Violinist Viviane Hagner to perform during Yerevan 10th International Music Festival

September 6, 2016 By administrator

Yerevan 10th International Music Festival is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Armenia. The festival will officially start on September 12, featuring famous violinist Viviane Hagner in Aram Khachatryan Concert Hall.

Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra informed Panorama.am that Conductor Eduard Topchjan will lead the concert, which will feature works of Dvorak and Hector Berlioz.

The festival will last until October 10. Famous musicians and conductors from different countries will perform along the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra.

The festival is held under the High Patronage of the First Lady of Armenia, Mrs. Rita Sargsyan and is supported by the Ministry of Culture of RA. The Artistic Directors of the Festival are Alexander Chaushian and Eduard Topchjan.

Yerevan: Golden Apricot presents first 360° educational film in Armenia

July 13, 2016 By administrator

On the sidelines of the Golden Apricot International Film Festival, the first ever Armenian 360° educational movie, produced by Technology and Science, was presented in Yerevan.
Speaking to Tert.am, the company’s director, Vahe Shakaryan, said they produce movies for school-age children in an effort to facilitate their learning of different subjects.
“Films of the kind are in high demand abroad, so we must do everything possible to provide a free access to them . We are hopeful that by September, we will have at least three movies to screen in different schools. This movie is about astronomy; the next two movies will deal with biology and chemistry,” he explained.
The recent movie’s scenario, which was produced in Armenia, was written jointly by psychologists and pedagogues.
Shakaryan said the choice of disciplines focused on the subjects children normally have difficulty learning.
“Our purpose is to develop in the children a desire to return to books, making them delve deeper into the subjects they learn,” he said, adding that they are planning film screenings also in the regions.
The authors have prepared short-length movies (10-15 min.) not to bore the children.

Turkish festival of Indoctrination of American Student in Texas by Turkish Imam Gulen movement

February 8, 2016 By administrator

Fethullah-Gulen-Incubator-4 The ceremony was held at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in Houston, Texas, in front of 3,000 attendees. Some 100 students from 13 countries took to the stage during the event and nearly 2,500 students from 150 countries will take part across the globe in various ceremonies for this year’s festival.

Congressman Al Green and Pete Olson also attended the event as the Raindrop Foundation, which held the event, was awarded two certificates of merit on behalf of the state of Texas.

Delivering a speech at the event, Green said that wars could be ended together with the initiators of peace and the world could be turned into a safer place for future generations. Referring to “What a wonderful world,” one of the songs sang during the event, Green said the world is excellent because of the brilliant young people in it, adding that people can live in co-existence and bring peace to the world.

After his speech, Green called on Siwar Andolsi, a student from Tunisia, and gave a certificate of merit to him.

Another speaker, Olson, thanked the Turkish-American society for its contribution to multiculturalism with such an activity. He said it was a source of pride to host such an event and different cultures at the festival, which has given them a chance to express the pride they have felt.

The annual event helps teach the Coachella Valley about its Armenian population.

November 15, 2015 By administrator

By Kia Farhang, The Desert Sun

Krikor Zakaryan stood inside the Armenian Apostolic Church in Rancho Mirage on Sunday, smiling as he explained his religion to curious guests.

Zakaryan, the church’s priest, explained how an architect melded two different Armenian church designs into the structure on Monterey Avenue. The cozy building opened in 2012.

“The church may look modern, but there is no modern element,” Zakaryan said.

Outside, dozens of people shopped in a miniature bazaar and listened to traditional Armenian music. The eighth annual Armenian cultural festival drew a big crowd on its second of two days.

Zakaryan gently closed the church doors to keep out the noise. He explained to a small group of listeners that Armenians celebrate Christmas on January 6, unlike most western Christian denominations. He pointed out the 12 windows in the church’s dome – one for each of Jesus’ apostles.

“There is symbolism in everything,” he said. Still, “our belief is very simple.”

The Armenian festival is designed to spread the country’s culture across the Coachella Valley. Zakaryan estimated as many as 2,000 Armenians live in the valley, and his church is the newest of its kind in California.

Linda Jones Gizirian grew up with Armenian music and dances. She told a reporter Sunday all about Armenian food, like shish kebabs and pastries stuffed with cheese.

Gizirian also pointed out that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, in which the Turkish government systematically killed more than 800,000 Armenians. Many world governments do not officially recognize the event as a genocide despite decades of calls to do so from Armenian dignitaries and descendants.

“They just don’t want the Armenian people to be forgotten,” Gizirian said.

Gabriel and Ildiko Mittelmann planned to spend just a few minutes at the festival. But an impressive dance number and a talented singer kept them much longer.

The Mittelmanns, of Palm Springs, also heaped praise on the Armenian food. They bought some honey to give to their grandchildren.

“We use these two days to share,” Zakaryan said. “Just to make ourselves known.”

