YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has responded positively to the Russian proposal to open a consulate in the city of Kapan, Syunik province.

Armenia's Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan announced during the question-and-answer session with members of the government in the National Assembly.

"Indeed, the Russian side has applied to open a consulate general in Kapan in the prescribed manner, and the Republic of Armenia, considering all possible nuances, has given its positive conclusion and consent in the established manner.

It is difficult to say at what stage the Russian Federation is now in opening the consulate.  But they cooperate with the relevant departments of Armenia at all stages,” Mirzoyan said.

According to the Foreign Minister, various countries are interested in opening consulates in Syunik region.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has already opened a consulate in Armenia and France has announced such an intention. There are other countries with which the conversation is being held, but since there are no final agreements, I would not like to reveal the details.

Of course, the international presence contributes to the revitalization of the economic life of the region, but indeed, it also contains political messages," said Mirzoyan.

BY KARINE DERKEVORKIAN
Translated by Herand Markarian

Library: Armenian script and literature, printed in Diaspora and the Homeland, in Western and Eastern Armenian dialects, in foreign languages; documents, works of art, antiquities with a history of centuries; handicrafts and various other relics. And all that in today’s reality. On one hand, clothes and necessities are being collected to be sent to our migrants arriving Armenia. On the other hand, the library of the Armenian culture center is being established.

And thus, the long-standing project of Lark Musical Society, i.e., the establishment of the center-library of Armenian culture, becomes a reality. When crying and mourning transform into a constructive mission supporting the survival of the nation, when you push aside the veil of grief and look ahead, you find a way out of the abyss, then you have inadvertently defeated the enemy. 

This is our destiny that emerges out of the fire and continues living.

The preface was long, but in the last days the thoughts were gathered.

Back to our library.

Aris Sevag

In 2007, Lark Musical Society appeared in the Armenian press with a message. “Dear compatriots, dear people, at all times, we have been affected by urgent national issues: historical, political, cultural and others. Our country and people have often had transitional periods connected with changes in both internal and external world… 

The Lark Musical Society has a Library-Museum program, the implementation of which will give an opportunity to the culture-loving society to gather, meet, learn and discuss issues that interest us. The future library already has several thousand names of literature from different people…

Taking on new moral and material obligations, the Lark Musical Society welcomes those who support the program and continues its mission.

Sixteen years had passed, those who believed in the program continued to donate to the library. Belatedly, however, the bookcases were ready, and sorting work had begun with the support of officials and volunteers. Suddenly, news is received that one of the main donors of the library is coming from Philadelphia and wants to visit Lark. Sorting works are speeding up as much as possible, and the library staff welcomes the donor Asdghig Sevag, the wife of the late Aris Sevag, whose voluminous library she had donated to the library.

Asdghig says, “When I entered the library, I felt Aris’s presence, his breath, I thought his soul was here. In vain, Aris would say that these books will be thrown into the garbage after my death. It was a miracle that Lark took care of Aris’s library, transported them from New York to Glendale, California (some 5,700 books, 80 boxes). Very few books were left with me as a memory and security cover. I am sure my daughters would not have been able to take care of these books either. Day and night, I will pray for the Barsoumians for this great sacrifice they made. Vache is the first person I have seen after Aris who does such selfless work for the Armenian nation.” 

Mrs. Asdghig says that Mr. and Mrs. Hagop and Marie-Louise Balian were friends both of Aris Sevag and the Barsoumian families, and through their intervention this donation and transfer was made possible after Aris’s passing.

We were interested to know more about Aris Sevag’s literary and translation activity. We had read H. Balian’s article, entitled “Aris Sevak, the Armenian by origin and the anti-fact of…”, where the author had noted the points that define this great intellectual that Aris was. Here is one quote: “In the multifaceted sorrows of the Diaspora, wild flowers grow that do not follow the general rule, and which give color and hue to defeat we call realism”.

