PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Karine Abalyan
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
April 12, 2010
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COMMEMORATING THE 95TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Upcoming Events at St. Vartan Cathedral and the Diocesan Center
The Eastern Diocese will host a series of events this month to commemorate
the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, with two literary evenings
(on April 15 and 22), and a concert (on April 23), in addition to religious
observances in New York’s St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral.
On Thursday, April 15, four panelists will share reflections on personal
accounts of the Genocide. Speakers include Peter Balakian, author of Black
Dog of Fate and The Burning Tigris, who recently co-translated and edited
Armenian Golgotha, his great-uncle’s memoir of the Armenian Genocide; Nancy
Kricorian, author of the novels Zabelle and Dreams of Bread and Fire; Mariam
Stepanian, of ALMA, who will discuss Genocide survivor interviews; and Ruth
Thomasian, of Project Save, who will speak about photos of Armenians in the
Ottoman Empire circa 1915. The discussion begins at 7 p.m. in Guild Hall of
the Diocesan Center.
On Thursday, April 22, New York City artists, authors, and other
professionals will present an evening of dramatic readings from the works of
Armenian authors of Constantinople, who were rounded up on the night of
April 24, 1915. The readings, in Armenian and English, will take place in
the sanctuary of St. Vartan Cathedral, beginning at 7 p.m.
Both the April 15 and April 22 events are sponsored by the Diocese’s Krikor
and Clara Zohrab Information Center, with the Columbia Armenian Students
Association, the Armenian Students Association, the Armenian Network of
America (N.Y. region), and the Knights and Daughters of Vartan.
On Friday, April 23, a concert titled "Requiem and Resurrection" will be
held in the sanctuary of St. Vartan Cathedral. The concert of remembrance
will feature works by Komitas, Khachaturian, and others, as performed by
pianist Karine Poghosyan, the Merlin Virtuosi string quartet, and the St.
Vartan Cathedral Choir under the direction of Maestro Khoren Mekanejian. The
evening begins at 7 p.m., with a requiem service, followed immediately by
the concert. The event is being sponsored through the generosity of the
Edward and Grace Alexanian Fund.
On Armenian Martyrs Day, Saturday, April 24, a requiem service will be held
at St. Vartan Cathderal for the departed martyrs of 1915. The service will
begin at noon. The cathedral will remain open throughout the day for prayer
and remembrance.
On Sunday, April 25, Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian will celebrate the Divine
Liturgy at St. Vartan Cathedral, beginning at 10:30 a.m. A requiem service
and blessing of madagh will follow. The annual Genocide Commemoration
sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Knights and Daughters of Vartan will begin at
Times Square in New York City at 2 p.m.
All events are free and open to the public. The Diocesan Center and St.
Vartan Cathedral are located at 630 Second Avenue in New York City. For
information, call the Diocese at (212) 686-0710.
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