A scene from the concert

A concert dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the birth of the great Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian was held at New York’s St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral on Wed., June 5. The event was organized under the auspices of Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), and Ambassador Garen Nazarian, the permanent representative of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations.

Karine Poghosyan, an award-winning pianist, performed a program she created to present the richness and diversity of Khachaturian’s style. First, there was Khachaturian the lyricist, whose heartwarming melodies—”Adagio” from “Spartacus” and “Lullaby” from “Gayaneh”—Poghosyan performed with passion and grace. The program also highlighted the energetic and rhythmic Khachaturian of his early piano work “Poem” (1927) and the familiar “Toccata” (1932).

Karine Poghosyan

Finally, the audience encountered Khachaturian the innovator—less well known but all the more powerful and demanding—through his large-scale piano composition, the “Sonata” (1961). Poghosyan closed her exhilarating concert with an encore: Khachaturian’s “Waltz” from the “Masquerade Suite.”

More than 300 people attended the evening concert, including more than 40 United Nations ambassadors and dignitaries. The concert marked the inaugural 2013-14 Season of “Classical Music, Concerts @ Saint Vartan.” Vicki Shoghag Hovanessian welcomed the audience and outlined the objective of the concert series, mentioning that there would be four more concerts in the coming season. She spoke of Khachaturian’s lasting legacy and said he enriched human culture with the timeless beauty of his heritage.

“Music is a universal language of mankind,” said Ambassador Nazarian. “It touches many hearts, and reminds us of our common humanity and common responsibility to work together in partnership to spread the message of solidarity and peace around the world.”
Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian closed the evening with a benediction. A reception followed. The Very Rev. Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian, dean of St. Vartan Cathedral, was instrumental in organizing the concert.

Aram Khachaturian was born on June 6, 1903 in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Sheriff Koutoujian, left, assumes his role as honorary chairman of the Merrimack Valley Armenian Genocide Monument Committee after a hectic day that saw him lead graduates of the Harvard University School of Government and rescue an assault victim in Harvard Square. Here he is joined by prominent Merrimack Valley artist Daniel Varoujan-Hejinian, center, and Carl Manikian.

It began with the former state representative serving as parade marshal for graduates at the Harvard University School of Government, from which he graduated 10 years ago.

There he was at his alma mater with top hat, tails, and ceremonial scepter in what has become a standard role for the sheriff. It even led to a bear hug from TV personality Oprah Winfrey, who was there as a commencement speaker.

One might have assumed it was Koutoujian and not the starlight receiving the honorary degree. Hours later, the sheriff found himself in Harvard Square en route to some office business before heading out to Chelmsford for a fundraising reception tendered by Armen and Sossy Jeknavorian for the Merrimack Valley Armenian Genocide Monument Committee.

As circumstances prevailed, Koutoujian came upon a raucous scene where a woman was being assaulted in broad daylight. The chivalrous sheriff needed no posse for this call. He rescued the damsel in distress and order was quickly restored in the square during the mid-afternoon bedlam.

Koutoujian pursued the assailant and brought him down with very little fanfare and strain, given his Herculean frame. It was all in the line of duty, he admitted modestly.

“I don’t think it was a heroic action or anything brave,” he revealed. “It was just an instinct.”

The unexpected transformation from Ivy League opening act to Cambridge’s Wyatt Earp was taken as nothing larger than a grain of salt.

“I was wearing a badge and a very formal-looking morning suit,” Koutoujian added. “People couldn’t tell what I was doing there.”

That evening Koutoujian found himself in a more sedate role among Armenians of Merrimack Valley, serving as honorary chairman of a monument committee bent on constructing a $33,000 memorial by Lowell City Hall.

The sheriff appeared at the reception unflustered and gave no hint to his rigmarole, much less the commencement. The focus was on greeting guests and encouraging their support for the project.

Koutoujian was also an instrumental figure in the completion of a $6.5 million memorial on the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston, and helped to sponsor genocide activities during his term in public office with sidekick Rachel Kaprielian, now registrar of Motor Vehicles.

He may be back in government after announcing a bid for Congressman Ed Markey’s seat should he be elected to the U.S. Senate in the special election against Republican candidate Gabriel Gomez on June 25.

