California Courier Online, November 23, 2006

1 – Commentary

1 – Lebanon: The Revival of
A Vital Armenian Community

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

2 – An Armenian Christmas Legend from Kharpert
Published by Dziludzar in Time for the Holidays
3 – The Word of God: Armenian Illuminations
Featuring Herra Karagozyan’s Collection
4 – First Lady, Dr. Bella Kocharian Visits ARS
Mother & Child Health and Birthing Center
5- Fun Events at Gardens of the World and Comedy Store
Raise Funds for Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry
6 – Arnold and Dianne Ghazarian Give $1.5 Million
For California State University, Fresno Center
7 – Charles Keyan Scholarships Awarded
By USC Institute of Armenian Studies
8 – California Courier Publisher Honored
With St. Mesrob Mashdots Medal
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1 – Commentary
Lebanon: The Revival of
A Vital Armenian Community

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

When I left Lebanon in 1969 as a high school student, I could not have
imagined that I would return 37 years later to bring major financial assistance on
behalf of the United Armenian Fund to thousands of needy Armenian students.
The Armenian community of Lebanon, which was known as "the heart of the
Armenian Diaspora," has been going through very rough times during the past couple
of decades due to domestic strife and foreign attacks.
Caught in the throes of incessant turmoil, Lebanon experienced massive
unemployment, leading to large-scale emigration, which in turn considerably weakened
this once vibrant country and community.
Last July’s devastating Israeli attack on Lebanon further aggravated the
economic crisis. Most families, which were already in deep poverty, went flat
broke. They could no longer afford to send their children to Armenian schools.
Consequently, the schools could not pay the salaries of teachers and staff
members.
More than a dozen Armenian schools were forced to close down in recent years.
Thousands of Armenian children started attending tuition-free Lebanese public
schools. The community’s well-being was substantially degraded.
One sunny morning earlier this month, the Armenian community of Lebanon woke
up to the stunning news that the United Armenian Fund, through a generous
grant from The Lincy Foundation, was providing $4.5 million in order to cover the
full or partial tuition of more than 5,000 Armenian students, the back
salaries of more than 500 teachers and staff for the past academic year, as well as
funds for the urgent needs of the schools.
I was repeatedly told during my trip to Lebanon that the unsolicited and
unexpected $4.5 million contribution was a godsent gift to thousands of needy
families and their community’s schools.
This major donation to all 28 Lebanese Armenian schools, affiliated with 7
different organizations, including the Prelacy, Catholics, Evangelicals, AGBU,
Tekeyan, AEBU, and Hamazkayin, brought a renewed sense of hope and unity to
this very diverse community.
More important than the amount of the contribution was the community members’
realization that they were not facing these obstacles alone and that their
far-away compatriots cared deeply about their welfare and well-being.
I visited each of the 28 Armenian schools throughout Lebanon and met with
their administrators and sponsoring organizations to deliver the much-needed
financial contribution. Without exception, they all expressed their heart-felt
gratitude not only for this donation, but more importantly, for being remembered
by fellow Armenians from across the oceans. School officials told me that my
uplifting remarks to the students brought renewed hope and encouraged them to
persevere in the face of overwhelming odds. I told the students that most of
their difficulties were behind them and that they would grow up to become once
again a part of the prosperous community they used to be.
For decades, Lebanon provided highly skilled teachers, writers, clergymen,
artists, intellectuals and leaders for other Armenian communities throughout the
Diaspora. Back in 1964, when there were no Armenian schools in the United
States, a small group of Lebanese Armenians had the foresight and came up with
the seed money to establish the first Armenian school in the United States —
the Ferrahian Armenian High School in Encino, California. It is poetic justice
that more than 30 years later, when the Armenian schools in Lebanon experienced
financial difficulty, reciprocal assistance is provided to them from
California!
