Hundreds of members of the Armenian community held a three-day celebration in Glenview last weekend, culminating with an outdoor Blessing of the Grapes service followed by dance troupes and music.
The festival was held on the grounds of the Armenian All Saints Apostolic Church on Greenwood Road near West Lake Avenue.
Hagop Soulakian, chairman of the church’s board of trustees said the event has become a homecoming, bringing people back from across the country with some traveling from as far as California.
Revelers ate chicken, beef and lamb kabobs, a small Armenian style pizza called lahmajoun, spinach and cheese dishes wrapped in phyllo dough, stuffed grape leaves, hummus and an assortment of baked goods. They drank wine and other spirits and even puffed a cigar or two for sale.
Sunday’s Blessing of the Grapes was part of the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God. The act of blessing the grapes, the first fruits of the harvest, go back to Old Testament times. Armenian monks would wait to eat grapes until the Feast of the Assumption.
The congregation first came to Glenview building a hall in 1980. In 1990, the church building itself opened. Before Glenview, the church was based in Chicago.
The Armenian Festival has taken place in Glenview for about the last 15 years, growing from a one-day to three-day event.
Culture: A Generational Question: ‘If You Don’t Speak Armenian, Are You Really Armenian?’
“If you don’t speak Armenian, are you really Armenian?”
On our walk to the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) offices under the warm D.C. sun, my peers were debating this question loudly. Passionate exclamations ensued, involving the assertion that losing one’s ability to speak Armenian was equivalent to assimilating altogether: ignorant and morally reprehensible.
I walked along quietly, pondering the various assertions of my peers. I appreciated where these arguments came from. Part of me agreed, part of me felt ashamed, and part of me began to question the validity of my “Armenian-ness.” Little did I know this was the same question my grandmother, as well as many other members of my family, have faced over the years.
I am fifth generation Armenian-American on my mother’s side, and third-generation on my father’s. My ancestors in the U.S. all managed to find marriageable Armenians. And so I am considered by some to be “100% Armenian,” or “full Armenian.” That is, before they learn that my knowledge of the Armenian language is at an introductory level at best.
My maternal grandmother, Marilyn Arshagouni, was born in 1935 to one of the earliest Armenian families to settle in Los Angeles—a shocking fact, given that the current Armenian population there is almost half a million. In childhood, she didn’t know many other Armenian families, and the language, though spoken by her father’s family, was not spoken in her home. Despite her lack of knowledge of Armenian, she was smart and hardworking, becoming the first junior at UCLA to be elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honors society and later graduating with highest honors and a BA in English. The English language was her first love, and she went on to study English at graduate school.
Mrs. Marilyn Arshagouni with her granddaughters, Ani and Marie.
When my grandmother married my grandfather in 1956, he began bringing her closer to Armenian culture. He was born and raised in the Armenian Diaspora, in Greece, and so he was a native speaker and had a strong sense of community. Once my grandmother met Richard Hovannisian, a graduate student of Armenian history at UCLA, she furthered her great, though untraditional, contributions to the Armenian community. She helped edit his dissertation, which would become the classic Armenia on the Road to Independence. She then went on to edit the first volumes of his four-volume History of the Republic of Armenia.
For over 25 years my grandmother taught English and history at the Holy Martyrs Ferrahian Armenian High School in Encino, Calif. And she and my grandfather were on the Armenian Monument Council that established the first Armenian Genocide monument on public land in California.
Given her great influence on the Armenian community, I was stunned when I learned of the accusations that she bore the brunt of as an Armenian born in the U.S. It is an accusation that both of my parents have heard countless times. It is one to which I am just now being exposed.
My ancestors have lived in the U.S. for over 100 years. Despite this, my love of Armenian culture is strong, and my yearning to give back to my community even stronger. Ours is an important history and an important story. Each of our experiences is different. Some of us grew up in the midst of an Armenian-speaking community. Others, like my grandmother and me, grew up surrounded at home by an incredible library of Armenian books and culture and friends.
Although my grandmother was never fluent in Armenian as a child, her immersion into the community led her to pick up a considerable amount of the language. It was the same with my mother. I expect that it will be the same for me. I still plan to study Armenian in college. But, as I do so, I will remember that our goal as a Diaspora should be inclusiveness, as a nod to our shared, bitter, and rocky history. It is counterproductive to shun those who have not had the privilege of a strong cultural or linguistic upbringing. As Yeghishe Charents, the famous Armenian writer and poet, wrote, “Oh, Armenian people, your only salvation lies in the power of your unity.”
