Rep. Adam Schiff with Ardy Kassakhian

Congressman Says Kassakhian Has the Experience and Knowledge to Lead Glendale

GLENDALE — Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), announced his endorsement of Glendale City Councilmember Ardy Kassakhian for City Council in the upcoming March 5, 2024 Election. Congressman Schiff has represented Glendale in Congress since his election in 2000.

“Ardy’s commitment to Glendale and his passion for public service is exemplary,” stated Congressman Schiff in a written statement. “His experience, knowledge of issues, and willingness to listen and lead with compassion have helped him be an effective leader and make Glendale a great city. I am proud to endorse Ardy Kassakhian for Glendale City Council and urge Glendale voters to elect Ardy on March 5, 2024.”

“I am honored to have the endorsement of Congressman Adam Schiff and his vote of confidence. He is one of our nation’s great leaders and someone who exemplifies the highest standard of sacrifice, integrity, and public service,” said Kassakhian. “Over the course of his service, Congressman Schiff has helped secure hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of our police DNA crime lab and has helped secure funding for important initiatives and projects that directly benefit our residents.” 

Congressman Adam Schiff’s endorsement adds to the growing list of elected officials who have endorsed Ardy Kassakhian’s bid for Glendale City Council.

Kassakhian grew up in Glendale after his family moved here in 1985. He attended public Glendale public schools and graduated from Glendale High School. He was first elected Glendale City Clerk in 2005 and was reelected four times before running for City Council in 2020. He served as Mayor of Glendale from 2022-2023 and as Chair of the Glendale Housing Authority.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Chairman of the California State New Motor Vehicle Board. Kassakhian graduated from UCLA (BA) and Northwestern University (MPPA) and the Executive Program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He currently is an adjunct faculty member at Glendale Community College teaching political science and government. He lives with his wife Courtney and their young son in the Pelanconi neighborhood of Glendale.

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan meets with NATO's Caucasus representative Javier Colomina in Brussels on Feb. 14

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Wednesday met with NATO’s Special Representative to the Caucasus Javier Colomina in Brussels and discussed further cooperation between Yerevan and the U.S.-led security bloc.

According to Armenia’s foreign ministry, Mirzoyan reiterated Armenia’s vision for overcoming existing challenges, based on well-known principles. The efforts aimed at further enhancing the Armenia-NATO partnership were touched upon.”

The two also touched on regional developments and attempts to destabilize the situation, presumably following Azerbaijan’s attack on Syunik on Tuesday, during which four Armenian soldiers were killed and another was wounded.

Last month Colomina praised Armenia’s partnership with NATO, angering Russia, which quickly said NATO and the West could not be trusted.

After Colomina’s praise of Armenia, in an interview with Armenpress late last month, Moscow warned Yerevan that its recent efforts to forge close relations with NATO and the West might not yield the desired results, saying history has shown that those seeking rapprochement with NATO risk losing their sovereignty and independence.

“We are very encouraged by the decisions that Armenia has decided to take in their foreign policy and defense policy, the shift they have decided to implement,” Colomina told Armenpress.

He also said that Armenia’s decision to become closer with NATO “is difficult to implement and will probably take a long time, but, of course, we encourage our partners to get closer to us, and that is what Armenia is doing.”

Moscow was quick to respond, underscoring that NATO and the United States are not trustworthy allies and said historically those nations that have forged alliances with them have wound up on the losing side, given that “in the last 30 to 40 years” NATO and the U.S. have not fulfilled their promises to their allied nations.

During his inauguration on Feb. 14, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan again made threats against Armenia

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s office on Wednesday accused Baku of deliberately derailing the peace process and “deepening enmity in the region,” after President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan added to the chorus of threats against Armenia from his government officials.

During his inauguration address on Wednesday Aliyev said that there will be no peace treaty if Armenia does not change its laws, ramping up his recent demands for Armenia to change its Constitution because it makes references to Artsakh.

“If territorial claims [by Armenia] against us are not abandoned, if Armenia does not bring its laws into order, of course, there will be no peace treaty,” Aliyev said after he was sworn in as president, a position he has held since 2003.

The Azerbaijani leader made the threat against Armenia a day after his country’s forces attacked the Nerkin Hand region of the Syunik Province killing four soldiers and injuring another.

“Armenia seems to have forgotten the results of the Second Karabakh War [in 2020],” Aliyev continued.

“We have no claim to the territory of Armenia, but they should also give up their claims. Speaking with us in the language of groundless claims and blackmail will cost them dearly, and probably everyone can see that,” Aliyev threatened.

