Author: Ara Felekian

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and current public safety measures, the C. & E. Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School in Sherman Oaks, Calif. held its graduation ceremonies in the School’s parking lot, on Sunday, June 14. Beginning at 9:30 am, the School had three separate ceremonies.

At the Kindergarten Graduation, Principal Lina Arslanian pointed out in her remarks that due to the situation created by COVID-19, the School faced an urgent and unprecedented situation. In a matter of a few days, the School administration, and the teaching staff, in cooperation with the parents, managed to switch to distance learning and complete the school year. Following her speech, Mrs. Arslanian invited the Kindergarten graduates and their parents to approach the stage while staying in their cars to receive their diplomas and gifts.

Following the Kindergarten “drive through” graduation ceremony, the Elementary School graduates and their parents entered the School’s parking lot in their cars and parked. Hovhannes Benneian, the student with the highest average grade in the class, read his message in Armenian, and Adriana Arakelian, the student with the second highest average grade, read her message in English. Graduating students were then called to the stage one by one to receive their diplomas and gifts and be photographed in front of a special poster.

Finally, the eighth-grade students entered the School’s parking lot in their parents’ cars and parked near the stage area. Following the social distancing rules, each graduating student got out of their parents’ car and stood in front of the stage.

Julia Ayrapetyan, who had the second highest average grade in class, read her salutatorian message in English. She noted that she had only attended Merdinian this year, yet she was thankful to everyone for how well she was received. She added that she had gained so much knowledge in that short period of time, which will serve as a foundation for her future education, and for countless pleasant moments that will never be forgotten.

Nayiri Karadjian and Alexa Buchakian, who had scored the highest average grade in the class, read their valedictorian messages. Nairi in her Armenian message confirmed that Merdinian was not only a school but also a home that helped her grow and develop, sowing the seeds of success. In her English valedictorian message, Alexa mentioned the words of Winnie the Pooh, “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard,” and added that, that something was Merdinian for her. She had spent eleven years in a place where she felt safe and secure. “My days at this wonderful school are unforgettable. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, and I am grateful to my teachers who inspired me and have always been by my side,” she said.

Hovsep Ayvazyan, who scored the third highest average grade in the class, on behalf of his classmates handed Mrs. Arslanian a beautiful framed collage of the graduating class pictures to be displayed next to the previous years’ class photo collage.

The ceremony ended with a prayer offered by Lena Ekmekjian, Head of Merdinian’s Religion Department.

Merdinian has completed an unusual school year and the Class of 2020 will always remember that they are the graduates of an extraordinary year. Congratulations and bon voyage to the graduates!

Established in 1982, the C & E Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School is the only Armenian Evangelical School in the United States. The School offers a broad-based curriculum that fosters academic excellence, high moral values, and spiritual enrichment in the Armenian Evangelical tradition. The School strives to create a safe and nurturing environment where every student receives personal attention to become a successful and responsible individual. For more information, you may contact Principal Arslanian at 818.907.8149.

(Adapted by Louisa Janbazian from an Armenian article)

Do you ever wonder how much history is corked inside a bottle of wine? Or how many secrets lurk in the wine you’re sipping? These are some of the questions that were on Vahan Zanoyan’s mind as he embarked on the adventure of writing his novel, Waking Noah’s Vines. Zanoyan presented his book in a Zoom session hosted by The Armenian National Committee of America’s Silicon Valley Chapter on May 31.

Previously scheduled to take place on March 28, the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The event provided an opportunity for the community to gather in the face of the shelter-in-place order in effect at the time.

The presentation opened with remarks by Dr. Kengo Soghoyan, an ANCA Silicon Valley Chapter Executive member, who welcomed the participants and introduced the moderator, Raffi Kassarjian. Kassarjian is the CEO of Sensyan, a boutique advisory firm offering services to tech companies investing, operating, and launching in Armenia.

Kassarjian opened the program by acknowledging the current difficulties that humanity is facing all over the world and in the United States in particular. The program featured several special guests who are key players in the wine industry in Armenia, including Paul Hobbs. Hobbs is a visionary international vintner, owner and winemaker for California-based wineries. He is also the driving force behind international partnerships Viña Cobos of Argentina, Crocus of Cahors, Yacoubian-Hobbs of Armenia, and two projects in development: Alvaredos-Hobbs of Galicia, Spain and Hillick & Hobbs of the Finger Lakes.

