.”) In 1933 she was invited to Soviet Armenia by the Soviet lovernment and lectured on literature of Western Europe at the Yerevan State University. In 1937 Ms. Yessayian was sent into exile where she died in 1943. Ms. Yessayian is the author of “Geghdz hanjarner” (“Fake geniuses,”) “Sgyudari verchalouisner” (“Sgyudar twilights,”) “Shnorhkov martig” (“Graceful people,”) “Sbasman srahin mech” (“In the waiting room,”) “Antsgoutian jammer” (“Anxiety hours,”) “Verchin pajag” (“The last cup,”) “Hokis Aksorial” (“My exiled soul,”) “Yerp ailevs chen sirer” (“When they no longer do love,”) to mention some of her works.

Zaven Khedeshian
Zaven Khedeshian as born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1932. He received his education at the Academy of Beaux-Arts in Beirut from 1949-1952, and at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts Decoratifs de Paris in 1952-1958, from which he graduated. From 1954-1956 he studied portraits with Marcel Gimond and in 1956-1958 he studied monumental and architectural sculpture with Alfred Janniot. Zaven Khedeshian organized numerous exhibitions in Lebanon and other countries. He is the holder of many awards, such as the first award in photography for “The forest of Vincent” (1954,) the first prize of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Paris (1955,) first prize of the Strand Center (1965,) second prize by the “L’orient” Daily (1965,) first prize for a sculpture at the Sursok Museum (1973,) and a scholarship for the curricular years 1954-1955 awarded within the spheres of a contest by the RL Ministry of Education. Among his famous works are the Monument dedicated to the Armenian Genocide in Bikfayya (Lebanon,) the sculpture of Saint Sharbel in Aanaya (Lebanon,) the bust of Karekin Njteh (Boston,) the bust of Catholicos Zareh I (Aleppo,) the bust of Shavarsh Missakian in Ainjar (Lebanon,) the bust of Simon Vratsian in Djemaran (Beirut,) the bust of Jebran Khalil Jebran at the park named after the writer (Lebanon,) a monument dedicated to Henri Faraon (Beirut,) a monument titled “Protection” at the Square in Bourj Hammoud, a monument titled “Outbreak” in Mtein (Lebanon,) a monument titled “The prayer” in Byblos (Lebanon.) In 2010 he was honored by the Medal of Hamazkayin and in 2012 he received the honor of St. Mesrob Mashdots by Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cicilia. Zaven Khedeshian is the author of a film in French dedicated to the Armenian Genocide.

Yeghishe Charents (Soghomonian) (1897-1937)
Born in Kars, on March 13, 1897, Charents received his primary and secondary education in his hometown. At the age of 18 (in 1915,) he joined the Armenian Voluntary Troops. Afterward, he moved to Moscow to continue his education. In 1919, he moved to Yerevan, where he lived for the rest of his life. Charents is a poet gifted with an incredible talent, dynamism, and individuality. He is one of the greatest names, not only in Armenian, but also in Soviet poetry. His major works are: “Danteyagan arasbel” (“A legend of Dante,”) “Yergir Nayiri” (“Nayiri country,”) “Epicahgan lousapats” (“An epic dawn,”) and “Kirk Janabarhi” (“A road book.”) Following the publication of the last title, he was accused as a nationalist and member of the ARF. He was arrested in 1936. Charents died in 1937, at the prison hospital in Yerevan.

Henri Verneuil (Ashod Malakian) (1920-2002)
Henri Verneuil (née Ashod Malakian) was born October 15, 1920, in Rodosto, Turkey. After escaping the Armenian Genocide, he settled in Marseille in 1924 together with his family. After working as a journalist for a short period, in 1947 Henri Verneuil devoted himself to cinema. He directed more than 30 films in 45 years, the more famous of which are “Melodie en sous-sol,” “Le clan des Siciliens,” “La vache et le Prisonnier,” and “Mayrig,” to mention some. Throughout his long career Henri Verneuil worked with Jean Gabin, Alain Delon, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Lino Ventura, and other famous cinema names. In 1992, Henri Verneuil received a French Academy of Cinema Award for his complete works, and in 1996 was awarded with an Honorary Cesar. The famous filmmaker of Armenian origin passed away January 11, 2002, in Paris.

Kevork (George) Apelian (1941-2011)
Kevork (George) Apelian, famous as Tsiounagan for his chronicles and articles full of good humor, was born in Keorkuna, one of the villages of Kessab, in 1941. He received his primary education at the Armenian Evangelical Schools of his native village and then in Ainjar. Afterward, he pursued higher education at Haigazian University. He has been an educator and a teacher for nearly 25 years. Afterward, he established in Ainjar his own stationary company, SAVA. He was an active participant in the political party, the church and the local cultural life. He took various responsibilities at the Garmir Ler Committee of ARF in Ainjar, besides being a member of Hamazkayin and the Board of Trustees of the Armenian Community Sanatorium in Azounieh. Since his school years, he took to writing and has contributed to “Spurk” Magazine published by S. Simonian, “Pakin” Literary Magazine, Aztag daily, “Badanegan Artsakank” Monthly, to mention some. He carried out a consistent work of collecting stories and eyewitness accounts of Armenian Genocide survivors, and of Armenians who have lost their identity and have become Muslims. He published his stories in two volumes. Among his published work are “Hele, Hele, Hele Kessab,” “Anna harse” (“Anna the bride,” a novel,) “Tsgians nahadagoutioun” (“Martyrdom for life, published also in Arabic and Spanish,) “Beirut,” “Nedenk prnenk” (“Let’s throw and catch,”) “Aparig, apig m chour…” (“Little brother, give me a sip of water…,” the second volume of the book “Martyrdom for life,”) “Macaroni tileg-tileg,” and “Kouirigs mi dzakher Mom” (“Don’t sell my sister, Mom,” from “Martyrdom for life.”)