According to Azerbaijan’s legislation, as well as Aliyev’s own assertions, the entire territory of Armenia is “historical Azerbaijani lands.”

Pashinyan’s press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan accused Azerbaijan of continuing to spread enmity and hatred in the region, which, she said threatened the stability.

“The laws of the Republic of Armenia are an internal matter of the Republic of Armenia, and no external force has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of our country,” Baghdasaryan said.

“As for territorial claims, Armenia is committed to the agreements reached with Azerbaijan on international platforms to recognize each other’s territorial integrity on the basis of the Alma-Ata Declaration, to conduct the demarcation and delimitation of the borders between the two countries based on the Alma-Ata Declaration, to open the regional communications on the basis of the sovereignty, jurisdiction, the principles of equality and reciprocity,” added Baghdasaryan.

Just last week, Pashinyan pushed forward with his agenda to change Armenia’s Constitution, saying that it would be impossible to achieve peace in the region if Armenia remained guided by its Declaration of Independence, which calls for the reunification of Armenia and Artsakh.

“Azerbaijan regularly violates these agreements by persisting in aggressive rhetoric, using force and the threat of force, that contradict the written agreements reached at international platforms. Additionally, Azerbaijan continues to occupy 31 vital territories belonging to the Republic of Armenia. All this shows that Azerbaijan continues the strategy of deepening enmity in the region, which is a continuous threat of destabilization,” Baghdasaryan, Pashinyan’s spokesperson, added.

“Armenia will continue its efforts to establish peace and again offers Azerbaijan the withdrawal of troops, based on the 1991 border line, which will be a cornerstone step for stability and mutual trust in the region. As for the peace treaty, there is an already agreed-upon point in the draft being negotiated between Armenia and Azerbaijan, according to which the parties cannot refer to their legislation to refuse to fulfill any provision of the peace treaty,” said Baghdasaryan.

“We repeat: Armenia and Azerbaijan have already reached an agreement on this point, and the statements from official Baku contradict this agreement as well,” the prime minister’s spokesperson declared.

The St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church of the Desert in Palm Desert, California

BY CATHERINE YESAYAN

A few years ago, as we were driving on Monterey thoroughfare in Rancho Mirage towards Palm Desert, my eyes suddenly caught a lonely church standing on the right side of the road surrounded by sand dunes. From its architectural structure, I figured that the lonely church must be Armenian—and indeed it was. I was puzzled to see a pristine Armenian church in the middle of the desert. 

About a month ago, in an Armenian online publication, I read that the St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church of the Desert will be celebrating the 12^th Anniversary of its Consecration on January 14. I thought that would be a good excuse to make plans to visit Palm Springs and, in the meantime, visit the church and get some information to whip up a brief column.

Through the church website, I was able to contact Parish Pastor Deacon Gevork Gevorkian. I informed him that I was planning on visiting the church. 

I asked a friend of mine to accompany me to Rancho Mirage to visit the church, and she was happy to join me. It was around noon when we arrived.

I couldn’t help but notice that the parking lot was quite full. My mind drifted to the “Field of Dream” movie— from which we learned the slogan: “If you build, they will come.” I thought of all the Armenians that would be living in this desert community. Later, I learned that there is an estimated number of around 700 Armenian families in the area.

The weather couldn’t have been any better. The sun was up, and the temperature hovered in the low 70s. A large pathway, lined with mature palm trees, led to the entrance of the church. It was a picture-perfect sight.

As we entered the church, I was surprised to see it was packed with parishioners. There were only a few seats available, and a few people were lined up against the walls.

On that day, Western Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian was invited to lead the Divine Liturgy. The service lasted much longer than usual, as they ordained David Gevorkian to the holy order of the Diaconate—to become a deacon.

After the liturgy was complete, while I exited the church I saw a table where they were offering coffee and baked goods. There I met Hasmik Barsamian, who had baked all of the sweets. She explained that she was a part of the church’s women’s committee. I also had the chance to chat with a few other people to gather all the information I needed.

Baked goods offered to parishioners after Sunday service at St. Garabed church

Before I go further, I’d like to tell you about the Coachella Valley, which encompasses the Greater Palm Springs area. In 1990s, the Armenian leaders of Rancho Mirage in the Coachella Valley got together and decided to build a church. The plans to build a new church were submitted in 2009 and construction began soon after. Finally, the church was consecrated and anointed on January 7, 2012.

