FORTY DAYS OF MUSA DAGH STRUGGLE TO BE CELEBRATED IN FRESNO
By Nyrie Karkazian The California Courier
ArmRadio.am
15.08.2006 15:09
The heroic struggle and victory of the Forty Days of Musa Dagh will
be celebrated Labor Day weekend, marking the 91st year of remembrance
for the people from the small Armenian villages, once located in the
Cilician region, now in Turkey.
During the years of the Armenian genocide, the people of Musa Dagh
were being forced by the Turks to change their ways and religion. The
townspeople courageously refused to fall into the hands of the Turks
and climbed atop their mountain called Musa Ler.
They fought the Turkish soldiers off for 40 long days and were
miraculously saved by a French ship passing by on the Mediterranean
Sea,The California Courier reported.
For the past 30 years, the Musa Dagh Commemoration Committee in Fresno
has put together a weekend memorial. The tradition began with just
a few families trying to keep their heritage alive and now attracts
around 800-1000 people a year.
This year’s festivities will begin with a family picnic on September
2, at the Fresno Police Association’s Training Grounds from 7 pm to
midnight. The cooking of the Herissa, a lamb and whole wheat stew,
will begin and traditional Davoul, Zourna music brought in especially
from Ainjar will be performed, followed by a DJ and dancing. Chicken
and beef kebab dinners will also be sold.
Father Vahan Gostanian, Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Armenian
Apostolic Church, Fresno, will celebrate the Divine Liturgy Sunday
morning at 10:30 am. Guest speaker Rev. Mgrdich Melkonian, Senior
Pastor of the First Armenian Presbyterian Church, Fresno, will also
be giving a sermon.
Following the service will be the blessing and serving of the Herissa
accompanied by a Kef-time with Davoul, Zourna music until 3 pm.
"We invite everybody to come celebrate this victory of the Forty Days
of Musa Dagh," George Karkazian said, "to remember the great battle of
Mousa Ler and the heroes who fell fighting for our religious freedom."