News

Christine Pambukyan Staff Writer “My objective wasn’t then just simply to provide more translations of an Armenian writer’s work. I had two ideas in mind. One was to try to reorient Armenian cultural and social concentrations, especially in Armenian-Turkish history and the other was to introduce a new and kind of coherent way of producing translations from Armenian literature,” explained ...

Sara Beberian Staff Writer We often forget how important words are. Our choice of words and the way we use certain words can greatly influence the impact our story has on others. How does one begin to describe a genocide? A completely traumatic event that tears apart homes, families, and everything that is familiar… if the word “genocide” does not ...

Carina Tokatian Staff Writer Walking into “Kef Time Fresno” felt like entering any Armenian’s nirvana. There was lavish food, spirited conversations, lively laughter, warm hugs, and smiling faces everywhere. Most of all, there was the lively group of dancers and musicians—the stars of the evening—who offered any spectator a taste of sublimity. “Kef Time Fresno” was held on the evening ...

Staff Report A delegation of Yerevan State University (YSU) administrators and faculty, headed by YSU President Dr. Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, visited the Fresno State campus on Wednesday, February 2. Accompanying Dr. Hovhannisyan were Dr. Alexander Markarov, Head of the International Cooperation Office of YSU and Dr. Vahagn Aglyan, Director of the American Studies Center at YSU. The group was hosted at ...

Staff Report The Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State has a long and distinguished history. Armenian and Armenian Studies courses have been taught at Fresno State for more than fifty years. The Program was established in 1977 and over the years the has developed an international reputation in terms of excellence in teaching, quality of scholarship, and active student and ...

Sosse Baloian Staff Writer “We know about our identity from reading the stories of our writers,” said Professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian. “Without that literature and history, it would be difficult to understand Armenian identity.” On Sunday, January 16, 2022, Prof. Der Mugrdechian gave a talk on “Armenian Literature and Identity” at St. Apkar Armenian Apostolic Church in Scottsdale, Arizona. Prof. ...

Eddy Thurber Staff Writer The International Court of Justice (ICJ) rules against Azerbaijan on all counts! Armenia won a landmark victory in a hearing brought before the ICJ on the basis of urgency and the need for immediate relief. The court made three orders to secure the safety of Armenian prisoners of war, the cessation of hate speech and violence ...

Staff Report Treasures of Faith : Sacred Relics and Artifacts from the Armenian Orthodox Churches of Istanbul Co-authored with Marlene Breu (2015)   Ronald Thomas Marchese, 74, of Forest Lake, formerly of Duluth, MN and Fresno, CA, after an unexpected cancer diagnosis passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 3, 2021 after spending his last day with his son and daughter ...

Violeta Agabekyan Recreation Administration Minor in Armenian Studies   What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course? My strong interest in my culture encouraged me. I wanted to learn more about the Armenian culture, and in doing so I learned about the history of Armenia, the meaning of being Armenian, and the importance of keeping my culture alive. What ...

Staff Report The Zvartnots Cultural Committee of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church marked its 10th Anniversary Celebration with a cultural program on Sunday, November 7, 2021, at the St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church, in Pasadena. The keynote speaker for the evening was Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Berberian Coordinator of the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State. Zvartnots Cultural ...