My week-long visit to all Armenian schools and community organizations showed
that despite three decades of downward spiral, the Lebanese Armenian
community remains vibrant and has many talented and dedicated individuals in just
about every walk of life. They are ready to serve their community and country with
total devotion and distinction. They were not looking for handouts. They were
struggling to take care of themselves, but had simply reached their wit’s
end. Hopefully, many other donors both within and outside Lebanon would emulate
The Lincy Foundation’s wonderful gesture and help support Armenian institutions
throughout the Diaspora.
This one-time generous grant, while it did not cover all of the Armenian
community’s many needs, goes a long way in reassuring the Lebanese Armenians that
they are not abandoned to their fate and that the Armenian nation is like an
extended family: the pain and joy of each one is the pain and joy of all. I am
confident that Lebanon will rise like a Phoenix from the ashes and take care
of not only its own needs, but also reach out to those in other Armenian
communities throughout the Diaspora and Armenia!
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2 – An Armenian Christmas Legend from Kharpert
Published by Dziludzar in Time for the Holidays
LOS ANGELES – "The Silver Web – Ardzat Tel Vosdyanu" by Dziludzar
Publications, a picture/CD book in two separate Armenian and English editions, offers a
unique Christmas legend from the city of Kharpert of historic Armenia. While
during the Christmas season Armenian children are exposed to the traditions of
many different cultures, this book puts in the hands of Diaspora families a
specifically Armenian Christmas legend with a CD of authentic Armenian folk
carols.
"The Silver Web – Ardzat Tel Vosdaynu" is based on the story of the birth of
Jesus Christ and his subsequent rescue from the wrath of King Herod. On
learning of a prophecy that the infant Jesus will grow up to become a "king," Herod
orders to kill all newborns in Bethlehem. Hearing of Herod’s orders, Mary and
Joseph spirit the infant Christ out of his birthplace. On their way to Egypt,
they take refuge in a cave, where a tiny spider, fascinated by Christ’s
innocent and lovely features, weaves a great, protective web at the entrance of the
cave. When Herod’s soldiers arrive on the scene and notice the massive web at
the entrance, they decide to continue on their way, assuming that nobody could
be hiding inside the cave. Thus the good spider helps save Jesus’ life.
The author of the book, Alidz Agbabian, lives in Los Angeles, specializes in
Armenian oral traditions. Her multimedia storytelling events, held at major
venues in California and nationwide, bring Armenian folktales and songs to
Armenian as well as non-Armenian audiences of all ages.
The color illustrations appearing in The Silver Web – Ardzat Tel Vosdanu, by
renowned Los Angeles based artist Vachag, are reminiscent of Armenian
illuminated manuscripts. Vachag emulates the intense colors and compositional rhythms
of Armenian manuscripts for a modern look. His illustrations are mysterious,
penetrating, and his childlike manner evokes a gentle humor throughout the
story,
The compact disc accompanying The Silver Web – Ardzat Tel Vosdanu features
two Armenian folk carols from two other Armenian historic regions, that of
Shadakh, near Lake Van and Aintab of historic Cilicia; also included are, a
medieval religious Armenain folk song dedicated to mother of Christ, Mary, and a
beloved excerpt from Gomidas’ Divine Liturgy, "Soorp Asdvadz."
Printed on high-quality glossy stock in soft cover, the English- and
Armenian-language editions of The Silver Web – Ardzat Tel Vosdaynu are available from
all Armenian book services nationwide as well as Dzil-u-dzar Publications –
1085 Hanley Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90049. E-mail: dziludzar@aol.com.
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3 – The Word of God: Armenian Illuminations
Featuring Herra Karagozyan’s Collection
WATERTOWN, MA – In celebration of the 1600th anniversary of the Armenian
alphabet, the Armenian Library & Museum of America (ALMA) will be exhibiting a
unique collection of 30 artworks of ornamental letters inspired by medieval
illuminations. The plates, originally drawn by master-restorer Herra Karagozyan,
represent samples of ornamentations drawn from the thousands of manuscripts
housed in the Mesrop Mashtots Matenadaran, the Institute of Ancient Manuscripts in
Yerevan, Armenia. The collection on exhibit enables the visitors to view the
evolution of the art of ornamentation from 9th to late 15th centuries in
Armenia.
