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A creative meeting was organized on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at the K. and H. Armenian Cultural Hall of the Levon Shant Cultural Center of Hamazkayin. The event was sponsored by the Regional Committee of Hamazkayin in Lebanon.

Following the event’s opening, a video presentation featured the phases of Areg Lousinyan’s life first from Tehran to Tabriz, then to Ghazwin, and afterward, to the former Soviet Union. Through the autobiography narrated in his own voice, the proficient composer remembered the harsh times his family endured in the former Soviet system and highlighted the important role his mother played in forming the pathway of his life.   Cont.

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The 6th Constituent Meeting of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association took place May 14-16 in Lebanon, with the participation of representatives from the Middle East, Europe, the United States, Australia, and Armenia, as well as with representatives from the ARF Bureau, ARS, Homenetmen, and the Ararat Armenian Cultural Association of Iran.

During three consecutive days, the Constituent Meeting heard the Central Committee’s four-year report on its completed term. The report presented accounts on the Armenia office of Hamazkayin, M. and H. Arslanian Djemaran of Hamazkayin, the Marseille Djemaran of Hamazkayin, the Arshak and Sophie Golsten Djemaran of Hamazkayin in Sydney, as well as on “Pakin,” the Vahe Setian Printing House, the publishing house, the Lucy Tutunjian Exhibition Hall, the estates, the regions and of their handover. It showed a multifaceted and extensive programmatic activity, which was thoroughly inspected by the Constituent Meeting.   Cont.

A school was renovated in an ancient community. It might be said that a new school was built. The renovation effort in the village of Oushi in Armenia began two years ago. Today, the village students have newly furnished classrooms.

The first and only middle school in the village opened in 1967. Years later, the alumni and the village’s students can finally say they have studied at a school named after Nigol Aghpalian, one of the founders of our republic and its first Minister of Education.   Cont.

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On Saturday, April 10, 2010, the Sipan Dance Troupe of Hamazkayin in Cyprus had its 10th anniversary performance event at the Municipality Hall of Sdrovolos. Fifty-three official guests and 650 people came to enjoy the event, which was sponsored by Cyprus Minister of Education Dr. Andreas Dimitrew, and was presided over by Vartkes Mahdesian, the official representative of the Armenian Community in Cyprus.

Sipan’s 45 dancers, directed by instructor Janna Tahmizian, enchanted the audience with their excellent performance.   Cont.

Pasadena, CA - Thanks to a joint event organized by the Pasadena Hamazkayin, Armenian Youth Federation and the Armenian National Committee, hundreds of Armenian Americans from across southern California united on April 16, 2010 to watch exclusive footage from the film "Ravished Armenia." Portions of the film on the Armenian Genocide, which experts thought was lost forever, have been salvaged and turned into a short movie. Richard D. Kloian of the Armenian Genocide Resource Center has produced an enhanced and edited 24-minute version to which he has carefully added an historical introduction, descriptive subtitles, well-chosen music, and a slideshow of production stills to create an important document.

"The Pasadena Hamazkayin is proud to bring this groundbreaking film to our community," remarked local Hamazkayin leader Manoug Joukhajian. "One of the main objectives of our organization is to preserve our cultural heritage. By hosting this exclusive viewing of Aurora Mardiganian's "Ravished Armenia" we are showcasing an important part of our cultural heritage that was generated because of the genocide and Aurora's brave cinematic efforts," added Manoug Joukhajian.   Cont.

The same as every year, this year as well, a performance event with the participation of the art schools and units of Hamazkayin and dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was organized by the Regional Committee of Hamazkayin. The event took place on Saturday, April 24, 2010, at 8:00 PM, at the Hagop Der Melkonian Theater.

The event commenced by a performance of an anthology of patriotic songs and “Ave Maria” by the Gargach Youth Choir of Hamazkayin. This was followed by musical performances by a group of students of Parsegh Ganachian Music School. Afterwards, the students of Kayaneh Dance School performed the dance “Ouzoundara,” and this was followed by the recitation of “Bar” written by Boghos Snabian and recited by Haverj Shkhrdemian.   Cont.

