ARMENIAN REPORTER
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May 12, 2007 — From the community section
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1. Tel banir, lavash, shoorch bar, Paul Baghdadlian (by Jenny Kiljian)
* ARS 6th Annual Armenian Festival boasts traditional Armenian tastes,
sounds, and steps
2. A symposium asks what comes after recognition (by Lory Tatoulian)
3. A new Fresno-based organization plans to rebuild Armenia, one village at
a time
* A family on the move
4. Joe Ariyan’s State Senate bid appears to have broad support in
N.J.’s39th district
5. A visit to Bulgaria (by Talin Suciyan)
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1. Tel banir, lavash, shoorch bar, Paul Baghdadlian
* ARS 6th Annual Armenian Festival boasts traditional Armenian tastes,
sounds, and steps
By Jenny Kiljian
GLENDALE, Calif. — As I turned left to enter the Glendale Civic Auditorium
parking lot, I could already smell the savory kebab being grilled on what
was probably many scores of skewers for the thousands of people who were
attending the Armenian Relief Society’s 6th Armenian Festival on May 5 and
6. Luckily for me, my uncle Sahag Minassian was the chef in charge of
feeding the masses, so I was able to sneak a bite of chicken before entering
the bustling bi-level auditorium to gather my facts (and do some shoorch
bar).
My first stop was the Visit Armenia, It is Beautiful (visitarmenia.org)
booth, with its richly stained, oak depiction of Holy Etchmiadzin by master
miniaturist Andranik Aghadjanian. There, my good friend and colleague Ara
Boyajian regaled me with stories of his most recent tours of Armenia and how
the diaspora has responded positively to his efforts. Now in its fifth year,
Visit Armenia’s website was recently updated to include information in
Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Russian. Boyajian said he has already
received emails from Spanish-speaking people who are interested in traveling
to Armenia. "The goal is to promote tourism in Armenia," he said. "It’s one
of the most important industries for a country, and Armenia has so much to
offer its visitors."
As I made my way around the first floor, I smiled at the number of young
parents strolling around with their toddlers, and at the many non-Armenians
who were frequenting the booths displaying Armenian handicrafts.
To my right, I spotted my friend Vrej Hovsepian at the Armenian Bone
Marrow Donor Registry (abmdr.am) table. Hovsepian has been involved with the
ABMDR for many years, and now serves on the Board of Advisors as the
organization’s event manager. "We want to encourage the Armenian community
to support our effort to build a sizable bone marrow registry," he said,
noting that Armenians have a unique genetic makeup that limits the number of
potential matches for transplants. Hovsepian explained that the process for
gathering a sample has become easier and painless. Gone are the days of
drawing blood. Now, a medical practitioner merely swabs the inside of a
registrant’s cheek for ten seconds. As of this year, some 12,500 people have
joined the life-saving registry. The ABMDR’s next outreach and fundraising
event is the 2nd "Walk of Life" on Saturday, June 8 at Glendale High School.
Registration ( or 323-663-0609) begins at 7:30 a.m., and
the walk begins at 9 a.m.
What caught my eye next was a scene from a historical Armenian home
complete with a tonir and children wearing the eggplant and burgundy velvets
of traditional Armenian clothing. They were posing for Zabel Kassabian and
Maral Keledjian, the team of sisters who created the Touch of Art
photography studio in 1998 — the same place where we took my goddaughter,
Liana, for her Christmas card photos last year. "We wanted Armenian families
to have the opportunity to represent Armenian traditions and customs in
their portraits," said Kassabian, a mother of two, before she busied herself
with adjusting the lavash bread in her subject’s hands. The two were
inspired by their father, Antranig Bastajian, who began his photography
business at the age of 13. Now almost 80, he continues to give his daughters
advice and suggestions about how to get the perfect shot. "The response has
been very positive," said Kassabian, noting that they have been invited to
many communities in Southern California, as well as to San Francisco, to
photograph events for schools, churches and organizations.