It was noted that Hobbs served as an inspiration for one of the characters in Waking Noah’s Vines. Halle Butvin also joined the program. Butvin is the Director of Special Projects at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and the curator of Armenia: Creating Home program at the 2018 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

The first portion of the presentation walked the audience through Zanoyan’s creative process, as well as a detailed account of the history of winemaking in the region, particularly in Armenia. The speakers took the audience on a journey through ancient spaces and times while discussing the history of winemaking in Armenia. At its heart, Waking Noah’s Vines is a novel about a group of adventurous vintners from around the world that embark on a wine-infused journey to revive the 6,000-year-old wine industry in Armenia after the country gained its independence from the Soviet Union. He also discussed the suitable microclimates in the region that contributed to the wine productions. Archaeological evidence suggests that wine production began in the region 9000 years ago, with further evidence showing that proper wine production started in Armenia about 6000 years ago. The winery in Areni, for example, is a complex wine producing setup that proves that Armenia was not only making wine but producing it too.

The second portion of the presentation consisted of an elegant tasting of hand-selected Armenian wines. The presenters discussed the wines and shared details about them with the audience. Zanoyan drew connections between moods and the types of wines. There are wines that enhance a celebratory mood and there are wines that pair well with a thoughtful mood. Each wine that they presented was produced in Armenia from 5 grapes that are
indigenous to the region.

Butvin mentioned here that the Smithsonian Institute will be planning “My Armenia Heritage Wine Tours” in 2021/2022. This will provide an opportunity to discover regions outside of Yerevan such as Vayots Dzor. The tours will include visits to wineries in the region, as well as meetings with the winemakers. More information will be available about this program soon.

Kassarjian concluded the presentation by paying tribute to the Armenian winemakers who invested in the Armenian wine-making industry, both reviving an ancient tradition and bringing Armenia back to the forefront of the wine world.

Thomas Chanian concluded the event with his closing remarks. Thomas is CEO & President of Knightsbridge Wireless Communications and an Executive Member of the ANCA of Silicon Valley. Thomas thanked the speakers for a captivating presentation and encouraged the audience to engage with ANCA locally.

Zanoyan is an author, traveler, global energy consultant and anti-trafficking advocate. He has published two volumes of poetry in Armenian (Վերադարձ in 2010 and Եզրէն Դուրս in 2011), and four novels in English. Inspired by a chance meeting with a young victim of sex trafficking, A Place Far Away was published in 2013. Its sequel, The Doves of Ohanavank, was published in 2014. His third novel, The Sacred Sands, reflects his personal experiences as an international energy consultant and was published in 2016. His latest novel, entitled Waking Noah’s Vines, was published in December 2019. Zanoyan currently divides his time between Southern California, Armenia and the Middle East.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

Turkey and Azerbaijan on Thursday celebrated the 102nd anniversary of establishing bilateral diplomatic relations.

Shortly after the foundation of the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic (ADR) on May 28, 1918, it inked the Treaty of Batumi with the then-Ottoman Empire on June 4, 1918, thus marking the beginning of friendly political, legal, commercial and military relations.

With the treaty, the Ottoman Empire recognized the independence of Azerbaijan, which could in turn apply to the Empire for military help in the case of any threat.

The agreement was signed by Halil Bey Menteşe, the head of the Ottomans’ Chamber of Deputies. and the Commander of the Caucasian Front of the Ottoman Army, Mehmet Vehib Paşa, and the President of the Azerbaijan National Council Mammad Amin Rasulzade and ADR’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Hasan Hajinski.

The treaty, which confirmed the friendship and cooperation between the two nations, also underlined that both sides would support each other in the development of rail transport and apply reduced tariffs in trade.

After the ADR proclaimed independence in Georgia, the government led by Fatali Khan Khoyski came to Ganja, in current-day northwestern Azerbaijan, in June and was not able to travel directly to Azerbaijan’s present capital Baku, which was then controlled by Armenian militants and the Bolsheviks.

On Sept. 15, 1918, an elite Ottoman force, dubbed the Caucasian Islamic Army, under the leadership of Nuri Pasha (Killigil), was sent by then Minister of War Enver Pasha to what is today Azerbaijan in the closing months of the World War I in response to a plea from the region’s people.

The Caucasian Islamic Army, comprising of Azerbaijani and Turkish soldiers, completed its mission in September, liberating Baku and thus laying the groundwork of the country’s independence decades later in 1991.

The liberation of Baku at the time paved the way for the transfer of the capital from Ganja and ensured the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, drawing the basis for its contemporary boundaries.

Enver Pasha personally conveyed the message that Baku had been liberated from Armenian gangs to the Ottoman capital Istanbul.

The Azerbaijani Democratic Republic was toppled after two years by the Soviet Union and the country regained its independence only after the collapse of the USSR in 1991.

Azerbaijan opened its embassy in Turkey In 1992.