We learned about Aris, this unusual person, from his wife, Asdghig. “His father was a Dashnag party sympathizer, but was not a party member. Aris had been the editor of the “Ararat” periodical (New York), as well as the editor of the “Armenian Reporter” weekly for more than 20 years. During the last five years of his life, he worked as a translator in the AGBU New York office. In the early years of his career, he worked as an Armenian teacher at the National Ferahian High School in California. 

One son and three daughters from successive marriages and an immeasurable fruitful work to serve the culture of his people – this is the tangible legacy left by Aris Sevag, as well as the library that is now gloriously located in the complex of the Lark Musical Society.

Asdghig says, “He was absolutely not interested in material reward. it was important for him that materials about our Genocide be translated into English and be presented to the public. Many, many people would come to him bringing pages, books, papers, saying, “it was left by my grandfather, or grandmother, or, saying I found it in our closet”. Aris would translate everything with love and elation to add more pages to documentation of  the Genocide.

In 2001, responding to a request from Lark, Aris Sevag had translated Tahmizian’s two volume “The life and work of Tigran Choukhajian” published by “Drazark” publishing house in Pasadena.

In 2010, Rev. Grigoris Balakian’s two-volume English memoir entitled “Armenian Calvary” was published, the main translator of the Armenian text was Aris Sevag in collaboration with Peter Balakian. On the international literature website Words Without Borders, it is valued as a “comprehensive and sensational English translation of a document.”

Posthumously, in 2020, Bedros Gelgik’s Armenian-American Sketches, containing 29 stories was published, of which 20 stories were translated by the “late prolific translator” Ais Sevag. In addition to our conversation with Asdghig, we had benefitted from the Internet as well.

We were interested to know if there are any unpublished works by Aris Sevag. It turns out there are. Sevag had written, in English, the history of the Achabahian princely dynasty of Sis in Cilician Armenia, which had inherited the Holy Rights, considered the symbols of the Catholicosate power. Aris Sevag had spent 10 years on this work. His family however considered this very personal and did not want to have it published. After his passing, Asdghig had gathered the writings and handed them over to Greta Avedisian, a family member, who has decided to have them published.

Aris Sevag also had a plan to translate the literary-historical heritage left by his father professor Manase Sevag, a Genocide survivor, an American-Armenian scientist, member of the Armenian and American Academy of Sciences was born in Sis, Cilicia migrated to the United States in 1920 and died in 1967 in New York. He had written stories and poems about our massacres. Manase Sevag’s writings published in the press can be read on the Internet. However, Aris did not finish the plan; premature death had left this translation work unfinished. 

Asdghig Sevag has handed those archives to the Prelacy of Armenian Churches of Eastern USA where historian Vartan Matteosian will work on those works.

Asdghig is now reflecting on what a great work the Armenia-loving intellectual has done. “I had no idea that it would be possible to do so many translations. A person should have lived another century to do so much.”

In 2007, during the tribute by Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society of New York to Aris Sevag, on the occasion of the 40^th year of translational life, Dr. Herand Markarian labeled Aris as “The All-Armenian Translator”.

Asdghig Sevag has been an active member of Hamazkayin of New York chapter and the Chairperson of the Parents’ Committee of St. Illuminator’s Day School she is still trying to place her beloved husband’s literary merit in a worthy way, as a legacy to the next generations, because that was Aris Sevag’s wish and message that our history must be passed on to those who continue our march.

BY KARINE DERKEVORKIAN
Translated by Herand Markarian

Library: Armenian script and literature, printed in Diaspora and the Homeland, in Western and Eastern Armenian dialects, in foreign languages; documents, works of art, antiquities with a history of centuries; handicrafts and various other relics. And all that in today’s reality. On one hand, clothes and necessities are being collected to be sent to our migrants arriving Armenia. On the other hand, the library of the Armenian culture center is being established.

And thus, the long-standing project of Lark Musical Society, i.e., the establishment of the center-library of Armenian culture, becomes a reality. When crying and mourning transform into a constructive mission supporting the survival of the nation, when you push aside the veil of grief and look ahead, you find a way out of the abyss, then you have inadvertently defeated the enemy. 