On the northwest corner of the auditorium, I came across a table
displaying what I could only at first describe as tile or ceramic renderings
of the Armenian alphabet, crosses, churches and illuminated manuscripts.
What I would come to learn from my friend Sevag’s grandmother, Shake
Konyalian, is that the pieces are actually cloisonné — the art of taking
red copper, silver and gold, and manipulating them into enamel using a
variety of solvents and powders. Born and raised in Lebanon, Konyalian was
63 years old when she learned the craft from a French woman who lived near
her. It was 1984, and bombs were falling from the Beirut sky. Undaunted,
Konyalian became the woman’s apprentice so that she could glean from her
expertise. Prior to immigrating to the United States in 1986, Konyalian
exhibited her work with the Beirut Hamazkayin, as well as the American
University of Beirut. Today, her pieces demonstrate a deft ability that can
be described as nearly alchemic in capturing the finest nuances of Armenian
culture.
From there, I headed to the second floor, where the festival’s official
opening ceremonies were underway. Ably emceed by my journalistic colleague
Arshalous Darpinian, an anchorwoman for Horizon News, the program began with
a flag processional by scouts from the Homenetmen La Crescenta "Shant"
Chapter. A choir comprising students from several ARS Saturday schools sang
the national anthems of the United States and Armenia under the direction of
Alfred Mardoyan. Baron Mardoyan, as I know him, has been rousing the
patriotism of young children for as long as I can remember. I am proud to
say I was under his tutelage from 1984 to 1987 as a student at Holy Martyrs
Armenian Elementary School.
His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian delivered a powerful
invocation, reminding the audience of the nearly 100 years that the ARS has
been in service to the Armenian community throughout the world. He commended
the members for their tireless efforts, and congratulated the ARS Western
Regional Executive for a sixth successful festival.
"It is because of the dedication and hard work of our members that we have
accomplished so much as we approach our Centennial," said Western Regional
Executive Chairperson Sonia Peltekian in her welcoming remarks. "With the
help of benefactors and supporters, the Armenian Relief Society will be able
to continue its mission into the next millennium."
Against the backdrop of a light-blue banner bearing the Armenian tricolor
and the ARS logo, a troupe of around 25 dancers from the Ara Dance Studio (
aradancestudio.com) took the stage to perform a series of traditional
Armenian circle and line dances. The studio, under the direction of Ara
Melkonian, has around 100 students of all skill levels. He described to me
how his love for dancing began in his childhood, in front of a chess set. He
would envision the black pieces as boys, and the white pieces as girls —
and as they made their way around the board, he would imagine them dancing.
"My dream of being a choreographer came true, and I always thank God for
that," said Melkonian. "Dancing, and my two daughters — Ani and Tereza —
keep me alive." With some dancers as young as three, and the oldest at 28,
Melkonian said he strives to make them proficient in Armenian and
international dancing. "The first and foremost is Armenian dance — we’re
trying to keep our heritage alive," he said. "But, we want them to learn
about other cultures, as well. Dance, after all, is the silent language."
Many of Melkonian’s students have gone on to become artistic directors or
professional dancers. I, however, as one of his first class of students in
1985, went on to become a journalist. To his credit, I still rest my hands
and fingers correctly while dancing, and the love of Naz Bar still lingers
in me.
I stepped back into the auditorium to find another one of my dance
instructors in the middle of the hall, teaching a long line of men and women
how to Shoorch Bar. If you can name it — Sirto, Kochari, Heeng-Meg, Zorba,
Papoori, Sepo — Simon Oksazian can dance it. He has been teaching
international circle dancing for the last 17 years at venues around Southern
California. Oksazian, who was a member of the Lebanese Dance Ensemble from
1970 to 1974, explained that he takes a yearly trip to Armenia to learn
authentic, traditional Armenian circle dances. He spends some 35 days
traveling from village to village to meet with elderly Armenians who could
best transmit to him the dances from Vasburagan, Mush, Sassoun and Musa Ler,
among others. "For the last five years, I’ve gone to Armenia, so that I can
come back to teach the Armenian community in Los Angeles the real Armenian
dances," said Oksazian. This session finds him in the San Fernando Valley on
Tuesday, Orange County on Wednesday, Glendale on Thursday, and Newport Beach
on Friday. He may soon be holding a class in Pasadena on Mondays. I couldn’t
resist the urge to hook my pinkie finger to the end of the line and dance an
energetic Hashtayi before I left the dance floor.
