Category: 2024

Archbishop of America met the primate of the Eastern Diocese of America in the Armenian Church

Ani Tigranian
Jan 4 2024
Jan 04, 2024 | 08:09

 

in Archdiocese of America

On Wednesday, January 3, 2024, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America warmly welcomed Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, the primate of the Eastern Diocese of America in the Armenian Church, to the Archdiocesan Headquarters.

Bishop Mesrop, consecrated to the episcopacy on October 8, 2023, by Catholicos Karekin II in Etchmiadzin, Armenia, made his first visit to the Archdiocese, extending heartfelt Christmas wishes to Archbishop Elpidophoros.

During their meeting, the two hierarchs delved into the rich spiritual ties and historical proximity shared between the Greek and Armenian communities. They also discussed the imperative of ministering to the youth and the challenges associated with preserving faith, culture, and language. In closing, Archbishop Elpidophoros extended his warmest wishes for a Merry and Blessed Christmas to Bishop Mesrop, who would be celebrating the occasion on January 6, following the Armenian tradition.

https://orthodoxtimes.com/archbishop-of-america-met-the-primate-of-the-eastern-diocese-of-america-in-the-armenian-church/

Armenian capital: Antisemitic movement marches with Nazi flag

Lara Antonian
Jerusalem Post
Jan 4 2024
By MARK FISH

Hatred for Jews has no boundaries: The few Jews remaining in the Armenian capital continue to endure harassment, and following several deliberate acts of arson on the country’s only synagogue, the climax was a neo-Nazi march in the heart of the city with no intervention on the part of the authorities or the police.

The hatred for Jews and for Israel never stops – with the current war being cited as the reason of course. On January 1st, the capital city of Armenia, a country not exactly teeming with Jews, was host to a serious incident when a group of neo-Nazis paraded down the streets of Yerevan with flags displaying stylized swastikas, and chanting derogatory slogans against internal and external enemies. 

The movement in question is the Husnak movement, a nationalist movement whose website praises Hitler and contains anti-Semitic caricatures, and articles calling for the deportation of Jews and for the “exposure of their activities towards children.”


More than a month has passed since the report, which circulated worldwide, of the second arson attack on the only synagogue in Armenia within weeks, by local antisemitic entities. The true reason for these anti-Semitic acts is not the current war in Gaza, but rather, as reported several times, it is due to the support given by Israel to Azerbaijan, Armenia’s sworn rival. 

There has been a recent increase in anti-Semitism due to the conflict in the Karabakh region, and at the start of the New Year, on January 1st, a crowd of young Neo-Nazis organized a march with stylized flags displaying a swastikas.. 

According to reports published on the networks, these same young neo-Nazis organized a march to the memorial of Garegin Nzhdeh, who was an Armenian collaborator of the Nazis (and whose birthday falls on January 1st).  A bouquet of flowers was placed on the memorial and they saluted him with raised arms.


The Jewish community is outraged that the Armenian authorities took no action against the “shameful acts, and against the extremist group that raised its head.” Additionally, Jewish community representatives added that “the police did not stop the march, nor summon any of the participants for questioning, and in all probability, seeing as what has been happening in the country lately, they must be quite satisfied with these acts.”

Moreover, no one was arrested for the arson attempts on the only synagogue in the country. According to media reports, a group calling itself the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia threatened to attack rabbis and Israelis all over the world, and praised Hamas and Hezbollah following the massacre of October 7th.


Also, according to an article in the Jerusalem Post, former advisor to the armed forces of Armenia, Vladimir Poghosyan, made anti-Semitic remarks and claimed to be helping Hamas and Hezbollah to kill Jews: “I will shout out to the whole world about the just killing of Jews.” In addition, a video clip features him claiming that Jews have no right to exist, as he says, “You are jackals that need to be exterminated completely.”

He also made several serious statements, including that Israel was lucky that he did not assist Hamas and Hezbollah: “I would have killed 100,000 Jews.” The state did nothing to stop him.

If that is not enough, Armenian-Iranian ties are strengthening and becoming more strategic. The Iranian foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, arrived in Yerevan last Wednesday, where he made clear the high level of importance of Armenia to Iran.

