Gagrule.net News, Views, Interviews worldwide
YEREVAN. – On behalf of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, an official dinner was given—on Friday evening at the Prime Minister’s residence—in honor of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is on an official visit to Armenia.
According to the protocol, the heads of governments of both countries made mutual toasts, and they reflected on Armenian-German relations and the prospects for their development, informed the press office of the government of Armenia.
The William Saroyan House-Museum will open to the public on August 31, the 110th anniversary of the writer’s birthday, Renaissance” Cultural and Intellectual Foundation reported in a press statement.
The grand opening event will be open to the public and held on the campus of California State University of Fresno. A documentary, musical performances of songs written by Saroyan, a recitation of his writings, and remarks by the Founder and board members of the Foundation will be part of the event. Two of the songs will be a debut performance, having never been played for the public.
In 2016, the Foundation, founded by Arthur Janibekyan, purchased William Saroyan’s house and saved it from foreclosure. Since then, the Saroyan House Project was initiated, with the purpose of establishing a house-museum dedicated to the life and times of the Pulitzer Prize and Oscar-winning Armenian-American novelist, screenwriter, and songwriter.
The museum will feature a large digital archive of Saroyan’s works as well as collected books, photos, videos, paintings, souvenirs that describe Saroyan’s character. Additionally, the space will include video and digital effects that depict a hologram of William Saroyan sitting and talking with his guests. In accordance with William Saroyan’s will, a research area will be created within the house, which will serve as a center for Saroyan studies. Students, scholars and other interested individuals will thus be able to benefit from the vast heritage which the writer left behind.
Putin dancing with Austrian FM
Vladimir Putin was filmed showing off his language skills and dancing at the Austrian FM’s wedding. The happy couple and their guests also enjoyed a performance of the Kuban Cossack Choir, which the Russian leader brought along.
The video shows Russian President Vladimir Putin arriving with a big bouquet and then dancing to a cheerful piano tune with Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl. The two smile and enjoy themselves as guests take photos and film them on their phones. Kneissl and Putin certainly didn’t forget about etiquette. The foreign minister, dressed for the occasion in a beige dirndl – a traditional alpine dress – ended the dance with a curtsy, while Putin responded with a bow.
https://youtu.be/sC2DNWLEDrY
Kneissl, 53, tied the knot with businessman Wolfgang Meilinger, 54, on Saturday in a vineyard in the picturesque town of Gamlitz.
When the guests were seated, the Russian president had the opportunity to show off his German skills. Putin delivered a lengthy toast, honoring the newlyweds and wishing happiness, harmony, and love to the couple. He also threw in a few jokes, eliciting laughs and applause from the newlyweds and their guests. He noted that Kneissl enjoys Russian culture, so he brought a bit of it with him.
The Kuban Cossack Choir, dressed in traditional red kaftans and wool hats, performed songs in Russian and German.
But that wasn’t Putin’s only gift – he also gave Kneissl and Meilinger a rural landscape painting, an antique butter churn, and a samovar – a tradition Russian water boiler used to make tea.
Armenian Fest in Glenview
Armenian spiritual and cultural identity was celebrated this weekend at the Armenian Fest at All Saints Apostolic Church of Glenview.
The primary purpose of the event is to honor the feast of the Assumption of Mary on Aug. 12 with an outdoor church service and choir accompaniment that incorporates the traditional blessing of the grapes.
The three-day event drew an estimated 600 visitors for festivities that included ethnic dancing, live music, kids activities, food and a raffle.
“The event is all about family and family is at the center of our service throughout the year,” said the Rev. Father Ghevont Pentezian.
“The Feast of the Assumption is one of the five major feast days in our Liturgical Calendar and the Blessing of the Grapes is important to our community as it gives families in our community an opportunity to celebrate Armenian identity, tradition and culture,” Pentezian said.
“Historically, farmers in Armenia would bring the grapes and other vegetables of the harvest to the church to be blessed by the priest,” said Deacon Thomas Ohanian. “This has become symbolic part of our celebration today.”
Hagop Soulakian, board chair of the Apostolic Church Community Center, said that while the festival is centered around a religious event, it also provides an opportunity for the church community to see old friends, celebrate customs and participate in fellowship that connects generations.
“The weekend has an educational component as well,” said Pentezian. “To share the spiritual Feast of the Assumption, and our cultural pride through ethnic performances, food and a selection of Armenian publications and other cultural artifacts also on display.”