Haig Arslanian (1927-2011)
Haig Arslanian was born in Aleppo on March 29, 1927. His roots go back to the town of Aintep, Cilicia. After graduating from the Mkhitarian School, together with his brother, Melankton, he began working at a textile factory and at the same time became one of its shareholders. In 1944, he moved to Lebanon together with his family. In 1951, Haig went to South Africa where, in 1952, together with his brother, he founded a diamond and jewelry production company. At the age of 27, he became well known in numerous countries thanks to his active career and received unprecedented rights in the diamond trade. In 1958, he married Shakeh and together they had four children, Armen, Shaheh, Vicken, and Sandra. In 1962, the Arslanian brothers founded the Corporation Arslanian Brothers in Antwerp, Belgium, which has its representative offices and factories in many cities in Africa, Latin America, Canada, and Australia. Having built close relationships with the presidents of some African countries, Haig Arslanian supported the development and progress of those countries. In 1992, he founded the Lori factory in Armenia. The role played by Haig Arslanian and his son Shaheh is great in the revival of the diamond industry in Armenia. It is thanks to the Lori factory’s success that today Armenia is known as an international center in the diamond industry. Since 1994 Mr. Arslanian gained the title of Honorary Consul for the Kingdom of Belgium. From 1999 and until 2006 he was president of the Union of Armenian Goldsmiths. Haig Arslanian is a major benefactor in Armenia and the diaspora. It is thanks to his benevolence that several schools and churches have been built in Armenia. He has been awarded the honor of Prince of Cilicia by His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II of Cilicia. Former Armenia president Robert Kocharian awarded him the medal of Anania Shiragatsi.

Vardan Petrosyan
Vardan Petrosyan was born in Yerevan, on February 27, 1959. In 1983, he graduated from the Product Design Department of the Yerevan Arts and Theater Institute. From 1983-85, he served in the Soviet Army. In 1985, he founded “Young hedgehogs” (“Yeridasart vozniner,”) a youth theater group affiliated with the weekly “Hedgehog” (“Vozni.”) After 1988, the theater group was called Theater Hedgehogs. From 1988-1992, Vartan Petrosyan wrote and directed around a dozen performances, which with their political courage and performance style stirred a great deal of local attention and interest. In 1990, Vardan Petrosyan and the Hedgehog Theater were invited to Paris, where they presented “TV gags: The hedgehogs are laughing.” Since 1992, Vardan Petrosyan has been living and working in Paris, where he is performing his auteur shows in Armenian and in French. Starting in 1997 Vardan Petrosyan has been touring with performance shows outside the borders of Armenia, in the United States, France, England, Canada, Belgium, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Russia, Cyprus and others. Vardan Petrosyan’s complete works are featured on the website www.vardanpetrosyan.com.

Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian (born August 21, 1967 in Beirut, Lebanon) is an Armenian-American singer. He started as a singer in the alternative metal band System of a Down and after they went on hiatus he continued his career as a solo artist and producer. He is known for his gritty yet wide vocal range. His solo output mixes various styles and genres, including metal, rock and Armenian musical motifs. At age seven, Serj Tankian moved with his parents to Los Angeles, California at the beginning of the civil war in Lebanon. After high school, he studied marketing. He took singing lessons for four years and also took guitar lessons as a young child. In 1993, he founded the band Soil with Daron Malakian, which later went on hiatus, and later changed to System of a Down. Tankian is not only a member of the band System of a Down, but also has his own record label which is called Serjical Strike Records, a sub-division of Columbia Records. He also performed guest vocals on songs such as Mushroom Cult by Dog Fashion Disco, and Mein by Deftones. He produced "Enter The Chicken" by Buckethead, and provided vocals to the Buckethead songs "We are One," "Coma" and "Waiting Here." With Serjical Strike Records, he endeavors to offer those musicians often ignored by the mainstream a possibility to release their music and be heard. The first release of Serj's new label was Serart, a project consisting of Tankian, himself, and Arto Tunçboyaçiyan, an Armenian friend of Tankian's. Tankian is also very involved politically. Together with Tom Morello (ex-Audioslave, Rage Against the Machine, The Nightwatchman), he founded the organization Axis Of Justice. Tankian often speaks publicly against violence and injustice in the world. Tankian's first poetry book, Cool Gardens, was published by MTV Books and released on October 1st, 2002. It is a collection of seven to eight years of Tankian's reflections on life, and features artwork by fellow Armenian, Sako Shahinian. The book has received much praise in the artistic community. In late 2007, Serj released his first solo album "Elect the Dead"

Armen Djenderedjian
Born in Yerevan, Armen Jenderejyan received his musical education at the musical schools of Tigran Choukhajyan and Tchaikovsky, as well as at the Komitas State Conservatory. While still a student, the young violinist accepted the position of the vice conductor for the First Violinists’ Orchestra at the State Orchestra of Radio and Television. He remained in this position for 20 years. In their school years, together with his brother, Ashot, he founded the Jenderejian Duet, which is the only one in Armenian reality. The duet gave countries in many countries. In 1992 he accepted the invitation of the world renowned conductor Emin Khachatryan to study the art of music conducting. In 1997, Armen Jenderejian graduated from the Department of Music Conducting at the Conservatory, with the highest merits.

