This article is part of a continuing series documenting the available records for research into one’s Armenian family roots. Part I in the series supplied a historical background on the Armenian genealogy movement as well as specific records available for Syria. In Part 2, records from Lebanon and Israel were detailed. Part 3 covered the records of Greece and Jordan. Southeast Asia and Serbia were covered in Part 4. 

Turkey

It has now been five years since I first wrote about the use of Ottoman-era population registers in Armenian genealogical research. What began as a limited effort at learning more about the family of my grandfather, from the Western Armenian village of Sakrat in the district of Palu, has turned into extensive research to delve as deeply into what is possible today and what might be in the future.

It is fair to assume that for most Armenian-Americans, like myself, the records pertaining to Western Armenia are of the highest interest, but many share the misconceived notion that all records pertaining to land now part of the Republic of Turkey have been destroyed and nothing more can be learned there about our family histories. But this is not entirely the case.

As was stated in part 1 of this series, new and important information about Armenians living within the Ottoman Empire is continually coming to light.

In part 2 of this series, I explained the extent of available Ottoman population registers for Palestine and in particular Jerusalem. Unfortunately, the same Ottoman-era information has not been made available in Turkey. The government of Turkey only allows access to Ottoman population registers,  accessible in Istanbul and Ankara, for periods prior to 1880. Most of what is available for Armenian-inhabited areas are from even earlier time periods (mostly from 1830 to 1860). This makes it all the more difficult for Armenians, who are curious to uncover their family roots. Bridging the enormous 75-year gap between the available records and our recorded family histories is a nearly insurmountable task. And to add yet another layer of complication: the population registers list only men.

Yet despite these limitations, the information contained in the registers is valuable on many levels. My most extensive discussion of what can be achieved with this information can be found on Houshamadyan’s website. There, I was able to demonstrate the method for rebuilding family trees from the Armenian village of Hazari in the Chmshgadzak district. While the available records for Hazari made it somewhat unique, there are other locations offering similar opportunities.

It is indisputable that these registers have changed what is possible for Armenian genealogy and should the post-1900 data become available, even more can be achieved.

Last February, I detailed the Turkish government’s decision to release a new document called “Alt ÜSt Soy Belgesi̇.” The document, available to each Turkish citizen, will show their lineage as far back as has been linked through the government system. In general, current citizens have a greater ability to access information. This is not only an important development, but also the release of the “Alt ÜSt Soy Belgesi̇” may also signal a willingness to release the last Ottoman population registers upon which they are presumably based. This is long overdue as it has been over 100 years and other countries make such information freely available (for example, the U.S. releases census information after 72 years). The implications for uncovering Armenian ancestry have, thus far, been varied for a number of reasons, which I detail in greater depth in my article.

Before moving on from the available Ottoman records, it should be mentioned that a general search of the archives catalog can also yield results about particular families. Some of the more interesting finds are the photographs.

Beyond the Ottoman records, there do exist a number of Armenian church records. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) microfilmed the records that were available at the time in 1980. The records are cataloged on familysearch.org and can be accessed through the LDS Family History Library.

Unfortunately, Armenian Apostolic Church records have survived essentially for Istanbul and its environs. However, for Istanbul, the information is rich with the sacraments as well as a number of censuses. These censuses appear to be copies of the original Ottoman registers, so for these areas, we have more information available to us.

Outside of Istanbul, the baptismal records from St. Krikor Lusavorich church of Gesaria [Kayseri] are available from 1902. There are also limited records from the church in Iskenderun from after the genocide. I have made great use of the Gesaria records in particular, even for periods after the genocide. For example, just this past month I learned of an Aghjayan family that continued to live in our ancestral village until at least the 1940’s. This was previously unknown to my family and has quickly become a new avenue for my personal research.

There are many other interesting items from the Patriarchate of Istanbul that were microfilmed and included in the LDS collection. One example is the “aristocratic contributors to the vartabedner [unmarried priests] of the monasteries of Lim and Gdoutz (1786-1810).” These sorts of records are ripe for more thorough research.

The midwife records from Aintab were already described in part 2 of this series. However, a register of Aintab baptisms from 1818 to 1825 was located in the Catholicosate of Cilicia archives in Antelias by Khatchig Mouradian. Thus, I still retain hope that more such records exist, but have just not come to light yet.

The records of the Armenian Catholic Church are also available. Beyond the Istanbul vicinity, there exist records for St. Terez church of Angora [Ankara] dating to 1830. While records for the Armenian Catholic church of Mardin only exist beginning in 1919. Still, as already noted, the post-Genocide records can also yield important results.

It is worth noting again the important role played by the memorial books for numerous historic Armenian towns and villages. Diaporan institutions also can be an important resource for your research. For example, Project Save’s photographic archives, the previously mentioned Houshamadyan website and the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) all contain interesting resources that can add both a greater understanding of the life of our ancestors as well as specific information on family members. As just one example, similar genealogy wheels like those used in the article on Hazari can be found in the NAASR archives as well as those of the Armenian Museum of America.

One final note, in 2015 I was able to locate a previously unknown part of my family still living in Turkey. The only way to locate these relatives, separated from us through the trauma of the genocide, was through DNA testing. The window of opportunity is rapidly closing to repair the rupture caused by the Genocide and we must make use of all the modern methods available.

Author information

George Aghjayan

George Aghjayan is the Director of the Armenian Historical Archives and the chair of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Central Committee of the Eastern United States. Aghjayan graduated with honors from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Actuarial Mathematics. He achieved Fellowship in the Society of Actuaries in 1996. After a career in both insurance and structured finance, Aghjayan retired in 2014 to concentrate on Armenian related research and projects. His primary area of focus is the demographics and geography of western Armenia as well as a keen interest in the hidden Armenians living there today. Other topics he has written and lectured on include Armenian genealogy and genocide denial. He is a board member of the National Association of Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), a frequent contributor to the Armenian Weekly and Houshamadyan.org, and the creator and curator westernarmenia.weebly.com, a website dedicated to the preservation of Armenian culture in Western Armenia.

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After I mentioned the topic of this piece in a Facebook posting, a friend was insistent that I do a
full piece on it, so here goes.

“Don’t think of an elephant.”

What just happened in your head? In order to NOT think of an elephant, you, in fact, had to think
of an elephant so you could “not” think about it. The image of an elephant probably flashed
across your mind’s eye.

That phrase, “Don’t think of an elephant” is the title of a very short book by George Lakoff, first
published in 2004, that serves as a guide for activists to advance their agenda by understanding
how people receive and perceive information. He has also published a much longer, scholarly,
“version” of the same analyses titled “Moral Politics”.

The underlying concept is that people have a moral basis for being politically “conservative” or
“liberal” that defines how they process information coming at them from their surroundings.
Lakoff says conservatives have a strict father model in which people are made good through self-
discipline and hard work, everyone is taken care of by taking care of themselves. Liberals have a
nurturant parent model in which everyone is taken care of by helping each other. Most people
have varying degrees of these two in themselves, which helps explain the spectrum we see in
politics. These are what Lakoff calls “frames” through which people “see” the world around
them. But these are not the only frames that exist.

What’s very interesting is that these frames are so solid that even when the facts contradict what
people expect because of their frame, they do not change their minds. Facts just bounce off the
frame!

Perhaps the best way to explain this in an Armenian context is through the example of Turks’
attempts at Genocide denial. Think about it – when a Turkish lobbyist approaches an elected
official and says “There was no Genocide,” what has s/he done? S/he had to use the word
genocide. Once that happens, the elected is thinking about genocide, just like you couldn’t help
but think about an elephant when you read the second sentence of this piece.

That’s how people’s minds work. This applies where the matter in question is a societal issue,
an organization, or even an individual, framing defines perception and understanding.

I would add, from personal experience, that it also matters who gets the first word in. So if two
people have opposing opinions on a topic, the one who speaks second to a third person usually
has a slight disadvantage in getting the third person to come to her/his side.

And that’s what explains, partially, the bind, the hole, the ARF finds itself in at this time. At
least in the Republic of Armenia, a fairly broadly accepted frame is that the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation is no different than the agglomeration of oligarchs it worked with
when in coalition with the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA).

With this as the frame in an otherwise uninformed person’s mind, it is extremely difficult convey
a different notion. If the ARF says “we’re not oligarchs,” what happens? People hear “oligarch”
which is a well-established frame, and the hole has been dug deeper for the organization. If
people hear the ARF very rationally, logically, explain why it was in coalition with the RPA, the
hole gets deeper still, because Serge Sarkissian, the former president, now extremely unpopular,
comes to mind. All the ills associated with him somehow also accrue to the ARF.

So what’s the solution for the ARF? It has to undertake the difficult task of recreating the
enormously positive frame it enjoyed among a significant portion of the population when
Armenia regained its independence. I do not want to underestimate the number of people who
had been duped into an anti-ARF mentality through decades, generations, of Soviet propaganda
which contributes to the negative-ARF frame.

How is this to be done? It is definitely not through public statements which will inescapably fall
victim to this negative frame that exists (and the work of those who for various reasons are
negatively disposed towards the ARF). Only hard, productive, social-political-economic work
will reestablish, in time, a positive frame for the ARF. Just as it seems Nigol Pashinian can do
no wrong at this time because of the positive frame through which he is perceived, thanks to his
diligent activism and public relations savvy, the ARF, too, can improve its standing among the
citizenry.

Quiet, low key, productive, helpful, open, heartfelt, constructive work – that’s the path to
progress for the ARF as a party and though it the country and nation as a whole.
Oh, and every Armenian should buy “Don’t Think of an Elephant” and read it.

Author information

Garen Yegparian

Garen Yegparian is a fat, bald guy who has too much to say and do for his own good. So, you know he loves mouthing off weekly in the Weekly about anything he damn well pleases to write about that he can remotely tie in to things Armenian. He's got a checkered past: principal of an Armenian school, project manager on a housing development, ANC-WR Executive Director, AYF Field worker (again on the left coast), Operations Director for a telecom startup, and a City of LA employee most recently (in three different departments so far). Plus, he's got delusions of breaking into electoral politics, meanwhile participating in other aspects of it and making sure to stay in trouble.

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280 passengers that set sail with the 6th International Cruise of the Armenian Relief Society to Northern European countries and Russia have returned home with exciting memories. The Royal Caribbean “Serenade of the Seas” Cruise began on July 22 from Stockholm and cruised through seven countries in two weeks.

On the first day of the cruise, the passengers had an opportunity to meet with the ARS Chapter in Sweden who had organized a special excursion for them at the Royal Palace, Armenian Church, and the local Armenian Center. The members interacted with the passengers, creating new friendships and learning about their community’s activities.

Then the cruise set sail from Stockholm to Finland, and reached its summit to the historical St. Petersburg, Russia. During the three-days in Russia, the passengers explored the city by visiting several Palaces, Cathedrals, and Museums. Some members even had an opportunity to visit the St. Catherine’s Armenian Church, where with the request of the Archbishop Yezras Nercessian, the Cruise entertainer spontaneously sang Komitas’ “Horovel.”

At sea, when the stars came out, the fun didn’t stop. The ARS had organized four Armenian Kef Nights, with Elie Berberian and his band, who entertained the guests non-stop with his performances in an array of different flavors of music. There was also a special ARS Day program organized where, ARS Central Executive Board Member, Sonia Akellian presented the activities of the ARS to the passengers, which was followed by a session of networking. The passengers also had a chance to explore the countries of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and after making several stops in Denmark, the action-packed vacation came to an end in Copenhagen.

As the 6th International Cruise of the ARS came to an end, the passengers already began asking about the next one. “We are grateful to those who planned their summer vacation with the ARS” stated former ARS Central Executive Board member and Chairperson of the Cruise Committee, Shakeh Basmajian. “Through their participation, they were able to escape ordinary vacations and create memories that last a lifetime, all while supporting their beloved organization.”

The next Tour will be announced soon. To stay up to date, sign up for the ARS newsletter.

Author information

Armenian Relief Society International Inc.