The development of ornamentation in Armenian manuscripts emerged with the
creation of the Armenian alphabet in the 5th century and the development of
written literature. The tradition started gradually: initially, ornamentations
appeared on the title pages of the manuscripts, and later, in "khorans", in
margins, and in the details of dominical and plot-oriented miniatures and on
surrounding areas. Zoomorphic, floral, and geometrical motifs, as well as heavenly
bodies and architectural structures were predominantly used in Armenian
ornamentation. The art of illuminations flourished in the 12th-14th centuries in the
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Of all schools of illuminations, the Cilician
school is unique in the brilliance of ornamentations and opulence of colors,
including the application of gold leaf to the manuscripts. Manuscripts became one
of the original places for the practice of Armenian fine art. The forms and
colors of these ornamentations were lasting creations of talented illuminators,
who were gifted with infinite imagination, limitless creativity, and subtle
taste.
One such contemporary artist was the celebrated miniature artist and
manuscript restorer Herra Karagozyan. A student of the famed Lidia Durnova’s school of
art restoration and reproduction in Yerevan, Karagozyan was considered one of
the most talented modern restorers, particularly due to her fine perception
of colors, keen artistic taste, skillful drawings, and extraordinary attention
to detail. Her renditions of medieval manuscripts and frescos were difficult
to differentiate from the originals. Karagozyan worked for decades as a
restorer in the Matenadaran, and her works have been exhibited at the National Art
Gallery of Armenia and in Matenadaran. She worked on the restoration and
reproduction of the manuscripts of Gndevank and Haghpat monasteries in Armenia and
the St. Khach and St. Nshan monasteries in the Crimea. Herra Karagozyan also
participated in the restoration of the frescoes painted by Hakob Hovnatan in the
Echmiadzin Cathedral.
The exhibit of this unique art collection will be on display at ALMA’s
Terjenian-Thomas Gallery through January 31, 2007. Museum is open to public on
Thursday 6-pm, Friday and Sunday 1-5pm and Saturday 10am-2pm. For more information
please contact ALMA offices 617.926.2562 or visit the website
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4 – First Lady, Dr. Bella Kocharian Visits ARS
Mother & Child Health and Birthing Center
YEREVAN – Armenia’s First Lady, Dr. Bella Kocharian visited the ARS Mother
and Child Health and Birthing Center in Akhurian, Armenia, recently. This was
Dr. Kocharian’s first visit to the ARS center’s new maternity ward and recently
completed Radiology & Scanning Department.
Dr. Kocharian was accompanied by ARS Armenia Chairperson Alvard Petrosian,
who is also a member of the Republic of Armenia’s National Assembly, as well as
ARS Armenia Regional Executive Board members.
The ARS invited representatives of various women’s and social service
organizations to be present, including Minister of Health Norair Davtian; Armenia’s
top cancer expert Dr. Sergey Sayirian; ARF Supreme Council members Lilit
Galstian and Rouzan Arakelian; ARF Commission on Women’s Issues Chairperson Maria
Titizian; Shirak Province Governor Romik Manukian; and ARS Central Executive
Board member Karine Hovhannisian.
The visit was fully covered and broadcast on television and radio. All the
guests were deeply impressed and expressed their admiration for the Health
Center’s new additions. As a token of appreciation, First Lady Kocharian
presented the center with a television set.
The Mother and Child Health Center tour was followed by a visit to the
Psychological Center in Gyumri which recently inaugurated a new wing built and
subsidized by the Swiss "Armenianos" Fund. Center director and noted psychologist
Armine Gmuir-Karapetian cooperates closely with the ARS Armenia Regional
Board. Over the last few years, Gmuir-Karapetian has provided expertise to the ARS
Armenia on various in-depth ARS studies devoted to psychological issues faced
by various segments of the population.