Alexan Mnagian (1936-1986)
Alexan Mnagian was born in Bourj Hammoud (Lebanon) on November 10, 1937. He began to play musical instrument in 1952 after being encouraged by Father Krikoris Haboyan. Between 1955-1957 he gave concerts in Aleppo, Baghdad, Lebanon, Tehran, Istambul and Cyprus. Mnagian refined his musical talent in Milan (Italy) between 1957-1959 under the guidance of maestro Fugazza. During this period Mnagian received many international prizes. In 1959 Mnagian returned to Lebanon and as an expert in accordion played and plated in the government radio station band and taught at the government conservatory. In 1975 Hamazkayin’s dance group participated in the CONFOLA (France) international festival and Mnagian accompanied as their artistic director. In 1977 this same group had appearances in Kuwait and Iran. In 1978 Mnagian worked with the “Dzndzgha” children choir in various musical fields. In 1980 he conducted the “ Nanor” children-juvenile as well as ARF choirs. In 1981 he became the artistic director of Hamazkayin’s Nanor dance group, and in 1983 the artistic director of Hamazkayin’s dance group. Alexan Mnagian has been active in the Armenian and Lebanese circles as composer, instrument player and consultant.

Hagop Oshagan (1883-1948)
Hagop Oshagan (née Kufejian) was born in the province of Brusa, near Constantinople. He was unable to complete his education at the Armash Seminary because of poverty. By his own efforts, he acquired a high level of knowledge in literature, thus becoming a famous literary critic and teacher on one hand, and a prominent writer, on the other. Starting in 1902, he began contributing short stories and critical pieces to Armenian publications in Istanbul. He wrote the series “Khonarhner,” (“The modest ones.”) In 1914, together with Taniel Varoujan, Gosdan Zarian, and Hagop Sirouni he prepared the publication of “Mehian” (“Temple”) literary magazine. In 1915, he escaped the Armenian Genocide by going into hiding. A few years later, together with Vahan Tekeyian, he once again returns to teaching and publishing in Constantinople. Afterward, he becomes a dedicated teacher of Armenian literature and a conscientious literary critic in Cyprus and Jerusalem. It is in those years that he published his novels “Dzag bdoug” (“Broken pot,”) “Haji Abdullah,” and “Mnatsortats” (“The remainders.”) Afterwards, he prepares for publication the ten volumes of his monumental “A panorama of Western Armenian literature.” He died in Aleppo, where he was invited to take part in the jubilee celebrations dedicated to him.

Parsegh Ganachian (1885-1967)
Parsegh Ganachian was born in Rodosto (now, Tekirdag,) in 1885. He attended the Musical College of Bucharest. In 1908 he moved to Constantinople, where he founded the Knar Choir. He meets Gomidas and becomes one of Gomidas’ six students from 1913-1915. During the armistice, he composed “Harach nahadag” (“March on, Martyred…”) together with Kevork Garvarents. He organized concerts in Aleppo and Adana. After returning to Constanntinope, he established the Foundation of the Students of Gomidas in 1919-1920. The Foundation’s aim was to assist Gomidas’ students , so that they could go to Paris and improve their artistic abilities. In 1921, Ganachian moves to Paris, where he receives his higher education. Afterwards, in the Armenian communities, he takes upon himself the duties of music teacher and conductor. In 1932, he moved to Beirut, where, in 1936 he forms the Kousan Choir, which was highly appreciated both within Armenian and Lebanese circles. For many years Ganachian was the music teacher and the conductor at the Nshan Palanjian Lyceum of Hamazkayin (Djemaran.) He died in Beirut, in 1967. The Parsegh Ganachian Music College of Hamazkayin is named after him.

Movses Bchakjian
Movses Bchakjian was born in Aleppo in 1940. From 1976 on he lived in Paris. In 1990, his novel, “The sparrows will not be frightened by the scarecrows,” was awarded the Haigashen Ouzounian Literary Award of the Tekeyian Cultural Association. In 1981, his short story, “The unforeseeable,” was acknowledged as the best prose article of the year in “Pakin” Literary Magazine of Hamazkayin. In 2009 by decree of the RA President, M. Bchakjian was awarded the Movses Khorenatsi medal, and in 2010 the medal of the Armenian Writers’ Union for his literary practice. Movses Bchakjian has published the following volumes: “The impossible possible” (1973,) “Hello, Armenia” (1975,) “Before and after the cherry season” (1983,) “Up on the rooftop where laundry is hung” (1987,) “The sparrows will not be frightened by the scarecrows” (1990,) “The stranger with bright eyes” (1993,) “Incomplete decoding” (1997,) “Up to the last of the suns” (poems, 2001,) “Window looking at the world” (2002,) “The passing and the timelessness” (2005,) “Before the curtain closes,” and “Drinking the city” (2009.)