This is our destiny that emerges out of the fire and continues living.

The preface was long, but in the last days the thoughts were gathered.

Back to our library.

In 2007, Lark Musical Society appeared in the Armenian press with a message. “Dear compatriots, dear people, at all times, we have been affected by urgent national issues: historical, political, cultural and others. Our country and people have often had transitional periods connected with changes in both internal and external world… 

The Lark Musical Society has a Library-Museum program, the implementation of which will give an opportunity to the culture-loving society to gather, meet, learn and discuss issues that interest us. The future library already has several thousand names of literature from different people…

Taking on new moral and material obligations, the Lark Musical Society welcomes those who support the program and continues its mission.

Sixteen years had passed, those who believed in the program continued to donate to the library. Belatedly, however, the bookcases were ready, and sorting work had begun with the support of officials and volunteers. Suddenly, news is received that one of the main donors of the library is coming from Philadelphia and wants to visit Lark. Sorting works are speeding up as much as possible, and the library staff welcomes the donor Asdghig Sevag, the wife of the late Aris Sevag, whose voluminous library she had donated to the library.

Asdghig says, “When I entered the library, I felt Aris’s presence, his breath, I thought his soul was here. In vain, Aris would say that these books will be thrown into the garbage after my death. It was a miracle that Lark took care of Aris’s library, transported them from New York to Glendale, California (some 5,700 books, 80 boxes). Very few books were left with me as a memory and security cover. I am sure my daughters would not have been able to take care of these books either. Day and night, I will pray for the Barsoumians for this great sacrifice they made. Vache is the first person I have seen after Aris who does such selfless work for the Armenian nation.” 

Mrs. Asdghig says that Mr. and Mrs. Hagop and Marie-Louise Balian were friends both of Aris Sevag and the Barsoumian families, and through their intervention this donation and transfer was made possible after Aris’s passing.

We were interested to know more about Aris Sevag’s literary and translation activity. We had read H. Balian’s article, entitled “Aris Sevak, the Armenian by origin and the anti-fact of…”, where the author had noted the points that define this great intellectual that Aris was. Here is one quote: “In the multifaceted sorrows of the Diaspora, wild flowers grow that do not follow the general rule, and which give color and hue to defeat we call realism”.

We learned about Aris, this unusual person, from his wife, Asdghig. “His father was a Dashnag party sympathizer, but was not a party member. Aris had been the editor of the “Ararat” periodical (New York), as well as the editor of the “Armenian Reporter” weekly for more than 20 years. During the last five years of his life, he worked as a translator in the AGBU New York office. In the early years of his career, he worked as an Armenian teacher at the National Ferahian High School in California. 

One son and three daughters from successive marriages and an immeasurable fruitful work to serve the culture of his people – this is the tangible legacy left by Aris Sevag, as well as the library that is now gloriously located in the complex of the Lark Musical Society.

Asdghig says, “He was absolutely not interested in material reward. it was important for him that materials about our Genocide be translated into English and be presented to the public. Many, many people would come to him bringing pages, books, papers, saying, “it was left by my grandfather, or grandmother, or, saying I found it in our closet”. Aris would translate everything with love and elation to add more pages to documentation of  the Genocide.

In 2001, responding to a request from Lark, Aris Sevag had translated Tahmizian’s two volume “The life and work of Tigran Choukhajian” published by “Drazark” publishing house in Pasadena.

In 2010, Rev. Grigoris Balakian’s two-volume English memoir entitled “Armenian Calvary” was published, the main translator of the Armenian text was Aris Sevag in collaboration with Peter Balakian. On the international literature website Words Without Borders, it is valued as a “comprehensive and sensational English translation of a document.”

Posthumously, in 2020, Bedros Gelgik’s Armenian-American Sketches, containing 29 stories was published, of which 20 stories were translated by the “late prolific translator” Ais Sevag. In addition to our conversation with Asdghig, we had benefitted from the Internet as well.