Also highlighted during the festival was one of the commemorative benches that will be part of an upcoming Sept. 9 dedication of six benches that were hand-crafted in Armenia and gifted to the city of Chicago.
Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/glenview/ct-gla-armenian-fest-glenview-tl-0816-story.html
Dr. Kris Mirzayan & wife Pam, with Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian President of (AUA) American University of Armenia
By Wally Sarkeesian
OC. California at Zov’s Restaurant A luncheon event hosted by Dr. Kris Mirzayan & wife Pam for American University of Armenia AUA’s 100 Pillars of Tomorrow.
the event held at Zov’s restaurant one of the best Armenian cuisine restaurants in OC.
Educators, contributors of the 100 pillars and AUA student, community leaders from all over southern California attended the event, the event Began with speaker president of AUA Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian, see the video, what is the Pillars, the pillars are the generosity of the Armenian of Diaspora investing in the future and realizing the dreams of Armenian student. To become one of the pillars Pledge, $50,000 payable in 5 years, $10,000 year., Today American university of Armenian have 100 Pillars and continues to expand,
AUA is the only U.S. accredited university in all of Caucasus, AUA has been able to remain ahead of the curve in forging a new path for education in Armenia because of its supporters and its close affiliation with the University of California. At the end, Dr. Kris Mirzayan and Mrs. Pamella Mirzayan were awarded a plaque in Honor of Their Dedication to AUA’s Students, whom Dr. Kris Mirzayan calls” These Students are The Future of Armenia ”
Full video coverage of the event and interview of both Dr. Kris Mirzayan and Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian President of (AUA) American University of Armenia by Wally Sarkeesian coming soon.
Narek Panossian, a Armenian Mountaineer from Lebanon, has planted the Armenian tricolor and the flag of Lebanon atop Mount Elbrus (5,642 m), Nouvelles d’Armenie reports.
The highest mountain in Europe and the tenth most prominent peak in the world, Elbrus is in the Caucasus Mountains in Southern Russia, near the border with Georgia.
Panossian has now become the youngest mountaineer in Lebanon to climb the summit of Elbrus.
GagruleLive Conversation with Harut Sassounian, Armenia Artsakh Fund Tuesday 9:PM,
Harut Sassounian is an Armenian-American writer, public activist and publisher of The California Courier which is known for Sassounian’s weekly opinion column. Sassounian has an MA in International Affairs from Columbia University and an MBA from Pepperdine University.
He publishes The California Courier, an English-language Armenian weekly newspaper in Glendale, California, since 1983.
In 2009 Sassounian was awarded the ‘Legacy Award’ by the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region, in 2016 Sassounian was awarded by Armenia’s Union of Journalists the prestigious Golden Pen award, the highest prize given to the top Armenian journalist once every three years.
Watch Live on https://facebook.com/gagrulepage Tuesday 9:PM
By the blessing and ordination of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, on August 22, 2015, four members of the Holy See of Cilicia Brotherhood departed on a two-day visit to Sis, once the seat of the Cilician Catholicosate and kingdom. During the historic mission which was initiated and organized by His Holiness, through the eyes of his spiritual children the Pontiff saw the dilapidated Catholicosate destroyed by the genocidal Turks, the fortress, the capital city. In the ruins of the Catholicosate and the fortress the clergymen offered prayers for the souls of the Catholicoi who served in Sis, for Cilician rulers, and for the souls of all of our nation’s martyrs. The Pontiff’s moving and inspirational message, titled “Greetings from the historic Sis Catholicosate,” was read by H.G. Bishop Torkom Donoyan, then Dean of the Seminary and current Vicar General of the Western Prelacy.
Through the eyes of an eyewitness, Bishop Torkom will impart the experiences, sentiments, discretion, tears, and triumphs associated with the mission which was revealed to the clergymen mere hours prior to their departure.
On the 3rd anniversary of this mission, the Educational Committee of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Crescenta Valley has organized a special lecture titled “Toward Sis with an Eyewitness View” which will take place on Sunday, August 19, 2018, at 1:00 p.m., at the Western Prelacy hall.
