ARMENIAN REPORTER
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April 14, 2007 — From the community section
For photographs, visit
1. Armenians gather in New York to mourn the death of Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian (by Florence Avakian)
2. Ararat Home honors Nora Hampar
* Board of Trustees elects new officers
3. Artsakh Rugs revives an ancient craft (by Maral Habeshian)
4. 23rd annual So Cal Homenetmen athletic tournaments culminate with
championship games (by Maral Habeshian)
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1. Armenians gather in New York to mourn the death of Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian
by Florence Avakian
NEW YORK – A memorial service was held on Thursday, March 29, in New York
City’s St. Vartan Cathedral for Armenia’s late Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian, who died on March 25 at age 55.
The service, presided over by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of
the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern), included a dozen priests
and deacons, and the participation of the St. Vartan Cathedral Choir.
Joining the mourners were Armenia’s ambassador to the U.S. Tatoul
Markarian, and its Ambassador to the United Nations Armen Martirossian.
The Primate stressed that Margarian was one of the "earliest leaders in
Armenia to understand the power of the diaspora, and specifically, the
transformative energy that we provide through organizations such as the
Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR). He shared our mission to provide hope,
opportunity, and empowerment to the individual citizens of Armenia so
that they could build a brighter future themselves. He saw the future of
Armenia coming from educated young people, passionate individuals
empowered with new training, modern tools, and competitive resources."
During the war in Karabakh, Margarian sent military equipment and food,
and participated personally in the struggle, Archbishop Barsamian said.
"He was always at the side of his people despite his own personal pain,
in order to strengthen the lives of his people," he said.
The prime minister was also remembered for the work he did in
strengthening the Armenian Church and its unique bond to the Armenian
nation.
"As a devoted son of the Armenian Church, he understood the powerful
bond that exists between the Armenian nation and her mother church, and
acted accordingly to return to that tradition following the collapse of
the Soviet regime," the Primate said. "He was literate and an
intellectual, but he remained a modest worker for his people."
The Primate said he had sent letters of sympathy on behalf of the
Eastern Diocese to President Robert Kocharian and His Holiness Karekin
II, the Catholicos of All Armenians.
Noting Margarian’s deep political conviction and vision for Armenia’s
future, Ambassador Markarian emphasized the "indelible mark" the prime
minister left on Armenia’s political scene.
"His patriotism, respect for national tradition and the Armenian Church,
devotion to family values, and personal modesty have earned the respect,
admiration, and love of his compatriots," the ambassador said.
As a sign of the people’s respect, the ambassador noted that the prime
minister was laid to rest in Yerevan’s National Pantheon, surrounded by
massive crowds.
"Tens of thousands of Armenians braved the inclement weather to pay
their love and respect to the late leader," the ambassador said. "His
legacy will live on as Armenia becomes stronger economically and
politically. His personal integrity and great political accomplishments
guarantee him a place in the modern history of Armenia."
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2. Ararat Home honors Nora Hampar
* Board of Trustees elects new officers
MISSION HILLS, Calif. – Nora Hampar was honored with a special plaque for
her many years of dedicated service to the Ararat Home of Los Angeles as
vice-chair of the Board of Trustees. Immediate past chair John Yaldezian
praised Mrs. Hampar’s work in chairing annual banquets, designing the
beautiful decor at the home’s Mission Hills facility, and heading the
committee in charge of the Deukmejian Ballroom’s reservations and usage.
The board also elected officers for the coming year. Armen Hampar was
elected chair. Mr. Yaldezian and Harold Mgrublian will serve as
vice-chairs, John Casparian as treasurer, Steve Surmeian as secretary,
Dr. Gary Lulejian as assistant treasurer, and Linda Berberian, Esq., as
assistant secretary.
Because members of the same family may not serve the Board of Trustees
at the same time, Mrs. Hampar stepped down, allowing her husband Armen
Hampar to rejoin the board.
These volunteers, with the additional service and support of the entire
Board of Trustees oversee the operations of the Ararat Home through its
chief executive officer, Walter Hekimian, Jr. The facilities include
those at Mission Hills, the skilled nursing and residential care
facilities accommodating over 250 patients and residents, and a 42-bed
nursing home in Eagle Rock. Additionally, the Ararat-Eskigian Museum
and Chapel and the George Deukmejian Grand Ballroom operate on the same
campus.
Ararat Home of Los Angeles is a nonpolitical, nondenominational and
nonprofit organization founded in 1949 for the care of the Armenian
elderly. For further information, visit
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3. Artsakh Rugs revives an ancient craft
by Maral Habeshian
GLENDALE, Calif. – The distinct design, lush pile and vibrant color of
rugs from Nagorno-Karabakh brightened up Saint Mary’s Church in Glendale
two weeks ago. Artsakh Rugs was holding an exhibit.
Shushi in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) has been home to one of the more
prominent schools of Armenian carpet-weaving. Armenian traders brought
these carpets to Europe and other parts of the world as early as the
Middle Ages. Exports continued in Soviet times, mainly to Eastern
Europe.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union and war in Artsakh, production
slowed and exports plummeted.
But for the past eight years, Artsakh Rug, has been restoring the
once-thriving industry.
After Karabakh won its independence, the Stepanakert Carpet Factory was
the first establishment to be privatized. It was renamed Artsakh Rug.
Owner Hovig Mahserejian regularly organizes exhibitions to promote the
carpets woven by his workers. "Our goal is to introduce these beautiful
creations to our community and to ultimately sell them," he says. "The
factory employs 50 workers," which means its sales support 50 families
in Artsakh.