We were interested to know if there are any unpublished works by Aris Sevag. It turns out there are. Sevag had written, in English, the history of the Achabahian princely dynasty of Sis in Cilician Armenia, which had inherited the Holy Rights, considered the symbols of the Catholicosate power. Aris Sevag had spent 10 years on this work. His family however considered this very personal and did not want to have it published. After his passing, Asdghig had gathered the writings and handed them over to Greta Avedisian, a family member, who has decided to have them published.

Aris Sevag also had a plan to translate the literary-historical heritage left by his father professor Manase Sevag, a Genocide survivor, an American-Armenian scientist, member of the Armenian and American Academy of Sciences was born in Sis, Cilicia migrated to the United States in 1920 and died in 1967 in New York. He had written stories and poems about our massacres. Manase Sevag’s writings published in the press can be read on the Internet. However, Aris did not finish the plan; premature death had left this translation work unfinished. 

Asdghig Sevag has handed those archives to the Prelacy of Armenian Churches of Eastern USA where historian Vartan Matteosian will work on those works.

Asdghig is now reflecting on what a great work the Armenia-loving intellectual has done. “I had no idea that it would be possible to do so many translations. A person should have lived another century to do so much.”

In 2007, during the tribute by Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society of New York to Aris Sevag, on the occasion of the 40^th year of translational life, Dr. Herand Markarian labeled Aris as “The All-Armenian Translator”.

Asdghig Sevag has been an active member of Hamazkayin of New York chapter and the Chairperson of the Parents’ Committee of St. Illuminator’s Day School she is still trying to place her beloved husband’s literary merit in a worthy way, as a legacy to the next generations, because that was Aris Sevag’s wish and message that our history must be passed on to those who continue our march.

A scene from the AMAA's 104th banquet

Legacy of Edward Avedisian Honored as Benefactor of Khoren & Shooshanig Avedisian School of Yerevan, Armenia

BY JOY SHIRAGIAN

The Armenian Missionary Association of America, the missionary arm of the Armenian Evangelical Church, held its 104^th annual meeting from October 20 to 22 at the Cavalry Armenian Congregational Church in San Francisco, CA. A key highlight of the meeting was the banquet held on Saturday, October 21 at the San Francisco Airport Marriott in nearby Burlingame. 

After meetings on Friday and Saturday for the AMAA-affiliated Armenian Evangelical World Council, the AMAA Board of Directors, and the AMAA membership, Saturday evening’s banquet provided an opportunity to commune together and celebrate Armenian Evangelical Education. The motto chosen for the Banquet theme was “And I go to the source of the light…” from Daniel Varoujan’s poem “The Light”  (Ու ես կ՛երթամ դէպի աղբիւրը լոյսի).

Banquet Co-Chairs Roushig Kalebjian and Vana Vana Khanjian Vartanian

The evening began with a cocktail hour where guests had a chance to mingle. Once seated in the main ballroom, attendees were warmly welcomed by event co-chairs Vana Khanjian Vartanian and Roushig Kalebjian and greeted by Master of Ceremonies and local television news anchor, Gasia Mikaelian. This was followed by the invocation, given by CACC pastor Rev. Calvin Sagherian, and an address by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Prelate of the Western Diocese.

Banquet MC Gasia Mikaelian

After the guests enjoyed their dinner with Armenian wines from the Alexandrea Winery, they were serenaded by the beautiful, powerful voices of tenor Berj Karazian and soprano Armine Vardanyan, accompanied by the talented Ripsime Rshtuni.  Musical selections from

Armenian composers Khachaturyan and Spendiaryan were featured, followed by Babajanyan’s spirited “Azg Parapandz” that had the entire room clapping with gusto. 

The performance was followed by a touching video tribute to the late Edward Avedisian, benefactor of the Khoren and Shoushanig Avedisian School in Yerevan. Guests learned of Avedisian’s musical talents as a clarinetist and his lifelong commitment to education with a history of philanthropy that included support for the American University of Armenia, the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, the National Association of Armenian Studies, and his most significant, Boston University’s medical school.

