News

The Central Committee of Hamazkayin announces the death of the former member,
Kegharpy Yenikomshian (Der Melkonian)

who departed this world on Monday, 1st of February, 2010.
   Cont.

Organized by the Regional Committee of Hamazkayin in Lebanon and by “Aztag Daily,” a lecture took place on Monday, January 25, 2010, at 8:30 PM, at the K. and H. Armenian Hall of Levon Shant Cultural Center of Hamazkayin in Beirut. The topic of the lecture was “The Republic of Armenia in 2009: promise and reality.” The lecture was presented by Tatoul Hakobyan, an analyst of the Civilitas Foundation of Yerevan and the Yerevan-based correspondent of “Aztag Daily.”

On behalf of the organizers, Raffi Demirjian delivered an opening speech, where he stated that the Armenia-Turkey relations are not merely political or, at its best, economic issues, and that even is not an inter-state matter, since the fate of a people is being scrutinized there. He added that the issue is essentially pan-national and pan-Armenian and said that it is with this starting point that the family of Hamazkayin in Lebanon takes part in the organization of this event.   Cont.

The year 2010 coincides with the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Djemaran of Hamazkayin and with the 75th anniversary of the Djemaran Alumni. Djemaran and its alumni have had their unquestionable role in the Armenianization of the diaspora, especially in the task of creating the national character. The Armenian Djemaran established on March 3, 1930, prepared teachers, editors, and national activists, who, in their turn, took over responsible roles in the social lives of many diasporan communities.

During the past months, the Committee of Alumni of the Palanjian-Arslanian Djemaran of Hamazkayin succeeded in implementing part of its planned initiatives, and plans to continue with the same drive. In this sphere, true to the nation-building vision of Shant and Aghpalian, the Committee of Djemaran Alumni will accordingly celebrate the both abovementioned occasions.   Cont.

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For more than a decade, the Institute of Armenian Studies of Hamazkayin has operated in Aleppo, where young Armenians are trained to acquire knowledge and skills in Armenian studies. They will become the educators of future generations with their knowledge of Armenian language and literature and will fulfill the need of teachers on Armenian subjects in Armenian in various cities and towns across Syria.

Therefore, it is obvious why the Institute is financially and morally supported by the Armenian community in Aleppo, such as the Kalousd Gulbengian Foundation, the Armenian Red Cross in Syria, and the committees of the Armenian Apostolic Churches. As such, it has become an institute of great importance.   Cont.

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The region of Middle East and especially Mesopotamia with its two rivers Tigris and Euphrates, has been the cradle of various peoples since ancient times. The Armenian history has been closely related to these regions since ancient times, as it is shown in the epics of Haig and Pel, Ara Keghatsig, and Sasountsi Davit.

It was on this topic that historian Bedros Tovmasian from Los Angeles delivered a lecture titled “The Armenian highlands and Mesopotamia.” The event was organized by the Hamazkayin in London and took place at the Navasartian Center in London.   Cont.

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On the occasion of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association’s 80th anniversary, the Central Committee of Hamazkayin, in an expression of its consideration towards the Armenian language and literature, presents the following publications:

“Anthology of Western Armenian Literature,” editor, Boghos Snabian,   Cont.

Organized by the Parents’ Council of M. and H. Arslanian Djemaran, the opening of the New Year Bazaar took place on December 15, 2009, at the Djemaran’s newly constructed Dr. Adrineh Karakashian Hall.

As in previous years, this year accessories, sweets, cakes, dried fruits, chocolates, children’s books, toys, as well as crafts handmade by the Djemaran students were exhibited.   Cont.

“Pakin” literary Magazine hosted an event to read and discuss excerpts from the two-volume novel “Antsoghign ou anjamantselin” by French-Armenian prose writer Movses Bchakjian on Wednesday, December 9, 2009, at 7:00 PM.
Hagop Balian, the editor-in-chief of “Pakin,” welcomed the audience. Afterward, poet Sarkis Giragossian spoke about the novel and its author. Mr. Giragossian said Bchakjian succeeded in observing and describing, as well as in creating interesting characters and situations. He added that the style Bchakjian followed is simple, modern, and interesting.

Mr. Giragossian said that with his novel “Antsoghign ou anjamantselin,” the author presents his emotions, thoughts, dreams, and yearnings. The novel’s main character is Hovsep Spyurkayetsi, who is an incarnation of the author himself and in whom the author presents several issues which are troubling for Armenians in the diaspora, such as the Armenian Cause, and moral and psychological degeneration.    Cont.

On Sunday, November 22, there was a break in the daily life of Paris’ 9th Quarter, where the concert of Tigran Hamasyan, Levon Shatikyan, and the Aratta Ribert band opened the doors to the world of dreams.