Armenian Relief Society, Inc. (ARS) is an independent, non-governmental and non-sectarian organization which serves the humanitarian needs of the Armenian people and seeks to preserve the cultural identity of the Armenian nation. It mobilizes communities to advance the goals of all sectors of humanity. For well over a century, it has pioneered solutions to address the challenges that impact our society.

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This article is part of a continuing series documenting the available records for research into one’s Armenian family roots. Part I in the series supplied a historical background on the Armenian genealogy movement as well as specific records available for Syria. In Part 2, records from Lebanon and Israel were detailed. Part 3 covered the records of Greece and Jordan. Southeast Asia and Serbia were covered in Part 4. The available information from the Republic of Turkey was explored in Part 5. 

Egypt

The Armenian community of Egypt dates back over 1000 years, though the available records are for more recent periods. In 1906/7, an Armenian census was conducted for Cairo. Over 4000 Armenians are recorded in the census, approximately 25% of them having been born in Egypt.

Through a volunteer effort by members of the Armenian Genealogy Facebook group this census has been subscribed and submitted for inclusion on FamilySearch.org. The hope is this will be the first of many such endeavors. As the database of transcribed records grows, so will the ability to link individuals and families across those records.

The census contains information on the relationship to the head of household, the maiden name for women, occupation, age, birthplace, year of immigration, marital status, citizenship, and residence. The following is a list of the top 10 birthplaces outside of Egypt:

1. Constantinople [Istanbul] 1177
2. Gesaria [Kayseri] 384
3. Arapgir 262
4. Evereg [Develi] 129
5. Sepasdia [Sivas] 119
6. Smyrna [Izmir] 112
7. Agn [Kemaliye] 95
8. Haleb [Aleppo] 84
9. Van 77
10. Dikranagerd [Diyarbakir] 49

The Armenian Apostolic church records for Cairo (St. Krikor Lusavorich church) date from only 1893. However, those for Zagazig, Egypt (St. Asdvadzadzin church) begin in 1864 and Armenian Catholic church records can found for even earlier periods. The church records for Alexandria, Egypt are available beginning in the mid-1800’s.

All of these records, as previously stated, can be found at the Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). They can be accessed most easily at the library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Armenia

In this series, I will not address the libraries and government archives of the Republic of Armenia which undoubtedly contain valuable information for genealogical research. Instead, I will focus on what has been made available through the LDS Family History Library. Thousands of images are now available freely through FamilySearch.org.

It could take a lifetime to review the tens of thousands of images that are now available online. Soon after the independence of Armenia, Gagik Dumanian led efforts to preserve the genealogically relevant material found in Armenia. The first roll was filmed in September of 1993. The project was completed in 2002.

It would be impossible to detail completely all that is available, but, in general, the recording of sacraments as well as various census and land records can be found. Many of the records, particularly the census and land records, are in Russian.

While the church records date back centuries in some cases, they are identified in different ways within the catalog. A complete index is unavailable and the records are organized in such a way that makes it very difficult to locate any specific individual or family. To truly be useful, the significant work must be undertaken to transcribe the information into a searchable database. Nonetheless, the existence and easy accessibility of these records is a major accomplishment.

One source that has yet to come to light is the original registers from the 1897 Russian Imperial Census. Both the time frame and the geographic area covered make this census important. Completed 20 years prior to upheavals caused by the Genocide and World War I, this census would supply an important link in family histories. In addition, regions such as the Kars Oblast, now part of the Republic of Turkey, were included in the enumeration.

From the perspective of the Diaspora, the records of the late 1940’s repatriation to Soviet Armenia are particularly interesting. Those arriving from the United States, Syria, Lebanon, Greece, Egypt, France, as well as other areas, are well documented.

On Jan. 21, 1949, the S.S. Sobieski set sail from New York City with 162 Armenians on board heading to Soviet Armenia. On the ship were Asadour Antaramian, a native of the town of Peri in the Charsanjak district of Kharpert, his wife and two children. Two of their sons had already left for Armenia on a previous ship sailing from the United States. The record of their departure and arrival can be found as confirmation of the journey.

On a personal note, reviewing the records of those who were scheduled to travel from France included an Aghjayan that was previously unknown to me. Peniamin, son of Sarkis Aghjayan and Isgouhi Satulmushian, was born in Gesaria [Kayseri] on Aug. 15, 1913. The close proximity to the hometown of my Aghjayan clan makes it highly likely that Peniamin was a relative. Confusingly, records seem to indicate that Peniamin became a naturalized citizen of France in 1950, thus implying that he was never able to repatriate. The documents mention him having three sons: Roger, George and Jacques. Their years of birth imply that they could still be alive. Unfortunately, all of my efforts to locate them remain unsuccessful thus far.

Author information

George Aghjayan

George Aghjayan is the Director of the Armenian Historical Archives and the chair of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Central Committee of the Eastern United States. Aghjayan graduated with honors from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Actuarial Mathematics. He achieved Fellowship in the Society of Actuaries in 1996. After a career in both insurance and structured finance, Aghjayan retired in 2014 to concentrate on Armenian related research and projects. His primary area of focus is the demographics and geography of western Armenia as well as a keen interest in the hidden Armenians living there today. Other topics he has written and lectured on include Armenian genealogy and genocide denial. He is a board member of the National Association of Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), a frequent contributor to the Armenian Weekly and Houshamadyan.org, and the creator and curator westernarmenia.weebly.com, a website dedicated to the preservation of Armenian culture in Western Armenia.

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BOCA RATON, Fl.—Over 50 members and guests of the Armenian Relief Society, Eastern USA (ARS EUSA) gathered in Florida from August 9 to August 12 to participate in the organization’s 98^th Convention.

The Florida “Sosseh” Chapter, hosts of this year’s Convention, were loudly lauded and applauded for their warm hospitality and outstanding planning. On Thursday night, the opening ceremonies took place at the local hall used by the Southern Florida Armenian community for their events. Welcoming remarks were extended by the Chairperson of the Convention Committee, Ungh. Mary Andonian, followed by Talin Daghlian, Chair of the Board of Directors of the ARS EUSA.

Congratulatory remarks and words of encouragement were extended by representatives of the sister organizations. Ung. Jano Avedissian, representing the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Eastern Region Central Committee touched upon the scope of the work of the ARS and its continued dedication to serving the Armenian people worldwide.

The delegates were moved by the message of Kaliana Maronian, the Armenian Youth Federation representative who described her experience as a staff member at Camp Javakhk, located in the Armenian enclave in the Republic of Georgia. Closing remarks and prayer were offered by His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church. At the conclusion of his address, the Serpazan led the attendees in a moving rendition of Giligia.

The meeting officially began on Thursday with the election of the Convention Chairpersons: Unghs. Seda Aghamianz (Cambridge Shushi) and Mayda Melkonian (Watertown Leola Sassouni). Representing the Central Executive of the Armenian Relief Society was Ungh. Silva Takvorian Kouyoumdjian. Ungh. Annie Ohanian, Chairperson of ARS of Canada was also in attendance representing her Region. Board guests to the Convention were Ung. Heather Krafian and Unger Khatchig Mouradian.

Included in the domestic programs are support of Camp Haiastan, Norian Youth Connect, Graduate and Undergraduate Scholarships, Essay Contest for Armenian School Students, and Armenian National Educational Council (ANEC).

Projects in Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk include Syrian Armenian Families in Armenia; Syrian Armenian Students Studying in Armenia; Amanor Program; Sponsor a Child Program, Orphan Educational Fund; Sponsor a Bed – Save a Life; Meds Tagher Soseh Kindergarten; Stepanagerd Soseh Kindergarten; Mother and Child Clinic and Birthing Center and Javakhk Camp.

The Financial Report was well received. It reflected the robust nature of the financial controls which are allowing the organization to support so many programs and yet protect the investment portfolio.

The Convention delegates once again expressed their appreciation for all of the benefactors who have throughout the years been major supporters of the organization. The funds received along with the monies that comes from the local chapters allows the ARS EUSA to continue its mission of serving the humanitarian needs of the Armenian people, here in the United States as well as in the homeland.

After reviewing the past year’s work, the delegates focus on short term and long term initiatives. Many plans were initiated some focused on internal issues and others on expanding programs.

On an organizational level, it was decided to expand the social media presence of the organization not only on a regional level but also on a chapter one. Also discussed were integrating new meet-up methods and updating the types of activities. The importance of the establishment of Chapter historians who can gather archives and chronicle the chapters’ history was stressed.

The status of our elderly who are living alone was another focus of the Convention discussion. After an exchange of experiences and events, the delegates reaffirmed their commitment to assist the elderly in our communities in a number of ways, including visits, providing transportation and escorting them to special events and meetings.

In relation to efforts in Armenia, the Convention expressed its desire to explore ways and means to develop and underwrite a health and wellness education to be disseminated through the Mother and Child Clinic in Akhourian. The programs will focus on women and children issues, psychological/ emotional support, medical intervention and family education.

A recommendation was made to begin investigating the feasibility of fundraising to sponsor athletic activities and a field for the Nigol Aghpalian School in Akhourian which was built by the ARS EUSA after the 1988 Earthquake.

A lengthy debate took place regarding the state of Armenian schools. It was agreed that it has become a challenge in today’s busy world to have children and parents commit to spending a few hours a week learning the Armenian language. Various suggestions were made to improve curriculum as well as teaching methods.

In addition to the business sessions, the delegates were hosted to a number of social activities organized by the Florida Chapter. These activities not only gave delegates a pause from the meetings but also an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make new ones.

The meeting concluded with the elections. Ungh.Talin Daghlian, outgoing Chairperson, and Ungh. Sonia Bezdikian, outgoing Advisor, were widely applauded for their efforts during the past 4 years for their service on the ARS Regional Board. In particular, Ungh. Daghlian for her leadership and Ungh. Sonia for her outstanding fundraising ability on behalf of the organization.

Ungh. Sandra Vartanian (NY Erebouni) and Ungh. Johanna Chilingirian (Cambridge Shushi) were reelected for another 2 –year term. Newly elected to serve a 2-year term were Ungh. Heather Krafian (Cambridge Shushi) and Ungh. Maral Nakashian (Washington Satenig).  They will join Ungh. Ani Attar (Detroit, Tsolig), MaryAnne Bonjuklian (NJ Bergen County), Silva Sagherian (Detroit Tsolig) who are still serving their terms. Elected as Alternates were Ungh. Helena Bardakjian (Detroit Zabel) and Ungh. Mary Andonian (Florida Sosseh).

The Convention expressed its deepest appreciation to the FY 2018 Board and the ARS EUSA Executive Director, Ungh. Vartouhie Chiloyan, and applauded their work and dedication to advancing the mission of the ARS.

The Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA is grateful to all who inspire us with their warm generosity, thoughts and actions, without whom we could not help people globally, as well as in our local communities, through our many programs and projects.

The Armenian Relief Society is a not for profit charitable organization. Please join us, become a member, or simply come and support our events and programs. For more information, visit www.arseastusa.org

Author information

Armenian Relief Society Eastern U.S.

The ARS Eastern USA has 32 chapters located throughout the New England, Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern, and Southeastern regions of the United States. Please contact the ARS Eastern U.S. Regional Office (arseastus@gmail.com) if you would like more information about a chapter near you.

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Last week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Media reports indicated that her visit to Armenia and meetings with its leadership were very constructive. Armenian-German political, cultural and trade relations are expected to expand. Merkel’s visit resulted in a much needed boost for Armenia’s new democratic government.

Author information

Harut Sassounian

Harut Sassounian is the publisher of The California Courier, a weekly newspaper based in Glendale, Calif. He is the president of the United Armenian Fund, a coalition of the seven largest Armenian-American organizations. He has been decorated by the president and prime minister of the Republic of Armenia, and the heads of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic churches. He is also the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

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It took me several years to realize this, but Friday is the busiest day at the AYF Olympics. Tennis and Golf take place during the day; swimming events are held early in the evening; the day is capped off with the Alumni Dance; and after all that—for those who still have the energy—there is a hook-up.