Dr. Nazareth Darakjian, AMAA President Zaven Khanjian, AMAA Executive Director/CEO

Dr. Nazareth Darakjian, President of the AMAA, and Zaven Khanjian, Executive Director/CEO, then invited Avedisian’s wife, Pamela Wood Avedisian, to come forward.  They acknowledged her recent $1 million donation, praised her and her husband’s philanthropy, and presented her with a gift of appreciation. Her remarks to the assembled guests were particularly touching as she mentioned how thankful she was to have had the opportunity to share her life with her talented and generous husband.  Karazian and Vardanyan returned with another vocal performance after which Khanjian acknowledged additional donors including Mary Bedoian for her $1 million gift from the estate of her late brother Harry in support of Artsakh.

The program then turned to the long history of Armenian Evangelical leadership in empowering future generations through education. AMAA Field Representative Harout Nercessian shared an engaging video that brought to life the many schools and funding programs established over the years that were born of a belief that “faith and education are inseparable”.  Guests learned of the many institutions with academic and after-school programs that are currently operated by the AMAA.

Pamela Wood Avedisian

Khanjian then came forward and summoned Avedisian School Principal Melanya Geghamyan and husband Andranik Mardoyan to the stage. He celebrated Geghamyan’s exceptional career as an educator and presented her with an ornately framed written definition of a school principal. Her husband, often serving as photographer at events, was presented with a camera belt and a camera-shaped trophy.  The couple each shared remarks of heartfelt appreciation.

While much of the evening was dedicated to celebrating philanthropy directed to the AMAA and its mission, the audience was surprised by the announcement of a $60 thousand gift from the AMAA to San Francisco’s Mt. Davidson cross. The immense cross, perched atop San Francisco’s highest peak, was purchased by the Council of Armenian-American Organizations of Northern California in 1997 as a memorial to the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.  Armenians visit the cross annually on Easter Sunday and to commemorate Armenian Martyrs Day.

Honoree Melanya Geghamyan, Avedisian School Principal

Khanjian then stood before the room to deliver his own poignant remarks that resonated deeply with the crowd.  He thanked banquet committee co-chairs Vartanain and Kalebjian and Master of Ceremonies Mikaelian. He thanked Rev. Calvin Sagherian and CACC members, led by Dr. Nora Balabanian, for their warm welcome as hosts of the weekend’s events. He also thanked AMAA staff in Paramus, Glendale, Yerevan, and Artsakh for their diligence. And he thanked the guests who travelled far and wide, bringing a “boundless spirit of love, care, and attention” in support of the AMAA’s mission. 

His remarks went on to discuss the sobering conditions that the Armenian community faces today, from the heartbreaking loss of Artsakh, “the most piercing national tragedy faced by the nation since the genocide”, to the menacing existential threat of invasion in the motherland. He went further to assert that recent events had laid bare the reality that Armenia’s destiny is in the hands of Armenians alone.   

Pianist Rshtuni, soprano Armine Vardanyan, and tenor Berj Karazian

But his was not a message of despair. In fact, Khanjian described his outlook as positive, drawing strength from a faith in God to fuel the work that lies ahead, the work of sustaining educational, spiritual, humanitarian, and youth programs world-wide, and the new challenge of caring for the displaced from Artsakh. His final thoughts were softly defiant and rousing with words that left no doubt about the AMAA’s direction:

“Despite all evil, AMAA steadfastly continues to spread the Word and reflect His love, goodness, and hope around. Our weapon is our faith, love, service, and the pen. We are good at building, educating, enlightening, and spreading the Word.

“God has called on the AMAA to bear the yolk of our people and assume a humble role of service. This is our commitment, this is our promise, this is our culture, this is our mission, this is our faith, and this is our prayer.”

To close the evening, Rev. Dr. Vahan Tootikian, AEWC Executive Director gave a closing prayer and benediction which was followed by the singing of “Park Yev Badiv” by all.  

Founded in 1918, the Armenian Missionary Association of America serves the spiritual, educational, and social needs of Armenian communities in 24 countries around the world including Armenia and Artsakh. For additional information, you may visit the website.