At a press conference, Amir-Abdollahian emphasized Tehran’s support for the territorial integrity of Armenia, and remarked that the bilateral trade has to reach one billion dollars in 2024, which, of course, was an allusion to the return of the Karabakh region to Azerbaijan, which is supported by Israel.


https://www.jpost.com/judaism/article-780769

Controversy after Armenian Catholicos’ New Year speech not aired on Public TV

Vardan Badalian
Jan 4 2024
 4 January 2024

ByArshaluys Barseghyan

Armenia’s Apostolic Church and Public TV are in dispute after the head of the church’s New Year’s Eve speech was not broadcast for the first time in Armenia’s post-independence history, amidst a souring in relations between the church and the government. 

In previous years, the public broadcaster has aired a speech by the Catholicos, the head of the Armenian church, shortly before midnight on New Year’s Eve. 

A statement released by the Mother See, the Church’s governing body, on the evening of 31 December alleged that the public broadcaster had ‘at the last minute’ and ‘without any reason’ informed them that the message would not be broadcast. 

‘Instead, it was proposed to present the address of the Patriarch of All Armenians during the evening edition of the news, which was judged to be inappropriate by the Mother See and accordingly rejected,’ said the statement. It added that any other explanations of the event were ‘fabrications’. 

The statement came after government-affiliated media shared claims by an Armenian pro-government blogger that the church’s Catholicos Karekin II had given an ultimatum that his speech be broadcast at midnight or not be aired at all. 

The Council of the Public Broadcaster, the body overseeing Public TV and Public Radio, issued a response on Wednesday evening, claiming that the church had withdrawn their approval on New Year’s Eve. 

It stated that the speech had been scheduled for broadcasting ‘at the time set aside for official addresses this year’, but following the speech of Armenia’s President, rather than prior to the Prime Minister’s speech as had previously been the case. 

It added that a representative of the church had on 31 December voiced the institution’s disagreement with the scheduled timing, and ‘demanded not to broadcast or use the video recording of the Catholicos’ message, whose copyright belongs to the Mother See’. 

The statement also noted that the request had only related to Public TV, meaning that the message was still broadcast on Shogakat, a religious and cultural TV channel, and Public Radio. 

It also suggested that, while there was no legislative regulation regarding the broadcasting of New Year’s messages in Armenia, the issue be settled ‘legislatively’ in light of the public response. 

The news received wide public attention, with many condemning either the broadcaster or the head of the church on social media. 

Some noted that, while the issue was not legislatively enshrined, the order in which the speeches were presented was a tradition that the public broadcaster had disrupted. 

‘Two things are important to me: a) disregarding tradition, b) and most importantly, drawing new dividing lines between Armenia’s political authorities and the Mother See,’ wrote journalist Tatul Hakobyan. 

Relations between the government and the church’s leadership have deteriorated since a change of power took place following Armenia’s Velvet Revolution in 2018. 

The antipathy became more open in the aftermath of the defeat of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020, when the head of the church joined calls for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation.

In April 2023, the Catholicos reaffirmed his call for Pashinyan to resign, prompting the Prime Minister to state that  ‘if the church wants to carry out political activities, Armenia is a democratic country’.

‘Nothing prevents them from creating a party and carrying out political activities within the framework of that party, which will be more honest, and they will be on the same level in front of the voters and with other political rivals.’

The church also condemned the ‘dangerous and unacceptable positions adopted by the authorities’ in May 2023, following Pashinyan’s statement that Armenia was ready to recognise Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. 

Despite criticism from the church, the government removed The History of the Armenian Church as a standalone subject from the public school curriculum in April 2023.


Most Ethnic Armenians Have Left Nagorno-Karabakh As Azerbaijan Retakes Control

Aram Torosian
Jan 4 2024
  • Callie Yoo
  • January 4, 2024

On September 30th, 2023 the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported that more than 100,000 people have now fled to Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh, which had a population of around 120,000 before the Baku government of Azerbaijan launched the successful lightning offensive on the region, according to Sky News. A total of 21,043 vehicles have crossed the Hakari bridge, which links Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh, according to Nazeli Baghdasaryan, the press secretary to Armenia’s prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, reported by The Guardian News. The region’s separatist ethnic Armenian government claimed on Thursday that “it would dissolve itself by the end of the year after a three-decade bid for independence,” The Guardian News reported. 

