Have you ever wanted to travel to Armenia? Why? Andrew Hagopian Freshman I have always wanted to visit our homeland and visit the sites where my ancestors came from. One thing I look forward to seeing is Holy Etchmiadzin because of its significance and connection to the Armenians. I would like to see other Armenian Churches that I learned about ...

Andrew Hagopian Staff Writer Central Valley native and award-winning oud-master Richard Hagopian gave a performance and lecture on Thursday, March 1, titled “Armenian Song Repertoire of the Middle East: Part II.” Accompanying him were his grandsons, Phillip and Andrew Hagopian, who were showcased on the kanun (the Middle Eastern Lap Harp) and the dumbeg (goblet shaped hand drum).  Dr. Partow ...

David Safrazian Staff Writer The Armenians in Turkey today constitute only a small minority compared to the pre-Genocide Armenian population. As such they live interspersed within the larger Turkish community, especially in Istanbul. Thus they also share space in the religious arena, leading to interesting interactions with their neighbors. The St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church, located in Kuzguncuk, Turkey, ...

Gregory Krikorian  Staff Writer Armenians and Germans have had strong cultural relations throughout the years and even to this day. There is evidence that Christian Armenian missionaries traveled to what is today Germany in the 4th c. There is also documentation about the relations between Armenians and Germans that dates to the time of the Crusades in the 11th century. ...

Taleen Babayan Associate Director Communications,  American University of Armenia Special to Hye Sharzhoom As a global academic institution of higher learning, the American University of Armenia (AUA) welcomes students from around the world, particularly study-abroad participants. Thanks to the generosity of the Kashian Family Foundation, undergraduates from California State University, Fresno (Fresno State), spend a semester on AUA’s campus in ...

Dustin Vartanian Staff Writer The celebration of the Battle of Avarayr, and of General Vartan Mamigonian commanding his faithful army and fighting against the Persians continues to this day. The Armenian Apostolic Church annually celebrates this fifth century battle for religious freedom on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent. General Mamigonian died in the Battle of Avarayr, but was ...

Staff Report Armenian Studies Program Berberian Coordinator Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian announced that the Bertha and John Garabedian Foundation has made a generous donation of $10,000 to the Armenian Studies Program for 2019.  Together with previous year’s donations, the Garabedian Foundation has awarded more than $100,000 in grants to the Armenian Studies Program. The gift will be used for a ...

Annie Rubio Editor William Saroyan has long been a prominent figure in Fresno’s history. Recently, his name has become even more pronounced in the community. Ever since the opening of the Saroyan House Museum in August of 2018, there has been a resurgence of interest in his life and career. This led to the premiere of the new documentary, “Lights! ...

Staff Report A co-edited volume by Bedross Der Matossian and Barlow Der Mugrdechian entitled Western Armenian in the 21st Century: Challenges and New Approaches has been recently published by The Press at California State University, Fresno (2019). The book is the first in the newly launched Society for Armenian Studies (SAS) Publication Series published as part of the Armenian Series ...

Christine Pambukyan Staff Writer The Armenian language has been spoken for more than 3,000 years. Armenians, however, were not able to read and write with their own alphabet until a priest, St. Mesrop Mashtots, created a thirty-six-letter alphabet in 406 AD. In the twelfth century, two letters were added to the alphabet to accommodate new sounds introduced to the Armenian ...