PRESS RELEASE
ARPA Institute
18106 Miranda St. Tarzana, CA 91356
Contact: Hagop Panossian
Tel: (818) 586-9660
E-mail: hpanossian@hotmail.com
Web:

ARPA Institute presents the Lecture/Seminar: `The Folk Tradition of
Musa Dagh"," by Mrs. Sona Zeitlian, on Thursday, December 6, 2007 at
7:30 PM at the Merdinian School auditorium.

The Address is 13330 Riverside Dr., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403.
Directions: on the 101 FWY exit on Woodman, go north and turn right on
Riverside Dr.

Abstract: The folk tradition or the orally transmitted stories
engender a strong connection that links the generations. Those
folktales are vehicles of age-old manners, customs and folk wisdom. As
such, they are instruments for asserting cultural identity, based on
shared experiences and values. The oral tradition has been central to
the lives of Musa Daghtsis as a form of popular entertainment during
festivals and especially as a means to while away the long winter
nights. Its importance has waned as the living conditions have changed
after the relocation of Musa Daghtsis to Anjar, Lebanon and
Armenia. The heroes of the Musa Dagh folktales are mostly kings,
princes, princesses, traders and peasant men and women. The virtues of
the folk hero integrate physical aptitude with a dedication to
justice, integrity and audacity, as well as a merciful attitude,
modesty, hard work, honest gain and patience. The hero seeks freedom
and proudly endures hardships for the sake of boldly asserting his
independence of thought and action. The heroines of the tales have the
defining role of either motivating the hero to realize lofty ideals or
letting him sink into the depths of despair. The patient, diligent and
conciliatory heroine overcomes difficulties and always stands by her
husband. She is modest, loyal and rates the family honor as a precious
gift. Motherhood ennobles her, deepens her great capacity for love,
even enables her to make the ultimate sacrifice for her children. Musa
Daghtsis consider such a heroine `the greatest treasure on earth.’

Sona Simonian-Zeitlian was born in Cairo, Egypt. Political turmoil in
the early 60s forced her and her family to leave for Lebanon. Then the
hardships of the Lebanese Civil War and the tragedy of the abduction
of her husband, Sarkis Thomas Zeitlian forced Sona and her four
children to finally settle in California. A graduate of the American
University in Cairo, she has held teaching posts in Cairo and
Beirut. In 1995 she was nominated by the Near Eastern Studies Center
at UCLA to become a member of its Advisory Board. She has also
lectured extensively about social and cultural issues and has been
recognized and awarded for her educational and community service.
Zeitlian’s first major work was The Role of Women in the Armenian
Revolutionary Movement which won the Kevork Melidinetsi prize
presented annually by the Catholicosate of Cilicia. Then she published
The Folktales of Musa Dagh based on the oral tradition that she
recorded for the first time in Anjar, Lebanon. Two of these folktales,
The One and Only and Grateful Animals have also appeared separately as
bilingual (Armenian/English) illustrated publications.During the 80s,
Sona Zeitlian wrote four volumes about the Armenian national
tradition, namely such legendary heroes as the Patriarchs Haig and
Aram, early princely leaders Ara the Handsome and Dikran Yervantian,
the powerful head of state King Ardashes and the heroic
commanders-in-chief Mushegh Mamigonian and Kyle Vahan.After years of
research of her own roots, the Egyptian-Armenian community, she
published first in Armenian then in 2006, an expanded English edition
of Armenians in Egypt: Contribution to Medieval and Modern Egypt.

For more Information Please call Dr. Hagop Panossian at (818)586-9660