Pashinyan claims the large-scale migration amounts to “a direct act of an ethnic cleansing,” according to Sky News. Armenia’s ambassador-at-large, Edmon Marukyan, also criticized and claimed that these people were “ethnically cleansed from their ancestral homeland, from their homes where their parents, where their ancestors were living, and these people were totally cleansed from this territory,” the BBC reported. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan expressed the desire to integrate the ethnic Armenians in the region as “equal citizens” and dismissed allegations of ethnic cleansing raised by Armenia, BBC reported. Furthermore, Azerbaijan argued that the departure of the region’s residents is “their personal and individual decision and has nothing to do with forced relocation,” Sky News reported. Marukyan dismissed Azerbaijan’s assurances and claims as “a lie,” according to the BBC. 

This issue is historically and geopolitically complicated. It does not only involve the Armenian and Azerbaijan governments, as the conflicts between the two governments involve the Soviet Union and Turkey as well. Therefore, it is crucial to analyze the causes and the problems of regional tensions to improve the situation, as the issue is not unidimensional but multi-dimensional. In the end, civilians suffer from such conflicts, like the incidents which have caused migrations of ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. Therefore, such issues should be resolved from the core of the problem.

Modern-day Armenia and Azerbaijan became part of the Soviet Union in the 1920s. Nagorno-Karabakh was controlled by Azerbaijan but had a majority ethnic-Armenian population, according to the BBC. When both countries gained independence from the Soviet Union in the late 1980s, Azerbaijan sought to suppress the separatist movement in Nagorno-Kabakh, as the region wanted to become part of Armenia. This led to ethnic clashes and eventually to a full-scale war. There was another clash in 1992, but Russia intervened, and a ceasefire was agreed upon in 1994. Although Nagorno-Karabakh remained part of Azerbaijan, it had a separatist “government” run by ethnic Armenians and backed by the Armenian government. The region is still volatile, and Azerbaijan won back much of the territory. By the time both sides agreed to sign a Russian-brokered peace deal in November 2020, Azerbaijan had recaptured all the land Nagorno-Karabakh held by Armenia since 1994, the BBC reported. Azerbaijan is supported by Turkey while Russia supports Armenia. 

The Guardian News claims that “the departure of more than 80% of Nagorno-Karabakh’s population raises questions about Azerbaijan’s plans for the enclave that was internationally recognized as part of its territory”. However, this is not a simple issue that only requires examining the Azerbaijan government and its actions. The issue necessitates understanding the broad geopolitical scope to determine the roots of problems. If not, incidents like the recent migration will constantly repeat and threaten the human rights of civilians. 


Honoring the works of Tigran & Zabel Yesayan: The couple’s first ever joint exhibition

Boris Nahapetian
January 3, 2024 Hena Aposhian Culture 0

On November 15, the exhibition “Three Cities: Constantinople, Paris, Yerevan. Tigran and Zabel Yesayan” was unveiled to the public in Yerevan, Armenia at the Gevorg Grigorian (Giotto) Studio-Museum. The exhibition offers insights into the unseen parts of the couple’s lives, including the artworks of Tigran Yesayan, which are being exhibited to the public for the second time in 100 years.

Having lived and worked in both Constantinople and Paris in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Tigran and Zabel Yesayan had an immense impact on Armenian culture and artistry. As a student of Académie Julian, Tigran made sculptures and paintings while also writing different types of articles. Zabel, for her part, was a highly respected figure in Paris. She studied literature and philosophy at the Sorbonne University and Collège de France, and published works in both French and Armenian periodicals. After her husband’s death, Zabel took her children and moved to Yerevan in 1933. As outlined by the two curators Arpine Saribekyan and Haykuhi Sahakyan, “Yerevan became the last place of refuge for the art and literary heritage of the Yesayan spouses.”

Through this exhibition, the creative legacy of the Yesayans is being presented to the general public. Saribekyan and Sahakyan conducted in-depth scientific research at the National Archives of Armenia, the storage and manuscript departments of the National Gallery of Armenia, the Yeghishe Charents Museum of Literature and Arts, the National Library of Armenia and Nubarian Library in Paris.

One of the walls of the exhibit on the second floor of the Gevorg Grigorian (Giotto) Studio-Museum

Upon entering the second floor of the museum, where the exhibition is displayed, the visitor is presented with two walls that recount the life stories of both figures. “This was helpful for visitors who were not very familiar with the small details of their lives. It gives a deeper understanding of who they were and why people should care that their works are presented here,” one of the visitors of the exhibition said. 