In referring to the backlash other cities have received from the Turks with their monuments, Koutoujian presented a more benign approach to any potential rebuttals. A crowd of 40 was there to welcome the sheriff and heed his words.

“We should just remain calm and not do anything to incite dissention,” he told the gathering. “This monument is a testament to all immigrants who settled in the Merrimack Valley and defied the genocide. It’s a tribute to all who served their heritage so generations could follow.”

The evening raised $7,500, which included an $850 bid for a painting donated by noted Chelmsford artist Daniel Varoujian-Hejinian. The craftsman designed this monument to show hands weaving lace, synonymous of mill workers plying their craft as newly arrived immigrants to Lowell.

Koutoujian also pledged $500 toward the project to arouse more sentiment.

Among others attending were former Lowell mayors James Milanazzo and Rita Mercier, who’ve embraced the project since its inception a year ago. But in the end, it was a nightcap Koutoujian welcomed dearly.

“Despite the tensions he faced earlier in the day, Peter engaged everyone at the reception with a warm smile and a handshake,” said Dr. Ara Jeknavorian of Chelmsford, a project activist. “He never let the emotions of the day interfere with the matter at hand. That says a lot for his personality.”

And what about that fabulous embrace from Oprah? That was very special indeed!

“I got to give her a hug,” he said. “As I finished adjourning the ceremony, I looked over and she was smiling at me. She put out her arms. I didn’t even have to ask for it. It was a really nice moment.”

Anoush Krafian at the state championship

Krafian competed in the Girls 100m Hurdles and, with 108 hurdlers entered, won in 17.49. Krafian is the Massachusetts state champion. As a 7^th-grader, she won the Division 1 title as well as the overall state title. She also competed in the Girls High Jump, with 60 high jumpers entered. Krafian and eighth-grade competitor Alex Macrides from RJ Grey Middle School of Acton, Mass., tied with a jump of 5’2”, a personal best for both girls. Macrides had one less miss than Krafian at 5’2”, thereby determining the tie. Krafian was awarded 2^nd in Division 1 and 2^nd overall in the state.

Krafian will also be competing in this season’s USA Track & Field (USATF) Junior Olympics competitions in the Pentathlon, as well as at the open events of the 100m Hurdles, the 200m Hurdles, the High Jump, and Long Jump. The USATF New England Associations outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held at Fitchburg State University on Sat., June 22. The USATF Region I Championships will be in New York on July 5-7. The top eight finishers in the New England Championships will move on to the Regionals; the top six finishers in the Regionals will move on to the Nationals.

Anoush Krafian is a member of the Greater Boston AYF “Nejdeh” Junior Chapter and the Boston Chapter of the Homenetmen. She is a student at St. Stephen’s Sunday School, a camper at Camp Haiastan, and a graduate of St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School. She is the daughter of Heather and Ara Krafian and the sister of Araxi, Nairi, and Knar Krafian of Belmont, Mass.

The four local ARS chapters—Agnouni, Bergen, Shakeh, and Spitak—organized the 2-mile walk, which drew in more than 75 ARS members, Homenetmen Girl Scouts, and community members. It began in front of Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, following a prayer service by Rev. Father Hovnan Bozoian in front of the Armenian Genocide statue. The route continued to Cliffside Park lookout and back. The walkers were escorted by Ridgefield and Cliffside Park police for their safety.

Following the walkathon, all of the participants enjoyed a delicious lunch, donated and prepared by members of the ARS New Jersey chapters in the church’s large hall. Good food, good friends, and a soft heart makes a community.

The event would not have been possible without the hard work of the ARS EUSA, the chapters’ Walk Armenia Committee, and its members. They thank all of the participants, the donors, the and HMEM Girl Scouts, and especially Reverend Father Hovnan Bozoian and the Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church’s Board of Trustees.

As tens of thousands of demonstrators angrily protested throughout Turkey, expressing their dissatisfaction with Erdogan’s dictatorial rule, foreign ministry officials continued to pursue their routine denialist tasks, countering any and all efforts by other states to reaffirm the reality of the Armenian Genocide.