When the day dawned, it looked like it might be a washout for the golf and tennis competitions. It was raining and the forecast did not look favorable. In fact, the forecast for the entire weekend had not been looking very good for the past week. Tennis seemed to have the most to lose from this precarious weather situation.The rain made the courts all wet and the players were forced to spend an hour squeegeeing the courts before they could even warm-up. But, thankfully, they were able to play. The women completed all of their matches with the New Jersey continuing their dominance for a third year in a row

1. Ana Bandazian – New Jersey
2. Lina Ariyan – New Jersey
3. Katia Ariyan – New Jersey
4. Kenar Charchaflian – Worcester

On the men’s side, third place went to Nareg Mkrtschian of Providence; Kyle Dinkjian of New Jersey was fourth. First and second place will be determined on Saturday at the tennis courts at the same park where the softball games will be played.

Golf was taking place in New Jersey (where somehow—as soon as we crossed the bridge, the rain stopped). I am not sure if anyone has more fun competing at the AYF Olympics than the golfers do. While golf is a game of skill, stamina, and focus, it is also a very social game, and the only event in which alumni are invited to participate, as well. It is also the only event in the AYF Olympics where, at the end of the competition, a lunch is served alongside the medals. Alumnus, Christine Shirinian summed it up best in a glorious double-negative, “I am never not playing golf at the AYF Olympics again!”

For the last four years, Philadelphia cousins Peter Tashjian and Mark Santerian, cousins, have dominated golf, on the men’s side. Both of them dominated again this year. Mark Santerian won the AYF event, while Peter—who had aged out—played and also won his first alumni golf tournament. On the active AYF side, Alex Kassabian of New York took second, Mike Haase of Detroit came in third, and Shahen Hagen of North Andover placed fourth. The results on the women’s side were:

1. Shayna McCarthy – New Jersey
2. Theresa Jelalian – New Jersey
3. Ani Comella – Providence
4. Karnee Berejiklian – Greater Boston

The swimming events took place at the Drexel University DAC facilities. The pool and the stands were excellent. It also was very well ventilate,  as we were spared the heat and humidity that have been hallmarks of the swimming competition in past years.

This year in Philadelphia there are 228 athletes registered to compete in individual events. Albeit without fact-checking, that sounds like a record for this century, and perhaps the nineties, as well. As a result, every swimming event had to have preliminary races. This, combined with the fact that the PA system gave out early on in the evening, made it almost impossible to announce upcoming events and thus, the competition went on much longer than usual.

Regardless, there were some stellar performances. Newcomer Lilly Kernaghan of Providence broke three records in the 50-yard freestyle (which she broke in a preliminary race!), the 50-yard backstroke, and the 100-yard freestyle. Andrew Devedjian of Chicago also won three events on the men’s side of the competition.

The alumni dance which followed the events capped off the day. The food was as fabulous as ever, and more plentiful than at any recent alumni night, thanks to the committee led by Dori Keshgegian and Debbie Tashjian. The Michael Gostanian Band had everyone on the dance floor. The highlight of the evening was when the Olympic kings were named, Rich Keshgegian and Mike Shamlian, as well as the recipients of the Varadian Spirit Award, Andrew Kzirian and Glenn Papazian. All four gentlemen have been and still are integral members of the AYF and St. Gregory community here in Philadelphia, and are well-deserving of the recognition they received. Given the applause and enthusiasm of those in attendance, the entire community agreed.

Taking place today are the softball competition and Harout Pamboukjian concert—updates soon to come!

All photos courtesy of Mark Gavoor, Sona Gevorkian, and Tamar Kanarian.

Author information

Mark Gavoor

Mark Gavoor is a Supply Chain Management consultant and professor of Mathematics and Statistics. He is an avid blogger and plays the oud in two Armenian Ensembles in Chicago. His blog: http://thissideoffifty. blogspot.com/

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WASHINGTON—Congressional Armenian Caucus leaders commended the Republic of Artsakh’s “commitment to advance democratic governance and to the will of your people,” restating their bipartisan support for Artsakh’s full participation in Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group-led peace talk, as the Republic celebrated 27 years of independence, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

“The ANCA joins Congressional Armenian Caucus leaders in celebrating 27-years of Artsakh independence, extending our congratulations to the people of Artsakh for their ongoing commitment to the democracy, prosperity, and security of their Republic,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We continue to work closely with U.S. federal, state and local leaders to strengthen Artsakh security through the implementation of Royce-Engel peace proposals, expanded U.S. assistance for demining and healthcare, and the removal of barriers to U.S.-Artsakh travel and communication.”

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ANCA

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues. To learn more, visit www.anca.org.

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And just like that it is over.

It feels like just a minute ago that my wife, her mother, and I were flying from Chicago to Philadelphia. As AYF alumni, it wasn’t clear who was more excited to go. It mattered not if we were in our sixties or just turned 90.

If you go to Olympics on Thursday and return on Monday, it comes to five days and four nights. The weekend is so packed full of activity and fun that it goes by so quickly. But then… it’s over. And the ending is always abrupt as we return to our “normal” lives. No one captures this better than the Kanarians.

Last year, Rich Kanarian posted this: “It’s that time of year again… Sleep deprived and having withdrawal pains after spending time with old and new friends.” This year our dear friend, ace Olympic photographer and Rich’s daughter, Tamar Kanarian, made a similar Tuesday morning post. In an almost haiku like simplicity and depth, she captures that day after feeling in a Facebook post:

Most miserable day of the year indeed. Hope you weren’t hurt badly and recover quickly Tamar.

In his famous quote on posters and plaques in almost every Armenian Church and home in the country, William Saroyan said of Armenians, “For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” Imagine when hundreds meet, like this past weekend.

For 85 years, the AYF has facilitated the prolific creation New Armenias at each and every Olympics. Even though we have an independent vibrant Armenia that we can visit, get internships in, volunteer in, and even relocate to; for a vast majority of us, weekends like the AYF Olympics defines nation and the Armenian Spirit for us. We feel it to our very core. And just like that, when it is over, we feel just like what Rich and Tamar expressed in their posts.

Most of us have returned to work or school today. We are probably sleep deprived. By tomorrow or the next day, the whir and hum of our daily grind will consume us and demand our full attention. Still then, the magic and memory of the AYF Olympics will linger and make us feel a happiness that is also tinged with sadness.

As conveyed in my recent coverage, the weekend was very well-organized. The Philadelphia Committee had everything well planned. (They started planning the day after the Milwaukee Olympics ended last year.) Chicago is following that same game plan already. We got the first social media messages this morning urging us to make our room reservations for next year now. The quality of planning these Olympics is a testimony to how well the Armenians have done in this country. The AYF members and alumni are well-educated and have responsible professional positions. All our skills and talents come together to organize Olympic Weekends at a world class event planning level.

Shant Aghajanian and Gevork Dramgotchian co-chaired a cadre of talented people that resulted in one of the largest Ad Books ever, spectacular entertainment, great facilities, and over 800 Hye-Passes pre-sold, to mention some of the highlights. The AYF Central Executive, the Olympic Governing Body, and other volunteers from all over worked all weekend in a labor of love to make this Olympic Weekend memorable for one and all.

We flew to Philadelphia on Thursday and we returned to Chicago on Monday. Chicago is excited to host next year. We will take the fine examples of the past few years in Philadelphia, Milwaukee, and New Jersey and endeavor to maintain the excellence and maybe even raise the bar.

On behalf of one and all… Thank you Philadelphia! You all did a magnificent job.

See you in Chicago!

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Mark Gavoor

Mark Gavoor is a Supply Chain Management consultant and professor of Mathematics and Statistics. He is an avid blogger and plays the oud in two Armenian Ensembles in Chicago. His blog: http://thissideoffifty. blogspot.com/

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A little over a month ago, the Weekly penned the editorial, “The Organizational Drone vs. the Intelligent Outsider,” in which we highlighted that neither end of the character spectrum—not the unthinking community servant nor the detached, elitist intellectual—serves the community well in the long run.

More recently, LA-based columnist Garen Yegparian authored a cautionary parable on the character flaws in certain leadership types and implored organizational members to “be alert in your involvements … quickly address the problem before it is too late.”

Between these two articles appeared another editorial focusing on the sustainability of the Diaspora.

Separately, these appear to have not garnered much attention; collectively, we hope they inspire a broader discussion. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, we are now in a great struggle, testing whether a people, forcibly dispersed from their rightful homeland, can long endure. And even more broadly, should it endure? The greatest sin of any organization is making the mistakes born from inaction. We, individually and collectively, must not fear mistakes. They should not be viewed as evidence of carelessness. Instead, they are the necessary ingredients for success.

Too often, leadership strives to conserve the status quo. Slogans are used to idolize the past in a way that can never fully be achieved again. The result is a codification of the continual decline and eventual demise of the organization and, ultimately, the Diasporan community.

Slogans have a time and place, but its horizon ends at the place where work begins. Our forefathers had the wisdom to include the shovel in our emblem along with the sword and pen. Each is integral to our success, none can survive without the others.

Innovation rarely comes from seasoned veterans, it is most often born from youthful exuberance. It is the role of leadership to foster youthful innovation. Likewise, organizational members are responsible for finding their role, their niche of contribution, neither as unthinking organizational drone nor as selfish, arrogant outsider, as Kasparian’s op-ed so eloquently stated nearly three decades ago.

So as we think about what has transpired in Armenia over the last six months, we must as well think about continuing to move the Diaspora forward. Stagnation is an illness that can be terminal if left untreated.

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Weekly Editorial Board

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Last year, I wrote an article reporting that the Silk Way Airlines of Azerbaijan made 350 secret flights to transport hundreds of tons of weapons from Bulgaria to ISIS terrorists in Syria and other Middle Eastern countries between 2014 and 2017.

We now have a new surprising revelation that Silk Way received $419.5 million of loans from the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) to buy three 747-8 cargo planes from Boeing to continue its sinister operations.

The disclosure was made by a reporter for the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) by filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the U.S. government in 2016. It is noteworthy that Silk Way, “owned by a company with past ties to Azerbaijan’s Aliyev family, won some lucrative contracts from the U.S. military,” according to FOIA documents.

In fact, “Silk Way was given contracts worth more than $400 million with the U.S. Defense Department’s Transportation Command for more than decade,” according to Devansh Mehta of OCCRP. Silk Way transported “ammunition and other non-lethal materials” to Afghanistan as of 2005. “In addition to its relationship with the U.S. government, Silk Way Airlines has also worked as a subcontractor for the Canadian Department of National Defense, the German armed forces, and the French army,” Mehta revealed.

In April 2017, Silk Way increased its purchases from Boeing, signing a $1 billion deal for 10 new 737 MAX passenger planes, according to reporter Mehta. However, it is not known how the new acquisition was financed. Last October, Silk Way announced plans to buy two more 747-8 cargo planes.

Mehta disclosed that “the airline is owned by Silk Way Group, which, at least at one point, was closely associated with Azerbaijan’s ruling Aliyev family (which has used its planes for private trips) and has benefited from benevolent state deals. Information obtained through FOIA shows that Silk Way Airlines took steps to conceal its owners’ identity, perhaps to improve its chances of winning the valuable U.S. loan guarantees and military contracts.”

Mehta added that “Azerbaijan ranks 122nd out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s corruption perception index, while President Ilham Aliyev’s family owns luxury properties around the world worth over $140 million. The Panama Papers and other leaks have implicated the country’s first family as being involved in nearly all sectors of the Azerbaijani economy, from luxury hotels to mining to banking.”

According to the terms of the Export-Import Bank’s $419.5 million loan to Silk Way, in case of default the loss would be repaid by the state-owned International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA). The problem is that IBA has been “implicated in the Azerbaijani Laundromat, a massive scheme that pumped nearly $3 billion out of the country through various shell companies,” Mehta wrote. Furthermore, IBA is not in a position to guarantee the Silk Way loan, as the IBA itself declared bankruptcy in 2015, unable to pay its $3.3 billion debt!