Dr. Kocharian was visibly impressed by what she saw at both centers and
expressed her deep satisfaction for having the opportunity to witness the ARS’s
important work in Gyumri. In a parting promise, the First Lady pledged to
support all present and future ARS programs.
Established in 1910, the ARS is the oldest Armenian women’s organization
with entities in 24 countries. To learn more about the ARS and its programs,
visit the ARS’s website at or call (617) 926-5892.
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5 – Fun Events at Gardens of the World and Comedy Store
Raise Funds for Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry
LOS ANGELES – Naz Atikian, stunning in her tailored clothes and dazzling
jewelry of her own design , doesn’t have much in common with Sam Tripoli, a young
comedian with a penchant for old jeans and a sweatshirt. On the surface,
anyway. But look into their hearts and you will find the same passion for helping
others, and one cause in particular.
This fall, each in their own way put their talents, resources, and passion to
work on behalf of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR), and helped
raise funds for the organization, whose mission is to ensure that every
ethnic Armenian suffering from a life threatening blood-related illness is able to
find a genetically suitable bone marrow stem cell match.
On October 29, over 150 gathered at the Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks
for a luncheon hosted by Naz to benefit the ABMDR. Prior to enjoying a
lavish spread under a shady pavilion, guests roamed the silent auction tables to
bid on items ranging from jewelry to tea sets, and bought raffle tickets for a
variety of gift baskets. The gardens were made available by
the Hogan family, and Naz provided for all the expenses of the luncheon; her
generosity ensured that all ticket sales and purchases directly benefited the
ABMDR.
The event was conceived, organized and executed by Naz, with the help of
several key volunteers. Following an introduction by Hilda Sarkisyan, where she
shared her personal story of the pain, hope and relief of having a child with a
life-threatening blood disease, ABMDR President Dr. Frieda Jordan expressed
her gratitude to those in attendance, "guardian angels who spread your wings
across the world to help those who need us." She noted that, "’The Gardens of
the World’ is a fitting place to gather on behalf of the Armenian Bone Marrow
Donor Registry. Our organization seeks out its own "gardens of the world" –
recruiting donors all over the globe that may be harvested to provide life-saving
stem cells for patients in need." As a token of appreciation, she then
presented Naz Atikian with a plaque on behalf of the ABMDR.
Just one week after the luncheon, the ABMDR changed its venue from a sunny
day in a garden to a dark night at a club, attracting over 350 supporters to the
famous Comedy Store on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. Lara Yeretsian,
volunteer organizer for the event, was overwhelmed by the response, noting that the
4th Annual Laughter for Life event "has become so popular that it was sold out
days before."
Sam Tripoli, a nationally recognized comedian who performs at the Comedy
Store, was the propelling force behind the effort to have the benefit at the
Comedy Store initially. Sam’s thirteen-year old cousin, Alique Topalian, was
struck with leukemia nine years ago. Helping organize this benefit by arranging a
line-up of comedians who would perform at the Comedy Store was his way of
showing appreciation for the ABMDR, which was established out of frustrations his
family and Dr. Jordan experienced when they were seeking bone marrow for his
cousin to save her life.
At this year’s event, seven performers volunteered their talents – Sam
Tripoli, Dau Davidoff, Ahmad Ahmed, Steve Rennazzisi, Darren Carter, Ara Bazil and
John Hoogazian. Owner of the Comedy Store, Mitzy Shore, graciously made her
club available at no charge for the evening’s event.
This summer the ABMDR celebrated its 5th anniversary with a series of events
including a fundraising walk-a-thon, gala dinner, and concert, drawing
thousands of supporters. The momentum has continued to grow since then, with a
particular increase among young people who want to help the organization recruit
donors and find matches for patients in need. A key method of treating people
with life-threatening blood diseases is through bone marrow/stem cell
transplants from a donor.
