Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Staff Report
Last year Dr. Sergio La Porta was awarded a sabbatical for the Fall semester of 2014. He spent it in Rome, Italy, pursuing research and working with a colleague there. His family also joined him for the semester. When asked why he chose Rome, Dr. La Porta responded that it provided him with the opportunity to work with Dr. Zaroui Pogossian, an Armenian colleague, who teaches at John Cabot University in Rome. They are editing, translating, and commenting upon a text called the “Vision of Agat‘on,” a prophecy about the end of the world, that exists in different versions.
Dr. La Porta remarked that he really enjoyed being involved in the collaborative project which they plan to publish as a book. “Dr. Pogossian is a wonderful scholar,” he said, “and it was a pleasure to be able to hash ideas out with each other.”
During his stay, he also conducted research at the Pontificio Instituto Orientale, finished an article on Armenian monasticism, and presented a paper at an international conference on the Church of the Holy Cross on Aghtamar held in Paris.
Although Dr. La Porta was pleased with the work he was able to get done while on his sabbatical, he noted that the highlight for him was to see his children go to public school in Rome and learn to adapt to living in a new language and culture.
Their school in Rome, he said, “was incredibly warm and supportive and we all had a marvelous time.” He was also able to take them to their grandfather’s town in Sicily and meet their relatives.