Around Town

Watertown Churches Holding Services to Pray for Armenian Soldiers, Peace in Artsakh

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Flag of Artsakh

Two Armenian Churches will hold prayer services this week for the soldiers in Armenia and Artsakh who have been fighting in an ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan. The current military conflict began in late September in the area known as Artsakh (formerly Nagorno-Karabakh), an area of mostly ethnic Armenians. The area was placed within the borders of Azerbaijan when it was part of the Soviet Union, but is governed by ethnic Armenians as the Republic of Artsakh. Tensions date back decades, and a six year war was fought from 1988-94

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the St.

Around Town

Congresswoman Clark Condemns Attacks on Armenians by Azerbaijan

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Flag of Artsakh

Recent attacks on ethnic Armenians by Azerbaijan were called “reprehensible” by Congresswoman Katherine Clark, whose district includes Watertown. The fighting began Sunday in the area known as Artsakh (formerly Nagorno-Karabakh), an area of mostly ethnic Armenians. The area was placed within the borders of Azerbaijan when it was part of the Soviet Union, but is governed by ethnic Armenians as the Republic of Artsakh. Tensions have been ongoing for three decades and there was a six-year military conflict from 1988-94, according to the Wall Street Journal. Clark called out Azerbaijan for violating the ceasefire and called for suspending military aid to Azerbaijan.

Around Town

Books, Media on Armenian History & Culture Featured at Nearby Library

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The following piece was provided by freelance writer David Boyajian:

During April 2019 the Belmont Public Library is displaying a selection of books, DVDs, and CDs on the Armenian Genocide and Armenian history and culture. Library Director Peter Struzziero and his staff facilitated the display whose items can be borrowed by patrons. 

The display has so far included The History of the Armenian Genocide by Vahakn Dadrian; Killing Orders by Taner Akçam; Architects of Denial, a film by Dean Cain and Montel Williams; Armenia, the Survival of a Nation by Christopher Walker; Tadem, My Father’s Village by Robert Aram Kaloosdian; Neither to Laugh nor to Weep by Abraham and Vartan Hartunian (the latter was a minister in Belmont); Goodbye, Antouraby Karnig Panian; Treasures from the Ark: 1700 Years of Armenian Christian Art by Vrej Nersessian; Komitas-Aslamazian, a CD by the Chilingarian Quartet; Armenian Folk Arts, Culture, and Identity by Levon Abrahamian and Nancy & Sam Sweezy; The History of Armenia by Simon Payaslian; The Kingdom of Armenia by M. Chahin; Armenia and Karabagh Travel Guide by Matthew Karanian; The Forty Days of Musa Dagh by Franz Werfel; The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian; and other titles. As items are borrowed, additional ones are added. A group of local Armenian Americans conceived the display for Armenian Genocide Commemoration Month. They suggested nearly 40 titles available in the Minuteman Library Network on topics and genres such as the Genocide, history, religion, art, music, film, food, travel, and fiction.

Around Town

Watertown’s Hairenik Press Releases First Translation of Armenian Classic ‘Letter to Yerevan’

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Translators Tatul Sonentz-Papazian (left) and Rupen Janbazian have produced the first English version of the Armenian long-form poem “Letters to Yerevan.” Janbazian is the former editor of Watertown-based Armenian Weekly. Watertown’s Hairenik Press recently announced the first-ever publication of the English translation of Andranik Tzarukian’s long-form poem Letter to Yerevan («Թուղթ առ Երեւան» “Tught ar Yerevan”). 

The translation was a collaborative effort between the former director of the ARF and First Republic of Armenia Archives and former editor of the Armenian Review Tatul Sonentz-Papazian, and former editor of the Watertown-based Armenian Weekly Rupen Janbazian. It features an in-depth introduction by another former editor of the Armenian Weekly and the volume’s English editor, Vahe Habeshian, as well as six original illustrations by Yerevan-based artist Meruzhan Khachatryan. The Armenian language republication was edited by Yeprem Tokjian of Toronto, Canada.

Entertainment

Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Armenian Republic with Film, Dance in Watertown

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The Boston-area Armenian community will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Republic with a weekend of film, music and dance, including two event in Watertown. The schedule of events:

Friday, May 4 — Screening of the film, “State on the Last Piece of Land,” at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (ACEC – 47 Nichols Ave. Watertown, MA). Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the program starts at 8 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Saturday, May 5, Dance with entertainment from Armenia, starring Ruben Sasunci and Gohar Hovhannisyan, who will be in Boston together for the first time!

Armenians

Public Invited to Presentation About Examining Armenian Photographs

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At it’s Thursday, Feb. 2 meeting, World in Watertown welcomes member Ruth Thomasian, President and Founder of Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives, to present an interactive program titled READING PHOTOGRAPHS: Armenians Through the Camera’s Eye. Using photo enlargements from Project SAVE Archives, Ruth will engage her audience in observing, questioning, and thinking critically about what they see in the photos. Topics will include multicultural and human issues as well as details of Armenian life in the homeland and Diaspora. World in Watertown invites the public to attend READING PHOTOGRAPHS at First Parish Church, 35 Church St.

Around Town

106-Year-Old Armenian Genocide Survivor Coming to Watertown

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A 106-year-old woman who survived the Armenian Genocide will be a special guest at an event at the Armenian Library and Museum of America in Watertown. The Genocide Education Project will host a training workshop for high school teachers on how to teach about the Armenian Genocide on June 10 in Watertown. Asdghig “Starrie” Alemian, 106, of Weymouth, will be in attendance at the event, according to a report on the Public Radio of Armenia website. Also speaking at the event will be Sara Cohan of the University of Southern California Shoah Foundation, who will deliver a talk called, “Testimony: The educational power of Armenian Genocide survivor interviews.”

The event will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the ALMA, 65 Main St. in Waterotwn.

Armenian Genocide

Local Groups Taking Part in State Legislature’s Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide

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Each April for the past 31 years, members of the Armenian community along with state legislators and guests have come together at the State House to commemorate the Armenian Genocide, according to State Sen. Will Brownsberger’s office. This year marks the 101st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with the commemoration taking place on Friday, April 22 at 10:30 a.m. in the House Chamber with a program of speakers, music, and honorees. Following the ceremony a reception provided by Ani Catering of Belmont will be held at the Grand Staircase and guests can view a video created especially for this event by filmmaker Roger Hagopian about Armenia and survival of the Armenian nation. The event recognizes the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1923 by the Ottoman Turkish government. This is an opportunity for survivors and Armenian-American descendants to demonstrate their commitment to preserving their culture, religion, and language; working for humanitarian projects and awareness; and striving for recognition of the Armenian Genocide.