Armenia: 7th Areni Wine Festival Slated for October 2-4

October 1, 2015 By administrator

The Areni Wine Festival celebrates Armenia’s rich wine-making culture and history (Source: Areni Wine Festival)

YEREVAN (ARKA)—The village of Areni in the southern province of Vayots Dzor will host its seventh Wine Festival on October 2-4, Mekhak Apresyan, the head of a tourism department in the Ministry of Economy, said at a news conference today.

Apresyan said the goal of the festival is to stimulate the development of rural tourism and to present Armenia’s rich wine-making culture and history. The Wine Festival will extend to the nearby community of Rind as well, he said.

According to Apresyan, the festival contributes to the development of rural communities by creating jobs. These types of festivals are a powerful tool for the resolution of local problems, he said.

Apresyan said two certified sommeliers—Jacob Kleitman (Israel) and Katie Jurkhadze (Georgia)—have arrived in Armenia to take part in the festival.

The festival is a joint effort of the Areni Festival Fund, the Ministry of Economy and the Industry Development Fund. They are being assisted by the Union of the Armenian Communities and the administration of Vayots Dzor.

The world’s earliest known wine-making facility—a 6,000 year old wine press and fermentation jars—was discovered in a cave not far from the village of Areni. The same area was the site of the discovery of the oldest known leather shoe, dated to about 5,500 years ago.

Fresno: Festival brings Armenian culture, food

September 28, 2015 By administrator

by: Myles Barker

The Armenian Food Festival held its 9th annual celebration Saturday at the Fresno Armenian Home.

The festival, which went from 10 a.m. to midnight, started out as a family gathering among Armenians in the Fresno community but has grown to a one-day festival open to the public. report http://collegian.csufresno.edu

Bedros Khederian, the organizer of the festival, said it is not just for Armenians but open to anyone who wants a taste of the Armenian culture.

“We invite everyone so they can come and enjoy themselves and have fun,” Khederian said.

Khederian said the purpose of the event is not only to get the public involved but to also continue the tradition of their country and to pass it on to the new generation and to educate them on what it represents.

“We are continuing it for as long as we can,” Khederian said. “I don’t know how long I will live so I like to do it as much as I can and if I can pass it on to the younger generation so that they continue it, I will be able to rest in peace.”

Khederian said he loves the atmosphere of the festival, the people that come from all over the world to participate and the molasses, also known as Prpoor.

The bubbling grape molasses, Prpoor, which brews from grapes on the last day of harvest, is made during an 800-year-old traditional Armenian harvest festival similar to Thanksgiving.

“My favorite thing is to make the molasses because I remember when I was five or six- years-old that we used to do that,” Khederian said. “We would start on Monday morning and finish it maybe Friday or Saturday. We used to wait for that and even though we started over in Armenia, we want to continue it here.”

The festival attracted nearly 1,000 people, many of which came on buses from all over such as Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco and Canada.

They gathered together to enjoy authentic Armenian food, which consisted of grape leaves, baklava, shish kabob and sandwiches.

Richard Hagopian, along with his band and Armenian sensation Andrey Hovnanian, also known as André, delivered the musical performances. An open area was also designated for dancing and bounce houses on the grass for kids.

Meher Chekerdemian, a former Fresno State professor who also helped manage the funds at the festival, said he encourages everyone, especially those in the Fresno community, to come out and get to know a little bit about the Armenian way of life.

“If you like Armenian food and Armenian people then you should come and hear the music and enjoy the good Armenian food,” Chekerdemian said.

Chekerdemian, who has been to all nine of the festivals, said he is glad that the event is becoming more popular and hopes that it continues to grow each year.

“We appreciate the help and the recognition and we are very proud of it and we want to keep it going,” Chekerdemian said. “We will continue doing this as long as the young kids take over.”

Sarkis Barbarian, a former Fresno State student who now owns a mechanic shop in Fresno, works at the event every year as a bartender and loves meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends.

“I like how it brings all the Armenians together,” Barbarian said. “It’s a good environment with good food, good music and nice weather.”

Sevag Sanikian, a freshman biology major, who works at one of the food booths at the festival said he enjoys seeing everyone happy and having a good time.

“I like that you get to see a bunch of family and friends come together from all around the Armenian community,” Sanikian said. “I would recommend this to the public and to anyone that has Armenian heritage in them or who wants to come learn and be a part of the culture.”

Rosie Terpogosyian, a pre-nursing student, has attended the festivals ever since she can remember and always looks forward to it every year.

“I am Armenian and I’ve been coming here since I was little so it is like a tradition,” Terpogosyian said.

Grigor Kyutunyan, a Fresno State alumnus, said the festival is a great place to have fun, meet new people and have a good time with family.

“I’ve always been here, we have been here every year to enjoy the food, music and just chatting and having a good time,” Kyutunyan said.

Kyutunyan said the festival is a tradition and it is up to young Armenians like him to keep it alive.

“You feel it is a part of you,” Kyutunyan said. “The culture, the people, the history, it keeps you alive.”

Cleveland Armenian festival celebrates survival of a people with music, dance and food

September 24, 2015 By administrator

Ethnic festivals celebrate traditions and keeping them alive.