“The initial goal was to showcase Tigran’s works while shedding light on Zabel, as she was the one who gifted his works to the National Gallery when she came to Armenia from Paris in 1933,” Saribekyan explained. 

In 1935, Zabel executed the first and only personal exhibition of her late husband’s works at the State Museum of Fine Arts of Armenia (now the National Gallery of Armenia), where more than 150 of his works were exhibited. The exhibit shows Tigran’s works to the Armenian public along with Zabel’s influential literary works and portrays them together as a powerful Western Armenian couple.

One of the main goals of the exhibition was to bring recognition and showcase Tigran as an artist. Besides that one exhibition that was held in 1935, Tigran’s works have not received much attention, until now. “I felt a sense of longing. His paintings made me miss a place I’d never seen with my own eyes, places I have only been able to imagine through art like this,” another visitor explained while reflecting on Tigran’s works.

As a renowned literary and political figure, Zabel Yesayan is recognized by all Armenians worldwide. However, many people do not know about her domestic life, one of the elements that this exhibition highlights. By showcasing a handmade bag, embroidery work, letters to her children and more, the exhibition “presents Zabel as a woman, a wife, a mother and not only a literary figure,” the curators explained.

It showcases Zabel as a resilient and hardworking woman, not just in the public sphere, but also domestic. “Through her various works, Zabel was a caregiver to her family and her country,” Saribekyan said.

Zabel Yesayan’s court case

While the artworks and handmade pieces carry significant emotional worth, one of the most important pieces in the exhibition is the court case piece from the National Archives of Armenia. It is the only piece that represents how Zabel’s journey ended in Yerevan, Armenia. 

The exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of the couple’s path through Constantinople, Paris and Yerevan. As the idea for the exhibition was centered around these three cities, the curators went back and forth on ways to showcase Zabel’s last years in Yerevan. After further research, they came across Zabel’s court case, which includes the court’s testimony before she received her verdict. This is the first time this piece is being shown in public. 

The exhibition is a classical homage to the influential couple. It gives people the opportunity to see Zabel Yesayan and her husband’s works exhibited and to form a deeper connection with the couple. It takes visitors back in time and immerses them in the experiences and emotions that the couple shared through artworks, letters, pictures and more. Such exhibitions carry on the legacies of influential Armenian figures and ensure that the current and future generations interact with Western Armenia.

The exhibition will be open for visitors until the end of March.

Some of the couple’s belongings, including notebooks, letters and pictures

  •  Bio
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Hena Aposhian is a freelance journalist who primarily focuses on Armenian arts & culture. She is a graduate of the American University of Armenia and holds a bachelor's degree in English & Communications.


Armenian Kids Club is making language learning more accessible

Suren Karakhanian
January 2, 2024 Talar Keoseyan Diaspora, Culture 3

“You are as many languages as you know.” – Armenian proverb

As a nation, Armenians know how important it is to speak as many languages as possible. It’s vital for survival in the Diaspora as well as in the homeland. Languages open horizons and create bridges between cultures. Yet Armenians have somewhat neglected our own precious Armenian. Many Diasporans have little access to the Armenian language. Armenian Kids Club, the brainchild of Armine Juraghatspanyan and her husband, is an exciting way to motivate kids as well as adults to learn Armenian.

Armine Juraghatspanyan

Juraghatspanyan is a firecracker, known for her inspiration and kindness. She’s a fierce Armenian mom on a mission to change the narrative of giving all children access to the Armenian language. She is the mother of three amazing kids, a daughter, a friend, an educator and a wife to a devoted husband with whom she co-founded Armenian Kids Club.

Juraghatspanyan immigrated to the United States from Soviet Armenia at age six, learning the basics of Armenian from her mother. “My first true attempt at learning about Armenian history and the language was with a minor in Armenian studies at CSUN,” she said. “When my daughter was born in 2010, I struggled to find adequate resources to teach her Armenian. I started to think that someone should print books with bigger fonts, brighter pictures and more relatable stories. I realized I could do it, so I started asking questions, researching and creating a few coloring books, an alphabet book, flashcards and an animated alphabet short.”