Before the construction of the church, the Armenians of the Palm Desert area, for years, attended church services either by traveling to Los Angeles or San Diego, or renting a dining hall in Rancho Mirage. 

For the last 12 years, the Parish Council of St. Garabed church has been very active within the community—serving as a space for both religious and nonreligious functions. Every year on Veteran’s Day, the church parish organizes the Armenian Cultural Festival. This year, about 3,000 people enjoyed Armenian food, music, dance, and culture. Guests from various surrounding towns, and some even further from Los Angeles and San Diego, often visit the festival. The event has become an annual, popular tradition.

The Kirkjan Family Hall, which is adjacent to St. Garabed Church

A few hundred feet away from the church entrance, there’s the Kirkjan Family Hall where the local community holds different events, such as New Year’s Eve celebrations. On the day of our visit, right after the liturgy, Deacon Gevork Gevorkian invited us to attend the banquet luncheon, held at that Family Hall. However, due to time constraints, we were unable to attend.

The Ladies’ Society members provide coffee and sweets to parishioners during the fellowship hour, which is held after Sunday services. The church also offers Sunday School and Armenian language classes on Saturdays.

Archbishop Derderian has called the St. Garabed Armenian Church a “crowning jewel.” I attest that the Church of the Desert can be one of the most treasured gems of the Western Diocese.

Catherine Yesayan is a regular contributor to Asbarez, with her columns appearing under the “Community Links” heading. She can be reached at [email protected].

The ruins of the 7th century round church in Western Armenia, present-day Turkey

BY CATHERINE YESAYAN

The very first time I heard about the Hemshin communities in Turkey, it was through a feature film I watched several years ago at the Arpa Film Festival in Los Angeles. 

Years later, I attended a conference where Professor Richard Hovannisian presented a documentary about his group trip to Turkey. During the discussion, he spoke about how they headed north to the Black Sea, into the mountains, in search of the Hemshins. 

Prof. Hovannisian was an Emeritus professor of Armenian and Near Eastern history at the University of California, Los Angeles, and authored more than 20 books before his passing. 

Hemshins, in short, are Muslims living in Turkey who speak an Armenian dialect. History tells us that, around the 8th century, a group of Armenians who lived in Turkey were harassed by Arab authorities who, at the time, had occupied Turkey.

During the same period of time, there was an Armenian prince called “Hamam,” who decided to take his people and move them to the evergreen hills by the Black Sea in order to evade the constant harassment they would endure.

Other Armenian communities also decided to follow their lead, traveling to the shores of the Black Sea and establishing new homes high in the mountains.

The name “Hemshin” comes from combination of two words: The name “Hamam” and the word “Shen,” which in Armenian means to build.

Since the 8th century, until some 70 or 80 years ago, Hemshin people lived kind of isolated in the lush green mountains next to the black sea. An interesting aspect of the community is that they preserved the Armenian language, which over the course of many many centuries evolved into a distinct dialect.

The Hemshin population was forced to convert to Islam when the Ottoman Empire came to power in Turkey. They are known to cultivate tea-leaves on the slopes of the mountains by the Black Sea. While we were traveling in the area, we noticed many tea plantations by the foot of the mountains.

Most of the Hemshin people were unaware of their ancestry and the reason that they could speak another language other than Turkish. Within the last century, through research done by the scholars and the visits by academics to the Hemshin communities, they have realized that they are of Armenian descent.

After watching the feature movie and Prof. Hovannisian’s documentary, I decided I wanted to travel to that part of Turkey and meet the Hemshin community.  

Before I continue to tell you about our trip, I’d like to give you a short history of Armenians in Turkey. 

The Armenians living in today’s Turkey, are the only descendants left of what was once a much larger indigenous community that existed for thousands of years, long before the establishment of the Turkish Sultans.

The history of Armenian kingdoms goes back to 800 B.C. Numerous vestiges, such as ruins of fortresses and monasteries, tell us that Armenian kingdoms stretched in a vast area, from today’s Armenia’s highlands through the East of Turkey, known to Armenians as “Western Armenia.”

Many Armenians, in order to learn about the tragic events that their ancestors experienced, they have traveled to Turkey to learn more about their roots. 

I had the opportunity to travel to Turkey while visiting Armenia a few times. However, I never had the chance to travel to the Hemshin area. 

In May 2023, while I was in Armenia, the Narekavank tour company had arranged a four-day visit to the Hemshin area in Turkey.  I seized the opportunity and joined the group.