On my way back downstairs, a sign that pleaded emphatically "Please help
me hear!" made me pause to read the information at the Armenian
International Medical Fund (armenianimf.org) booth. Salpy Akaragian (my
school nurse during those memorable Holy Martyrs days) has been the
chairperson of AIM Fund since its inception in 2003. The organization
comprises volunteers from different professions who have united under the
banner of creating and maintaining innovative healthcare programs in Armenia
— the first of which has been to give deaf Armenian children the
opportunity to hear with the aid of cochlear implants. Thus far, 13
candidates (children and young adults) have received implants with a 100
percent success rate. But the cochlear implant is not without its
detractors, explained Akaragian. "The deaf community doesn’t like it, and
we’re totally cognizant of their beliefs. But, hearing parents want their
child to hear their voices and be able to speak to them," she said. "The
first time that we switch the implant on, and you see the child’s reaction
to hearing for the first time — and the parents reaction when the child can
hear them — you can’t even put that kind of happiness into words. It’s
priceless." Akaragian travels to Armenia twice a year to facilitate the
procedures, and is gearing up for four more implants from June 22 to 24. Her
days are divided between AIM Fund and her full-time position as director of
the UCLA International Nursing Center. She even has a separate cell phone
for the former, and works many late nights and weekends communicating by
phone and email with her colleagues in Armenia. She admits that she
sometimes becomes fatigued. "But, every time I get tired or discouraged, I
think about one of our kids and remember that they wouldn’t have had that
opportunity without our work. I don’t have the heart to stop and say ‘I’m
tired,’" said Akargian. "The only incentive I have is to hear these children
say their first word, and to embrace the grateful mothers and fathers who
are overjoyed at hearing their children’s voices." The AIM Fund is hosting
its 3rd Gala Dinner on May 20 in the hopes of raising funds through ticket
sales and a silent auction. Akaragian encouraged the community, especially
young people, to join the festivities.
After we said our warm goodbyes, I made my way downstairs in an effort to
make an undetected escape to my car as I had another engagement to attend in
Pasadena that evening. But out of the corner of my eye, I saw a young man
whom I met in Detroit during the pontifical visit of Catholicos Aram I to
the United States. Sub-deacon Manoug Chulyan is a member of the St. Garabed
Armenian Apostolic Church youth group, which has grown from 10 members to 65
since it was formed two months ago. The youth group offers Bible study twice
a month on Thursdays under the guidance of Archpriest Rev. Fr. Vicken
Vassilian and Fr. Bartev Gulumian. Chulyan and several other young people
were selling incense, crosses, plaques and icons in order to raise funds to
support the efforts of the youth group. "We’re trying to make religious
studies fun and exciting for young people," said Chulyan. "We’re hoping this
generation will be a good role model for the next generation. It’s our way
of ensuring a bright future for the Armenian people."
I wished them much success as I set my sights on the exit. Just as I
stepped outside, however, I noticed my friend Haig Kartounian walking down
the stairs with his well-renowned boss — Rep. Adam Schiff. It behooved me
to stay for just a while longer to speak with the member of Congress, and to
thank him for his tireless efforts to ensure passage of the Armenian
Genocide resolution in the U.S. Congress. I gave Haig a traditional Armenian
embrace, and congratulated him with a hearty "vartzkut gadar" before he
ushered the representative into the auditorium.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I realized that I’d been running around for
some six hours without eating. Thankfully, my uncle Sahag had just taken
some chicken kebab off the grill. Paying no mind to my notebook or a
potential burn, I pulled one piece from the skewer and before I had even
finished that morsel, I was being offered another. I couldn’t refuse, and
quickly ate that second piece before running back to my car. It had been a
long, wonderful, and altogether Armenian afternoon.