“I dabbled for a while, until the 2016 Four Day War. This event catalyzed my mission to serve my community and help build a connection between those in the diaspora and Armenia. I recognized the vital role of education in preserving our Armenian heritage. This inspired me to make learning our language more accessible globally, leading me to establish the Armenian Kids Club,” she continued.

After the start of the pandemic in 2020, she provided free worksheets for teachers and families that were used globally. She received positive feedback and gratitude, as people from Australia, Argentina, Canada and Germany reached out to ask for additional resources. “I have spoken with dozens and dozens of parents and educators who say they rely on the books and resources we create,” Juraghatspanyan said.

Armenian Kids Club not only helps children in the Diaspora learn Armenian but is also building sustainable employment opportunities in Armenia, including for teachers, artists, editors and translators. “In the next five years, I envision leveraging advanced technology to enhance the accessibility and ease of learning Armenian. We aim to unite Armenians worldwide by ensuring the next generation can speak, read and write in Armenian!” she shared.

Juraghatspanyan ventured into this business accidentally. “I advise anyone interested in creating a business to read extensively, seek mentorship and have a clear idea. It’s also important to remain open to exploring new ideas, as it can take years for a concept to evolve into a viable business,” she said.

Juraghatspanyan is determined to prove that a business focusing on Armenian literacy and education is viable, even with the market size and demand. She believes in the power of our people and community. “Despite all of the obstacles we have faced, we will emerge from the ashes and the future will be ours,” she said.

Armenian Kids Club resources are available at https://armeniankidsclub.com/.

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Talar Keoseyan is a mother, educator and writer. Talar’s books "Mom and Dad, Why Do I Need to Know My Armenian Heritage?", "Tigran’s Song and "Our Tigran" are available on Amazon. She has been an educator for 26 years and resides in Los Angeles, CA. She can be reached at .
https://armenianweekly.com/2024/01/02/armenian-kids-club-is-making-language-learning-more-accessible/?fbclid=IwAR1EZeWIRANJC_I1K92V_Z7Ib3dDvgwL4zmvNdRzIRWb2bebC-mKyraVS-E

In Memory of Norik Y. Astvatsaturov

Antranik Varosian
January 2, 2024 Guest Contributor Obituaries 0

Norik Y. Astvatsaturov

Norik Yegishevich Astvatsaturov passed away peacefully at the age of 76 in Wahpeton, North Dakota on December 30, 2023, at 5:45 am from a long battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family. His last words on this earth were, “I’m not afraid.”

A celebration of Norik’s life will be held at Evergreen United Methodist Church on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., at 1120 Evergreen Court Wahpeton, North Dakota with visitation starting at 9:30 a.m. A funeral service for Norik will be held in Yerevan, Armenia later in the spring.

Everyone who met Norik knew him as he was—soul of the party, jokester, teaser, family toastmaster, Armenian barbecue aficionado, U.S. and Armenia’s national treasure, jaw-droppingly talented award-winning artist, grandchildren’s giggle-instigator and the best advice and hug-giver in the world. He loved sitting outside at the lake, carving wood and creating beauty all around him. Norik was never without candy in his pocket and a newsboy hat on his head. He loved keeping in touch with family spread around the world and maintained a network for decades, ensuring that his children had a connection to family in Armenia. Norik loved a good, loud laugh, good quality tools and a big dinner party. Above all else, he spent his life dedicated to his children and his grandchildren, who he was so proud of. He was a strong, simple, yet such a complicated man, and the world is so much dimmer without him.

Norik was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, former USSR, on December 22, 1947, to his parents Yegishe and Tamara, the oldest of three. From an early age, Norik loved visual art and expressed himself through wood carving and drawing. After returning from compulsory Soviet military service in 1968, he became an apprentice to a metal repoussé artist in Baku, soon becoming a master himself. The metal art he produced, although rooted in traditional and often religious Armenian art history, was mostly based in commercial and Soviet themes. Even under the fear of prosecution, Norik produced customary and traditional decorative metal items such as crosses, family Bible covers and wedding jewelry boxes with precious and semi-precious metals and stones.