There were three such instances of Turkish reaction in recent weeks:

1) The Turkish government reacted harshly when Pope Francis acknowledged the Armenian Genocide, calling it “the first genocide of the 20th century.” The pontiff was speaking during the June 3 visit to the Vatican of a delegation of Armenian Catholics. Although Pope Francis had made similar remarks in the past while serving as a cardinal in Argentina, this is the first time he referred to the genocide since his recent papal election.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry was quick to lodge a formal protest to the Vatican, expressing its “disappointment” with the Pope’s statement. The Vatican’s ambassador in Ankara was promptly summoned to the foreign ministry and told that the pontiff’s remarks were “absolutely unacceptable” and could harm bilateral relations. An unnamed Turkish official even suggested that the Pope’s upcoming visit to Turkey might be in jeopardy after his remarks on the Armenian Genocide.

Rather than backing down, the Vatican made matters worse for Turkey by announcing that Pope Francis planned to visit Armenia on April 24, 2015, to perform a requiem service at the centennial commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

In view of the denialist mindset of Turkish officials, it is understandable that they would be displeased with the Pope’s factually candid and morally uplifting statement. After all, he is not only the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, but also a head of state. Yet, there was no need for the foreign ministry to get so agitated, since the Vatican recognized the Armenian Genocide twice, in 2000 and 2001.

Turkish officials don’t seem to realize that by overreacting to acknowledgments of the genocide, they are inadvertently promoting the very cause they are trying to undermine. Indeed, the Turkish condemnation of Pope Francis’ statement on the Armenian Genocide was reported by the media worldwide, helping to further publicize the facts of the Armenian Genocide. Ankara’s real intent in slamming anyone in the world who dares to speak out on the Armenian Genocide is to discourage all others from issuing similar statements, particularly in view of the upcoming centennial in 2015.

2) The Greek Parliament angered the Turkish authorities earlier this month when the ruling New Democracy Party, lifting a page from the French legislature, introduced a bill to punish xenophobia and the denial or distortion of genocides recognized by Greece, such as the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust. Violators of the proposed law would face up to 3 years of imprisonment and a fine of 5,000-20,000 euros. The Greek Parliament recognized the Armenian Genocide in 1996. Even though there has not been any public statements by Turkish officials against the newly introduced resolution, it is almost certain that pressure is being applied through Turkey’s ambassador in Athens and other diplomatic channels.

3) Ukrainian Parliamentary members Arsen Avakov, of the opposition Batkivshchina Fatherland Party, and Vilen Shatvoryan and Nver Mkhitaryan, of the ruling Party of Regions, introduced a resolution on June 6 calling for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Azernews reported that Azerbaijanis living in Ukraine protested outside the parliament against this resolution. A letter signed by several Azerbaijani organizations in Ukraine was sent to President Victor Yanukovych, claiming that the resolution is “of serious concern to the Turkic-speaking people of Ukraine, especially Azerbaijanis…and a serious blow to Azerbaijan and Turkey.” According to well-informed sources in Ukraine, the Turkish government is behind the Azeri protests, including the strong reaction from Mustafa Dzhemilev, the chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars and a member of the Ukrainian Parliament.

Despite the persistence of domestic instability, Turkish officials have continued to project their denialist policies around the globe, interfering with the internal affairs of other states. One would hope that the international community would reject the Erdogan regime’s pompous and arrogant attitude, as it is being rejected at home by large segments of the Turkish population.

The Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is considering a Genocide Education measure for the high schools. Working with one of the sponsors of the original measure, the reference to and teaching of the Armenian Genocide was included. Unfortunately—but not surprisingly—the Turks heard about it. A Turkish official has been making the rounds of the state’s Senators and Representatives (but not the original group!) and I have been informed that more than one bill is in the works—and none will include any reference to the Armenian Genocide!

Therefore, I am writing in hopes that readers of this publication residing in Pennsylvania will write to their State Senators and State Representatives urging them to be sure that the reference to and study of the Armenian Genocide be a part of any bill that comes before the Legislature. Readers who have relatives in Pennsylvania are urged to contact them and ask them to get involved.