Author information

Harut Sassounian

Harut Sassounian is the publisher of The California Courier, a weekly newspaper based in Glendale, Calif. He is the president of the United Armenian Fund, a coalition of the seven largest Armenian-American organizations. He has been decorated by the president and prime minister of the Republic of Armenia, and the heads of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic churches. He is also the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

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Sometimes undesirable outcomes cross everyone’s mind. Here are five of mine.

What if the oligarchic circles in both Armenian republics get their act together and REALLY launch a counter-revolution? A coarse course instead of velvety vision! It’s not very improbable. They may not currently have direct control over the levers of power within the government, but the people working there, at all but the highest levels, are the same as before (it can’t be any other way, they’re the bureaucrats, the technocrats, the people who know how to get the actual work done). The oligarchs could easily still have leverage over these people. They worked together for the last three decades. They know each other. They may have loaned money to people in need. They may be owed favors. Heck, we saw how easily people sold their votes in the last election, what would keep them from jumping to the oligarchs’ side if they thought there was more to be gained on that side of the current political divide? I really hope I’m wrong on this and am fretting over nothing.

What about plastics? Some people are mocking the actions of some jurisdictions which are banning plastic straws, to varying degrees. The problem of plastics for human civilization is very real. Some people just don’t seem to understand the depth of the problem or are blinded to it by other, ideological considerations, let’s call them the denialists.   They are the ones whose derisive response may one day lead to a nasty outcome. Despite years of public education and effort, the bulk of the plastic produced on the planet is used once then goes into a landfill or ends up in the ocean where it wreaks ecological havoc. I fear that one day, some very clever biologist or geneticist is going to develop a bacterium that eats plastic. Don’t laugh, there’s already some kind of bacteria that consumes petroleum and is sometimes used on oil spills. What are plastics made from? Petroleum! While this might be a solution to the problem of plastic waste, these bacteria could easily get around and start “eating” plastics that are still in use. Heck, someone who’s sick and tired of the denialists antics and all the problems stemming from plastics and petroleum might intentionally release those bacteria in places they shouldn’t be. The results could be catastrophic given how many different critical uses plastics currently have. I hope we tame our taste for plastics before this awful scenario has a chance to come true.

What about the weather? This one may seem petty and selfish, but it would really be awful if we had another winter with minimal snow dropping onto California’s mountains. Not only is that white stuff the source of the state’s water, but it’s fantastic for recreation and pure joy! How can you ski, snowshoe, have snowball fights, build igloos and snow-caves, go sledding, or even just make snow angels without that wonderful white stuff? I really hope the mountains get socked in with snow this winter!

What if the Democrats don’t manage to win a majority in at least one house of Congress, preferably the Senate? All indications are that they are poised to do well. But because of the spinelessness that has afflicted the party at least since the Bill Clinton era, they have managed to lose elections they should have won. It’s really crucial to reign in Donald Trump’s presidency and the ruin it is bringing to the positive reputation long enjoyed by the United States. It’s truly scary to consider the extent of the damage, especially on the international front, that Trump’s erratic “policy” will end up causing if there’s no check on his actions from Congress. Whether or not you think he should be impeached by the House, then tried by the Senate, it’s difficult for me to grasp how people can accept his recklessness.

Finally, what if the recently reintroduced Armenia-Haiti reforestation bill doesn’t pass through the House and Senate and get signed by President Trump? This is a fantastic way to both restore some of our homeland’s savaged forest cover. Not only does the proposed law enable improvements to the environment, but it also helps reduce the Republic of Armenia’s debt load. The idea is that since planting trees and thereby increasing planet Earth’s forest cover helps sequester carbon, helping to fight global climate change, that benefit has a value to the world as a whole. Thus, that value is applied as a payment against debt owed by the country. This bill was introduced before, some two or three years ago, as I recall, but it went nowhere. That’s why I’m worried that it might again stall. Let’s all work towards its passage.

Author information

Garen Yegparian

Garen Yegparian is a fat, bald guy who has too much to say and do for his own good. So, you know he loves mouthing off weekly in the Weekly about anything he damn well pleases to write about that he can remotely tie in to things Armenian. He's got a checkered past: principal of an Armenian school, project manager on a housing development, ANC-WR Executive Director, AYF Field worker (again on the left coast), Operations Director for a telecom startup, and a City of LA employee most recently (in three different departments so far). Plus, he's got delusions of breaking into electoral politics, meanwhile participating in other aspects of it and making sure to stay in trouble.

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The much anticipated UEFA Nations League kicks off this week. The league is the UEFA’s attempt to bring more relevance to international football in Europe and reduce, if not eliminate, the international friendly matches which tend to be drab events that offer little excitement and poor value for money for supporters. Club football has recently positioned itself as top dog, with the Champions League and Europa League securing massive TV sponsorships and fan interest. In fact, the Europa League was the result of a successful rebranding of the old UEFA Cup Winner’s Cup. The Nations League is effectively the same treatment for the international game.

The format and schedule of the tournament was previously discussed on the Weekly (click here for a refresher). The key takeaway from an Armenian point of view is news that a new path to European Championship qualification exists through the Nations League. There are 55 member countries in UEFA, and typically, it is those at the northern end of the rankings that secure qualification to the finals tournament. Historically that tournament had 16 berths, but it recently has been expanded to 24. What the Nations League now provides is a guaranteed berth for one country from those ranked from 40 to 55 in Europe.

Playing in League D of the tournament, Armenia has been drawn into a group with Macedonia, Liechtenstein and Gibraltar. Armenia’s immediate goal will be to navigate six match days over the next ten weeks and ensure they top the group to advance to the playoffs. The outright winner of those playoffs, which will be held in March 2020, will secure the guaranteed League D berth at the Euro 2020 finals.

Fixture List
09.06.2018 Armenia vs. Liechtenstein
09.09.2018 Macedonia vs. Armenia
10.13.2018 Armenia vs. Gibraltar
10.16.2018 Armenia vs. Macedonia
11.16.2018 Gibraltar vs. Armenia
11.19.2018 Liechtenstein vs. Armenia

The opening pair of fixtures will be Vardan Minasyan’s first foray into competitive football with the national team since his return as manager; he was reinstated in April 2018. Minasyan previously guided Armenia through its most successful period since independence, where the team peaked at 30 in the FIFA rankings. There are high hopes that the talented manager can produce more of the same this time around. Managers in recent years have been poor and inconsistent with the team that currently has a FIFA ranking of 100.

On paper, Armenia has received a favorable draw. Gibraltar—a relatively new team— is ranked 55 by UEFA and 195 by FIFA. They only began competing in 2016, and since that time, it has been pretty challenging. Recent form shows six losses from their last seven matches. Liechtenstein is ranked 50 by UEFA and 180 by FIFA. Similarly, their most recent seven matches have seen a solitary victory and six losses. If approached with the professionalism that is required, Armenia should hope to secure maximum points from the four matches scheduled against Gibraltar and Liechtenstein. As for Malta, we cannot forget how Armenia fell to the European country at home a number of years ago. Attractive matchups are very well when assessed on paper;performing to potential is a prerequisite to securing the maximum points.

Macedonia is ranked 41 by UEFA and 70 by FIFA. Macedonia’s FIFA ranking has jumped from 162 to 70 in the last couple of years thanks to a terrific run of form at the end of their last World Cup qualifying campaign. The team is undefeated in its last 7 matches, the majority of which were competitive fixtures and against strong opposition. They are definitely the team to watch in the group and Armenia’s main rival for that top spot. From a historic head-to-head standpoint, there is nothing between the sides. Six matches played, two wins a piece and two draws, along with 11 goals-for and goals-against for each team.

Armenia is ranked 44 by UEFA and 100 by FIFA. Over the last seven matches, Armenia has recorded only one loss. Those fixtures were mostly friendly matches against lower ranked teams. Not much stock can be taken from friendly internationals, a reminder of the necessity of the Nations League. Armenia’s ranking could be a blessing in disguise, however. After all, it is better to be the big fish in a small pond in this case. Being a strong team in League D gives Armenia more opportunity for success than if it were ranked only five places higher by UEFA and drawn into League C.

Categorizing the group of four countries as two strong sides and two weaker sides highlights some interesting points of emphasis. It goes without saying that the fixtures against Macedonia are the make or break fixtures, matches where a clean sheet and three points at home will be coveted and a strong defensive performance away from home will be paramount. The remaining four fixtures carry the added pressure of being expected wins. Not only that, but wins where every goal and clean sheet will count in what might be a deep look down the list of tiebreaker permutations at the end of it all. Slipping up in any one of the four expected wins should be unthinkable for Armenia, and sharpness in front of goal against those sides who pack the defense may be the determining factor between success and failure.

In terms of team news, Minasyan will have to solve some interesting challenges in his line-up. Kamo Hovhannisyan, a regular in the right side of defense is a notable absentee due to injury. Gaël Andonian and Levon Airapetian are also experienced defenders that will not feature. The re-introduction of Karlen Mkrtchyan in recent matches is a positive for Armenia. Having a defensive-minded midfielder such as Mkrtchyan protecting the backline is added insurance at the back that can set a foundation for the attack and counterattack. Set pieces are always key, and running a tight ship when defending corners and free kicks is essential. How often do teams lament the concession of a cheap free kick at the edge of the box only for it to end up in the back of the net moments later? The attention to detail on set pieces and team shape is something a strong manager with clear ideas can shore up quickly. Good managers are often described as the glue that keep an otherwise flawed team together and actually functioning well as a unit. This is where Minasyan has proved his worth in the past and must earn his salt once again.

A new competition, the second coming of Minasyan, and a priceless Euro 2020 berth as the proverbial carrot on a stick—Armenia must put its best foot forward immediately. With such a short format in the group stage, nothing else will do.

Other notes:

• The UEFA rankings that are quoted are those at the time of the Nations League draw in December 2017.
• Armenia has secured a new kit deal with manufacturer Macron;players will be donning the new kits this week.
• Teams in League D receive $500,000 solidarity fee and an additional $500,000 will be awarded to the group winners.
• Armenia’s squad boasts an average age of 26.5 years with a healthy mix of experience and youthfulness.
• Azerbaijan has been drawn in one of the other groups in League D. If both Armenia and Azerbaijan top their respective groups, there is a chance they’ll meet in the playoffs. This could be an interesting storyline as both countries are deliberately kept apart when qualification groups are drawn because of their ongoing conflict.

Squad: Arsen Beglaryan, Aram Ayrapetyan, Anatoly Aivazov, Hrayr Mkoyan, Varazdat Haroyan, Taron Voskanyan, Hovhannes Hambardzumyan, Hayk Ishkhanyan, André Calisir, Armen Manucharyan, Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Capt.), Marcos Pizzelli, Gevorg Ghazaryan, Karlen Mkrtchyan, Aras Özbiliz, Artak Yedigaryan, Edgar Malakyan, Tigran Barseghyan, Rumyan Hovsepyan, Gor Malakyan, Erik Vardanyan, Artur Sarkisov, Ivan Yagan

Manager: Vardan Minasyan

Author information

M.J. Graham

Michael Graham is The Armenian Weekly's soccer correspondent. Born and raised in Limerick, Ireland, Graham graduated from the University of Limerick with a bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering. Passionate about soccer, Graham plays in and manages local adult soccer leagues in Massachusetts and is a holder of a U.S. Adult Amateur coaching license. Follow him on Twitter (@mjlgraham).

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280 passengers that set sail with the 6th International Cruise of the Armenian Relief Society to Northern European countries and Russia have returned home with exciting memories. The Royal Caribbean “Serenade of the Seas” Cruise began on July 22 from Stockholm and cruised through seven countries in two weeks.

On the first day of the cruise, the passengers had an opportunity to meet with the ARS Chapter in Sweden who had organized a special excursion for them at the Royal Palace, Armenian Church, and the local Armenian Center. The members interacted with the passengers, creating new friendships and learning about their community’s activities.

Then the cruise set sail from Stockholm to Finland, and reached its summit to the historical St. Petersburg, Russia. During the three-days in Russia, the passengers explored the city by visiting several Palaces, Cathedrals, and Museums. Some members even had an opportunity to visit the St. Catherine’s Armenian Church, where with the request of the Archbishop Yezras Nercessian, the Cruise entertainer spontaneously sang Komitas’ “Horovel.”

