News

The annual dinner of Hamazkayin Djemaran in Marseille took place June 12, 2009, under the presidency of Henri Papazian, the director of Aip FM, and under the high patronage of Bishop Norvan Zakarian, as well as Michel Vozel (the president of the regional council of PAQA,) Jean-Noel Gerini (president of the council of Bouch-du-Rhône Province,) and Jean-Claude Godin (the mayor of Marseille.)
216 invitees attended the dinner. Among them was Rachel Dink.

Simon Mnagian and Bridget Margoian made speeches on behalf of the Board of Trustees of Djemaran. Jean Noel Gerini reaffirmed his promise that the Presidency of the Council of the Province Bouche-du-Rhône will allocate a sum of 1.3 million euros for the construction of a new sports facility at the Djemaran. Garo Hovsepian, Michel Vozel’s representative, said the Regional Council would also make an unspecified financial contribution toward the project.    Cont.

On June 22, 2009, at 8:00 PM, Parsegh Ganachian Music College of Hamazkayin hosted its year-end ceremony for the graduating students from the 2008-09 school year at the Levon Shant Cultural Center of Hamazkayin.
Representatives of official bodies, members of Hamazkayin, parents, and students were in attendance.

Armen Kecheg, the director of P. Ganachian Music College of Hamazkayin, opened the ceremony. He said such ceremonies were the perfect opportunity to present the students’ accomplishments to the public. He said the College entered its 25th year with new accomplishments and successes, the best proof of which is its graduates.   Cont.

Organized by the Regional Committee of Hamazkayin and hosted by painter Harutioun Torossian, the exhibition of works by sculptor Ashod Tazian was launched Friday, June 19, 2009, at 7:30 PM, at the Hall of Levon and Sophia Hagopian Armenian College. A large audience of art lovers and Hamazkayin members attended the event.

Raffi Demirjian, the Director of the Levon Shant Cultural Center of Hamazkayin welcomed the audience. He said sculpture is an important element of Armenians’ cultural wealth.    Cont.

A poetry reading evening organized by Pakin Literary Publication took place on June 14 at the editorial offices of “Pakin.” The evening was dedicated to the poetry of recently deceased poet Zulal Kazanjian.

Hagop Balian, the editor of “Pakin,” spoke about Kazanjian, who preserved poetry in such a pure form that she lived soley by her talents.    Cont.

Actress, director, publicist, and poet Mari-Rose Abusefian performed a monologue rendition of the novel “The 40 days of Musa Dagh,” by Franz Werfel, in two acts on May 31 at the Philipos Nakas Theater in Athens. The event was organized by the Regional Committee of Hamazkayin in Greece and on the occasion of the 91st anniversary of the first independent Republic of Armenia.

Hampig Hovsepian opened the event and focused on the spirit of the day, and the historical significance of May 28 before introducing Abusefian.   Cont.

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On Saturday, June 13, the Armenian community in London for the second time enjoyed the performance of the famous Cadence Music Ensemble from Yerevan, at the luxurious hall of St. Yeghisheh Armenian Church.

Bishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, the Prelate of the Armenian Diocese in London, Dr. Vahe Gabrielyan, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United Kingdom, about 200 Armenian attendees, and a small group of English friends were present for the recital.   Cont.

With the initiative of the Regional Committee of Hamazkayin in the Eastern USA and in cooperation with the committee of Hamazkayin in New Jersey, a public opening ceremony of the 33rd Representative Assembly of Hamazkayin is scheduled for Friday, June 26, 2009, at 8:00 PM.

The ceremony will take place at St. Vartan Apostolic Church, with the patronage of the Central Committee of Hamazkayin and in participation with the representatives of the Armenian spiritual, national, and public institutions in the region. We are also pleased to announce that Armen Martirossyan, the RA Ambassador to the UN, will add an additional air to the ceremony with his presence and opening speech.   Cont.

On the occasion of the 70th birthday of prominent Armenian writer, publicist, and RA Presidential literary prize winner Roupen Hovsepyan, high-ranking officials, members of the National Assembly, friends in pen and political party, and representatives of various spheres of art celebrated him at a jubilee organized by the Republic of Armenia Ministry of Culture.

The jubilee evening began with the staged performance of a section of Hovsepyan’s work titled “The warm country.” Afterwards, congratulatory letters from the ARF Bureau, the RA ministries of Culture and Diaspora, and the Central Committee of Hamazkayin were read to the audience. In addition, USSR People’s artist Sos Sargsyan, composer Martin Vardazaryan, film director Vicken Chaldranyan, Hrachia Gasparyan, the director of the State Theater Institute, and other individuals addressed their words of congratulations and appreciation, by praising the writer’s literary achievements.   Cont.

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On the occasion of the arrival of many members of Hamazkayin in Lebanon, a meeting was held Tuesday, June 9, 2009, during a dinner organized by the Central Committee of Hamazkayin.

Mardig Demirjian, the representative of the public relations committee of the Central Committee of Hamazkayin welcomed the attendees and invited Mgrdich Mgrdichian, the chairperson of the Central Committee of Hamazkayin to speak. Mr. Mgrdichian analyzed Hamzkayin’s mission and said that alongside its current achievements, there are signs of revitalization.    Cont.

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On the occasion of the founding of the first independent Republic of Armenia, the Sartarabad Dance Troupe of the N. Aghpalian Chapter of Hamazkayin in Aleppo performed in Lebabnon on Thursday, May 28, 2009, at 9:00 PM, at “Hagop Der Sarkissian” Theater. The event was organized by the Regional Committee of Hamazkayin. A large audience was present at the event. Bedros Gharibian, the troupe’s instructor, composed the performance.