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2. A symposium asks what comes after recognition
by Lory Tatoulian
GLENDALE, Calif. — On Monday May 7, 250 people gathered at the Glendale
Public Library to attend a special symposium titled, "If The Armenian
Genocide is Recognized, What Does the Armenian Community Expect Next?" The
event was organized by the Armenian Professional Society, one of whose many
goals is to bring vibrant programs, thinkers, and speakers to the public
arena. The evening’s program brought together a panel of five guests: Ben
Charchian, Mark Chenian, Levon Marashlian, Harut Sassounian, and Hovann
Simonian. The colloquium was moderated by Hrair Dekemejian, professor of
political science at USC and author of many books.
During the forum each panelist was allotted eight minutes to present his
articles and opinions on the matter. The range of thought and abstracts
varied from legal resources to a more opinion-oriented discourse.
Ben Charchian, an attorney representing the law firm Vartkes Yeghiayan and
Associates, spoke first. Charchian’s presentation focused on how the courts
can be used to go beyond Genocide recognition. "The court system is an
excellent means to get reparations from companies. These are companies that
unduly profited because of the Armenian Genocide."
The law firm of Vartkes Yeghiayan settled two major lawsuits regarding
reparations; one was with AXA, the other with New York Life. Yeghiayan’s law
firm believes in being active now, not waiting for Genocide recognition.
Charchian explained: "These companies issued life insurance policies to
Armenians before the Genocide. After the Genocide they breached their
contracts, didn’t pay the beneficiaries of those who were murdered during
the Armenian Genocide. We have to attend to these lawsuits." This is
contract law, he said, "and the Genocide is a background issue."
Yeghiayan’s law firm is systematically preparing to file many more
lawsuits against companies to gain reparations. Charchian believes that the
power of the court will be the conduit through which success can be
achieved. "The courts listen to these issues on common law, breaching of
contract; those are the way they decide,. We need to go after these
companies now. The good news is we don’t have to wait until Genocide
recognition, we are actually getting reparations as these two companies
show." Charchian also expressed his views on the courts’ limitations. He
gave the example of Deutsche Bank’s presence in Western Armenia during and
after the Genocide. Deutsche Bank looted the accounts of Armenian patrons’
assets after the Genocide, he said. In addition, the bank used Armenians who
survived the death marches as slave laborers to construct significant
portions of the Berlin-Baghdad railways.
Next in line on the panel was entrepreneur and community activist Mark
Chenian, vice president of an investment firm in Beverly Hills. Chenian is
also serves on the Steering Committee at USC’s Institute of Armenian
Studies. Chenian began by reworking the question and posing one of his own.
He asked "What direction will the Armenian community take if and when the
Genocide is recognized?" Chenian presented a series of suggestions.
"Armenians fundamentally have to change their thinking from relying on
others into self-reliance. We need a core of legal scholarship. We should
recruit top-notch students to study the constitutional private law and
combine the students with revered scholars and then be allowed to claim our
case within the sphere of human rights, international law, genocide, and
other related war crimes." Chenian continued a litany of his admonitions,
one being that all Armenians should not only have a sophomoric understanding
of the Genocide, but be able to expand the scope of their knowledge and
understand it with scholarly insight.
Levon Marashilian began by expressing many of his viewpoints "Turkey’s
recognition of the Armenian Genocide is not anywhere around the corner. If
there were no financial or territorial consequences for Turkey to worry
about, recognition would be easier." Marashlian teaches at the local
community college here. He has written many newspaper articles on the
Armenian Genocide. Marashlian said that many Armenians wish to have
recognition but feel it is no longer realistic to gain back territory or
financial compensation. "Recognition without justice is nowhere near enough.
Justice is essential for Armenia’s survival and prosperity as a country.