And so, I disagree with the assertion that one must speak Armenian to truly be Armenian. If that were the case, my grandmother would be an outcast in our greater community, despite her countless contributions. As members of a diaspora, exposure to the Armenian language isn’t all that unites us.
It is our love of community, our blood, our shared history and future, and our determination to help in any way we can. I am beginning to learn that. Although I will continue to face questions from my peers about the validity of my Armenian identity, I embrace my ethnicity wholeheartedly. And as my grandmother did, I will continue to do my part, not only as an Armenian but also as an Armenian in America.
Film: Armenian Genocide doc "Intent To Destroy" to screen in Sydney
PanARMENIAN.Net – Sydney audiences will have a unique opportunity to see “Intent To Destroy” – the Armenian Genocide documentary filmed during the production of “The Promise” – as part of Hamazkaine Shant Chapter’s Armenian Film Festival, which begins this Friday, August 18, reports the Armenian National Committee of Australia.
The “Intent to Destroy” screening, which is being co-hosted by the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), will close the Armenian Film Festival on Sunday, August 27. All films are being screened at Event Cinemas in Top Ryde.
Filmed on the set of Armenian Genocide epic, “The Promise”, this documentary by Joe Berlinger looks at the difficulties experienced by the producers, cast and crew of the film starring Christian Bale, Oscar Isaac and Charlotte Le Bon.
Here is a summary of the film from the Human Rights Arts & Film Festival which premiered “Intent to Destroy” in Australia earlier this year:
“Legendary documentarian Berlinger’s (Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, Tony Robbins: I am Not Your Guru, Crude) thirteenth feature film, captures the cinematic and political challenges of producing a historically meaningful, big-budget film in an environment rife with political suppression.”
“In 2015, Academy Award-winning director Terry George (Hotel Rwanda) took on the challenge of making the first mainstream film about the 1915 Armenian Genocide that wiped out 1.5 million Armenians in The Promise (starring Oscar Isaac and Christian Bale). Berlinger’s film combines a mixture of exclusive behind-the- scenes footage, rare archival material and investigative interviews that capture the shocking and complex history of the Armenian Genocide, all while presenting the unfolding, real-time drama of bringing this long-ignored chapter of human cruelty to the big screen.”
Film: Caruso Agrees to Advertise ‘Architects of Denial’ at Americana
“Architects of Denial,” a documentary focusing on the denial of the Armenian Genocide
Also Says it Will Forge Relationship with Armenian Community
GLENDALE– Moments ago, the Armenian National Committee of America – Glendale received a letter from Caruso Affiliated Executive Vice President of Operations, Jackie Levy condemning “violence and atrocities of any form anywhere in the world, including the Armenian Genocide that has impacted the lives of Armenians in our community.” The letter also states that Caruso Affiliated will work with the producers of “Architects of Denial” and the City of Glendale in an effort to display the advertisement at the Americana at Brand, at no cost to the producers.
The ANCA Glendale welcomes this important albeit delayed response as the first step in addressing a larger issue of insensitivity toward the Armenian-American community and utter lack of outreach and understanding. We look forward to working with Americana at Brand and Caruso Affiliated to further address the community’s needs and develop a positive and constructive relationship moving forward.
We especially want to thank the grassroots in our community who rose to the occasion by making our collective concerns heard on a larger scale. This outcome shows that when the community is activated, decision makers will hear its voice.
We are sincerely grateful to our elected officials – specifically State Senator Anthony Portantino who joined us on the ground from day one, members of the Glendale City Council who supported our position, as well as US Congressman Adam Schiff, LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and Los Angeles Councilmember Paul Krekorian for responding to the call for action and providing their staunch support that made this possible.
Below is the letter sent by Caruso Affiliated to the Glendale community.
To the Glendale community:
Over the past few days, we have reached out to, and heard from, many longtime friends in the Glendale
community, including those who spoke at the Glendale City Council meeting this week.
We have learned, through these countless conversations and exchanges, our position on human rights
has been misunderstood and for that we apologize. We have always condemned violence and atrocities
of any form anywhere in the world, including the Armenian Genocide that has impacted the lives of
Armenians in our community.