By John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ethnic festivals celebrate traditions and keeping them alive. The Armenian Food Festival and Bazaar will celebrate the survival of a nation.

The bash will bring cultural exhibits, folk bands, dancers and Armenian crafts to St. Gregory of Narek, 678 Richmond Road, Richmond Heights. It runs Friday through Sunday.

This year marks the 14^th year for the annual festival. But there is another anniversary that underscores this year’s festival – the 100^th year of the Armenian Genocide.

Historians estimate that 1.5 million Armenians were systematically killed beginning in 1915 in the crumbling Ottoman Empire. France, Russia, Canada and Brazil and 40 other countries around the world have official recognized the Armenian Genocide. The United States still has not, due to pressure and threats from Turkey, which denies that the genocide took place.

“This year marks the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the 24^th anniversary of Armenia’s independence,” said Raffi Kayayan, festival chairman. “We invite everyone to join us to celebrate together the rebirth and survival of our nation, and the glory of our culture and cuisine.”

The festival will include tours of St. Gregory of Narek, the first Armenian church in the area. It will also trace the arrival of the Armenians to the area – which dates back to the beginning of the 20^th – and the establishment of the first parish , in 1911.

Of course, there will be food – a seemingly endless supply, from stuffed grape leaves, shish kebab, cheese pastries, vegetarian delicacies and Armenian desserts, including Pakhlava.

You can also get a slice of Armenia, er, I mean, Armenian Pizza. — or as it is called back in the old country, Lahmacun. This pizza consists of a thin piece of dough topped with minced meat and onions, tomatoes and parsley.

Festival hours are 5-9 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. For more info, go to facebook.com/ClevelandArmenianFoodFest or call 440-665-7843.

Armenian Food, Pride, 43rd Street Festival and more – fall festival season is here

September 9, 2015 By administrator

By COLLEEN CURRAN Richmond Times-Dispatch

Food festivals such as the Armenian Food Festival, Shockoe on the Half Shell and the Central Virginia Food Truck Rodeo will be dishing up everything from oysters to burgers this weekend. Plus Virginia PrideFest, the 43rd Street Festival of Arts and more festivals will be bringing art, music and even Rayvon Owen to town.

It all starts Friday with the Armenian Food Festival, now in its 57th year at St. James Armenian Church, 834 Pepper Ave., in the West End. Roughly 7,000 to 9,000 visitors flock to the festival every year for meat pies, cheese boregs and more Armenian goodies.

“Every year it gets larger and larger,” said Leiza Bouroujian, one of the organizers. “Richmond has become such a festival community. We really take pride in the quality of our food. Everything is homemade. People always say, ‘Your food is the best.’ And they always come back.”

The attention is in the details, like the pork tenderloin in the kebabs, the two kinds of cheese in the cheese boregs and the fresh mint that goes in the bulgur salad.

The women of St. James Armenian Church have been preparing the Armenian pastries since early summer. Walnut kataif, a Middle Eastern pastry filled with walnuts, is an addition to a sweets menu that includes festival staples such as khourabia sugar cookies and paklava.

There also will be Armenian beer and wine, as well as cultural music and dancing throughout the three-day festival.

Weekend festivalsArmenian Food Festival

Friday-Sunday

St. James Armenian Church, 834 Pepper Ave.

Hours: Friday-Saturday 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday noon-7 p.m.

Free entry, pay as you go

(804) 282-3818 or armenianfoodfestival.com

Source: richmond.com

The first festival “Days of India in Armenia” starts tonight Yerevan

August 30, 2015 By administrator

The First International Festival “Days of India in Armenia” started today in Yerevan on August 30. The Armenian-Indian Friendship Festival will run until September 6th. The event is organized by the Embassy of India in Armenia, the restaurant chain “Havana” and the organization Intercultural Studies and the International Centre for Studies and dialogue. The launch of the festival will take place this evening in Yerevan at 19:15 (local time) Restaurant complex “Havana”. During the week, the “Days of India in Armenia” will try to make known to the Armenians Indian culture through the traditions, songs and dances from various regions of India. More than two dozen ambassadors from various countries will be present at the launch of this cultural and festive event.

Krikor Amirzayan

George Clooney will be there in Armenia for the film festival “Golden Apricot”?

June 27, 2015 By administrator

George Clooney

We had announced the presence in Armenia of the US actor George Clooney as part of the commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Today some mention his coming to Armenia for the Armenian Film Festival “Golden Apricot” (Voske Dziran). Cutting short the rumors Datévik Manoukian, the head of international relations of the Festival “Golden Apricot” said at a press conference Friday “It is true that we hear rumors about the presence of George Clooney at the Festival” Golden Apricot “in the project 100 lives in 2016 but for the 2015 edition of our festival, we have no invitation addressed to him.”

Recall that George Clooney is engaged in the project to 100 lives to honor worldwide on 100 “Righteous” who saved the lives of Armenians during the 1915 genocide, a project funded by Vartanian Roupen a rich man ‘Armenian Russian affair.

Krikor Amirzayan