Without justice Armenia has a very dark future. The purpose of the Genocide
was to eliminate Armenia as a factor from the region forever. Armenia now is
a landlocked country with little resources. If it weren’t for the Genocide,
there would be about 25 million Armenians living there today. Justice for
the Genocide is the only way Armenia can become a country you can be proud
of. The Armenians who say that compensation is out of the picture are
willingly condemning Armenia to remain in its current state." Marashlian’s
closing statements were echoed with favorable applause form the audience.
Harut Sassounian, a community activist and prolific writer, has written
many articles on the Armenian Genocide. He is the publisher of the
California Courier and his other roles include serving as the vice president
of the Lincy Foundation and president of the United Armenia Fund. In his
opening remarks, Sassouinian declared "The Armenian Genocide is already
recognized. The whole world already knows that there was a genocide." He
continued, "countries and presidents around the world for years have
recognized the Genocide. President Reagan recognized it in 1981. We have to
get out of the victim mentality, and instead be self-assured and demand our
rights. We have to get on the offensive and take the initiative. The Turkish
government has not officially recognized the Armenian Genocide; that’s their
problem. They know its true; we know its true. It would be in their interest
to recognize it." He went on to explain that if Turkey continues to deny the
Genocide, they it will continually have to pay the price with aversive
public opinion on a global scale. "Our dream is not for Turkey to recognize
the Genocide. An entire civilization was annihilated, our ancient lands were
taken from us. We need the return of the looted assets of the Armenian
nation."
The last guest on the panel to speak was doctorial candidate Hovann
Simonian. He is co-author of the book, Troubled Waters: The Geopolitics of
the Caspian. He also recently published a book about the Hemshin people
living in Northern Turkey who were forcefully converted to Islam about 300
years ago. Simonian’s presentation was more linear. "The type of
compensation Armenian should ask for is private restitution. People should
be able to ask for either the return of their private property or monetary
compensation. The Armenian Church can likewise ask for all its churches ands
monasteries back. That can be negotiated."
The program continued with a dialogue session of questions and answers
with the audience. Academic cadences and sheer concern mixed throughout the
evening, with audience members exploring insightful solutions to this most
pressing issue.
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3. A new Fresno-based organization plans to rebuild Armenia, one village at
a time
FRESNO, Calif. — A newly formed Fresno charitable organization is holding
a
"housing fast" and photo exhibit as it plans to rebuild villages in Armenia.
The Armenian Hope Organization (AHO) is holding an inaugural gathering on
Mothers’ Day weekend, May 11–12, on the campus of Pilgrim Armenian
Congregational Church, 3673 North First Street at Garland Avenue. The event
is free of charge and open to the public.
The gathering will begin at 4 p.m. Friday with a campout on the grounds of
Pilgrim Church; campers will abandon the comforts of home for one evening to
call attention to poor living conditions prevalent in some Armenian
villages. From 6 to 9 p.m., guests will be able to view "Faces of Armenia,"
a striking photographic exhibit by Shant Donabedian, who was a Habitat for
Humanity Armenia (HFHA) volunteer in 2005.
The AHO was formed in 2006 after Brian Yengoyan came back from a trip with
Habitat last summer. Habitat typically builds houses throughout the country.
This time it had focused on one specific area: the volunteers worked to
complete a 24-unit complex on the shores of Lake Sevan. But Habitat never
rebuilds an entire village. The vision of AHO is to transform Armenia one
village, one house, one person at a time.
The plan is to focus first on Lusaghbyur, a village on the border between
the Shirak and Lori regions, close both to HFHA Lori field office in
Vanadzor and to Armenia’s second most populated city of Gyumri. Every
structure in the village was destroyed in the devastating earthquake of
1988. In the nearly 20 years since the quake, only half of the homes have
been rebuilt. A longstanding village school and church have yet to be
rebuilt.
* A family on the move
Kalem Kazarian of Fresno is planning on moving to Armenia with his family in
February 2008 to facilitate the Lusaghbyur development. A licensed
California contractor, Kalem plans to live in the village with his wife,
Jonelle, and their three children. They will partner with native Armenian
families in the construction of houses through the HFHA.