Moushegh Ishkhan (1914-1990)
Moushegh Ishkhan (Jenderejian) was born in Sivri Hisar in 1914. In 1915, together with the Armenian population of Sivri Hisar, he was exiled and in 1924 reached Damascus. There, until 1928, he attended the Armenian National School, after which he moved to Cyprus. He studied for two years at the Melkonian College, where Hagop Oshagan was one of his teachers. In the summer of 1930, he went to Beirut and became a student of the boarding school of the then newly opened Djemaran of Hamazkayin. Five years later, he graduated from the Armenian Djemaran and became a teacher there. In 1938, he went to Belgium, where he studied child education and literature for two years. In 1940, he returned to Beirut. He dedicated himself to education, teaching Armenian language, Armenian literature, education and psychology. The school, his lessons, his books, and literature became his whole world. Since publishing his poetry in “Hayrenik” for the first time in 1932, he remained faithful to his writing vocation, and published several volumes of poetry and prose. The inner drive behind the literature of Moushegh Ishkhan is the struggle of the immigrant Armenian against annihilation and for the preservation of his own identity. Among his poetry volumes are “The songs of the homes” (1936,) “Armenia,” (1946,) “Life and dream” (1949,) “Golden autumn” (1963,) and “Agony” (1968,) to mention a few. “For bread and for life” (1951,) “For life and for bread” (1956,) “Farewell childhood” (1974) are his novels. Besides volumes of his own literary work, Moushegh Ishkhan also wrote the three volumes of the textbook, “Armenian Literature.” From 1941 to 1951 he was the editor-in-chief of “Aztag Daily.” Besides his literary work, he also published articles on educational and national issues. During the academic year of 1951-1952, he functioned as an educational supervisor alongside Simon Vratsian. He died June 12, 1990.

Hagop Garabents (1925-1994)
Hagop Garabents-Garabedian was born in 1925, in Tabriz. After receiving a primary education in his birthplace, he received his intermediate education at the French college Saint Louis in Tehran. In 1944, in Tehran, together with some friends who shared the same vision, he became part of the core founders of the Armenian Adolescents’ Cultural Union, which in the fall of 1950 was renamed the Ararat Armenian Cultural Union, and later was enlarged and once again renamed the Ararat Armenian Cultural Association. Today, after decades, the Association is considered to be the backbone of the sports, cultural, and social life of the Armenian community in Iran. Garabents attended Kansas University in Missouri, in the United States. After graduating from there, he attended Columbia University in New York. He specialized in journalism, having chosen psychology as his second major. In 1954-1979 he managed the Armenian section of Voice of America. Garabents contributed to several diasporan dailies and publications (“Hayrenik,” “Pakin,” “Alik,” “Asbarez,” and the literary supplement of “Horizon,” to name some.) Garabents’s first steps in literature were taken through poems, short articles, and chronicles, which have been published in the periodicals “Arousiag,” “Louis,” and “Eros,” as well as in “Alik” Daily. In 1970, the first volume of his short stories, “Andzanot hokiner,” was published in the USA. Afterwards, the contemporary novel “Gartakeni tousdre” was published in 1972, “Nor ashkharhi hin sermnatsannere” (short stories) in 1975, “Michnarar” (short stories) in 1981, “Atami kirke” (contemporary novel) in 1983, “Amerigian Shourchbar” in 1986, “Angadar” in 1987, “Yergou ashkharh, kragarn portsaroutiounner” in 1992, and “Mi mart, mi yergir, yev ail badmouadzkner” in 1994. In 1994 he died.

Alexander Hovhannes Tamanian (1878-1936)
Armenian architect, member of the Academy of Architecture (1914,) USSR Architect (1926) In 1904, he graduated from the Department of Architecture of the Higher Academy of Beaux Arts at St. Petersburg, with the title of painter-architect. In 1917, Tamanian accepted the position of President of the Council of the Academy of Beaux Arts at Petrograd. He was elected the president of the Artists’ Association. In 1919, he moved to Yerevan, and then in 1921, to Iran. In 1923, he was invited to Armenia. From 1923 on, he was the chief of the Committee of Preservation of Historical Monuments. Alexander Tamanian died February 20, 1936. Yerevan’s master city plan was Tamanian’s first architectural work. Besides many quarters, the observatory (1930-1935,) the annex of the Department of Anatomy of the Institute of Medicine of Yerevan (1926-1933,) the Government House (1926-1929,), the Opera and Ballet Houses (1926-1953,) the Institutes of Veterinary Science, Politechnique, and Physiotherapy (1927-1932), the Public Library (1932-1938,) and the borehole of Lake Aygher were all based on his architectural designs.