The length of the letter is up to the individual, but it should include the facts that:

1. Unbiased historians and countless historical organizations accept without qualification that the Armenian Genocide was the first state-conceived, state-planned, state-executed genocide of the 20th century.

2. The steps that the Ottoman Turks undertook for the genocide set the template for future genocides.

3. When he was asked to explain the word “genocide,” which he coined, Raphael Lemkin said, “What the Turks did to the Armenians, and the Nazis did to the Jews.” In that interview, Lemkin explained that he had begun to pursue the task of making “genocide” an international crime when he was a law student, in the early 1920’s, and learned about the events in Ottoman Turkey, during World War I.

4. With the Centenary of the start of the genocide fast approaching, Pennsylvania, with the inclusion of the genocide, will have paid due homage to the 1.5 million Armenians who were killed.

Readers can explain that any study of genocide must begin with that of the Armenians, or it will be incomplete. Although the key, original legislators have been provided with this material, if readers have material to spare, include it with the letter. Community members can also indicate that they will be following up on the matter, and offer to provide more information as needed. Offer to meet during the summer break.

Be aware that this is a major battle. The Turks have failed to get similar measures removed from the education curriculum of other states, so their tactic is to ensure that nothing about the Armenian Genocide appears on any education program in the first place.

If we are successful, this could well be one of the key achievements of the Centenary in April 2015—100 years since the beginning of the genocide.

Avedis Kevorkian
Philadelphia, Pa.

You’re all invited to dinner with Robyn and Doug Kalajian inside their Armenian Kitchen online.

Chief cooks Doug and Robyn Kalajian happen to be celebrating an auspicious occasion with another delectable meal and perhaps a bottle of champagne.

They’re toasting a happy marriage as well as a happy website that has caught the attention of its one millionth page viewer.

“Raise the glasses and bring out the special tableware for this occasion,” bubbles Robyn. “What a milestone! You could knock us over with a feather.”

The big day arrived May 27 when the website registered 547 hits, a tad less than the previous day, which received 931. Over May, the site registered 27,580 views, and passed the million mark by 331.

It has anything and everything you wanted to know about Armenian food a million times over and still counting.

Among the latest queries was from Mark Gavoor with his oud in hand. He represents the voice of Chicago with an appetite to match, especially when it comes to such delectables as perper salata, Kharpert kufteh and topig. Just like medzmama’s cooking!

He has this to say about the Kalajians:

“Their Armenian Kitchen blog is an Armenian-American treasure. Their passion for the preservation and dialogue of our culinary roots is nonpareil. I wish I were more of a cook than simply an avid fan of results of Armenian cooking pros like Doug and Robyn. If I were, I’d certainly take advantage of their wonderful and voluminous collection of recipes. Maybe one day.”

Whether it’s their concoctions, a friend’s, or from another’s cookbook, it’s all up there for people to enjoy, says Gavoor.

“The Kalajians provide great stories and give ample credit to wherever the recipes may originate from,” he adds.

Their website—www.TheArmenianKitchen.com—shares everything you want to know about Armenian food one recipe and story at a time, whether it’s Aunt Arpie’s deviled eggs or Gavoor’s amazing cheese puff/bourag called “penerli.”

Put on an apron, wash your hands, and join the Kalajians on their epicurean journey.

“Armenian recipes are as varied as their regions and dialects,” agrees Robyn. “No two choreg recipes are alike. Food connects us across all boundaries. We like to think we’re preserving our heritage one recipe at a time.”

We caught up with the Kalajians in the comfort of their kitchen. No doubt, it’s their favorite room. And with the electronic era, they share it with the world.

Doug, too, is absolutely dumbstruck by the overall popularity of his nutmeg. As he understands it, the stats mean his website has been clicked on over a million times by almost 300,000 different readers.

“It tells us that people keep coming back,” he says. “We know this because Google tracks visits automatically and tells us what stories they read and where they may live, right down to the village in China, Africa, or the Middle East. It’s been an amazing journey over these past five years.”

Other remote areas include Mongolia, Laos, Iceland, Uzbekistan, and United Arab Emirates. A man from Australia was so desperate for the taste of basterma, he sought the recipe. A woman from Canada sent along an easy method of making madzoon in a microwave. Others are hoping to find lost family recipes.