At sea, when the stars came out, the fun didn’t stop. The ARS had organized four Armenian Kef Nights, with Elie Berberian and his band, who entertained the guests non-stop with his performances in an array of different flavors of music. There was also a special ARS Day program organized where, ARS Central Executive Board Member, Sonia Akellian presented the activities of the ARS to the passengers, which was followed by a session of networking. The passengers also had a chance to explore the countries of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and after making several stops in Denmark, the action-packed vacation came to an end in Copenhagen.

As the 6th International Cruise of the ARS came to an end, the passengers already began asking about the next one. “We are grateful to those who planned their summer vacation with the ARS” stated former ARS Central Executive Board member and Chairperson of the Cruise Committee, Shakeh Basmajian. “Through their participation, they were able to escape ordinary vacations and create memories that last a lifetime, all while supporting their beloved organization.”

The next Tour will be announced soon. To stay up to date, sign up for the ARS newsletter.

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Armenian Relief Society International Inc.

Armenian Relief Society, Inc. (ARS) is an independent, non-governmental and non-sectarian organization which serves the humanitarian needs of the Armenian people and seeks to preserve the cultural identity of the Armenian nation. It mobilizes communities to advance the goals of all sectors of humanity. For well over a century, it has pioneered solutions to address the challenges that impact our society.

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TEANECK, N.J.—Holy Name Medical Center hosted an intimate birthday party for volunteer and World War II veteran Herand Kafafian, who is turning 100 today. Mr. Kafafian was celebrated by hospital leadership, colleagues, and family members. Kafafian is one of few WWII veterans still alive, and he is the hospital’s oldest active volunteer.

The event, which was covered by local news stations, featured speakers honoring Mr. Kafafian. One admirer stated, “It is a bright light of common individuals, simple individuals like yourself that shine in the community that represent and give us hope for what we should all be.”

Mr. Kafafian, however, is neither “common” nor “simple.” He served in the U.S. Army from 1942-1945, where he was stationed in the Philippines as a photographer. He was later awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in the invasion of Leyte, under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, and just last year, Kafafian was honored as a “hometown hero” by Congressman Josh Gottheimer (D-5) for his service to his country and community.

Mr. Kafafian has two daughters, two sons-in-law, and three grandchildren, all of whom attended the early birthday celebration. When asked how he felt about this new milestone, Kafafian jokingly cited his “claustrophobia” as why he’s “made it this far,” telling reporters, “By golly, I’m scared as the Devil to get locked up in a box, six feet underground, with a pile of salt on me.”

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How many times have your heard that immigration agents at Ellis Island (New York) changed your Armenian family’s name when they arrived in this country? This is a prevailing narrative in popular culture, especially in movies and literature, not just for Diaspora Armenians in the United States and Canada, but for other ethnic groups, as well.

However, it is a myth. Armenian names often changed when they settled in America, but for different reasons altogether. Ellis Island, which opened in 1892, was one of many seaports for processing immigrants coming to the U.S. and Canada on passenger steamships in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They also arrived at ports like Halifax (Nova Scotia), St. John (New Brunswick), and Quebec City (Quebec) in Canada; in America, they docked in Providence (Rhode Island), Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), Boston (Massachusetts), and San Francisco (California) as well as many others. The majority of passengers did arrive at Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty – Ellis Island Foundation, One-Step Web Pages by Stephen P. Morse, FamilySearch, Ancestry and other organizations provide tools for searching passenger arrivals at  various ports of arrival. The key resource for documenting passengers arriving at American ports is called a “ship manifest,” which is a form (designed according to the incoming country’s current immigration laws) that lists everyone being “delivered” to that port (more on this later).

Armenian Personal Names

In western (European) culture over the last millennium, we often see three components to personal names—first name, middle name, and last name (family name or surname). As populations increased in countries like England, France, and Germany around 1000-1200 CE, a first name (by itself) was no longer sufficient to differentiate individuals, as many people had the same first name. That’s when a surname was added, typically based on a parent’s first name, occupation, place of origin, or trait. The surname was often passed down through subsequent generations (along the male lines, as married women passed on their husband’s surname to their own children). Later on, a middle name was added to further differentiate individuals. (Y-chromosomes are also passed down the direct male line, the same as “western” surnames, which is why DNA studies using the y-chromosome can be useful in tracing surname-based genealogies.)

In the several hundred years preceding World War I (1914-1918 CE) and the Armenian Genocide, Armenians in the traditional Armenian homeland were mostly distributed across three empires— Ottoman (Turkey), Russian, and Persian. The naming convention described above for western Europe was not commonplace then among Armenians in the homeland. In documents where names were given, such as male-only Ottoman population registers of the early 1800s (see George Aghjayan’s landmark research), we typically only see the person’s first name, accompanied by a reference to the father’s first name (“son of”, -ian or -եան, in Western Armenian, or –yan in Eastern Armenian). For example, Mamigon’s son Dikran would be called Dikran Mamigonian. Dikran’s son Kevork (Mamigon’s grandson) would be called Kevork Dikranian. With this patronymic naming system (which is still evident on ship manifests and other documents of the early 1900s), surnames were not passed down across multiple generations. (Since surnames in the “western” sense were not commonplace until relatively recently among Armenians living in the historic homeland, having a common surname with someone is a poor predictor of a common direct paternal relationship. For example, most people with my family surname, Arslanian, are not my close relatives.)

Armenians living in the Russian Empire prior to the establishment of the Republic of Armenia (in 1918), and for some years afterwards, often affixed a Russian ending (–of, -off, or –ov) to an Armenian root to form their surname (e.g., Kevorkoff, Atamov, or Grigorof). Similarly, the –iants or –ianz ending was common among Armenians living in the Persian Empire. The ending –ouni, -uni, or –ooni can also be found.

When Armenians started to interact more with the “western” world in Europe and North America in the 1800s, the practice of passing surnames across multiple generations became more common. However, many Armenians alternated between the old patronymic naming system and the newer “western” one. In the above example, you might find Kevork going by the surname of Dikranian (after his father) or Mamigonian (after his paternal grandfather), or both, and then passing down one of those surnames to his own children. By the early 1900s, as surnames started to be passed down through multiple generations (on the male lines), it was common for a person to adopt his father’s first name as his own middle name. In our example, we could see the name Kevork Dikran Mamigonian (i.e., Kevork, the son of Dikran Mamigonian).

If there was an Armenian priest in the family, the word “Der” (in Western Armenian) or “Ter” (in Eastern Armenian) would be attached to the front of the surname (e.g., Der Mamigonian).

As stated earlier, surnames in the “western” world were typically based on a parent’s first name, occupation, place of origin, or trait. The same was true of Armenian surnames. The roots for these names were often of a biblical (Christian) nature—Boghos, Bedros, Ohannes, Mariam, Mgrditch, and Khachadour. In Turkey, you would often find names (particularly those relating to occupations), based on Turkish roots—those ending in –ji, hence Tashjian, Boyajian, and Chaderjian.

So, how did the Armenian names appear on ship manifests when they arrived in America, and how did the names change after their arrival? Were the changes voluntary or imposed? Let’s explore the perceptions and facts.

Ship Manifests

A common misperception is that name changes were imposed on immigrants by careless or flippant government officials at the port of entry (e.g., Ellis Island). The typical picture is of an immigrant (fresh off the boat) standing in a long line waiting to be processed by an immigration official seated at a table with a large book of ship manifest pages in front of him. The immigrant reaches the front of the line and is questioned by the official.

Official: “Please state your full name, sir.”

Immigrant: “My name is Hayrabed Koundrakjian.”

Official: “I’m sorry. Please say that again for me.”

Immigrant: “Hayrabed Koundrakjian.”

Official: “Okay. Harry Cone.” (The official writes the name in the ship manifest.) “Now, tell me your age, occupation, birthplace, whom you are joining…”

One of my favorite portrayals of this scenario is in the cartoon movie An American Tale, in which the mouse family named Mousekewitz comes to New York from Russia and passes through Castle Garden (America’s first immigration station, predating Ellis Island). But, this is not reality. That’s not the way ship manifests were created. Not even close.

When a ship arrives at a port, a manifest is often required by the local authorities, stating what cargo the ship is delivering. This is used for things like imposition of tariffs, regulation of contraband goods, etc. It is simply a list of what is on-board. In the case of steamships arriving at immigration facilities like Ellis Island, the goods are humans—people who paid for passage across the ocean to come to America. The U.S. Bureau of Immigration implemented the then-current laws regarding immigration and naturalization, which included the format and content of the ship manifests for passenger steamships. These laws, and the ship manifests themselves, underwent frequent changes from the late 1800s through the 1920s and later in response to changes brought on by wars and economic conditions, as pro- and anti-immigration sentiment ebbed and flowed. It is good news for today’s researchers that the breadth of information contained in the manifests starting around 1900, and particularly after 1907, were so robust. Canada, too, required ship manifests for passengers coming into its seaports, but the information contained within them is frustratingly meager, compared to U.S. ship manifests of that time.

The supposed veracity of the “Immigrant Agents Changed My Family Name” scenario rests in large part on the incorrect assumption that the ship manifests were filled out by immigration agents at the port of arrival (e.g., Ellis Island), during the interview with the new immigrant. What were the facts? How did the names and other information get put on the ship manifests that were used to process arrivals to America?

The Immigration Act of 1917 was the first federal law to place literacy restrictions on immigration to the U.S. The Act updated and codified previous immigration legislation that had slowly removed the open-door policies existing prior to the 1880s. In Section 12, it clearly states that the passenger names and other information on the ship manifests are to be written by the steamship company at the place of embarkation and presented, filled out, to USA immigration officers upon arrival.

In Section 13, it states that the passengers will be given tickets containing the page number and line number where that person’s entry can be found on the ship manifest. This allows the immigration agent to easily locate the passenger’s entry on the ship manifest, in order to begin the interview process upon arrival.

How, when, and where were steamship tickets purchased for passage to America, and who put the names and other information on the ship manifest?

Tickets were purchased in advance of sailing; the ship manifests were not prepared as passengers boarded the ship (which would have led to the “tell me your name” scenario, and raising the possibility that steamship agents facilitated the wholesale involuntary name change of Armenian immigrants on the other side of the ocean, instead of the U.S. immigration agents). We know this because most of the ship manifests had many instances of passenger names being crossed off the list, sometimes accompanied by the words “not on board” or “did not board” or the notation NOB (not on board). These passengers had originally booked passage on that ship, but did not sail for some reason (perhaps illness or logistical problems in traveling to the port of embarkation). Very often, we find that same passenger on another ship’s manifest, embarking from that same port within a month and subsequently being admitted into the U.S. or Canada.

To figure out where the tickets were purchased, we turn to Canadian passenger records. From 1921 through 1924, Canada used cards called Form 30A (one per passenger) instead of the ship manifest sheets (which, as I said, contained little information). These cards, by contrast, contained about as much information as the U.S. ship manifests of that time, plus some tantalizing information about prior passports and visas, as well as ticket purchase.

This person, Peperon Mouradian, booked passage on the steamship Melita, departing from Antwerp, Belgium en route to her destination in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. At the bottom of this card, we can see that the steamship ticket was purchased from an agent of L. M. Currie & Co. in Marseille, France.

Many Armenians departing from Atlantic seaports in France (Cherbourg, Le Havre, and Boulogne), England (Liverpool and Southampton), and Belgium (Antwerp) probably arrived there via Marseille (journeying much of the way by train from Marseille). From 1921-1924, most of the tickets for Armenians in France bound for Canada were purchased from agents in Marseille (who gathered the passenger’s name and other pertinent information and provided it to the steamship company). We don’t have a similar record of where ticket purchases were made for steamships traveling from the same Atlantic seaports to U.S. destinations (like New York’s Ellis Island) in the 1920s and earlier decades, but it certainly did not happen as they boarded the ships. Many ships did depart from Mediterranean seaports, but the trip through the Strait of Gibraltar added at least a week to the voyage. Advance ticket purchases were likely made for those ships, as well.

