Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
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 Committee Chairman Dr. Simon Simonian gave the welcoming remarks and presented an overview of the Armenian language and its key role in the maintenance of Armenian culture.
Honored on the occasion were Armenian language teachers from various schools in the greater Los Angeles area, who were recognized for their dedication to the profession.
The evening included recitations of Armenian poetry (Lorig Artinian and Ellen Vartanyan), performances on the duduk (Ruben Harutyunyan), violin (Meruzhan Margarian), kanun (Alexandra and Lilia Yaralian) and a series of Armenian ethnographic dances by the Zvartnots Dance Ensemble, under the direction of Vartan and Armin Aghajanian.
The theme for the evening was the Armenian language and its role in the vitality of the Armenian culture. Prof. Der Mugrdechian discussed the challenges in maintaining Western Armenian in a world which is constantly changing. He challenged the audience to look to the future to guarantee the survival of Western Armenian, by making the language accessible to the new generations. Speaking in both Armenian and English, Prof. Der Mugrdechian noted how the Armenian culture was also a means for the persistence of the Armenian people.
Remarks were made by H.E. Ambassador Dr. Armen Baibourtian, Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles, who shared his experiences in bringing greater awareness of Armenian culture to the American community in Los Angeles.
Concluding remarks were made by the Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Yardemian, representing Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.