News

Staff Report There is an exciting new exhibit to see this year at the Fresno County Historical Museum, featuring the works of one of Fresno’s most iconic artists, Varaz Samuelian. On Saturday, September 3, a special preview of the exhibit was held and attracted a crowd of hundreds. This was the first time some of Varaz’s paintings had ever been ...

Lena Maranian Adishian, for copies of Impact of an Ancient Nation: Bridging the Past, Present, and Future with 100+ Facts about Armenia and the Armenians (The 100 Years, 100 Facts Project, 2016), 140 pp., in English, and with lavish photographs. Created by Lena Maranian Adishian and written by Nareg Seferian. The book brings to life historical episodes, notable individuals, diaspora ...

Tatiana Samouie Biology Minor in Armenian Studies   What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course? Through my involvement in the Armenian community, I wanted to learn more about our history, traditions, and heritage in a more academic manner. After taking the first semester of Armenian language, I wanted to continue and to pursue a Minor in Armenian Studies. ...

Michael Mazman Staff Writer On Wednesday, April 6, 2022, Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian gave a presentation titled, “The Armenian Genocide: Lessons for the 21st Century” during the 10th Annual Genocide Awareness Week that took place at Arizona State University, April 4-8, 2022. His discussion, which emphasized the lessons learned from studying the Armenian Genocide, was delivered in-person and also livestreamed ...

Christine Pambukyan Staff Writer “Thank you to everyone for coming to our concert. It is our first time in Fresno, and the audience is great so far,” said Boris Allakhverdyan after performing his first piece. On Saturday, April 2, 2022, clarinetist Boris Alkakhverdyan and his wife Alin Allakhverdyan performed as part of the “Celebration of Clarinet Featuring Boris Allakhverdyan & ...

Carina Tokatian Staff Writer “The Persian Empire has been a major empire throughout history” stated Dr. Richard Hovannisian. He found the Empire’s long existence impressive, but also notable that Armenians “have lived here century after century”—a presence that can be traced as far back as the pre-Christian era. On Wednesday, April 20, the Armenian Studies Program invited Dr. Richard Hovannisian ...

Andrew Hagopian Editor “I was born in Sushi in 2012. I was going to school-the third grade. I used to go to Djzdrduz (Hunot Canyon, Shushi) and pick lillies. Our house in Shushi was the best. I wanted to protect my homeland Shushi.” These are the thoughts and words of a 10-year-old boy expressing his emotions for his homeland in ...

Staff Report The Tekeyan Cultural Association Metro Los Angeles Chapter marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Tekeyan Cultural Association with a book launch and cultural event on Friday, March 11. The Tekeyan Cultural Association was officially established on March 10, 1947, in Beirut, Lebanon. Master of Ceremonies Mihran Toumajan introduced the special guests in attendance including Glendale ...

Christine Pambukyan Staff Writer “Komitas, a survivor of the Genocide and a symbol of the Armenian people, used the power of music to assert life,” proclaimed pianist Dr. Michael Krikorian, as he explained the meaning behind the name of his ensemble, the “Komitas Trio.” On Friday, March 4, 2022, the Philip Lorenz International Keyboard Concert Series, the Fresno State Armenian ...

Eddy Thurber Staff Writer On Thursday, March 31, 2022, the Armenian Studies Program had the honor of hosting Dr. Artyom Tonoyan for a Zoom webinar on “Black Garden Aflame: The Nagorno-Karabagh Conflict in the Soviet and Russian Press.” A sociologist by training, Dr. Tonoyan focuses on researching the intersection between religion and nationalism in Russia and the Caucasus. He received ...