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On the evening of April 20, 2010, Vardan Mamikonyan, a talented pianist from Armenia and a winner of the Monte Carlo International Competition, presented an outstanding performance at the K. Yesaian Hall. The event was organized by the Regional Committee of Hamazkayin in Syria, was sponsored by Bishop Shahan Sarkissian, the Prelate of the Armenian Diocese in Syria. Very Reverend Haroutioun Selimian, the Minister of the Armenian Evangelical Church in Aleppo, Father Gomidas Dadaghlian, the representative of the Armenian Catholic Church, representatives of Armenian benevolent, cultural, sports and patriotic organizations in Aleppo, Mr. Jilber Momjian, members of Hay Asbed Foundation lead by Garine Donoian, expert of Armenian folk dances, Mgrdich Mgrdichian, performer of Armenian folk songs, as well as a huge number of music lovers.

Levon Danaian delivered the welcome speech in Arabic, and Betty Panossian in Armenian, genuinely presenting the message of the event. In our daily life, music is the expression of the beautiful, be it noisy or musical, as it is perceived by each and every individual. The audience took pleasure in a whole colorful picture presented by Vardan Mamikonyan’s masterful fingers.   Cont.

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The students of M. and H. Arslanian Djemaran of Hamazkayin launched the commemoration events dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on the morning of April 22, 2010, with a visit paid by the elementary students to Bikfayya. The students placed flowers on the Martyrs’ Monument.

On the morning of Friday, April 23, the intermediate students, accompanied by their teachers, headed to the Saint Joseph College of Aintoura, where they placed flowers on the graves of the Armenian orphans, victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide. Patil Kevorkian of the 9th grade delivered her words to the victim orphans, saying “…Surely you have undergone great sacrifice by enduring the barbarianism and injustice of the Turks. However, you never forgot to be an Armenian and you survived. Today we are standing before your graves to feel your tortures, to be proud of the will of survival of the Armenian nation and to tell you that we will not forget you, that today, after decades of your martyrdom, we are still Armenian, we speak Armenian, we write in Armenian, we think in Armenian, we feel Armenian, we dream Armenian, and will continue surviving in the Armenian way. Your martyrdom has been more than rewarding, dear orphans.” Afterwards, she thanked Missak Keleshian, thanks to whom the students visited the grave of the Armenian orphans lying at a corner of the school, and also to the director of the school, which gave them the opportunity to pay their respect to the Armenian martyrs.   Cont.

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A collective exhibition titled “Respect for the victims of the Armenian Genocide,” opened at the Lucy Tutunjian Exhibition Hall on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 6:30 PM. The exhibition, dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, is organized by the Lucy Tutunjian Exhibition Hall and is sponsored by Aram I Catholicos of the Great See of Cilicia.

Ashot Kocharyan, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Lebanon, Member of the Parliament Hagop Pakradouni, and Bourj Hamoud Mayor Antranig Mserlian, were among the numerous guests attending the opening event of the exhibition.   Cont.

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The memory of nine martyrs who were students and graduates of Djemaran was commemorated on Monday, April 19, 2010, at 8:00 PM with an event that took place at the Hagop Der Melkonian Theater. The commemorated martyrs sacrificed their lives t different times, under different circumstances and places, but for the same cause, with the same faith and belief in the Armenian people and their fatherland.

This event, organized by the alumni of the Palanjian-Arslanian Djemaran of Hamazkayin, started with the presentation of a video, which highlighted the martyrs’ biographies, who had graduated in different years and were active participants in Lebanese-Armenian life, as well as their martyrdom on different fronts. They are; Jirair Khrimian, Hagop Boghossian, Sarkis Bekarian, Sarkis Zeitlian, Levon Berberian, Nerses Khoudaverdian, Vahe Cheopjian, Garo Kaplanian, and Vicken Zakarian.   Cont.

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On Wednesday, April 14, 2010, Vicky Marashlian, the chairperson of the Central Committee of the Armenian Relief Organization (HOM) visited the M. and H. Arslanian Djemaran of Hamazkayin. She was accompanied by members of the Regional Committee of the Lebanese-Armenian Relief Cross (LOKH) and Tamar Der Bedrossian, a former member of the Central Committee of the Armenian Relief Organization.