Since the ABMDR’s founding five years ago, over 12,000 donors have been
recruited, more than 600 search requests have been received and processed, 400
potential matches have been identified, and – most importantly – six bone marrow
and stem cell transplants have been facilitated in Armenia, the United States,
and Europe.
The ABMDR is a member of the World Marrow Donor Association and Bone Marrow
Donors Worldwide and, this Spring, became the first laboratory of its kind in
the whole region and the Commonwealth of Independent States (former Soviet
republics) to receive accreditation from the highly respected European Federation
of Immunogenetics (EFI).
Those who wish to learn more about the Registry may contact ABMDR President
Dr. Frieda Jordan at 3111 Los Feliz Blvd., Suite 206, Los Angeles, CA; by
calling (323) 663-3609; or e-mailing abmdrla@sbcglobal.net or <
mailto:Frieda.Jordan@att.net> Frieda.Jordan@att.net . The website for the Registry is <
;
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6 – Arnold and Dianne Ghazarian Give $1.5 Million
For California State University, Fresno Center
FRESNO – California State University, Fresno announced it received a gift
to create a $1.5 million endowment which will be used to establish the Arnold
and Dianne Gazarian Real Estate Center in the Craig School of Business.
Arnold Gazarian, a retired dentist, is an ardent supporter of education
initiatives in the Central Valley and is a member of the
California State University, Fresno Foundation Board of Governors. Dianne
Gazarian serves as chair of the Berberian & Gazarian Family Foundation.
The Gazarians’ generosity to Fresno State has included gifts to the
President’s Fund, Smittcamp Alumni House, the Haig and Isabel Berberian endowed chair
in Armenian Studies, the Craig School of Business and the Kremen School of
Education and Human Development.
"We recognize and truly appreciate the vital function Fresno State provides
to the local community and to the Central Valley," said Arnold Gazarian. "We
hope that this gift will assist the university in making it a leader in
educating real estate professionals, conducting real-world research and promoting
high ethical standards. We also hope that the center will bring together members
of the real estate community to discuss issues of importance to the industry."
This gift enables Fresno State to create a center that will support the Craig
School’s Real Estate and Urban Land Economics option and major for students
as well as the expansion of research by faculty and graduate students. The
center will provide invaluable community service as it assesses trends in
commercial retail, office, residential and investment markets; analyzes land use
planning; and conducts research in such areas as single- and multi-family
residential housing, commercial real estate and real estate financial assets. In
addition, the Gazarian Center will sponsor conferences, seminars and workshops in
real estate and land use.
"I am pleased that the Gazarian family recognizes the importance of
marshaling the resources of the university and the region to study and address issues
such as complex environmental impacts related to increased population growth,"
said Dr. John D. Welty, president of Fresno State, who will seek approval of
the naming from the California State University trustees at their January
meeting in Long Beach. "This generous gift will position the Gazarian Real Estate
Center as an academic leader in real estate market analysis and research and
will help to further the university’s goal of helping the economy grow."
The Gazarian Real Estate Center will also provide students opportunities to
learn the business side of real estate and apply
their academic knowledge to real-world projects and experiences. The real
estate business community will gain a valuable informational resource relating
to the greater Fresno metropolitan area and Central Valley region, as well as
access to student interns and potential future employees.
Dr. Douglas Hensler, dean of the Craig School of Business, said, "Arnold and
Dianne Gazarian share our cause of taking responsibility for the well-being of
our community and training effective planning leaders for the future. We are
thrilled that they have chosen to establish the Real Estate Center and we look
forward to a long-term productive partnership with the Gazarian family in the
cause of real estate and land use planning."
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7 – Charles Keyan Scholarships Awarded
By USC Institute of Armenian Studies
LOS ANGELES – The USC Institute of Armenian Studies announced this week that
the Institute’s Charles Keyan Scholarships were awarded for the 2006-2007
academic year to five Armenian-American students.
The five students who were each awarded a $1,000 scholarship are: Elyse
Derian, Armen Der-Kevorkian, Nayri Jilizian, Narine Sargsyan, and Arpine
Shakhbandaryan.
