PRESS RELEASE
Birthright Armenia
Contact: Linda Yepoyan
November 16, 2008
Phone: 610-642-6633
[email protected]
A TRANSYLVANIAN IN ARMENIA
Yerevan, Armenia – Birthright Armenia’s international reach just keeps
getting broader. This fall, the organization welcomed Ms. Cristina Popa –
its first participant from Transylvania. Popa is a bright, energetic and
spunky 21-year-old volunteer from Gherla, a Transylvanian city located in
present-day central Romania, and built by Armenians.
Outside of Romania and Hungary, few people know much about Transylvania
except that it is the setting of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, but the region is
also known for the scenic beauty of its Carpathian landscape and its rich
history. Gherla had an Armenian population as far back as the 13th century,
when it earned its second name, Hayakaghak, or Armenopolis. The modern city
was built in the early 18th century by Armenians who had originally settled
in Crimea and Moldavia, and moved to Transylvania around that time. Soon
thereafter, in exchange for the privilege of settling and a certain degree
of autonomy within the Hungarian Kingdom, the Armenian population of Gherla
converted to Catholicism – a move that many believe marked the end of the
perpetuation of Armenian cultural values and the beginning of assimilation.
Today, the city of Gherla is home to a meager 149 people with Armenian
roots, and as Popa tells us, only a few of them speak any Armenian at all.
"I know a father and son who learned Western Armenian with the Mkhitarians
in Venice," she says, "I went to them to learn the alphabet and the
language."
Popa’s Armenian heritage comes from her mother, who speaks no Armenian
except for a few words she learned from her grandparents. "My
great-grandfather’s brother was the General Abbott of the Mkhitarian
congregation in Vienna," Cristina explains, "And I’m very proud of this. My
grandmother says I inherited my patriotism from him."
Ms. Popa, in her own right, is a leader in Gherla’s Armenian community. A
student of international relations, she is writing her thesis on the
Armenian Genocide. Surprisingly, it is only the second thesis in all of
Romania ever to be written on the topic. One of her aspirations is to get a
dance group together to perform at the city’s Minority Festival, in an
effort to keep Armenian cultural traditions alive. "If I can get people
interested, I’m happy," she says, "I don’t even care if they’re Armenian or
not."
She read about Birthright Armenia in Ararat, a Romanian newspaper that
covers Armenian community news. She immediately took an interest in pursuing
the unique opportunity that Birthright presented, and her decision to apply
was made considerably easier after corresponding with an alumnus in Romania.
Upon arriving in Armenia, Ms. Popa thrust herself wholeheartedly into her
work and into broadening her cultural horizons, trying to absorb every
aspect of Armenian life and make it a part of her. In October, as her
two-month volunteer stint came to a close, the young Transylvanian-Armenian
was feeling an emotional urge to stay. She had an extremely enriching
experience volunteering at the non-profit organization, International Center
for Human Development (ICHD), taking traditional dance classes, living with
a warm, welcoming host family, and building bonds with new friends from
Armenia and around the world.
Tevan Poghosyan, Executive Director of ICHD in Armenia, was Cristina’s job
placement supervisor. He was extremely pleased with Cristina’s contribution
to the organization, both through her hard work, and the unique perspective
she brought to the table. "Cristina’s most significant contribution to our
organization is a paper she wrote on Karabagh’s current political dilemma,"
he said, "It brings a fresh new perspective and really demonstrates her
expertise in her field. ICHD will soon publish the paper and it will be a
useful addition to the literature available to educate people about
Karabagh." Poghosyan added, "Cristina is very bright and conscientious. I
am happy to know that there are Armenians like her in the Diaspora, who are
interested in understanding their roots. She is not only here to contribute
through her academic specialty; she is fully immersing herself culturally in
Armenia."
Cristina’s home-away-from-home in Yerevan was the Hovannisyan household,
where she lived during her stay in Armenia. Host mother Gayane enjoyed
Cristina’s company and was sad to see her go. "I have seen Cristina progress
in her appreciation and understanding of the country, its people, our
culture and native tongue," she said, "She spoke Armenian well enough when
she first came and she always tried very hard. Now she understands more
quickly. She fit in well here."
And as for Cristina, the talkative Transylvanian finds her experience in
Armenia hard to put to words. "In short," she muses, "I’m in love." She
plans to come back to Armenia next year and will encourage other young
Armenians in her community to do the same.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