Doug worked as an editor, reporter, and feature writer for over 16 years with the Palm Beach Post before retiring in 2008 from what he calls “a sadly shrinking newspaper industry.”

Along the way, he wrote a non-fiction book called Snow Blind about a crusading public defender caught up in Florida’s cocaine insanity of the 1980’s.

Robyn, a retired culinary arts teacher, remains the chief cook with this production duet; her husband calls himself a sous chef. Dining with them in an elaborate Florida restaurant is quite the appetizer.

“I’m absolutely dumbstruck by the overall popularity of YouTube, which has displaced traditional TV for so many people,” Doug points out.

Most popular so far is how to make shish kebab with more than 65,000 views. More so than the website, the videos seem to draw a diverse audience that includes many non-Armenians. The reaction has been powerful and sometimes overwhelming.

“Our cooking videos have been watched more than 230,000 times by viewers from around the world.” Doug notes that some videos have also become a lightning rod.

“There’s a furious international food fight being carried out among various groups claiming the identity and origin of dishes from throughout the Near and Middle East,” he confirms. “Armenian cuisine is under heavy fire, particularly from Azerbaijan and Turkey. The comments get downright nasty sometimes, but I rarely feel the need to reply because Armenian viewers jump in quickly with their own response.”

The Kalajians remain content to leave questions about the food industry to the experts while they try to satisfy a clear desire among Armenians to share their recipes and the traditions they represent.

One lesson that’s been driven home is that the Armenian menu is incredibly varied because it reflects the far-reaching experiences and travels of the Armenian people over centuries.

“Our cuisine is still evolving as Armenians adapt to the changing world,” he agrees. “Ask Armenians from Yerevan and Lebanon to describe a typical meal and you may get very different answers. But you might find the same divergence between two Armenians from New Jersey if one family came from Dikranagerd and the other from Van.”

After starting the website in March 2009 with nothing more than the thought of sharing recipes with an unknown global audience, it’s become an evolving turnstile.

“We always wanted to work on something together,” they said. “Robyn’s knowledge of food and cooking with my writing skills was an obvious conclusion.”

The Kalajians are based in Boynton Beach, where they cook and write. Both are involved with St. David’s Armenian Church and piped into the Armenian community. They’ve connected people with recipes, specific ingredients, and other curiosity-seekers. Through their website, they found a cousin named Maro Nalabandian, a noted pastry chef.

“I’d heard about her family over the years but we’d never met until this past April,” said Robyn. “The passion for food must be in our genes.”

Baking the distinctive cheese bread recipe that Robyn learned from her grandmother not only brings back memories, it gives the Kalajians a small taste of the little village in the shadow of Musa Dagh, which her ancestors left nearly a century ago.

A plea for assistance came from Tigran Shahverdyan, a scientist from Moscow participating in the International Space University’s studies program at Florida Institute of Technology.

He didn’t have a car and needed to know where the nearest Middle Eastern store was located. He wished to buy lavash for a cultural project to which he was committed. Being the only Armenian in the group, he wanted to do an Armenian-style barbeque.

Using her computer, Robyn located a store near his school that sold lavash and passed on the information diligently, much to the delight of the faculty and students.

“We’ve posted recipes related to certain Armenian traditions, celebrations, and holidays,” she brought out. “Our main purpose continues to find and preserve Armenian family-style recipes. Sometimes, it’s a challenge with regional dialect and recipe name/spelling differences, but we’re always up for that. At times, we turn to readers for help and someone usually comes to the rescue.”

The Kalajians would love to publish their own cookbook but the idea always seems to find “the back burner.” Yet, it’s not out of the question. A calendar has been suggested and that’s another possibility. It’s just a matter of time and timing.

As for television, that’s highly unlikely. They’ll stick to their YouTube videos for now. In the meantime, they’ll focus on being an interactive site that reaches far beyond their wildest dreams.

Suren Khachatryan

Tigran, 19, is reportedly being held at the Nubarashen penitentiary. He and his father’s bodyguard, Zarzand Nikoghosyan, were arrested following the murder of former mayoral candidate Avetik Budaghyan, 43, on June 1. They have been charged with murder (under Article 104 section 2 of Armenia’s criminal code) and the illegal possession of weapons (Article 235 section 1).