Kalem was in Armenia twice in the late 1990s as a tourist. But when he
went back with Habitat for Humanity last September, he was struck for the
first time by "how bad the living conditions were" in some rural areas.
"Sure you hear about people not having power for a few days, or water for
only a couple of hours each day, or even a gas blockade that lasts for
months," Kalem says. "What you don’t hear about is that there are people,
lots of people living in basements of unfinished houses, and in shipping
containers. These containers act like ovens in the summer and freezers in
the winter."
The housing fast is an effort to feel others’ pain. Speaking of conditions
in Lusaghbyur, Kalem says, "it gets to be 32 degrees below zero Fahrenheit
in the winter; they do not have a gas line for heaters, and many people use
an outhouse and a central water spigot in the back yard. So for one day we
are going to step away from our flush toilets, from our showers, from our
soft beds, our warm houses, our comfort, and think about people on the other
side of the world who live like that every day. We are going to consider in
our own lives what we could do without. If a person gave up their Starbucks
coffee, and restaurant lunch, for two years they could pay for a whole house
for a family in Armenia that would last through several generations. But we
don’t even have to do that, we have so much that we could still have our
lunch and coffee and contribute to providing shelter for people who
face desperate conditions every day of their lives."
The AHO governing board includes Brian Yengoyan, chair and executive
director; David Yengoyan, treasurer; Kalem Kazarian, secretary; Bryan
Bedrosian; and Reverend Ara R. Guekguezian. Two board members will travel to
Armenia from June 9 to 23 to plan the initial Lusaghbyur project with HFHA.
More details about the AHO inaugural event and projects are available by
calling (559) 708-3010 or visiting
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4. Joe Ariyan’s State Senate bid appears to have broad support in
N.J.’s39th district
SADDLE RIVER, N.J. — With six months still to go until the November
election, State Senate candidate Joseph Ariyan (D.-Saddle River) has
reported that his campaign has raised more than $130,000 for his effort to
unseat Republican State Senator Gerald Cardinale.
"The support I’ve received in recent months has been astounding," said
Ariyan. "This is an indication that people are ready for new representation
in [New Jersey’s] 39th [district]."Of his opponent, Ariyan said: "Our
current State Senator has been in the legislature since 1979, and he is
obviously part of the problem, not the solution. He has little standing to
argue that others are to blame for the little return the 39th receives from
Trenton for all its tax dollars."
Ariyan has received support from a broad base of elected officials,
including U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., who headlined a January fundraiser
for Ariyan, and Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney, who was the special
guest at a March fundraiser.
Another event scheduled for May 24 will feature Bergen County Sheriff Leo
McGuire.
Ariyan is part of the official Bergen County Democratic team for the 39th
District. He has a long history of public service behind him. Ariyan
currently serves as the County’s Public Advocate for Land Use and
Commissioner of the Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority. A partner
at the law firm Ariyan, Khoury and Schildiner, LLP, he resides in Saddle
River with his wife and their infant son.
For information on his candidacy, log onto
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5. A visit to Bulgaria
by Talin Suciyan
SOFIA, Bulgaria — I lived in Edirne, Turkey, on the Bulgarian border, for
two years. On the way to my favorite place, Karaagac village, where there
still is a train station of the Orient Express, I used to see a yellow sign,
"Border gate to Bulgaria." But Bulgaria always seemed to be a neighbor
rather too far, like all other neighbors of Turkey.
I finally made my first visit to Bulgaria last weekend. I had been invited
to Sofia by the Centre for Liberal Strategies (CLS) as an independent
observer to what they called a "deliberative poll" on the integration of the
Roma in Bulgarian society. This was a good opportunity for me to see my
friend Olga, chitchat, rest a bit after the vote, and get a sense of the
country. This was my intention, but in the event, Olga and I had very little
time together, and she complained, saying that I should fit her name
somewhere in my schedule.