While this advertising use is a violation of the city’s zoning, we will work with the producers of
Architects of Denial and the city of Glendale in an effort to display the advertisement at The Americana
at Brand, at no cost to the producers.
We have the utmost respect for and appreciate the deep values of the Armenian community in this
great city.
Sincerely,
Jackie Levy
Executive Vice President of Operations
Chess: Aronian is at the top after the quick chess tour
The quick chess tour is over in Saint Louis.
Levon Aronian has defeated the Cuban Grandmaster Leinier Dominguez in the last round and occupies the first place now. The Armenian Grandmaster has 12 points. In the 7th round Aronian had defeated the Russian Grandmaster Sergey Karyakin and in the penultimate round he tied the game with US representative, Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura.
The blitz game tour stats tomorrow, August 18. Ten Grandmasters will take part in the tour where they will play one rapid and two blitz games.
Chess: Armenia’s Levon Aronian solely wins St. Louis Rapid 2017
The Rapid event of the Rapid and Blitz competition, the fourth stop on the Grand Chess Tour 2017 taking place at Saint Louis, U.S is over, with Armenian GM Levon Aronian becoming the sole winner of the event.
In the final three rounds of the tournament held yesterday, Aronian outplayed Karjakin and Dominguez, drawing with Nakamura, Chess.am reports.
Collecting a total of 12 points, the Armenian GM became the sole winner of the event. Nakamura and Caruana shared 2-3 spots with 11 points apiece. 13th World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov lost his two games and drew one, sharing 8-10 positions with 7 points.
The Blitz chess will kick off on Thursday. The event will run two days, with 9 rounds to be played each day.
Sports: Two boxers to represent Armenia at World Championships
Two Armenian boxers Hovhannes Bachkov (64kg) and Karen Tonakanyan (60kg) will represent Armenia at the 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships, the Boxing Federation of Armenia told Panorama.am.
Hovhannes Bachkov won gold at the European Boxing Championships 2017 and Karen Tonakanyan reached the quarter-finals of the same championship, being qualified for the World Boxing Championships.
2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships is scheduled to be held in Hamburg, Germany from August 25 to September 2. The Armenian boxers will leave for the tournament under the leadership of the head coach David Torosyan.
ANKARA: Turkish Imam goes the extra mile for ancient Armenian church
An Armenian church built in the year 120 AD by Anatolian priests, is located in the courtyard of Yozgat’s Sarikaya Mosque in Turkey.
Besides a cross drawn on its door, the building does not look like a church from the outside.
However, Armenians still come from as far as the US and Argentina to worship there.
The Imam of the mosque Metin Halici, has taken it upon himself to keep both places of worship clean.
He grabs a broom and dust cloth to clean the ancient church a few days every week.
This is his story:
Watch the video at
BAKU: Gazprom is unlikely to go agree to modernize the gas pipeline through Armenia," the Georgian political scientist
Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijani Opposition Wednesday Gazprom is unlikely to go agree to modernize the gas pipeline through Armenia," the Georgian political scientist Baku/10.08.17/Turan: "Cooperation in the field of energy between Georgia and Azerbaijan has a long history. What is especially important is the history of positive relations and it is based on the simple fact that we need each other," Turan responded to a recent statement about the gasification of Georgia by the new energy minister, Ilya Eloshvili, a political analyst at the Institute for Strategic Studies of that country Gela Vasadze. In an interview with the local newspaper Eloshvili noted that the process of gasification of Georgia by the Georgian "daughter" of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) is going according to the schedule, and by the end of the year the obligations of SOCAR Georgia on gas supply to 250,000 Georgian subscribers will be fully met, and even exceed this figure. According to him, the gasification works cover most areas outside of Tbilisi, and at the moment most of the gas imported by Georgia comes from Azerbaijan (90%), which, since 2007, has gradually replaced Russian gas after the pipeline explosions. In addition, a number of SOCAR subsidiaries are successfully operating in Georgia. "For Georgia Azerbaijan is a source of gas, and for Azerbaijan our country has become a road for energy exports to the world. Is there an alternative to this cooperation? Theoretically yes. Georgia could buy gas from Russia, and Azerbaijan could also export its energy resources through Russia. But in either case, this means childish dependence on the northern neighbor, and what this threatens is well known in Tbilisi and Baku. So everything here is natural and mutually beneficial. Of course, Georgia has an alternative opinion that it would be good to share gas supplies and distribution in the regions. But arguments in the way of the fact that