The visitors toured the Djemaran’s various departments, its library, and especially the Norsigian Kindergarten of ARF. Afterward, they visited the offices of the Central Committee of Hamazkayin and discussed possibilities for future cooperation between ARF and Hamazkayin.   Cont.

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On the morning of Monday, April 12, cultural figures from Armenia, who are part of the delegation accompanying the Speaker of the RA National Assembly on a trip to Lebanon, visited the Vahe Setian Publishing House of Hamazkayin and the Lucy Tutunjian Exhibition Hall. Among the delegation were Sona Harutiunyan, chief of the arts section of the RA Ministry of Culture, Armineh Antikyan, director of cultural issues for the National Assembly, veteran artist, theater specialist and director Yervant Ghazanchyan, veteran painters Armen Grigoryan, Marina Tilanyan, and Teni Vardanyan, as well as artist Kamo Seyranyan.

The guests from Armenia were introduced to the activities of Hamazkayin Publishing House and Book Distribution Unit, as well as to those of the exhibition hall. They expressed their admiration of sculptor Zaven Khedeshian’s exhibition and recorded their appreciation in the guests’ book.   Cont.

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On Thursday, April 8, 2010, at 6:30 PM, the exhibition of renowned Lebanese-Armenian artist and sculptor Zaven Khedeshian and his daughter, painter Daria Khedeshian opened at the Lucy Tutunjian exhibition Hall. Archbishop Gomidas Ohanian, the representative of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia, the heads of the three Armenian religious communities in Lebanon, former and present members of the RL Parliament, Bourj Hamoud Mayor Antranig Mserlian, cultural associations’ representatives, artists and art lovers were all in attendance.

On this occasion, artist Misak Terzian, member of the council of the Lucy Tutunjian Exhibition Hall opened the event. He said Zaven Khedeshian occupies a specific place in the landscape of Lebanese arts, since his creations are denoted with a unique and singular approach. Through his oeuvre, Zaven Khedeshian presents to the public merits, which may one day be extinct. Afterward, Mr. Terzian briefly featured the biography of the artist, saying that Zaven Khedeshian’s sculptures are exhibited in several public spaces throughout the world, where they attract the interest of art lovers. Mr. Terzian also mentioned the awards and letters of appreciation Zaven Khedeshian has received.    Cont.

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On Sunday, April 5, 2010, at 6:00 PM, the closing event and awards ceremony for the children’s book sale and exhibition was hosted by by the Vahe Setian Publishing House and distribution unit of Hamazkayin at the Punik Hall of “Aztag Daily.” Directors of several Armenian schools, teachers, parents, and students were attending the event.

Maral Kalemkerian, executive of Hamazkayin’s book distribution unit, opened the event by thanking all the organizations, associations, and individuals, who supported the event and invited Hagop Havatian, the director of Setian Publishing House and book distribution unit, to speak. Mr. Havatian highlighted the fact that the initiative was a success due to collective efforts. He said next year the event will include other spheres as well, and at the beginning of the academic year a project will be developed together with the executives of the Armenian schools to occur over the course of several months. The project is planned to conclude with an awards ceremony at the following year’s exhibition.   Cont.

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The traditional inter-school dance festival organized by the committee of Knar Dance troupe of Hamazkayin was held Tuesday, March 30, 2010, at 7:00 PM, at the Hagop Der Melkonian Theater. Directors of Armenian schools, teachers, educational bodies, art lovers, parents, and students attended the event.

Vartan Aznavourian welcomed the audience on behalf of the Committee of Knar Dance Troupe of Hamazkayin and said the festival aims at creating a healthy inter-school environment, as well as an opportunity to benefit from each other’s experiences. He said 20 Armenian schools are taking part in the festival and that the constant implementation of this initiative is the best proof that the event serves its end and that the Armenian schools attach great importance to the arts in general, and dance, in particular.   Cont.

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Trilateral Meeting between the Central Committees of Ararat, Hamazkayin, and HMEM

A trilateral meeting took place Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 6:00 PM at the Offices of the Central Committee of Hamazkayin among the Central Committees of the Armenian Cultural Ararat Association (HMAK,) the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association and the Armenian General Union of Sports (HMEM.)   Cont.