During his time as a master in Baku, Norik met Irina Adamyan, and they married in 1977. Norik and Irina had two children: Anna born in 1978 and Mikhail born in 1984. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Soviet Union collapsed, and simmering ethnic hatred toward minority Armenians in Azerbaijan resurfaced. Ethnic violence ensued against Christian Armenians by the predominantly Muslim Azerbaijanis that echoed the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and massacres of Armenians of 1918, which his family survived over and over again. Norik and his family fled Baku in 1989, settling in blockaded, cold and hungry Armenia for three years, trying to survive.

Norik worked as a machinist in a crystal factory, under extreme conditions and stress. There was no food or electricity during the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan and not many prospects for the future. The family took a chance at a better life and applied for refugee status, and after 2.5 years were settled in Wahpeton, North Dakota in 1992. While they were forced to leave most of their possessions behind, Norik brought his art tools: his hammer and nail punches. He said, “A good artist is one who can carry all the tools he needs in his pocket.”

To support his family, Norik worked as a machinist in Wahpeton at the Primewood factory for two decades, while also continuing his art, making items cherished by the Armenian Diaspora in the United States. His work is known not only for extraordinary technique with simple tools but for the meaning and feeling he infuses into his art. He once said, “Technique without meaning is lifeless.”

During his life, Norik demonstrated love and deep respect for his adoptive United States and instilled the same in his children toward their ancestral homeland of Armenia. He worked tirelessly to teach and share his Armenian art and its message with Americans and the Armenian diaspora nationally and internationally. He taught, gave workshops, presented at festivals and universities, exhibited and was a recipient of fellowships from the North Dakota Council on the Arts, the Fund for Folk Culture, the Bush Foundation and the prestigious U.S. National Endowment for the Arts “National Heritage Fellowship.” In 2017, Norik was awarded an “Arshile Gorky” medal from the President of Armenia that recognizes achievement in the arts within the Armenian Diaspora.

Norik is preceded in death by his parents, Yegishe and Tamara Astvatsaturov. He is survived by his wife, Irina Astvatsaturova; his daughter, Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte, her husband John Turcotte and their children Armen and Evangeline of Westbrook, Maine; his son, Mikhail Astvatsaturov, his wife, Cassandra Astvatsaturova and their children Nicholai, Alexander, Artem and Ruben of Williston, North Dakota; and his sister Nora and brother Novik and his family, both of Boston, Massachusetts.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Norik’s favorite charitable organization Anna Astvatsaturian Foundation at www.astvatsaturian.org to support Armenian children and indicate “for Norik” in your donations.




Cheerful giving: AMAA NY/NJ orphan and child care fundraiser for displaced families of Artsakh

Jirair Kafian
January 2, 2024 Armenian Missionary Association of America Nonprofit News 0

By Gilda Buchakjian Kupelian 

PARAMUS, N.J.—As we celebrated the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and in the spirit of charity, a fundraiser was organized by the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) NY/NJ Orphan and Child Care Committee to raise critical funds for the displaced families of Artsakh. The AMAA continues to advance its mission to support these families to restore their normal lives and meet their long-term needs. A private, curated museum tour of the exhibited artwork of Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat on December 13, 2023, at the Brant Foundation in New York City, added a touch of cheer to the attending generous givers.

Art enthusiasts, old and reconnecting friends and new acquaintances, many traveling by a chartered bus from the Armenian Presbyterian Church in Paramus, New Jersey, gathered at the Brant Foundation to view the unprecedented, private exhibition of the collaborative art of Warhol and Basquiat, led by Contemporary Art Advisor Aileen Agopian and The Brant Foundation’s Docent Mario Fasani. Agopian’s authoritative input about Warhol and Basquiat and their impact on contemporary art informed guests and enhanced their appreciation of the two icons.

AMAA fundraiser at the Brant Foundation in New York City

Fasani spoke in detail about Warhol’s emphasis on consumerism, his celebration of pop culture and his elevation of everyday items like lemons, apples, soda bottles and soup cans. He noted that Warhol painted mundane items to depersonalize himself from his art. Fasani also spoke about Haitian American, Brooklyn-born artist Basquiat’s expressionism and highlighted his extraordinary collaboration with Warhol, their use of the same canvas at times and ‘reforestation of each other’s art,’ as shown in this special exhibit. The artists used mediums such as silk screen ink, acrylic, synthetic polymer paint, watercolor and oil stick on linen, canvas, wood panels and even on punching bags.