I met Armenian community members in Sofia. The first meeting was with the
editors of the Yerevan Weekly newspaper, which is published in Bulgarian and
Armenian. Three women are doing all the work to publish the newspaper, and
one of them is the photographer. I was astounded when I saw the paper they
were publishing, just the three of them. The editors are Anahid Ajderian,
Vartanush Topakhashian, and photographer Mari Knalyan.
Vartanush’s grandparents are from Tekirdag (Rodosto) and Adapazari
(Bardizag), Mari’s from Edirne and Egin (Agn), and Anahit’s from Malkara.
Their grandparents all came to Bulgaria in 1922. They were deported in
1915 and but made their way back in the hope of continuing their lives in
peace. But that did not happen. In 1922 the families were apart again. For
instance, part of Vartanush’s family went to Bulgaria and part to Greece.
These two parts never met again. Anahit’s parents came from Malkara and
rebuilt their lives in Bulgaria.
Although Bulgaria accepted Armenians between 1922 and 1923, both
journalists say, Armenians were forbidden by law to settle in the capital.
That is why there were plenty of Armenians in Plovdiv, the biggest city near
Sofia.
Armenians have been living since the fifth century in the territories that
are today Bulgaria. According to Anahid and Vartanush, in the beginning of
the 20th century some 30,000 Armenians came to Bulgaria; they were welcomed
by the local Armenians. Many of them continued their way to other countries
later. The ones who remained lived with the dream of going back.
In the 1940s, seeing that the dream was unlikely to be realized, many
emigrated to Soviet Armenia, whence many were sent further afield, to
Siberia
According to the 2001 census, there were around 11 thousand Armenians in
Bulgaria. However, Anahid and Vartanush say, some Armenian women who were
married to Bulgarians and took Bulgarian family names were counted as
Bulgarians. And also in the last census there was a special section for
marking ethnic origin, and this part was not filled by many Armenians. The
journalists’ estimate is that around 15 to 16 thousand Armenians live in
Bulgaria. This number does not include recent arrivals from Armenia.
Since Bulgaria and Armenia were part of the Soviet bloc, teachers and
teaching materials came from Armenia and children learned Eastern Armenian.
Eastern Armenian in schools, Western Armenian at home had been a regular
duality/dilemma in the community. In 1989, a right to be educated in one’s
native language was gained. Armenians started to teach and learn Western
Armenian again. However, there is only one Armenian school in Plovdiv.
Bulgarian schools offer four hours of Armenian language classes as elective
courses. There are no classes on history and religion. Nonetheless,
Armenians often say that they felt they were more privileged compared to
Turks and Jews living in Bulgaria, mainly because Armenia was a Soviet
republic.
There are two newspapers. One is Yerevan, which has been published since
1944 in Sofia. The other is Vahan, published in Plovdiv. Both are
disseminated nationally. There is also a new monthly magazine Parekordzagani
Tsayn. A newspaper that had been published in Burgas for 10 years stopped
last year.
There is one Armenian member of the parliament, Dr. Rupen Krikoryan, from
the National Party of Simeon II.
In the city centre of Sofia, there is a historically Greek church
functioning as an Armenian Church. The community wanted to have an Armenian
church built by Armenian architects, and Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church is now
being built in the centre of Sofia.
* Plovdiv
In Plovdiv, there is an Armenian-Bulgarian library called "Krasiradz" and a
museum too. Armenian The quarter in the old city of Plovdiv is famous with
its 19th-century wooden houses. Among the most beautiful is Hintlian House.
It was built between 1835 and the 1840s. Stepan Hintlian was a merchant,
trading silk from Stockholm to India. The house was nationalized during the
socialist period and became a national heritage site. It is used as a museum
today. Unfortunately there is no information written in the house as to who
the owners were. I did find one of the owners, who had a long story tell.
Perhaps for the next time.
* * *
Talin Suciyan is a journalist based in Istanbul. She writes regularly for
the Armenian Reporter.
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