Taniel Varoujan 1884-1915)
One of the insurmountable peaks in Armenian poetry. He was born in the village of Prknig in Sepasdia, in 1884. In 1896 he attended the Mkhitarian School in Constantinople. In 1902 he moved to Venice and attended the Mourad-Raphaelian School, from which he graduated in 1905. He studied political and social sciences at the University of Gant in Belgium. In 1909 he returned to Constantinople, where he dedicated himself to teaching. A lyrical and epic-writing poet, Varoujan has resonated the love and glories of Armenia, its nature, the agony of the people, the Armenian revolution and its fighters. The characteristics of his rich poetry are the power and sequences of impressive imagery. His volumes, including “Sarsourner,” “Tseghin sirde,” Hetanos yerker,” and “Hatsin yerke” have given Armenian poetry some of its masterpieces. Varoujan was killed August 23, 1915 during the Armenian Genocide.

Areg Lucinyan
Areg Lucinyan was born in 1935. He graduated from the Romanos Music Institute in 1956. In 1961 he graduated from “Gomitas” state conservatory. In 1966 he was accepted as a member of musicians in both Armenia and the former Soviet Republic. Between 1962-1964 he was a lecturer at the Katchadour Apovian Educational University since 1971 and in 2005 he was given the title “professor” in the same institute. Areg Lucinyan has a vast amount of musical creations-here we mention only a few. -Musical compositions Number 1 and musical composition “Requiem”. -“Always with you” opera. -Vocal-symphonic creations. -Musical creation “Nazankov Bar” solely created for dual pianos. -“Yeridasartagan Bar”, “Pokrig Badgerner”, “Grges”, “Ashkharhi Joghovourtnerou Barer”. Areg Lucinyan has also many musical compositions and adaptations of songs to be played on the piano. Lucinian has created songs, duets as well as hymns and works of nationalistic nature. He has written a multitude of songs solely for school children. His operas for young children such as “The lambs” and “The Sky is Falling Down” are famous. Areg Lucinyan has composed many songs especially for “Varanta” and “Gargach” choirs.

Dr. Hrant Markarian
Hrant Markarian is a scientist, playwright, poet, theater specialist, literary critic, director and actor. He was born in Basra, Iraq, in 1938. He received his elementary education at the Armenian National School in Margile, and afterward attended a public high school. He graduated from the Baghdad Science College and in 1962 moved to the United States, where he earned a master’s degree and Ph.D. in chemistry, as well as a master’ss degree in the management of technology. He has been a research scientist and later on, a professor of chemistry at State University of New York. Parallel to earning his Ph. D., he received a theatrical education at the Circle in the Square, New York University, and the Schreiber Studio. He appeared onstage in 1956, in Margil, Basra, Iraq, performing the role of the poet in “The Honorary Beggars,” by Hagop Baronian. He directed his first play in 1958 at the Armenian Boys’ and Girls’ Youth Union of Baghdad; carnival sketches he had himself written. Markarian’s theatrical activities further developed in the United States. In 1967, he founded the Massis Theater Group, which was later renamed the Theater of Hamazkayin. In 2005, he founded the Youth Theater Group of Hamazkayin in New Jersey. From 1985 to 1995, Markarian occupied the position of the editor of the “Varak” periodical. Since 2006, he is a member of the editorial group of the “Pakin” periodical of Hamazkayin. Since 1967 and for 43 years, he has been the director of the New York Theater Group of Hamazkayin. He is the author of 27 plays, 24 of them in Armenian, two in English, and one, in English and Armenian. He has staged 55 theatrical shows. He has performed the roles of 55 characters, one of which in the movie “Assignment Berlin.” He has published seven plays, a book of poetry titled “Crashed by the subconscious,” and “Stone voiced liturgy,” on the occasion of a pilgrimage to Western Armenia. In 2006, following an invitation by the Writers’ Union of Armenia, he prepared for publication the book, “The playwrights of Armenia,” in English. His plays have been performed in the United States, Canada, Armenia, Lebanon, Syria, Greece, and England.

Rubina Peroomian, Ph.D.
A lecturer of Armenian language and literature, is currently a Research Associate at UCLA. She is the author of several books, textbooks, chapters in books, and research articles in scholarly journals on Armenian Question and the Armenian Genocide. Her major publications include Literary Responses to Catastrophe: A Comparison of the Armenian and the Jewish Experience (1993), Armenia in the Sphere of Relations between the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the Bolsheviks, 1917-1921 (1997) in the Armenian language (translated and published in Russian), The Armenian Question, a series of textbooks in Armenian for grades 10-12 (1990-1999), and a comprehensive textbook of the History of the Armenian Question for high schools in Armenia (2000). And Those Who Continued Living in Turkey after 1915 (2008) is her most recent publication. She has lectured widely, participated in international symposia. She has received Lifetime Achievement Award by the Armenian Educational Foundation and the Mesrob Mashtots Medal with an encyclical by His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of Cilicia.