Governor Khachatryan, whose name has been linked with violent incidents in the southern province, applied to leave his post until the conclusion of the preliminary investigation, although the law does not allow that. The government accepted his resignation on June 6.

The shooting also left Artak Budaghyan, the brother of the deceased and a commander of a Karabagh army battalion, seriously injured. He was shot three times according to his doctors. Nikolay Abrahamyan, a relative of Governor Khachatryan and one of his bodyguards, also suffered injuries.

“[Budaghyan] was armed and he attacked. [My son] defended himself,” the governor told a reporter.

During the night of the incident, the Budaghyan brothers were reportedly at a lakeside party attended by dignitaries including Karabagh President Bako Sahakyan; Governor Khachatryan and his entourage were also there. An argument between Khachatryan and Avetik Budaghyan that night has been cited as the reason behind the shooting.

Governor office interprets events

On June 5, the governor’s office published a version of the events to, as it claims, set the record straight and counter “doubtful” accounts of what happened—accounts that aim to “distort reality,” “mislead the public,” and build tensions in Syunik and, specifically, Goris.

According to officials at the governor’s office who reviewed the security tape from June 1, his two sons came home at 10 p.m. in separate cars; the governor himself returned at 10:16 p.m., and does not appear in the tape thereafter. At 10:36 p.m., Avetik Budaghyan drove up to the house. The two sons, their driver, and two bodyguards approached him. They talked for 2-3 minutes; tensions ran high. The governor’s wife, Loretta Barseghyan, walked over, and soon Budaghyan drove away. At 11:06 p.m., Budaghyan returned to the house. The same five men and Loretta approached him again. A few minutes later, a second car approached. Commander Artak Budaghyan got out of the car and according to the governor’s office—opened fire on the group. The group dispersed, while Loretta moved towards Artak Budaghyan and grabbed his gun, in an effort to either take it away or prevent him from shooting. Budaghyan managed to get away from Loretta. Avetik Budaghyan then attempted to stop his brother, but both fell over. Avetik, visibly hurt, stood up. Nikolay Abrahamyan, the governor’s bodyguard, jumped him from behind and took away his gun. Avetik then pulled out another gun and fired at Nikolay, who fell to the ground and stayed there. Avetik tried to move up the driveway, but shots were fired at him; the shooters, however, weren’t captured on tape. Avetik pulled back, fired one more shot towards the gate, and fell to the ground. (The governor’s office fails to mention here that Avetik Budaghyan, it appears, was shot in the back.) During this entire time, Artak Budaghyan remained on the ground. By 11:30 p.m., the injured were taken to the hospital.

To view footage from the security cameras published by A1+, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTy4AYsMhfU.

Justice denied ushers in more violence

In the interim, former Deputy Governor Ara Dolunts has been appointed as acting governor. The Armenian media has responded to the governor’s temporary leave—and the possibility of a fair trial—with cynicism.

“Suren Khachatryan doesn’t picture himself holding a different position and he is hoping that, after the conclusion of the preliminary investigation and after he presents the incident as a case of self-defense, he is once again going to get away with it,” wrote Jamanag Daily on June 13.

ARF-Dashaktsutyun Parliamentary faction leader Armen Rustamyan has attributed the violence to the failures of the justice system, which by its very failure encourages citizens to take justice into their own hands. “There is an environment of impunity in the Syunik Province, and naturally this is not the first time that we hear of such things,” Rustamyan was quoted as saying. “There is no end in sight for this, because a real justice system is yet to be established, so that people can resolve their disputes in a lawful manner.” Speaking in parliament on June 14, he urged his colleagues to follow the case closely so that the guilty can be brought to justice.

Haroutune Misserlian receives proclamation.

The flag was raised to the singing of “Mer Hairenik” as city officials and members of the Armenian community of New Jersey looked on.  A proclamation was read and presented to Haroutune Misserlian, an educator, lecturer, and active community leader for the last four decades in the New York and New Jersey communities. Misserlian accepted the proclamation as a representative of the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of New Jersey.