After being treated to an exceptional experience, guests had the opportunity to pose questions and be privy to Fasani and Agopian’s expert elucidation. According to the Brant Foundation, the “Basquiat x Warhol, is an exhibition of works from the artists’ influential collaboration in the early eighties. Curated by Dr. Dieter Buchhart and Peter M. Brant in collaboration with Dr. Anna Karina Hofbauer, this is the first time this iconic collaboration has been the subject of a major New York exhibition in over twenty-five years.” Peter Brant is one of the most important collectors in New York. He started collecting contemporary art at 19, focusing on young emerging artists upon the recommendation of eminent art dealer since the 1960s Leo Castelli.

AMAA fundraiser at the Brant Foundation in New York City

Those in attendance included members from the NY/NJ evangelical community as well as the NY/ NJ Armenian Relief Society (ARS), the Tekeyan Cultural Association, the ADL, the Daughters of Vartan, the Diocese, the Prelacy and guests from California, Colorado and Chicago. After the tour, the attendees gathered at the Yara Lebanese restaurant in New York City in a convivial atmosphere of fellowship. The festive dinner of Middle Eastern delicacies was preceded by a thoughtful prayer filled with expressions of gratitude by Jennifer Telfeyan-LaRoe.

True to her magnanimous nature, Vicki Hovanessian spoke of the impetus for the event and had a kind word to say about each guest. The attendees echoed co-chair Seta Nalbandian’s remarks about chairlady Hovanessian’s phenomenal contributions and myriad accomplishments amid further testimonials and appreciative applause. An impromptu birthday celebration for committee member Dr. Celeste Telfeyan Helvacian was a much-appreciated gesture before everyone departed the venue with hearts filled with the spirit of giving and a sense of benevolence.

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The Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) was founded in 1918, in Worcester, MA, and incorporated as a non-profit charitable organization in 1920 in the State of New York. We are a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Our purpose is to serve the physical and spiritual needs of people everywhere, both at home and overseas. To fulfill this worldwide mission, we maintain a range of educational, evangelistic, relief, social service, church and child care ministries in 24 countries around the world.


AW: Growing hope: Transforming lives in Armenia’s border villages with fruit trees

Parkev Tvankchian
January 2, 2024 Armenia Tree Project Non-Profit 0

ATP distributes fruit trees to villagers in Khot Village, Syunik Region

Armenia Tree Project (ATP) orchestrated a remarkable initiative in the fall that not only distributed 10,982 fruit trees to over 1,200 families, but also sowed the seeds of hope in border villages of the Gegharkunik and Syunik regions. This heartwarming endeavor, which spanned communities like Sotk, Areguni, Pambak, Daranak, Akner, Khot, Karahunj, Hartashen and Shurnukh, has unfolded into a tale of resilience and rejuvenation for the residents of these villages.

Residents, whose lives have been marred by the echoes of Azeri UAV attacks and the devastating bombings that rocked Sotk in September 2022, were overjoyed to receive these life-changing gifts. The distribution of apricot, black currant, apple, pear, plum, peach and cherry trees brought not just big smiles, but tangible hope to these brave individuals, leaving them with bushels of saplings that signify a promising future.

Sotk, a village that has borne the brunt of conflict, is emblematic of the challenges faced by these border communities. In the aftermath of the repeated bombings, when 150 of the 250 houses were severely damaged, ATP stepped in with a vision for growth and restoration. Sevak Khachatryan, the administrative head of Sotk, expressed the profound impact of ATP’s intervention, stating, “Artsakh played a vital role in Gegharkunik’s cultural identity and economy, including imports and exports of agricultural goods. Before the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, our village and the region of Gegharkunik had developed lively trade with Artsakh, exporting wheat, potato and barley and importing fruits and nuts. Since we don’t have this opportunity anymore, we are trying to grow some of the formerly imported foods.”  

ATP’s distribution of seven trees each, including apple, pear and black currant, to over 150 families in Sotk is not just a gesture of generosity but a lifeline for a community heavily dependent on agriculture for sustenance and economic stability. These trees, carefully chosen for the climatic zone of Gegharkunik, represent a beacon of hope, promising nourishment and economic opportunities within just a couple of years.