Roupen Hakhverdyan
Roupen Hakhverdyan was born in 1950, in Yerevan. He worked at the Yerevan Television Station as assistant to the director. In 1975, he graduated from Yerevan Theater University, specializing in theater and television directing. Through his own efforts, he mastered poetry and music, thus becoming a songwriter and creating a new genre of Armenian songs, auteur songs. He is considered the father of the Armenian auteur songs and soon had many who followed in his style. He as also nurtured by the political and folk songs of 1960s. He was the author and director of several musicals, the most popular of which is “Sadanayi chraghatse.” He also wrote hundreds of songs, among which are several songs written for children’s cartoons. Until 1988, Roupen’s songs were officially forbidden in Soviet Armenia, however, his songs and work had a major impact, particularly in the struggle for freedom in Nagorno Karabagh, when Armenian freedom fighters were heading toward the front lines. Roupen encouraged the Armenian youth with his guitar and his songs, sang for the freedom of the fatherland, criticized the authorities, and called for the liberation of political prisoners. Roupen Hakhverdyan has also released on CD his complete children’s songs, thus preserving his art for new generations.

Sos Sargsyan
Sos Artashesi Sargsyan was born October 24, 1929 in Stepanavan. His acting skills were apparent as early as during his school days with the theater group at the local A. Pushkin School. The then-future-prominent actor took his very first serious acting steps at the drama theater in Stepanavan. In 1948, under the sponsorship of prominent theater director Hrachia Ghaplanian, he was invited to join the Theater of the Junior Audience in Yerevan, where he played around a dozen roles. In 1950, he enrolled at the Arts and Theater Institute, in the art studio of the famous Vardan Ajemyan. Following to his graduation from the Institute, in 1954 he was invited to join the State National Academic Theater of G. Soundoukian, where he worked until 1991. While there he magnificently created dozens of classical, as well as contemporary dramatic characters. In 1991, he formed the Theater of Hamazkayin, where, to this date, he is the artistic director. Since 1998, he has been the rector of the State Institute of Theater and Cinema. In 1968, he was awarded the title, Honored Artist of Armenia, and in 1972, the title of People’s Artist, as well as to the title of USSR People’s Artist in 1985. He has been twice honored with state awards.

Axel Pagounts (1899-1937)
Born in Koris, he received his elementary education in his birthplace, and afterward at the Kevorkian Seminary, from which he graduated. At the age of 17, he severely criticized the negative aspects of his birthplace. During this period he served as a teacher in the village of Lor. The experiences of being a teacher have played an important role in his life and later in his literature. He graduated from Seminary at the beginning of 1918. He officially became a writer after Armenia became part of the Soviet Union. In 1924 he became a member of the communist party. With the provincial series of letters published in “Mardagoch,” he demonstrated the great skills of a journalist, as well as the talent of a satirist, which primarily are expressed in the monographs dedicated to his birthplace. Afterwards, he contributed to the Soviet Armenian press and published several volumes of short stories. During political persecutions from 1937-1938 in Armenia, Pagounts too had to share the tragic fate of many other Armenian writers, who were shot dead solely for being guilty of their party unorthodoxy.

Marie Rose Abusefian
Acclaimed actress, director, prominent publicist, poet, and the founder of a unique mono-theater, Marie Rose Abusefian, has become the interpreter and representative of Armenian culture in various parts of the world, including in the United States, Canada, the Middle East, Europe, Australia, and from stages in Armenian communities worldwide. Ms. Abusefian is the first Armenian actress to stage a monologue, while simultaneously being the author-performer, director, and actress of her works. She herself writes and develops all her unique performances, composes the music score, and performs it herself. Among her works are “This evening with Vahan Derian,” “From Gars to Troy,” “Forget the Genocide?” “The bride of Dadrakom,” “Gosdan Zarian,” “The madman,” “The broken pot,” “The ever-chiming bell tower,” “It happened on that year,” “Rendezvous with love,” “The big love of Sevag,” and others. She is the first and the only actress who performed 21 different roles as monologues from the famous novel of Frantz Werfel, “The forty days of Musa Dagh.” With her philanthropic shows, the actress supports Hamazkayin, Armenian Relief Society, and the prosperity of the Armenian cause. Ms. Abusefian received her theatrical education at the Arts and Theater Institute of Yerevan. She is one of the founders of the Arshalouis Innovative Theater. Later, for many years, she worked at the Ghaplanyan Theater, now called the Dramatic Theater of Yerevan. She has performed numerous roles in television and radio literary-theatrical shows, has been filmed in productions by Hyefilm. Since 1983, she has lived in San Francisco (USA) where she has contributed to the cause of promoting Armenian theater in the diaspora.

Hovhannes Toumanian (1869-1923)
Hovhannes Toumanian was born in 1869, in the village of Tsegh (which is now called Toumanian) in the region of Lori. He attended, but did not graduate from the Nersisian School in Tbilisi. As a teenager he started writing poetry. He tried several jobs, but could not persist in any one field. In 1988 he was married and had a big family. After that he completely devoted his capacities to writing poetry. In addition to his writing, he was a publisher. He made great contributions to children’s literature, and is in fact one of the great masters of the genre. Among his works are: “Sassountsi Tavit,” “Anoush,” “Tmpgaperti aroume,” “Tebi anhoune,” “Shounn ou gadoun,” “Gatil m meghr,” “Parvana.” Toumanian is the most loved poet among Eastern-Armenians. The main themes of his literature include the motherland’s nature, its people, its lifestyle, and its traditions. With his creations and with his emotions, Toumanian is a genuine Armenian poet: the people’s poet. Toumanian died in 1923.