The $1000 scholarship is awarded to USC continuing students annually.
The scholarship was established by benefactor Charles Keyan to support
promising students of Armenian descent. The scholarship is granted on the basis of
scholarly merit, financial need, and participation in community life.
The annual Scholarship will be available again for the 2007-2008 academic
year.
Applications will be available in March of 2007. All interested students
should email a letter of interest to the USC Institute of Armenian Studies at
Armenian@college.usc.edu.
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8 – California Courier Publisher Honored
With St. Mesrob Mashdots Medal
BEIRUT – Harut Sassounian, the publisher of The California Courier, delivered
a lecture on "Armenians Facing New Challenges" during a special event held in
the "Gulbenkian" hall of the Catholicosate of Cilicia on the evening of
November 7.
Sassounian was also presented the insignia of "St. Mesrob Mashdots" by
Catholicos Aram I. The event attracted a large number of people.
Very Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer, highlighted during
his opening remarks that in addition to its spiritual role, the Catholicosate of
Cilicia’s mission includes national, religious, educational, intellectual,
political, ecumenical and cultural initiatives.
The speaker introduced Sassounian, adding that he had come to Lebanon as the
special guest of His Holiness and the Catholicosate of Cilicia, "with a heavy
financial burden on his shoulders."
"A sacred duty, the target of which is again our nation, with its cause and
struggle, its existence, conflicts, daily concerns and the education and
development of its new generations," V Rev. Fr. Chiftjian said, referring to the 4.5
million US Dollar donation to Armenian schools by the Lincy Foundation. The
donation is the primary purpose of Vice Chairman Sassounian’ s visit to Lebanon.
Zakar Keshishian and Camilla Keshishian entertained the attendants with
beautiful performances of a few songs.
Sassounian then took to the stage talking about the main challenges Armenians
face today and stressing that after 91 years of the Armenian Genocide, a need
for reevaluation of efforts is needed.
Assuring, with compelling arguments, that the United States will recognize
the Armenian Genocide, Sassounian emphasized that the Genocide is an
internationally recognized fact today, which constitutes a victory for the Armenian
nation.
"We should not wait for Turkey to acknowledge the Genocide before we press
our demands. We should go beyond recognition, to presenting our cause and rights
to regional, international and other courts," he said.
Sassounian then talked in detail about the work carried out in the United
States with respect to the Armenian Cause, focusing on the developments following
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by former US Ambassador to Armenia,
John Evans.
The lecturer maintained that the Armenian Cause is an international issue
today, emphasizing that Armenians should be prepared to seize the day when the
right conditions arise for its pursuit.
In the following question and answer session Sassounian denounced the
presence of Turkish troops in Lebanon as part of the United Nations peacekeeping
force and shed light on the main purposes of the financial contribution of the
United Armenian Fund to Armenian schools in Lebanon.
After Sassounian’s lecture, the Catholicos talked about the significance of
the Armenian Cause for the Catholicosate of Cilicia. "The Armenian Cause is not
just a regular aspect of the Catholicosate’s mission, it is a constant part
of this Holy See’s identity. It is the people of this Holy See that were
massacred, deported. It is this Holy See that was deported with its people,
extradited and destroyed. It is, therefore, the duty of this Holy See to pursue its
rights, our nation’s violated rights, its cause, our collective just Cause by
all means," he said.
"The truth should be revealed and rights should be pursued. It is with this
realization that we will continue our efforts with the participation of all our
structures," concluded the Pontiff.
The Catholicos then presented the "Saint Mesrob Mashdots" insignia of the
Catholicosate to Sassounian, in recognition of his mutli-faceted work and as an
incentive for his future efforts. The Pontifical Encyclical was read by V.Rev.
Fr. Norayr Ashekian.
The Catholicos advised Sassounian to invite Ambassador Evans to Lebanon on
his behalf, pointing out that the latter should be honored for having the
courage to tell and defend the truth.
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