With the cooperation of Hamazkayin and “France-Armenie,” this concert organized at the Rossini Hall of the City Hall of the 9th Quarter of Paris commenced with the welcoming words of Hourig Baghdasarian, the president of Hamazkayin in Paris. She thanked Paris Mayor Bravo (although he did not attend the event,) for his support of Armenian cultural events.   Cont.

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The Number 4 School, also known as the Levon Shant School in Yerevan, organized a celebration of the author’s life and achievements in concert with the Armenia office of Hamazkayin. The school’s students performed Shant’s play, “Ingadz perti ishkhanouhin,” in recognition of the event. The high quality of the production was particularly remarkable because it was prepared by the students.

Among those attending the event were representatives of the Public School Department of RA Ministry of Education, the deputy of the Education Council of the City Hall of Yerevan, as well as other members of the Council. The Armenia office of Hamazkayin participated to the event, emphasizing that the bond between Hamazkayin and the school will continue to be productive.    Cont.

LODI, N.J. (A.W.)–On Sun., Nov. 15, the organized by Hamazkayin drew in 1,200 members of the community.
The festival began with Armenia’s Minister of the Diaspora Hranush Hakobian’s video message and Hamazkayin Eastern U.S. Regional Committee chair Zarmayr Setrakyan’s brief welcoming remarks.

The festival featured Alla Levonyan, Babin Boghosian, the AGBU Antranig Dance Ensemble, the Akhtamar Dance Ensemble of St. Thomas Armenian Church, the Yeraz Dance Ensemble of the St. Sarkis Armenian Church, the Hamazkayin Nayiri Dance Ensemble, the Arekag Children’s Choir, the Hamazkayin N.J. Dhol Group, and musician Garine Hassasian.   Cont.

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The Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural Association honored Armenian intellectual, prose writer, translator, playwright, and cultural and social activist Ruben Hovsepyan on the occasion of his 70th birthday, on December 1, 2009, at 8:30 PM, at the K. and H. Armenian hall of the Levon Shant Cultural Center of Hamazkayin. Representatives of community institutions, artists, members of Hamazkayin and a large audience attended the event.

Tsoler Manisajian welcomed the audience on behalf of the Central Committee of Hamazkayin. She said the event honors Ruben Hovsepyan’s prosperous and productive 70-year-long journey. Mrs. Manisajian said that besides his literary activities, Mr. Hovsepyan has contributed to Armenia’s cultural, political, and social life. Presenting Mr. Hovsepyan’s brief biography, Mrs. Manisajian highlighted that in 2009 Ruben Hovsepyan was awarded with the Movses Khorenatsi Medal.   Cont.

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The Sanahin Chapter of Hamazkayin, Armenian General Benevolent Union, and the Cultural Association of the Armenians from Istanbul, hosted an evening to honor of pianist, conductor, and educator Raffi Armenian on Sunday, November 22, 2009, at the School of Music and Theater Art in Montreal, Quebec. The event recognized Raffi Armenian’s contributions to the development of music both on Canadian and international levels.

Attending the event were Mr. Kevin Cogland, the representative of the Minister of Culture and Communciations in Quebec, Mrs. Christine St-Pierre, Mr. and Mrs. Arden and Christine Dervishians, the presidents of the evening, His Eminency Archbishop Souren Kataroian, who represented Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, the Prelate of the Cilician diocese of the Armenian Church in Canada, Father Vazken Boyajian, who represented Archbishop Pakrad Kalsdanian, the Prelate of the Armenian Diocese in Canada, Haroutioun Shitilian, member of the City Hall of the Ahuntsic-Cartierville district of Montreal, Nicolas Desjardins, the General Director of the School of Music and Theater Art in Quebec, as well as Mr. Armenian’s friends, and numerous art lovers.   Cont.

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Organized by the Committee of Knar Dance Troupe of Hamazkayin, pop singer Silva Hakobyan from Armenia gave a concert on November 13, 2009, at the Hall of UNESCO in Beirut. Knar Dance Troupe partook part in the program, which hundreds attended.

During the concert, which lasted around one and a half hours, Silva Hakobyan performed “Kisher e,” “Had had,” “Imn es,” “Dnits pakhel em,” “Indz nerir,” and other hit songs, which the audience loved. In her turn, Hakobyan gave her own special appreciation for the Lebanese-Armenian audience and said the concert in Lebanon held great significance for her.   Cont.

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Organized by Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association, the opening ceremony for Lucy Tutunjian Exhibition Hall and a simultaneous exhibition of artist Guvder’s paintings was held November 12, 2009, at 6:30 PM. Ambassadors, members of parliament, government ministers, church representatives, political actors and politicians, Armenian and foreign artists, representatives of Armenian educational centers, and a number of Hamazkayin supporters were all in attendance.

Hagop Havatian, the director of the Hamazkayin Publishing House, opened the event and said construction on the hall began only six months ago, when Lucy Tutunjian, the advocate of Armenian press and literature, and a member of an aristocratic family, stepped forward to sponsor the building’s construction.    Cont.