Ruben Hosvepian
Prose writer Ruben Hosvepian was born in 1939 in Yerevan. He graduated from the Geological Faculty of Yerevan State University, as well as the Highest Training of Screenwriters and Film Directors in Moscow. As a geologist, he worked in Turkmenistan and in Armenia. He is the author of many books. His novel, “Vordan Karmir,” published in 1980, received the Derenik Demirjian Award. The novel, “Under the apricot trees,” received the RA Presidential Award in 2006. In 2009, he received the Movses Khorenatsi award and the title of Honorary Citizen of Armavir City. Hovsepian’s books and short stories have been translated into many languages. He has written the scripts for the films “Hndzan,” “Khntsori aikin,” “Garod,” “Abril,” “Amenadak yerkire.” He has translated the novels “One hundred years of solitude” and “The autumn of the patriarch,” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez into Armenian, as well as the first two parts of the trilogy titled “Childhood, Adolescence, Youth,” by Leo Tolstoy. Ruben Hovsepian has been a Member of Parliament of the second and third Assemblies of the RA National Assembly. Presently, he is the editor-in-chief of the ARF organ, “Droshak,” and the director of “Nork” literary publication.

Simon Abkarian
Simon Abkarian was born Simone Abkarian on March 5, 1962, in Gonesse, a northeastern suburb of Paris, France, into a French - Armenian family. From 1971 to 1977 young Abkarian lived with his mother and father in Lebanon. There he attended Armenian school and also studied French and English. In 1977 Abkarian moved back to Paris. A few years later he moved to New York and continued his studies of dancing and acting at the Antranik company in New York, then moved to Los Angeles, California. In 1983-1985 he studied acting and joined the Armenian Theatre Company Artavadzt of the AGBU under the leadership of director Gerald Papazian. In 1984, he joined the workshop at renown Theatre du Soleil on tour in Los Angeles during the Olympics Art Festival. In 1985 Abkarian returned to Paris, France. There he resumed a successful stage acting career, and had an eight-year-long collaboration with Ariane Mnouchkine, the legendary director of Théâtre du Soleil. He also directed several stage plays in Paris. In 2001 Abkarian won the highest award in French theatre for an actor - the Prix Molière, for his performance in 'Une Bête Sur La Lune' (aka.. Beast on the Moon). Since 1993, Abkarian and his actress-director wife, Catherine Schaub, started their own theatre T.E.R.A. (Theatre Espace Recherche Acteur) in Paris. There he has been playing and directing classical and contemporary plays. Abkarian made his film debut in 1989. During his early film career, Abkarian enjoyed a fruitful collaboration with Cédric Klapisch in 6 French films, becoming noticed in the award winning Chacun cherche son chat (1996). He earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of painter Archil Gorky in Atom Egoyan's award winning epic Ararat (2002). Simon Abkarian won awards for his performance as Eliahou in 'To Take a Wife (2004) by director Ronit Elkabetz. He made a step forward in his film career with the supporting role as Alex Dimitros in Casino Royale (2006), playing in several powerful scenes opposite Daniel Craig. Simon Abkarian has been generously involved in the humanitarian causes of the Armenian people across the world. He has been a frequent participant, host and presenter at numerous charitable events and ceremonies related to the Armenian causes. He was also a member of French President Jacque Chirac's delegation to Armenia in October of 2006.

Krikor Shahinian (1930-2009)
Krikor Shahinian was born in Beirut. He graduated from the Djemaran of Hamazkayin, and afterwards continued his education at the Free University of Brussels, where he was specialized in education and literature and he received a bachelor of arts degree, and later, in 1956, the degree of educator. He presented a thesis studying the literary creations of Shahan Shahnour in Paris in 1979, at the Faculty of Literature at the University of Sorbonne, and later in 1994, at the State University of Yerevan. Starting in 1950 and for many years afterward he has taught at Djemaran, and also taught at the School of Frères, at the Haigazian College, and the Zarehian Seminary. From 1970-1994, he also taught French Literature at the Lebanese University. Starting in the 1990s, he lectured about Western Armenian Literature at Yerevan State University, at the State University of Nagorno Karabagh, as well as at the American University of Armenia. He also lectured on Armenian language at the Venice Summer School. In 1987, he founded the Khacher Kaloudian Pedagogical Center at Antelias, which he directed until 2007. He has contributed to many armenian dailies Aand periodicals. In 1966, he founded and directed the “Ahegan” cultural publication. He published numerous literary articles. He is the author of several monographic essays dedicated to the literature of Levon Shant, Kourken Mahari, Shahan Shahnour, and Hamasdegh, as well as “Panorama de la literature armenienne” and “Oeuvres vives de la literature armenienne,” featuring Armenian literature in French, as well as several memoirs titled “Verakagh.” He was an active member of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association. During his tenure as director of the Regional Committee and due to his efforts, the Levon Shant Cultural Center was established. Krikor Shahinian passed away in Beirut, on February 15, 2009, following a brief illness.