The number of employees has doubled since Mr. Mahserejian, who took
ownership of Artsakh Rug in 1999. He has also has increased production
and expanded the physical factory. "We have to create employment
opportunities for the population so that they don’t leave their homeland
for jobs abroad. At the same time, we succeed in preserving our cultural
traditions," he says.
Mr. Mahserejian first went to Artsakh in 1994, immediately after the
cease-fire there. His intent was simply to assist in the country’s
economic development. "It’s not enough to be proud of the local
population who have – with their blood – defeated the enemy in order to
reestablish a homeland," he says emphatically. "We must support the
economy in order to strengthen its freedom and security."
The production of these rugs is not simple task, he explains. First the
wool is imported from Armenia. Because there is no international airport
in Artsakh, the finished rugs are trucked to Armenia, and then exported
to the United States and Canada. Last year was especially though for the
company with a 30 percent decrease in value of the U.S. dollar.
Artsakh Rug designs date back to pre-Christian era; some include
serpent, dragon, and Shirvan designs, and all bear an alphabetical date,
and signature.
Besides area rugs, which vary in size from 3 by 5 to 9 x 12 feet, the
company creates souvenir and limited-edition commemorative carpets, as
well as runners. All, however, remain true to Artshkh’s carpet-weaving
traditions.
"Carpets symbolize power and authority. At one point, only princes and
kings had carpets. It’s the same concept of the red carpet for
high-level officials," says Mr. Mahserejian. He explains that carpets
have consistently been a part of Armenian culture, and points to the
story of Anahid.
"There have always been hidden symbols in our carpets. In that story, a
prince takes up carpet weaving in order to please a peasant girl. When
he is abducted and weaves in these symbols, his mother immediately
recognizes them, and he is saved."
Mr. Mahserejian will be traveling to Artsakh again next week, and hopes
to organize more exhibits for sale throughout the United States in order
to sustain the factory’s activity.
Artsakh Rug carpets are displayed on
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4. 23rd annual So Cal Homenetmen athletic tournaments culminate with
championship games
* Young Armenian athletes show off their individual and team sporting skills
by Maral Habeshian
GLENDALE, Calif. – Closing ceremonies for Homenetmen KAHAM (Interschool)
Games were held in a grand style to celebrate the conclusion of the 23rd
annual event. Established in 1982, the KAHAM Games are a large-scale
tournament organized for Southern California private Armenian schools. The
group behind this impressive undertaking is Homenetmen – specifically its
Western Regional Executive Committee’s Athletic Council.
Participants ranged from the first graders through eighth, with some
high-school level competition in specific sports such as track and
field, table tennis, as well as chess.
Approximately 1,200 students participated in this year’s games, which
kicked off on November 19 with a whopping 30 participants in the chess
tournament, which was added only three years ago to accommodate growing
interest in the sport.
Track and field competitions ran throughout the month of December, along
with the tennis tournament. With the individual-event portion of the
games concluding at the end of 2006, team events kicked in full force in
January with the volleyball tournament, followed by soccer in February.
The competitions culminated with the basketball tournament that ended on
March 18, when the games officially closed with a ceremony at Glendale
Community College, which included a parade of schools and granting of
awards.
Since its inception, the tournament has expanded to include 12 schools
from the greater Los Angeles area, including Ari Guiragos Minassian,
Alex Pilibos, Chamlian, Ferrahian, St. Gregory’s Hovsepian, AGBU
Manougian Demirjian, Mekhitarian, Merdinian, Mesrobian, Sahag Mesrob,
Armenian Sisters Academy, and this year’s addition TCA Arshag
Dickranian.
"As an athlete who participated in the first KAHAM Games, it’s an honor
to be on the organizing committee and see that it has expanded to
include the majority of Armenian schools and still continues to bring
Armenian youth of all backgrounds together in the spirit and competition
and sportsmanship," says Nyree Derderian, the head of Homenetmen’s
Regional Athletic Council that organizes the KAHAM Games.
Besides arranging details and managing the various tournaments that
comprise the four-month-long Games, the Regional Athletic Council also
organizes the ceremonies that mark the end of the elaborate tournaments.
That fanfare includes performances by the Homenetmen marching band, a
flag ceremony, a massive march of students, and passing out of trophies.
Each year, a principal of a participating school is invited to deliver
the principal’s address at the closing ceremonies.
AGBU-Manougian-Demirjian School principal Hagop Hagopian told the crowd
this year: "This yearly tradition has already become a symbolic
tradition. Naturally, when traditions are repeated, they become an
inseparable part of a collective conscience, and serve to heighten
national awareness. Participation in these games strengthen student self
awareness while character, their concept of respect, and refining their
spirit of cooperation and competition."
Saying the games were a necessity, principal John Kossakian of Ferrahian
Armenian School explained, "If Homenetmen had not initiated such a
beautiful and meaningful event, all of us principals would have had to
come together and organize something similar in order to bring all of
our students together."
Organizing large-scale tournaments is nothing new to Homenetmen,
however. The organization reveals its utter commitment to athletics with
its yearly Navasartian Games that draw nearly 40,000 spectators. The
athletic competitions span an eight-week period, beginning in May and
ending on the July 4 weekend, with a festival that attracts a variety of
businesses and organizations, and boasts a massive closing ceremony.
While the first annual Navasartian Games were held in 1975 before only a
few hundred spectators, and a handful of athletes, the games now attract
over 300 teams and 5,000 athletes from the organization’s chapters in
the western United States.
Founded in 1918, the Armenian General Athletic Union and Scouts,
commonly referred to as Homenetmen, is a nonprofit organization that
provides moral, physical and social education to youth in promoting
healthy minds and strong bodies.
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