Bishop Torkom served as conductor of the Catholicosate Shnorhali and Seminary Armash choirs from 2010-2014, conducting concerts with both choirs. In those same years, he served as the Choirmaster of St. Gregory the Illuminator Mother Cathedral in Antelias, and as the organist from 2006-2014. Fr. Torkom has vast expertise on Armenian Church music and has composed a number of spiritual songs
ԴԷՊԻ ՍԻՍ՝ ԱԿԱՆԱՏԵՍԻ ԱՉՔԵՐՈՎ
Մեծի Տանն Կիլիկիոյ Կաթողիկոսութեան Վեհափառ Հայրապետ Ն․Ս․Օ․Տ․Տ․ Արամ Ա․ին օրհնութեամբ եւ թելադրութեամբ 22 Օգոստոս 2015ին, Կաթողիկոսութեան Միաբանութենէն չորս հոգեւորականներ երկօրեայ այցելութեամբ մեկնեցան Սիս՝ Կիլիկիոյ Կաթողիկոսութեան ու թագաւորութեան երբեմնի կայքը։ Առաքելութիւնը ծրագրած ու կազմակերպած էր Արամ Ա․ Վեհափառ Հայրապետը։ Պատմական բնոյթ ունեցող սոյն խորհրդաւոր առաքելութեան ընթացքին, Կիլիկիոյ Գահակալը իր Միաբան զաւակներուն աչքերով տեսաւ Ցեղասպան թուրքին կողմէ քանդուած Կաթողիկոսարանը, բերդը, Կիլիկիոյ մայրաքաղաքը՝ Սիսը։ Հոգեւորականներ քանդուած Կաթողիկոսարանին ու բերդին մէջ աղօթք բարձրացուցին առ Աստուած Սիսի մէջ գահակալած կաթողիկոսաց եւ Կիլիկիոյ հայ թագաւորաց հոգւոցն եւ համայն նահատակացն ազգիս հայոց։ Սիսի աւերակներուն մէջէն Հայոց պահանջատէր Հովուապետին «Ողջոյն՝ Սիսի դարաւոր Կաթողիկոսարանէն» վերնագիրը կրող յուզիչ բայց ներշնչող ճառը ընթերցեց օրուան Դպրեվանքի Տեսուչ եւ այժմ Արեւմտեան Ամերիկայի Առաջնորդական Փոխանորդ Գերշ․ Տ․ Թորգոմ Եպս․ Տօնոյեան։
Սոյն առաքելութեան մասին միայն ժամեր առաջ տեղեակ եղող հոգեւորականներու երկօրեայ ճամբորդութեան, փորձառութեանց, յուզմունքին, զգուշաւորութեան, արցունքին եւ յաղթանակին մասին ականատեսի եւ վկայի հանգամանքով կը պատմէ Թորգոմ Սրբազան։
Այս ամիս 3րդ տարին կը լրանայ այս առաքելութեան։ Ասկէ մեկնած, Քրեսենթա Հովիտի Հայց․ Առաք․ Ս․ Եկեղեցւոյ Դաստիարակչական յանձնախումբը կազմակերպած է յատուկ դասախօսութիւն մը, որ տեղի պիտի ունենայ Կիրակի, 19 Օգոստոս 2018ի կէսօրուան ժամը մէկին Ազգային Առաջնորդարանի սրահին մէջ։ Նիւթը․ ԴԷՊԻ ՍԻՍ՝ ԱԿԱՆԱՏԵՍԻ ԱՉՔԵՐՈՎ։
2010-14 Թուականներուն Եպս․ Թորգոմ խմբավարած է Կաթողիկոսարանի ՇՆՈՐՀԱԼԻ եւ Դպրեվանքի ԱՐՄԱՇ երգչախումբերը, որոնց հետ առանձնաբար եւ միասնաբար զանազան ելոյթներով հանդէս եկած է։ Դարձեալ նոյն տարիներուն, ան եղած է Դպրապետը Անթիլիասի Ս. Գրիգոր Լուսաւորիչ Մայր Տաճարին եւ 2006-2014 թուականներու երգեհոնահարը նոյն Տաճարին։ Հայ Եկեղեցւոյ երաժշտութեան մէջ լայն գիտութիւն եւ անոր մեկնաբանութեան մէջ մասնագէտ Հայր Սուրբը, հեղինակ է շարք մը հոգեւոր երգերու։
Քրեսենթա Հովիտի Հայց. Առաք. Ս. Եկեղեցի
Armenian Apostolic Church of Crescenta Valley
6252 Honolulu Ave., La Crescenta CA 91214
Arsen Harutyunyan (Armenia) won a gold medal at the European Youth Freestyle Wrestling Championship
The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region announced that it will award Armenian-American musician, composer, and political activist Serj Tankian of the rock band System of a Down with the “People’s Champion” Award at the 2018 ANCA-WR Gala on Sunday, October 7 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
“Serj Tankian plays an exemplary role by utilizing his strong and influential voice as a successful musician to bring the Armenian Cause to the attention of the world stage by reaching millions of his fans worldwide. For his years of activism on this front, as well as for his motivational support of the will of the People during the recent Velvet Revolution in Armenia, we believe that Serj Tankian is truly worthy of being named the ‘People’s Champion,’” stated Nora Hovsepian, Chair of the ANCA Western Region, Asbarez reports.