So, who filled out the ships manifests? It was the responsibility of the steamship company prior to sailing to America. The information (passenger name, etc.) was provided at the time of the ticket purchase (as shown by the Canadian 30A Form) and sent to the steamship company to be entered by an employee, probably a clerk.

Did the clerks intentionally change the names of the Armenian passengers to “American” names? In my own research for the Armenian Immigration Project over the past 15+ years, I have looked through millions of ship manifest entries, extracting over 60,000 entries for Armenians coming to the U.S. and Canada in the period prior to 1930. I have seen no evidence that anyone of Armenian ethnicity was arbitrarily assigned an “American” name on the ship manifest.

The names written in the ship manifests were their Armenian names. Some names were so badly mangled that someone (probably the U.S. immigration agent at the time of processing the new arrival) wrote the person’s corrected name above the entry (as shown below). These corrected names were clearly recognizable Armenian names. Why were the names indecipherable in the first place? Maybe the shipping company clerk was unable to read the handwriting of the agent who sold the ticket, or the clerk’s own handwriting was illegible to the receiving port’s immigration agent.

The original ship manifests were also used years later when the immigrant applied for U.S. citizenship to verify that person’s arrival in America. When this happened and a Certificate of Arrival was affixed to the naturalization application, a notation was written above that person’s entry in the ship manifest. In some rare cases, the person’s later anglicized name (or alias) might also be written above the entry, but this was done years later.

In some cases, an immigrant’s entry on a ship manifest was under the name of a different person, or the relationship information was incorrect. In most cases, we can only guess at the reasons. One possibility is the passenger used someone else’s ticket. Maybe Sahag Arslanian booked passage to America, but was unable to travel due to illness. Instead of giving up his ticket and travel reservation, his cousin Bedros Kakligian traveled in his place. Or maybe someone brought a niece or neighbor girl as their own daughter, just to get them to America.

So, why did so many Armenian immigrants to America change their names and how did this happen?

Name Changes in America

Immigrants to America in the late 1800s and early 1900s were under no obligation to use the name shown on their ship manifest. They could, and many did, go by whatever name they wished. If you trace an immigrant family or individual from their arrival at an American seaport or land border crossing and look at primary source records over the next several decades, you will see the different names used over time.

In the U.S. and Canada (as in western Europe), the alphabet in use was Latin and the predominant language was something other than Armenian (English in the U.S. and in the province of Ontario in Canada). Accommodations were made so that Armenians living in the diaspora could interact with non-Armenians, participate in the new social and economic structures, and adhere to administrative procedures and record-keeping (official documents like military draft registrations, censuses, civil vital records, naturalization and passport applications, etc.).

First, the Armenian personal names (first, middle, and last) were transliterated into the Latin alphabet. Variations would be common due to differences in dialect in the place of origin in the Armenian homeland, whether the immigrant was Western Armenian (Ottoman Empire) or Eastern Armenian (Russian and Persian Empires), in what country the immigrant resided (French-speaking Quebec vs. the U.S. or Ontario), or personal preference. Brothers even spelled their surnames differently in America.

Once the letters were transliterated, the pronunciation might still be particularly difficult for the English tongue. A name like Khosrovatoukht Chaghatzbanian would be a mouthful for the new neighbors of an Armenian bride fresh off the boat from Turkey. Many surnames were eventually anglicized (Ohannesian to Johnson, Khachigian to Cross, or Terzian to Taylor), shortened (Arslanian to Arslan), converted phonetically (Buyukian to Bacon), or changed altogether (Normart). This is not to say that any particular spelling is the correct spelling. Each family has their own preference. Different branches of the same family may spell their surname differently. Armenians from the Ottoman Empire living in America often spell the same surname differently from those who came from the Russian or Persian Empires (particularly in the name endings, like –ian vs. –yan vs. –iantz). The surname prefixes “Ter” and “Der” were typically dropped among diaspora Armenians.

Armenian first and middle names underwent a similar transformation among the diaspora in America. Names were converted to their English equivalents (Kevork to George, Yeghisapet to Elizabeth, Boghos to Paul, Zabel to Isabelle, Bedros to Peter, Aghavni to Dove) or converted to a more common English sounding name even if not an actual equivalent (Garabed to Charles, Arshaloys to Alice, Dickran to Dick/Richard, Siravart to Sarah). Names like Sam and Harry were very popular choices for males in the early 1900’s, even if the original Armenian name was completely different. So, how did these name changes come about for newly-arrived Armenian immigrants to America? Did they happen overnight or gradually? Were they imposed or voluntary? Was there such a thing as an official name? Let’s explore these questions.

Armenians who came to America in this time period left many traces in governmental and non-governmental records throughout the remainder of their lives. Some of these records were written or printed in Armenian (church registers and Armenian-language newspapers like Hairenik) and most of these retained the original Armenian names. However, most of the records written in English (as well as French in Quebec and Spanish in Mexico) reflected gradual changes of the Armenian personal names. The following are two specific examples of name transformations.

Buyukian to Bacon

Nishan Buyukian (from the Charshamba district in the province of Trebizond) first arrived in America in 1907. He soon settled in Fresno, California. By the time of the 1910 census, he appears with the last name changed to Bacon (a phonetic variation of Buyukian). This name change occurred after his arrival, not at Ellis Island. He went back to Turkey and brought his family to Fresno in 1914. In this ship manifest, we see both names (Buyukian and Bacon), since he had already anglicized his name. In subsequent records, it is apparent that Nishan and his family standardized on Bacon.

Bouloudian to Cloud

Mihertad Bouloudian (from Van) came with his family to America in 1898, arriving in Fresno, California by 1900. On the ship manifest, the surname is Bouloudian, but the surname on records over the next few decades in America alternates between Bouloudian and Cloud. (The root bulut means cloud in Turkish.) When Mihertad’s son Hurach (George) petitioned for naturalization in 1917, he formally requested his name be changed to George Hurach Cloud.

Conclusion

The form and spelling of names fluctuated in these early records, as we see time and time again. It wasn’t until the immigrants participated in government programs like naturalization, passports, and Social Security (Act of 1935) that the names became “fixed” as we know today. Still, those of us with Armenian surnames (or some remnant, like Arslan) have our names mispronounced/misspelled on a daily basis.

Unlike some other countries, the U.S. government did not mandate (or prohibit) personal names that people used. The changes to Armenian names were made by the immigrants themselves after their arrival, according to preference.

My own paternal grandfather Dikran Arslanian came to America in 1906. He was known as Dick (sometimes Richard). He alternated his last name between Arslan and Arslanian. He married a French-Canadian woman in Yakima, Washington in 1918 and had seven children born between 1918 and 1934. The family arrived in Fresno around 1932. His five sons (all born in America) and their families went by Arslan, Arslanian, and Lyons (from the Turkish root aslan or arslan, meaning lion). My father shortened it to Arslan before I was born. When I asked him about it, he said there was a lot of “racial” prejudice against Armenians in Fresno, and he wanted to assimilate by having a less foreign-sounding name.

Armenians in the diaspora in America (of this era) changed their names for a number of reasons, and in a number of different ways, but assimilation was probably a primary motive. The name changes were not imposed by the government, certainly not at Ellis Island. Researching an Armenian family’s name transitions in primary source records (as in the Armenian Immigration Project) is the best way to understand the timing and form of the change in name for your own family.

Author information

Mark Arslan

Mark Arslan is a 2nd-generation American whose paternal grandfather immigrated to the United States in 1906 from the district of Keghi in the province of Erzurum. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from Oregon State University. Mark is retired from a 35-year career in systems engineering, technical support, and sales with IBM. He started researching his own Armenian roots in 1971, established the Armenian DNA Project in 2005, and expanded his research of Armenian genealogy to include the entire North American diaspora (for the period prior to 1930) with the Armenian Immigration Project database. Mark is a regular contributor to the Armenian Genealogy group on Facebook and frequently travels across America to lecture on his research into Armenian immigration.

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This article is part of a continuing series documenting the available records for research into one’s Armenian family roots. Part I in the series supplied a historical background on the Armenian genealogy movement as well as specific records available for Syria. In Part 2, records from Lebanon and Israel were detailed. Part 3 covered the records of Greece and Jordan. Southeast Asia and Serbia were covered in Part 4. The available information from the Republic of Turkey was explored in Part 5. Part 6 dealt with Egypt and Armenia.

This will be the final installment of the series on the resources available for tracing your Armenian family roots. There remain a few important regions that have thus far not been mentioned. I will do so briefly here before discussing places I deem particularly significant for their lack of available records.

Austria

The Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) contains important Armenian church records from Vienna and Trieste. Some of these records date to the 1700s. The documents are not solely the recording of sacraments, but also some census records as well as family genealogies. For example, the following image is of the elaborate family tree of Kerop Pakradian and his wife, Garine Keleshian.

Poland

The Armenian community of Poland dates back over five centuries. Over the centuries, the community has been subjected to numerous trauma and challenges. Yet, even today, there are those that retain their Armenian identity from these early immigrants. I recall being surprised when one of my college classmates told me of his Polish Armenian roots, a grandmother or great-grandmother as I recall. The LDS Family History Library contains wedding records from the mid-16th century to the mid-17th century. The language utilized in these documents is stated to be Armeno-Kipchak, a Turkic language brought with the Armenians from Crimea in the 13th century.

There are also records from a region now part of the Ukraine but previously part of Poland. Specifically, there are records from early in the 18th century for the Armenian Catholic Church of Stanislau, Poland which is now known as Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine.

Cyprus

While there has possibly been an Armenian presence in Cyprus for millennia, the available records through the LDS Family History Library begin only in 1877. Many of the early records are difficult to read as the quality of the images is poor. As an important post-genocide Armenian community, the more recent records are definitely of interest to a great many people.

Hungary

The register of sacraments for St. Krikor Lusavorich Armenian Catholic Church of Budapest is available beginning in 1923. I have not reviewed these records personally, but they can be accessed at the LDS Family History Library.

Current Gaps

Clearly, I have not detailed every single available resource for researching Armenian family roots. But that was never my objective. The most important concept to understand is that while many records are missing or destroyed, there are still many that remain, many easily accessible.

Yet, there are still significant gaps. In particular, Armenian church records from France were never microfilmed by the LDS church. I am confident that important records can be found, assuming they have been cared for, in the church archives. Many Armenians married in France prior to coming to the U.S. In addition, census records would be fascinating and could potentially yield previously unknown information about our families.

The Armenian community of Iran has existed for centuries and served as an important bridge between the homeland and the Southeast Asian diasporan communities. Yet, we do not have any Armenian church records from Iran available. It would seem that we should have learned our lesson by now – the only guarantee to preservation for these records is duplication and accessibility.

Which leads me to the final point I wish to leave you with. Only one Armenian church in the U.S. has its records available through the LDS Family History Library. Hidden away in our church basements, closets or simply lost over time are valuable documents yet to be preserved properly. The Armenian Church of Our Saviour in Worcester is the lone exception.

As just one example, buried among these records was a 1929 church census. What makes this census so unique and important is that it was undertaken before the split in the community and at a time when many of the first immigrants were still alive. The census contains not only the names of family members but also their parents’ names as well as women’s maiden names. Moreover, birthplaces are described in more  detail than other records one might reference, thus making it the only source available with this level of information.

How many more such records remain unknown, inaccessible and improperly preserved?

Author information

George Aghjayan

George Aghjayan is the Director of the Armenian Historical Archives and the chair of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Central Committee of the Eastern United States. Aghjayan graduated with honors from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Actuarial Mathematics. He achieved Fellowship in the Society of Actuaries in 1996. After a career in both insurance and structured finance, Aghjayan retired in 2014 to concentrate on Armenian related research and projects. His primary area of focus is the demographics and geography of western Armenia as well as a keen interest in the hidden Armenians living there today. Other topics he has written and lectured on include Armenian genealogy and genocide denial. He is a board member of the National Association of Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), a frequent contributor to the Armenian Weekly and Houshamadyan.org, and the creator and curator westernarmenia.weebly.com, a website dedicated to the preservation of Armenian culture in Western Armenia.