With proper care, the trees will start to bear fruit in as little as two years. The villagers are eagerly anticipating establishing new orchards with the trees. Once they mature, the trees can also act as donor or parent trees to graft additional fruit trees. This way, villagers will be able to propagate more trees for their orchards and backyards in the years to come. 

As climate change brings warmer temperatures to the region, however, ATP and the villagers work together to adapt. “The only positive thing that we can harvest from this global warming is to grow varieties of fruit trees that before would be impossible in Gegharkunik,” Khachatryan remarked. “So, as our collaboration with Armenia Tree Project continues, we would like to try growing apricots, peaches, plums and cherries as well.” 

Since its inception in 1994, ATP has been instrumental in providing fruit and nut tree saplings to rural villagers, offering sustenance, additional income and a green revolution that encourages biodiversity. In 2006, the fruit tree distribution program began focusing on border villages, as these communities are the most vulnerable to environmental, economic and social distress.

The program is beloved by ATP staff and beneficiaries alike. The trees for the program come from our “Betty” fruit tree nursery in the Chiva village, located in the Vayotz Dzor region. The nursery has been a cornerstone of this effort, producing roughly 50,000 trees annually, the majority of which are fruit trees that are distributed to villages and used for community planting sites.

As ATP looks ahead, the organization aims to enhance its impact by providing a greater quantity and diversity of trees to rural and border villages in the coming years. This program captures resilience, growth and hope, which stand as testaments to the transformative power of community-led initiatives.

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Armenia Tree Project (ATP) is a non-profit program based in Woburn and Yerevan conducting vitally important environmental projects in Armenia's cities and villages and seeks support in advancing its reforestation mission. Since 1994, ATP has planted and restored more than 6,000,000 trees, and hundreds of jobs have been created for Armenians in seasonal tree-related programs.


RFE/RL Armenian Service – 01/03/2024

Tambiyan Samvel 
                                        Wednesday, January 3, 2024


Armenia Also Affected By Climate Change


Armenia - A view of the Azat reservoir, January 29, 2022.


Water levels in Armenia’s irrigation reservoirs vital for domestic agriculture 
fell significantly in 2023 amid record high temperatures reflecting global 
climate change, according to weather officials.

Much of the water stored there comes from rivers fed by snowmelt in surrounding 
mountains. The amount of snowfall in the country has steadily decreased in the 
past decade due to warming weather, said Levon Azizian, the head of the Armenian 
government’s Center for Hydrometeorology and Monitoring.

“Less snow is now accumulated in mountainous regions,” Azizian told a yearend 
news conference in Yerevan. “In some mountainous regions, precipitation takes 
the form of rain.”

Azizian referred to parts of the country situated at 1,700 meters above the sea 
level and higher. “We should have had snow cover there today, but we don't,” he 
said, adding that this is having a “negative impact on our water resources.”

Azizian’s deputy Gagik Surenian pointed out that winters in Armenia have been 
“anomalously warm” since 2017 and that last month was the warmest December on 
record.

“Air temperature has been 2-3 degrees [Celsius] above normal,” said Surenian. 
“In December this year, it was 5-6 degrees above normal.”

In his words, the South Caucasus country is not only being affected by climate 
change but is going through a cycle of warmer-than-usual weather which typically 
lasts for seven or eight years.

Armenia -- An irrigation canal in the southern Armavir region.
“As of now, we have not registered any dangerous indicators that could affect 
our agriculture,” said Surenian.

The official argued that higher temperatures make up for the lack of snow that 
protects winter wheat against frost. But he noted that they also increase the 
risk of hailstorms that regularly destroy apricots and other major summer crops.

The agricultural sector could be hit much harder by a lack of irrigation water. 
The artificial reservoirs mostly built in Soviet times irrigate a large part of 
Armenia’s arable land.

Azizian said that their water level fell by an average of about 35 percent in 
the course of 2023, forcing authorities to take more water from Lake Sevan, the 
country’s largest natural reservoir critical for its ecosystem. The vast lake’s 
own level fell by 11 centimeters as a result, added the official.

The Hrazdan river flowing out of Sevan has for decades supplied irrigation water 
to the fruit-growing Ararat Valley south and west of Yerevan through a network 
of Soviet-era canals. This was a key reason for the lake’s drastic shrinkage 
that had begun in the 1950s and was partly reversed in the 2000s.



Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
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