Upon being notified of this award, Serj Tankian expressed his gratitude, stating “I’m very honored to be this year’s ANCA’s People’s Champion award honoree. I’ve worked with the ANCA for many years on Genocide recognition efforts and consider their work effective and instrumental. We’ve come a long way and I am really proud of our achievements.”
During the Velvet Revolution in Armenia, Serj Tankian expressed his support and travelled to Armenia to join hundreds of thousands of people being led by current Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the rallies taking place in Yerevan’s central Republic Square. In weeks prior, Tankian, vocal about the revolution, offered his support to Pashinyan and published a video praising the protesters in Armenia and providing his own words of inspiration.
Tankian even watched the May 8 vote for prime minister live in Parliament before celebrating with the crowds in the streets of Yerevan. Since then, he has used the power of media, film, and art in order to highlight the democratic and peaceful victory in Armenia while promoting grassroots activism. Most recently, it was announced in an interview in Forbes magazine that Serj Tankian is working on a film on the revolution called “I Am Not Alone.”
Tankian has always been passionate about human rights, recognition of genocides, and social justice. These traits have helped to shape the lyrical style in which he writes music. He has organized and participated in many protests, from Armenian Genocide recognition to Axis of Justice protests led by him and co-founder Tom Morello. He and his bandmates from System of a Down also starred in a film called “Screamers” that covers the United States position on the Armenian Genocide. In the film, there is an interview shown between Serj Tankian and his grandfather, who was a survivor of the Armenian Genocide, in which he explains what he experienced during that traumatic time of his life. Less than a year ago, the activist musician even joined the late travel journalist Anthony Bourdain for his episode of “Parts Unknown” on CNN which featured Armenia and Artsakh, during which the two discussed geopolitical issues in the region, Serj Tankian’s own history with the Homeland, his heritage and more.
In the past, Tankian along with the Grammy Award winning rock band System of a Down organized the “Wake Up the Souls” tour, which began in Los Angeles and after several cities ended up in Yerevan’s Republic Square on April 23, 2015 where over a hundred thousand fans joined them to commemorate the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide. The goal of this international tour was to raise awareness for the Armenian Genocide and to also serve as a call for justice. Some of Serj Tankian’s well known works include a special track called “Aurora’s Dream,” which was the theme music for the inaugural Aurora Prize ceremony, a song he completed for “The Promise” soundtrack, and an Armenian song called “Artsakh,” released via rollingstone.com, which was written in support of the Artsakh Republic and in protest of ongoing Azerbaijani aggression.
In 2011, he served as a panelist on the “Lights, Camera, Activate,” panel during the inaugural ANCA-WR Grassroots Conference which covered the ways in which film, music and the arts can be used to promote grassroots activism. That same year, he was also awarded with the Armenian Prime Minister’s Memorial Order medal for his contributions to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the advancement of music. In 2010, Tankian in collaboration with the ANCA and Armenian Youth Federation launched the “Yes, It’s Genocide” campaign, which called on President Obama to honor his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide and take decisive action to end the genocide in Darfur. In 2002, he co-founded Axis of Justice, a non-profit organization which works to unite musicians and their supporters with grassroots political organizations in order to fight for social justice.
Born in Beirut, Lebanon and raised in Los Angeles, Tankian attended Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School. He currently resides in Warkworth, a semi-rural town north of Auckland, New Zealand, with his wife and son.
The 2018 ANCA-WR Gala will begin at 4:30p.m. with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction. A three-course dinner will follow at 6:00 p.m. accompanied by a powerful program and presentation of awards.
As already announced, British House of Lords Member Baroness Caroline Cox will be receiving the “Advocate for Justice” Award while the “Architects of Denial” film team will be awarded with the “Excellence in the Media” Award.