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Although I have spent the last 45 years in the United States, I consider myself more of a citizen of the world.

For thirty years, I was a journalist. I learned to explore and explain everything around me, ranging from political developments to everyday matters. But in 2015, after 30 years at the Voice of America, I decided it was time to retire.

VOA is part of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the government agency that oversees all non-military, U.S. international broadcasting. It is funded by the U.S. Congress.

My years at VOA were some of the most interesting and productive of my life. I witnessed many changes in the world and in broadcasting. I didn’t just watch history unfold; I told it as it was unfolding. And as a result, I played a part in changing it.

When I joined the Armenian Service in June of 1980, Armenia was still part of the Soviet Union. People in the office were still using manual typewriters to report the news.

Broadcasts in Armenian had started nearly three decades earlier in 1951. Up until that point, all broadcasting was done in Russian and Ukrainian, the languages of the two major political entities. At that time, Moscow interpreted our broadcasting as an openly hostile act, reflecting a foreign policy aimed at the eventual dismemberment of the Soviet Union.

And they weren’t entirely wrong. According to Edward Alexander, the first Armenian Service Chief, the use of these languages “was a direct channel to peoples of Soviet Union for information about the United States, to counteract the [USSR’s] distorted propaganda.”

The first Armenian-language broadcasts consisted of a one-hour radio program. The first 10 minutes covered international news, followed by short four to five minute backgrounders and analytical features about current events, Armenia and other neighboring countries. The last half hour usually consisted of features about life in America, reports on Armenian community events and interviews with Armenian-Americans.  The daily one-hour daily radio show always ended with a five-minute news summary.

Shortly after, electric typewriters were introduced, followed by computers with custom made Armenian font. VOA had just started using tapes for recording (before that they were recording on huge plastic disks.)

My first 10 years at the Armenian Service were extremely interesting. I polished skills in writing radio pieces, conducting interviews, and hosting live radio programs. I also occasionally traveled around the country to cover events in the Armenian community and historic American celebrations, such as the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty in New York in 1986.

During President Reagan’s administration, public diplomacy became more important, and the Soviet bloc language services began to receive more resources to enrich programming. A 15-minute, live breakfast show was added to the existing one-hour live evening radio show. At the time, Soviet government officials in Armenia were jamming all radio programs (Beginning in 1948, as part of efforts to censor information and political news from outside the iron curtain, the USSR made frequent use of radio jamming from VOA and other western radio programs, including BBC.)

Years later, in 1993, after the independence of Armenia was established, I visited Armenia and I met one such person—whose job during the Soviet years was to jam the very programs I had toiled to air.

Nevertheless, local audiences managed to follow our programs, and VOA’s popularity grew tremendously throughout the eighties. The programs were broadcast on several short and medium wave frequencies, and listeners switched from one to another to avoid the jamming. As the host of the one-hour radio show, I had to repeat the list of radio frequencies in our broadcasts, at least twice, at the beginning and ending of the show.

I especially enjoyed writing special radio features about life in America, American music, and new developments in science and medicine. Another memorable trip was to Nashville, Tennessee, the music capital of the country. A group of our music programmers met with songwriters and famous American musicians and performers and reported about the music industry, which, at that time, was considered America’s biggest export industry.

In 1985, the Politburo of the USSR Communist Party Central Committee elected Mikhail Gorbachev as its new General Secretary. This event initiated the internal transformation of the Soviet Union and at the end of the eighties, under Gorbachev’s “glasnost” and “perestroika” movements, Armenia began to move away from Moscow (though Moscow’s suppression of the Armenian democratic movement continued in less obvious ways, avoiding any action that would trigger mass revolt in Armenia). During this period, the VOA Armenian Service was crucial in providing information to the country.

In 1987, one of the leaders of the democratic movement, Paruir Hairikyan, was stripped of Soviet citizenship and exiled to Ethiopia following his accusations that the Soviet leadership had instigated the Sumgait Pogroms of the Armenian population in Azerbaijan. From Ethiopia, Mr. Hairikyan contacted the VOA Armenian Service, and we ran an interview with him, where he described how the Russian KGB had secretly arrested him after he met with officials from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. I had the privilege of interviewing him.

After this, the independence movement finally gained wider support, and Armenia finally declared its independence in 1991. I covered the young republic’s first democratic presidential elections, interviewing all the candidates.

One of the most heartbreaking moments of my career was the devastating Spitak earthquake in December of 1988, killing almost 20,000 people.  The natural disaster cut off all communication between Armenia and outside, but the Voice of America’s shortwave broadcasting was still sending reports oversees from the U.S. During this time, it was the only way people in Armenia could learn about their own situation and, in particular, about outside efforts to help them.

At one point following the earthquake, a priest from an Armenian church in Washington contacted me at VOA to ask if I could interview him about a plane shipment of relief equipment that was being sent to Armenia, donated by the Diaspora. The broadcast would be the only medium through which he could communicate with people on the ground in Armenia. He hoped that the Armenian Catholicos, the supreme leader of the church, might get the message and distribute the resources to people in need.

We did the interview, during which he announced the exact date and time when the plane was scheduled to land in Armenia. Indeed, the Catholicos of Armenia, who was a loyal VOA program follower, came to the airport to receive the aid, which otherwise would have fallen into the hands of corrupt officials, in which case it is likely the materials would never have made it into the hands of the people, who desperately needed the help.

From 1988 to 1992, we put a great emphasis on radio programming to help Armenia on the road to peace and democracy; we produced a radio series on democracy, democratic institutions, women’s issues, and developments in science, medicine, business, and the environment. Then, in 1992, my husband was transferred to Saudi Arabia for work. I took a five-year hiatus from my role at VOA to accompany him with our two small children, though I periodically sent in freelance articles from the Middle East. In 1998, I returned to the U.S. and also, to VOA’s Armenian Service, but this time, as Service Chief.

We continued building on past accomplishments and innovating, but in 2004, we faced a major challenge. Due to budget cuts, VOA announced that the Bulgarian, Estonian, Czech, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian, Slovak, and Slovenian language services would end their regularly scheduled programs.  Although the Armenian language radio program was not eliminated, it suffered  severe cuts and was directed to use the remaining resources to maximize its impact in post-Soviet Armenia, the target region.

Several Armenian TV executives, who had visited VOA Armenian Service during a U.S. State Department-hosted tour to learn about free press practices in the U.S., were eager to partner with VOA. Out of these, VOA chose Armenia TV, the second major TV station in Armenia after the state sponsored Public TV. Armenia TV was more Western-oriented than other television outlets in the country at that time, likely in no small part because it was financially supported by a U.S. Armenian businessman and philanthropist, Gerard Cafesjian. They used cutting edge technology to broadcast programs that reached not only the whole country, but also Diaspora communities around the world, including the Middle East and the U.S. In May of 2004, VOA Marketing offered and signed its first affiliate contract with Armenia TV Company.

For the last 11 years, the Armenian Service has continued to produce two VOA Armenian programs: Armenian Daily Report, which airs, Monday-Friday, consisting of 10-minute news and a feature program; and Armenian TV Magazine, a 20-minute standalone program that includes feature stories and interviews about Armenian Diaspora life and other Armenia related events in the Washington, D.C area. These programs are fed to ARMENIAN TV every day for broadcasting within their network.In addition, the Armenian Service has web and mobile sites, and is available on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

With very limited resources, the Service is able to maintain high quality TV programming for the target area. According to a Gallup survey, the Armenian Service accounts for most of Armenia’s U.S. international media audience, with a total weekly audience reach of 33.7 percent.

During my television coverage of the 2004 U.S. presidential elections, I met with an Armenian presidential candidate at an election party convention in Boston. Stephan Demirchian was part of a visiting group made of presidential candidates from former Soviet republics.  The visit was sponsored by a U.S. NGO to exemplify political freedom in presidential elections. Mr. Demirchian was most impressed with how the opposition party candidate campaigned freely in the US, and how the voters were allowed to cheer for their candidate and criticize the government in power. During our conversation, he seemed sad, and at one point, he told me it would take many years to establish this kind of freedom in Armenia.

It seems those many years have passed—and that day has come. I am proud of Armenia’s citizens for standing up to corruption and achieving a peaceful revolution. I am proud of Armenia’s press for unwaveringly reporting news about the historic demonstrations to the Diaspora and the rest of the world. Much has changed since I began reporting on Armenia’s current affairs nearly three decades ago; much, it seems, for the better.

Note from the Editors: Araxie Vann, née Kazandjian, began her career in journalism in the seventies at the Hairenik and Armenian Weekly offices, back when they were located in Copley Square (not Watertown, as they are today). She worked for the Hairenik newspaper, the Armenian-language counterpart to the Weekly, as a translator, where she translated texts from Eastern Armenian and English into Western Armenian, before embarking on her VOA career at the State Department. For full disclosure, nearly fifty years later, her daughter is an editor at the English-language counterpart to that very newspaper. It speaks to the generational role that these newspapers have played in the Armenian community, that the Armenian and Hairenik Weekly newspapers continue to offer stepping stones into the world of journalism to current and future generations of Diasporans. 

Author information

Araxie Vann

Araxie Vann was born in Yerevan in the Soviet Union and immigrated to the United States with her family in 1973, settling in Lynn, Mass. She received a B.A. in Russian Language and Economics from Mount Holyoke College and an M.A. in Russian Language and Literature from Norwich University. Her original goal was to teach Russian. However, in 1980 she moved to Washington DC to work at the Voice of America’s Armenian Service as an international radio broadcaster, covering international news in the Armenian language, where she eventually became Service Chief. After retiring, she hopes to return to her original goal of teaching the languages of her native country, Armenian and Russian. She feels that the knowledge of foreign languages resolves many problems and breaks down the barriers between countries. In particular, she wants to teach the Russian language, because she feels that superpower countries like the US and Russia have a lot more in common than they realize, and that knowledge of Russian will lead to better understanding and build mutually beneficial conditions for world peace.

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In a classroom decorated with ancient and modern maps and photos of students in front of statues and monuments, restless high school juniors dressed in navy and plaid uniforms are seated at their desks trying to follow along with their teacher’s lesson of the day. Hanging overhead is a tricolor flag—red, blue and orange. This is a daily Armenian language class at AGBU Manoukian High School in Pasadena, California.

“What is the first thing Armenians build when they migrate to a new place?” Ms. Lora Kuyumjian, a 40-year Armenian teacher, proudly asked her class.

“Schools and churches,” the students responded, almost mechanically.

Armenian school students living in the Diaspora say this piece of knowledge is passed onto them from day one. The concept of cultural preservation is deeply ingrained in these young Armenian Americans by their families and by the schools.

In large part as a result of the Armenian Genocide, Armenians are spread out in almost every corner of the world. There are more Armenians living outside of Armenia, than in the country itself. The result: Armenian schools have been established in many communities inhabited by Diaspora Armenians.

Armine Movsisyan, director of curriculum and instruction at the Los Angeles Unified School District, explained that the attempt to wipe out someone’s identity makes it all the more important for that person, or that group of people, to maintain who they are. That is part of why cultural identity and ethnic background, she said, are really important to Armenians – because it was challenged.

“As a culture who faced the reality of genocide – getting rid of all members of this ethnic group – I think that not just surviving, but thriving is such an essential part of our story,” said Movsisyan, who was previously the principal at AGBU Manoukian.

As a people historically persecuted for their religion and ethnicity, who were victim to genocide and who are now one of the few communities that have a large diaspora – a homeland that they live outside of – Armenians outside of Armenia cling to their identity, Movsisyan explained.

There are over 171,000 native Armenian speakers living in Los Angeles County, making it one of the largest Armenian communities living outside of Armenia. Consequently, there are 14 Armenian day schools throughout Southern California with over 4,300 students.

In such a richly diverse country like the United States, ethnically homogenous schools might seem odd for those outside the community. However, the general goal of these Armenian schools is not to promote an atmosphere of xenophobia – far from it.