everything should not be given in one hand, seem do not seem very convincing," Vasadze said. Regarding the cost of Azerbaijani "blue fuel" for Georgian consumers, he noted that "... firstly, Georgia has a commission for regulating energy prices, and without it no one can raise the price. Secondly, with this level of interdependence, both sides have powerful arguments for protecting their interests. So I do not see any threat that SOCAR gasifies the regions, he said. As for raising the price of gas, taking into account the inflation rate, and the fact that the price did not rise for more than ten years, the price hike could be more serious. But here the general fall in prices for energy carriers in world markets affected." Turning to the issue of the strategic relationship between the two countries in the field of politics and economy, which is one of the key aspects of the energy security of the neighboring country, as the new Georgian energy minister said, it is noteworthy that Russia receives 10% of Russian gas supplies to Armenia in Russia As payment for its transit. "Without this cooperation, Georgia will remain without gas, and Azerbaijan will not be able to sell its oil and gas. Naturally, this is a key aspect of the security of both countries. For the transit of Russian gas to Armenia, Georgia is now receiving a cash payment. This year, Georgia buys Azerbaijani gas for this money. No one knows what will be the next year, perhaps the scheme will be the same," Vasadze is sure. Touching on the resonant desire of official Yerevan to participate in the transit of Iranian gas to Europe via Georgia, the political scientist noted that this proposal remains at the level of speculation: "It is unclear how realistic it is. The attitude to it among experts in the field of energy is, of course, positive, because the more gas pipelines, the better. Another issue is that most experts are skeptical about the prospects of the project, primarily because the gas transportation system of Armenia is in the hands of Gazprom, and they are unlikely to go for the modernization of the gas pipeline through Armenia. Why let such a competitor as Iran? In addition, the regime of sanctions operates against Iran, as well as against Russia. " One should not exclude the possibility that Georgia faced a difficult choice, on the one hand, being behind the scenes the energy and military-political ally of Azerbaijan in the conditions of the created geopolitical axis Baku-Tbilisi-Ankara, on the other, this neighboring country maintains friendly relations with Armenia. At the same time, Baku does not comment on the media reports on the agreement between Moscow and Tbilisi to restore direct communication between Armenia and Russia through the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Apparently, the leadership of Azerbaijan is waiting for explanations from official Tbilisi on this issue, believe in local expert circles. The position of our interlocutor on this issue is as follows: "There is no such agreement, and it is unlikely to be," Vasadze said. In general, as Eloshvili recently said, the strategic relationship between the two countries in the field of politics and economy is one of the key aspects of the country's energy security. At present, Azerbaijan is the main supplier of natural gas to Georgia. The supply of fuel is provided by SOCAR from the volumes of gas extracted from its own fields. In addition, Georgia receives gas through the South Caucasus gas pipeline from the Shah Deniz field.--0--
BAKU: US remains committed to working toward Karabakh conflict’s peaceful settlement: Hoagland
Trend News Agency (Baku, Azerbaijan) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency Wednesday US remains committed to working toward Karabakh conflict's peaceful settlement: Hoagland by Leman Zeynalova, Trend News Agency, Baku, Azerbaijan Aug. 16--The United States remains committed to working with the parties of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict toward a peaceful settlement of the conflict, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair from the US, Ambassador Richard Hoagland told Trend Aug.16. He noted that the issues relating to the return of territories, return of Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs to their lands, non-use of force and status for Nagorno-Karabakh are all important elements of a comprehensive settlement the parties need to discuss. "This is precisely why my fellow co-chairs and I continue to encourage the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia to meet at the earliest possible opportunity and engage in good-faith negotiations on a way forward," he said. "I would like to remind that the OSCE co-chairs are mediators and facilitators. We cannot force a final decision; only the leaders of the sides can decide when it is finally time to make an historic decision that will guarantee peace and lead to eventual prosperity for the entire region." During the increased diplomatic activity in the coming weeks and months, the co-chairs will be making a number of statements to reinforce policy and encourage highest-level negotiations, added Hoagland. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.