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55 East 59th Street
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Phone 212.319.6383 x.118
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 17, 2005
AGBU ARARAT PUBLISHES SPECIAL ASADOURIAN ISSUE
New York, NY – Nearly a hundred people of all ages gathered at AGBU
Central Office in New York on Thursday, January 27th, to celebrate the
publication of an issue of AGBU’s Ararat quarterly devoted entirely
to the writings of author Hagop H. Asadourian (1903-2003).
Born in the village of Chomaklou in eastern Turkey, Hagop Asadourian
was deported, along with the rest of his village, in 1918 but found
refuge in AGBU’s orphanage in Aleppo, Syria. He settled in the U.S. in
1920, where he became a successful businessman, singer, and author
of poetry and fiction, including his novel, “The Grandchildren of
Hovagim,” which describes his childhood experiences. He was honored
for this work by the Tekeyan Cultural Foundation in Lebanon in 1965 and
1984. On March 3, 2003 the Foundation celebrated his 100th birthday “in
honor of his lifelong dedication to his beloved Armenian people through
music and literature.” The Spring 2004 issue of “Ararat” is the first
extended excerpt from his work to be published in English translation.
Performers Lynne Kassabian, Marjorie Keyishian, Amy Keyishian, and
Nora Armani, treated the audience to selections from Asadourian’s
writing while oud master and performer, Ara Dinkjian, played a personal
composition in honor of the occasion. A number of speakers addressed
aspects of Asadourian’s writings, including Armenian Studies scholar
Vartan Matiossian and Richard Asadourian, the author’s son.
An official Hagop Asadourian website has been established by the
Naregatsi Art Institute at The site showcases
selections of Asadourian’s writings, music and life and offers various
CDs and DVDs for sale to the public.
Ararat quarterly () is published by AGBU. Copies
of the Asadourian issue or other back issues are available at $7
each. They may be ordered by e-mailing [email protected], calling
Hripsime at 212-319-6383, ext. 131, or mailing your request, along with
a check, to ARARAT/AGBU, 55 East 59th Street, NY, NY 10022-1112. For
more information about AGBU and its many cultural initiatives, please
visit