“The Armenian heritage is so endangered. Armenians are so few to begin with,” said Deeown Shaverdian, an Armenian school alumnus and current supervision advisor at Chamlian Armenian School in Glendale. “With the melting pot that is the United States, more and more here are forgetting the language, the culture. I have a fear that we will cease to exist.”

Students, parents, alumni and faculty say the main appeals of Armenian schools are the safe environment, the preservation of culture, language and Armenian identity and the fear of assimilation as a post-genocidal diasporan group.

Juniors at AGBU Manoukian expressed that it can be difficult to grow up in what can feel like a cultural echo chamber, surrounded by people who are, in some respects, the same. Yet, every single student in the room, including the disinterested slackers and the rebellious class clowns in the back, said they too would send their own children to Armenian school.

Vana Yepremian, an eighth-grader at Chamlian, said she would send her future children to Armenian school because she believes it’s important that future generations stay Armenian, know the culture and speak the language.

“It’s a good chance to have as a young Armenian person to learn more about your own culture, who you are and what your past is,” she said. “It’s important to know what has happened before I was born.”

The Pull

Families send their children to Armenian schools for several reasons. The primary reason is the preservation of Armenian identity.

“They can learn to appreciate their heritage, culture and language,” said Aline Yepremian, who has three daughters in Armenian school.

Yepremian explains she wants her children to have that opportunity because she didn’t. Growing up in Canada, there weren’t any local, daily Armenian schools for her and her siblings.

Ana Sirabionian, an alumnus of Pilibos Armenian School in Hollywood and a teacher specialist at Chamlian, explained that preserving facets of Armenian-ness and passing them on to future generations who live in the Diaspora can be difficult.

“When people are forced to live outside of their country, they can easily just eventually disappear, forget their language, forget their culture. To us, as Armenians, it’s really important that that doesn’t happen,” Sirabionian said.

The fear of losing the Armenian identity stems, for many diasporans, from the Armenian Genocide, Movsisyan explained. The Ottoman Empire’s attempt to annihilate the Armenian race has left a trans-generational trauma in generations of Armenians.  

“When someone tries to take something away from you, your identity, generations are affected by that psychology,” said Movsisyan.

Talar Kakilian, who transferred from a public school to Sahag Mesrob Armenian Christian School in Pasadena in the seventh grade, explained that Armenian schools gave her a clear sense of who she was, who she wanted to be and where she wanted to go.

“Once I got to Armenian school and I started learning about our history in a deeper way, reading our literature, reciting poetry and performing music that was composed by Armenian composers, it really solidified that identity that my parents had worked so hard to foster in me,” she said. “It gave me a clear view of who I was as a person and how that ethnic identity has allowed me to become who I am today.”

Armenian schools can offer a safe environment for students to feel comfortable and to grow in.

Tenny Kizirian, an alumnus of Chamlian Armenian School, now sends her two sons there.

“I wanted them to have the social environment that I had,” she said. “The friendships and bonds you create there are truly lifelong.”

Kizirian explained that as a parent, she feels a sense of assurance knowing who her children’s friends and their families are.

Sirabionian echoed the sentiment, saying, “We knew each other’s families and grew up together. It’s really like family.”

Lack of Diversity:

Armenian school administrators are conscious of their lack of diversity, Sirabionian said.

“Some people might feel like it’s xenophobic: Armenians just want to be with other Armenians; they have their own schools,” said Sirabionian. “But that’s not what it’s about. It’s about keeping a culture alive that’s otherwise dying.”

Alique Cherchian, who attended Ari Guiragos Minassian School in Santa Ana, entered public school in seventh grade. She said that once she left the sheltered Armenian school environment, or the “bubble”, she had a grounded sense of her identity and her roots.

“As long as you live outside of the homeland, the time you have to be in such a grounded environment like this is very limited,” she said.

Although Cherchian said she would definitely send her children to Armenian school, she would also like for them to experience public school, as she did.

“I want them to learn to educate their peers and others on history that is unfortunately not taught enough in the public school system, if taught at all,” she said. “I would want them to experience that empowerment, but at the same time learn that there are so many other students who come from very different backgrounds. Understanding that Armenian politics and history is not the center of the world is something I want my kids to learn and understand.”

The ‘sheltered’ Armenian school environment can be like a safe zone where students’ ideas about the world and ‘others’ go unchallenged.

“In an increasingly globalized society, that would be an issue. You’re going to be exposed to different types of people and mentalities all the time,” Shaverdian said.  “Knowing how to connect with them and communicate with them is vitally important.”

Many alumni and parents expressed the desire for students to have a more diverse experience. However, for many families, the cultural preservation aspect of the Armenian schools outweighs the lack of diversity.

“For me, when you weigh what is more important, as a family we’ve decided the Armenian aspect is,” said Yepremian. She adds, however, that she does wish her daughters were exposed to diversity earlier.

Armenian school students share common ground when it comes to language and culture. But experts say it’s much more than that.

“We are unified linguistically,” Myrna Douzjian, professor of Armenian language and literature at the University of California, Berkeley, said. “Our cultural experiences that inform our ideas about our identity might be very different.”

Douzjian, who attended Pilibos, explained there are many different types of Armenians at these schools. Many of these families come from Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Armenia, Iraq and elsewhere. Some students are born in the U.S. and have immigrant parents or grandparents, or are, themselves, immigrants. There are also students with mixed families, children of mixed marriages and so on, she described.

“Talking about differences enriches one’s sense of self and education,” Douzjian added.

“The strong connection to Armenian identity can spark an interest in learning about other cultures,” said Alik Yepremian, an alumna of Armenian schools who is now a sophomore at Loyola Marymount University.

“It’s kind of hard to relate to others because I’ve ever only known Armenians,” she said. “But I’ve realized the people I’ve become friends with (in college) are also really connected to their culture and their background. That’s where it becomes easier because we have that strong connection to who we are.”

Having only known Armenians for most of their young life and having a sense of family in a tight-knit community, can make it difficult to form relationships with others.

“I felt so confident with friends I already had, that I didn’t feel the need to look for other friends in college,” Sirabionian said. “But now, I’m more interested in people of different backgrounds and upbringings because I didn’t get to experience much difference growing up.”

That being said, there is more to a person than their Armenian-ness, she added.

It’s not for everyone

Not everyone can afford to send their children to an Armenian private school.

Teni Bazikyan, a recent graduate from University of California, Berkeley, came to the United States from Iran when she was 13. While living in Iran, she attended Armenian private school until sixth grade. When she and her family moved to Glendale, California, she no longer had that option due to financial restraints.

“It was expensive for us. We just got here, my parents were looking for jobs, we were trying to settle,” Bazikyan said.

Still, living in Glendale, a city with a large Armenian population, most of her friends in public school were Armenian. This was a subconscious decision, she said, because she related to Armenians more easily. As for those outside her Armenian circle of friends (the odars as Armenians say), Bazikyan made a surprising discovery.

“By explaining ourselves and our identities to non-Armenians, we became more Armenian because they were constantly questioning things we never questioned about ourselves,” she said. “They sort of made me more Armenian.”

Vanuhi Vartanian, who was born in Armenia and moved to Glendale when she was 4 years old, said she noticed most of her friends who attended Armenian schools are not first-generation. Their parents have lived in the U.S. for some time and are better established and can afford to pay private school tuition, she said, as opposed to those who are new to America like her own family.

“If my parents could at the time, they would have enrolled me in Armenian school,” Vartanian said. “I think many parents who come from Armenia would love to do that but they can’t afford it when they first move here.”

Vartanian, who attended public schools throughout her life and recently graduated from UC Berkeley, believes that, in a way, it was a disadvantage for her.

“Whenever I started taking Armenian classes at UC Berkeley, the students who had attended Armenian private schools read a lot faster, wrote a lot more accurately, were well-versed and could get through a conversation without saying ‘um’ and they knew all these big vocabulary words, something that I didn’t get to practice too often at home,” Vartanian explained.

However, she did attend Saturday school and free after-school Armenian classes at her public elementary school.

Armenian is the second most spoken primary language for Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) students who are also English speakers. As a result, some public schools have begun to offer classes in Armenian. The LAUSD and the Glendale Unified School District have launched dual-immersion programs, where students learn and speak Armenian in some of their classes.

With public schools beginning to offer Armenian language classes, families who cannot afford an Armenian school education for their children can still have the option to learn Armenian in school, Vartanian said.

Last Bell

For the 11th graders in the Armenian class at AGBU Manoukian, being surrounded by Armenians doesn’t mean they’re all one and the same.

Michael Pratt, head of school at AGBU Manoukian, who is not Armenian, agrees.

“I can see us having a great ethnically, racially, politically tight-wrapped heterogeneous student body where everybody’s difference was the most valuable thing,” he said. “Not everybody’s sameness.”

Sareen Habeshian attended Chamlian Armenian School and AGBU Vatche and Tamar Manoukian High School.

Author information

Sareen Habeshian

Sareen Habeshian is a reporter and trained multimedia storyteller based out of Los Angeles. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley and USC. Habeshian is currently working at the USC Institute of Armenian Studies.

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The post Clinging to Identity appeared first on The Armenian Weekly.

WATERTOWN, Mass.—The Armenian Weekly is pleased to announce the newest addition to its staff. Leeza Arakelian is a seasoned journalist, who has written and produced for local and network television news including Boston 25 and Al Jazeera America in Washington, D.C. A Los Angeles native and a graduate of UCLA, Arakelian moved to New England in 2010 to pursue a master’s in broadcast journalism at Emerson College. She has covered topics ranging from genocide recognition to autism.

Arakelian will be joining the Weekly as assistant editor, replacing Karine Vann, who assumed the role of editor in the months following the departure of Rupen Janbazian.

“As a journalist, I am incredibly humbled and grateful to join this long-standing, trusted institution in the Armenian community,” said Arakelian, who will be taking her sixth sense for glaring typos and transitioning from bustling camera-filled newsrooms to the storied archives of the Hairenik building. “I’m in a special place. I feel it every morning when I greet my colleagues with pari luys.”

Arakelian will be working with the editorial team to elevate the Weekly’s digital platforms with her multimedia background. In particular, she will focus on restarting the The Armenian Weekly Podcast, a new series launched in May that features interviews and insightful commentary from some of the community’s most influential voices.

“My hope is that I can serve as a compelling storyteller for the Weekly’s engaged readership and perpetuate its mission in delivering high-quality news coverage for the Diaspora.” Arakelian also wants to innovate. “Back in grad school, we learned how to execute a story as a one-man band. I’d love to hit the ground running in that capacity again. Every Armenian has something to say. I want to capture these stories on-camera from our schools, our churches, our homes, our kitchens, and our welcoming events.”

“The beauty of working in a newsroom like the Weekly’s is its scale,” said Vann, commenting on both her and Arakelian’s recent appointments, “As a small, community operation, the presence of just one additional team member is strongly felt. Editors and assistant editors come to the paper with different experiences and approaches, which tap into the different needs of the community at different times. It’s something amazingly organic, which makes this paper truly unique. I’m looking forward to building on Leeza’s strong foundations in the multimedia realm, and am very eager to see how the paper continues to develop as a trusted journalistic resource.”

George Aghjayan, chairman of the Central Committee for the Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s Eastern Region, who also serves on the editorial board at the Weekly, commented that he is looking forward to “keeping the quality high and moving the newspapers forward in this new millennium. We’re slowly, but surely building a sustainable future for the paper, all the while continuing to look for additional contributors and staff that will bring innovation, professionalism, and fresh, progressive perspectives.”

Though the Weekly has a strong track record of staffing women in leadership positions, this will be the first time in the newspaper’s history that the editorial team is made up solely of women.

Leeza lives in Sudbury, Massachusetts with her husband Sebouh, their son Alik, and dog Penny. If you have a story idea, please email her at leeza@armenianweekly.com. You can also follow her reporting on Twitter (@LeezaYeretzian).

The post Meet the Weekly’s New Editorial Line-Up appeared first on The Armenian Weekly.