Local resident Vergine Tegrarian established this annual observance 15 years ago when she presented the city with the Armenian flag used in the ceremony.

Very Rev. Vazken Karayan of Holy Cross Church in Union City concluded the ceremony with a prayer. The event was followed by a reception.

A group of dedicated women held a successful luncheon to benefit FAR project.

More than 130 enthusiastic supporters attended, including Honorary Chairperson Sirvart Hovnanian, whose husband Kevork Hovnanian was one of the founders, chairman, and lifetime honorary chairman of the Fund for Armenian Relief. It was organized by the Friends of the Fund for Armenian Relief’s Children’s Center, a group of 14 selfless New Jersey women who started a committee a few years ago following the request of Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese (Eastern), to help in this very crucial endeavor. The Chart House event began with warm welcoming remarks by Committee co-chairperson Sylva Torosian, who related that each time the committee ladies had a function, such as a birthday or baby shower, the donations were given to the Children’s Center instead of used for personal gifts. “Our children are our future, and you can make it possible, one child at a time,” she said.

Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian delivered the invocation, and read an inspiring message from the Primate who was unable to attend due to his presence at a meeting in Etchmiadzin. “Since its inception in 2000, the FAR Children’s Center has truly lived up to its mission, leading the way in the area of child protection in the capital city of Yerevan, and creating a safe haven for our homeland’s most vulnerable children,” the Primate’s message read. “Thousands of formerly ‘at-risk’ children have discovered care, affection, encouragement, and dignity through the Children’s Center. Their transformed lives are the measure of the center’s success, and the result of your generous support.”

In her thoughtful remarks, Annette Choolfaian, FAR vice-chairperson, recounted the situation of Armenia’s children in the late 1990’s, which led to the creation of the Center. “The police took children, many walking in the streets with no home, and threw them in a room like an akhor (hovel). And so the FAR Children’s Center was born with the support of the FAR Board of Directors and Archbiship Khajag Barsamian, thereby changing the future of Armenia’s most vulnerable children. The hovel was developed into a caring and loving home,” she stated with emphasis.

Since 2000, the center has helped 7,000 children, and child protection laws have been enacted. “One can see the dramatic changes in a child a month or two later,” Choolfaian said, adding that “Armenia has gone through great shock affecting people, but especially the children who are the recipients of a positive or negative future. And this year a major program has been started by FAR affecting poverty in a whole village, with a full infrastructure program.” Concluding her remarks, she said with obvious emotion, “Stay with us and help us. It is crucial for the future of Armenia.”

In a brief message, Garnik Nanagoulian, the executive director of the Fund for Armenian Relief, expressed appreciation to the Primate, to Sirvart Hovnanian, to the co-chairs of the Friends of the Children’s Center, Silva Torosian and Nadia Gharibian, and to all the supporters of this vital project. The occasion concluded with the benediction by Very Rev. Fr. Papken Anoushian, pastor of St. Thomas Armenian Church in Tenafly, N.J.

The event also included a fashion show, dubbed “Posh Boutique,” presented by Linda Gezdir, and featured the latest fashions by a group of young Armenian women, as well as a silent auction of lovely gifts donated by the members of the Friends of the FAR Children’s Center. Also participating and donating a percentage of their sales for the Children’s Center were the owners of the following booths: chocolates (La Vie En Chocolat, Ani Aghjayan), jewelry (Paris, Talin Medzadourian; Atlantis Jewelry, Arsham and Arakel Bekarian; Chanour, Sebastian & Chanour), and jeweled handbags (Hana Bag, Jacob).

The Yerevan Children’s Center is the only institution in Armenia that performs crisis intervention and rehabilitation. The center is also a national full service facility where children and their families can access shelter, counseling, outreach service, healthcare, and legal assistance.

In 2012, the Fund for Armenian Relief and the Friends of the Children’s Center in Armenia sponsored their first major function for the Children’s Center at the Diocese of the Armenian Church in New York, with Dr. Mira Antonyan, the director of the Children’s Center, attending and leading the event. The next major function for the center will take place on the evening of Sat., Nov. 9, at the Armenian Diocese in New York. Tickets will be available in September. For more information, call (212) 889-5150.