On Saturday May 6, 2023 at 6:30 a.m., we met at a designated area to start our trip to Hemshin. We were about 17 people, mostly women and only two men plus the guide and the driver.

Since crossing the border from Armenia to Turkey is not permitted, we had to enter Turkey through the Georgian border. 

It was around noon when we crossed the Georgian border and entered Turkey. Our first stop was at the city of Ardahan, which used to be a stronghold for the Bagratuny kings. There, we visited the 10th century Armenian fortress. After spending a little over half an hour visiting that fortress, we headed to the ruins of an 11th century monastery called “Debet” in the province of Dayk.

Ardahan fortress The snow covered landscape

On the way to the monastery, when we crossed some mountainous villages, I was surprised to see that a fresh layer of snow covered the slopes.

The architecture of the Debet monastery, with its unique very high vaulted ceilings, was extremely impressive. On the side of the ruins, I noticed a heap of excavated clay pipes that brought water to the monastery.  

We left the monastery around sunset and headed to the city of Hopa, which lies by the coast of the Black Sea. Our hotel was situated right across from the Black Sea. After a long day of adventuring, we enjoyed a succulent dinner and then relaxed in our rooms. We got up early in the morning to have breakfast and hit the road again.   

Here, I should add that the city of Hopa is known to have a large population of Hemshins. In addition, our guide said that the owners of that hotel were a Hemshin family. The breakfast was served at a hall with sweeping views of the Black Sea.  

After breakfast, we started the second day of our journey toward the hills, where Hemshins live. Our first stop was to see a waterfall, and then a fortress called “Zil,” built by an Armenian prince.

At around 2 p.m., we arrived at a village where the residents and the shopkeepers were Hemshins. I got separated from the rest of the group and walked into a restaurant where the owners were Hemshin. 

As I entered the two story restaurant, the owner, a handsome middle-aged guy, welcomed me in English. I introduced myself as an Armenian. He said, “I’m Hemshin but I can only say a few words of Armenian. However, my father can speak more.” Then he introduced me to his father and we exchanged a few Armenian words. He also proudly showed me an old, framed family picture from when his father was a young boy. He also told me about his upbringing, and a little bit about his family. Nowadays these Hemshin people are more aware of their ancestry.

After having a delicious meal of fish and salad, I checked their souvenir boutique and purchased a few gifts. I was satisfied that I had a chance to meet a member of the Hemshin community and learn about their lives.

A member of the local Hamshen community who owns a restaurant A picture the Hemshin restaurant owner showed Catherine Yesayan

Afterwards, we drove to the city of Trabzon, an ancient Greek city and the capital of Trabzon Province in Turkey by the Black Sea.

There, our tour guide had arranged for us to visit a small church from the15th century, which at one time was part of a monastery complex. The key to the church was with the family who lived next door. 

It is very rare to see an old church where the frescoes have been preserved. Our tour guide said that we were very fortunate to arrive at the right time to have the key and see the inside of the church.

Early the following morning, before breakfast, we headed to Sumela monastery, which is an extraordinary monastery built at the edge of a sheer cliff 300 meters high in the mountains. The monastery was built by two Greek priests in 350 A.D., during the reign of Theodosius. 

After a short visit of the monastery, we returned to our hotel to have breakfast and continue our trip. Then we visited a historic Greek church, which was converted into a mosque. Afterwards, we started to head back to Armenia. 

We crossed a very interesting and newly built, 14 kilometer tunnel to arrive to the other side of the mountains. I couldn’t tell if I was pleased or baffled to travel through that tunnel and see the colorful lightings along the route. 

The tunnel took us to the ancient Armenian Highlands, which was called “Metz Haik.” Our tour-guide mentioned that there have been gold mines in the area since around the 2nd millennium.

We then we passed through an area where there used to be several Armenian villages. The villages disappeared after reservoirs were made.

We spent a night in the Ardvin Province at Agara Resort, where they farm fish in special ponds. The next morning, after breakfast, we visited a few more sites on the way back to Georgia.

We first visited the Tortum waterfall, which is the tallest and a spectacular site in Turkey. Then we visited a church and later the ruins of a church which was built in the 7th century by the order of a Mamikonian Prince. I should add that the architect of that church and the Zvarnotz Church in Yerevan are the same and both are built in a circle.

I cannot finish this story until I tell you about the many stork nests we spotted while driving back to Armenia. We arrived in Yerevan very late, maybe past midnight.

Catherine Yesayan is a regular contributor to Asbarez, with her columns appearing under the “Community Links” heading. She can be reached at [email protected].