Father Gomidas (1869-1935)
He was born in 1869, in the town of Kutina in Asia Minor. His mother died when he was only a year old, followed in 1880 by the death of his father, Kevork Soghomonian. In 1880, Father Gomidas went to the Gevorgian Seminary of Ejmiadzin, and graduated in 1893. In 1895, he was ordained a priest. In 1896 he went to Berlin, to specialize in music. For three years he studied with musician Richard Schmidt, simultaneously taking courses in philosophy at the university. In 1899, after returning to Ejmiadzin, he was appointed musician of the Holly See and the choir master. For years Father Gomidas recorded, studied, and analyzed Armenian folk and clerical songs with the flair of an expert. He toured in the Caucasus and the great centers of Europe, where he gave concerts, as well as lectures about Armenian music and songs. In 1909, he went to Constantinople, where he lived until 1915. The Armenian Genocide ended Gomidas’ creative life. The agony of witnessing the massacre of the Armenian people left a deep trace upon his soul and his mind. From 1919 until his death, he lived in a mental hospital in Paris. He died in 1935. In 1936, his remains were transported to Yerevan and with exceptional ceremony were buried in the open air pantheon of the Gomidas Park.

Misak Medzarents (1886-1908)
Misak Medzadourian was born in the Pingian village of Agn. In 1894, he moved with his family to Sepasdia, where he attended the Aramian School. Until 1902, he attended the Anatolia Boarding School in Marzvan. From 1902-1905, he attended the Central School in Constantinople. However, tuberculosis forced him to leave his education. The poor poet died July 4, 1908. At the age of 22, the very young poet enriched Armenian poetry with his lyrical and genuine masterpieces. In spite of his sad fate, Misak Medzarents managed to publish in his lifetime two volumes of poetry: “Dziadzan” (1907) and “Nor dagher” (1907.)

Moushegh Kalshoyan (1933-1980)
He is born in 1933, in Talin, in the village of Gatnagbiour. He completed his higher education in Yerevan, at the Institute of Agriculture, completing his studies in 1957. He dedicated himself to social and political writing and literature. He became part of the editorial staff of several newspapers and publications, the last of which was “Garoun.” From 1969-71 he took courses in literature in Moscow. At the same time, he began publishing his books: “Groong,” (1969,) “Dzaghgadz karer” (1973,) and “Bovdoun” (state award, 1974.) From 1975 on, he retained a senior position in Armenia’s state publishing house. He passed away in 1980. Following his death, his “Marouta sari ambere” received a state award. Among his other books are “Dzori Miro” and “Undzayagir.”

NIGOL AGHPALIAN 1875-1947
Nigol Aghpalian was born in Tbilisi, in 1875. He received his education at the Nersisian School of Tbilisi, and at the Gevorgian Seminary in Echmiatsin. From a very young age he started teaching, as well as contributing critical literary articles to the “Mourj Monthly” published in Tbilisi. He also took several classes in universities in Moscow, Paris, and Lausanne. In 1909-1912 he was the principal of the Armenian national school in Teheran. As a party activist, he participated in general assemblies, and was a member of the National Council and the organizing committee of the volunteer corps. Later on, he was a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia and the Minister of Public Education. It is due to his efforts that the University of Armenia was established on January 31, 1920 in Alexandrapole, Gyumri. In 1923, he was invited to Alexandria, where he serves as the principal of the Armenian national school until 1928. In that year, he became one of the founders of the Armenian Educational and Publishing Hamazkayin (Pan Armenian) Association, and soon after, together with Levon Shant, was one of the founders of the Djemaran of Hamazkayin in Beirut. Until his death Nigol Aghpalian was Levon Shant’s close collaborator . He taught Armenian literature, Armenian history, and archaic Armenian, at the same time contributing to the Armenian press with his philological and critical literary articles.

LEVON SHANT 1869-1951
Levon Shant, whose real name was Levon Seghposian (Nahashbedian), was born in Istanbul in 1896. He completed primary education at the Kevorkian Seminary of Echmiadzin, and higher education in Germany and Switzerland. He was a teacher and an educator for many years, and active in both public and political life in Armenia and various communities in the diaspora. He was the vice chairperson of the Parliament of the First Republic of Armenia, as well as one of the founders of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association, and one of the chief founders of the Lyceum (Djemaran) of Hamazkayin in Beirut. For 20 years he was the principle of Djemaran, where at the same time he also taught education and psychology. He passed away November 29, 1951. One of the greatest Armenian playwrights of the 20th century, Levon Shant wrote several plays, including “Oshin Bail,” “Ingadz perti ishkhanouhin” (“Princess of the fallen fortress”,) “Hin Asdvadzner” (“Ancient gods”,) “Gaiser,” (“Caesar”,) and “Shghtayvadze” (“The enchained”.) He is also the author of sociological and political studies. Levon Shant lived a life full of valuable creations.

William Saroyan
William Saroyan (1908-1981) was born in Fresno, California into an immigrant family from Bitlis. He lived in poverty throughout his childhood and adolescence and was largely self-educated. Although his first language was Armenian, Saroyan wrote in English, starting 1933. Until the 1970s, Saroyan produced a large number of literary works, including short stories, novels, and plays, thus securing for himself an honorable place in American literature. "My name is Aram," "Human comedy," "Boys and girls," "My heart is in the highlands," "Time of your life" are just a few of his many volumes. Certain Armenian elements, as well as Armenian questions are sometimes present in Saroyan's work.