Silva Kurkjian welcomed the audience on behalf of the Regional Committee of Hamazkayin in Lebanon. She said thousands of Armenians are returning to their motherland to perform their civil duties. She added that the coincidence of the performance of Sartarabad Dance Troupe and the anniversary of the first independence of Armenia is a great pleasure and the best opportunity to celebrate the victory of Satratabad with the dance troupe Sartarabad.   Cont.

On Wednesday, May 27, the Republic of Lebanon’s Ministry of Education hosted an inter-school dance festival at the Kamil Shamoun Sports City in Lebanon. The dance troupe from M. and H. Arslanian Djemaran of Hamazkayin’s group took first place.

Several dance groups representing schools from various regions of Lebanon had taken part in the festival that lasted several months. Following several stages of selections, only 10 groups were chosen for the final stage.   Cont.

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On Sunday, May 24, 2009, at 8:00 PM, Kayaneh Dance School of Hamazkayin’s third and final performance took place at Emil Lahude Hall. Bishop Kegham Khacherian, the Prelate of the Armenian Diocese in Lebanon, Rev. Father Soghomon Kilaghbian, the clergy, directors of educational institutions, representatives of corresponding bodies, art lovers, Hamazkayin members , and parents were among those in the audience.

Tamar Nalbandian opened the event. She said Kayaneh Dance School of Hamazkayin aspires to keep Armenian folk culture alive among Armenian children and youth by promoting dance.    Cont.

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During the years 2008 and 2009 Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association celebrated the 80th anniversary of its foundation with various events in communities throughout Armenia and the diaspora.

The Central Committee of Hamazkayin planned cultural evenings, events, conferences, publications, and festivals for a complete year. The aim of these activities was not only to celebrate the 80th anniversary, but also to evaluate our capacities, to comprehend the challenges that our environments and time will pose before us in the coming years, and to find solutions by rejuvenating oneself by inviting younger generations to be active in the organization.   Cont.

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On May 24, at the Chamber Music Hall in Yerevan, Armenian art lovers were treated to a remarkable concert of good music with good musicians. Hamazkayin hosted the concert, “For the first time in Armenia,” to present Armenian composer and pianist Ara Sargsyan from Boston, and Polish cellist Agnieshka Dzubak.

“Everyone familiar with the activities of Hamazkayin Educational and Cultural Association can affirm that it is possible to summarize the activities of Hamazkayin in Armenia in a very short formula: A mission of cultural bridging and of getting to know one another,” said Lilit Galstyan, President of the Hamazkayin Foundation and a member of Armenia’s parliament, in her opening speech.
She continued: “I met Ara Sargsyan in fall 2008, in Boston.    Cont.

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This year, the 56 students of the seventh grade at M. and H. Arslanian Djemaran of Hamazkayin managed through team work to revitalize the valuable and fun tradition of making miniatures.

Thus, after studying the medieval feudalistic system, the church, and the lifestyles and activities of various folk groups during their World History classes, as well as learning about medieval military and folk architecture, the students were divided into eight groups. Each group created a miniature of its assigned town, which was composed of two parts: the citadel and the main city.   Cont.

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Writer and publicist Sevda Sevan passed away in Bulgaria, at the age of 64. The novels “Somewhere in the Balkans” and “Der Zor” are among her best-known books. In her works, she featured the Armenian Genocide, as well as the joint liberation actions of General Antranig and the Bulgarian troops in the Balkans.

Sevda Sevan wrote the script for the documentary “Genocide,” which was filmed in 1988 in Bulgaria. She also translated Kevork Emin’s poetry anthology.   Cont.

The 70th General Assembly of the Alumni of Palanjian-Arslanian Djemaran of Hamazkayin took place May 14, 2009.
The participants highlighted alumni contributions to Armenian culture, particularly in Armenian community life. In addition, they highlighted their role in educating the future generations in various communities.

The alumni also discussed the role of Djemaran and of properly organizing events celebrating the 80th anniversary of its foundation.   Cont.

Gargach Youth and Children’s Choir of Hamazkayin hosted their annual concert on Sunday, May 18, at 6 p.m. at the Assembly Hall. The event was irganized by the Regional Committee of Hamazkayin in Lebanon. Armenian community institution representatives, members of Hamazkayin, parents, and an art-loving audience were among those in the audience.

Gargach’s youth section took the stage during the first part of the program. On the occasion of the 70th birthdays of Tigran Mansourian and Robert Amirkhanian, the choir consequently performed the songs “Yergir im Hayasdan” and “Hayi achiker.” On the 140th anniversary of Gomidas’ birth, the choir performed a sequence of Gomidasian songs. Dedicated to the memory of Krikor Shahinian, the choir performed the songs “Im ousoutsich,” “Garab,” “Khozougin kankade,” and other songs.   Cont.

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YEREVAN, MAY 7, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian edition of the Nobel prizewinner Orhan Pamouk’s “Snow” novel has today been presented in the Office of the All-National Armenian Educational and Cultural Society.

According to the head of the All-National Armenian Educational and Cultural Society Lilit Galstian, the “Snow” novel is more than up to date in the context of today’s Armenian-Turkish relations where “the hyphen separating these two nouns contains anguish, embarrassment and commitment, sorrow and consciousness of the tragedy of the Genocide”.
   Cont.