1996_12 The Daily Collegian December 1996

              December 1996
Hye Sharzhoom
Letters from Armenia for Dr. Kouymjian
Dear honored Professor,
On behalf of the National
Academy of Sciences of the Re¬
public of Armenia I warmly con¬
gratulate you. on the 20th anniver¬
sary oi your directorship of the
Armenian Studies Program at Cali¬
fornia State University. Fresno. In
the position, through your diligent
and fruitful activities, you have
taught many generations of stu¬
dents with your dedicated work.
Many of these have now begun
their own efforts in the field of
Armenian Studies.
As a worthy son of the Ar¬
menian people, and an indefati¬
gable laborer in the field of science,
you have devoted an enthusiasm
and diligence which have been felt
in the work Of presenting to the
international scientific public the
study and analysis of the spiritual
treasures of our people. Your more
than thirty-live year career in aca¬
demics in the areas ot numismat¬
ics, manuscripts, literature, art. and
architecture, have catered into the
treasure book of Armeman Stud¬
ies.
Dear professor, in connec¬
tion with this special occasion. I
wish you good health, a long life, a
happy life, and new creative suc¬
cesses, in ihe name of the future
progress of .Armenian Studies
Wuh deep respeei.    •
Fadei Sarkissian.Academician
President. Armenian Academy of
Sciences
Vladimir Barkhoudarian
Academician
Secretary. Armenian Academy ol
Sciences
'Honorable Dr. Kouymjian.
In ihe name of the scientific
Council. Rectorate. and the facul¬
ties of ihe philological and history
departments. I send warm greet¬
ings to you. on the occasion of ihe
celebration of the twentieth anni¬
versary of your productive activi¬
ties as Director of the Armenian
Studies Program at California State
University. Fresno.
Under your leadership an
active Armenian Studies Program,
through the courses which it offers.
has .brought numerous Armenians
and non-Armenians alike toward
the Armenian culture, awakening
in their souls a line and inierest
toward Armenian language, litera¬
ture, history, and art.
The lectures you have given
and classes which you have taught
at universities in Beirut. Cairo.
Paris„New York. andTresno and at
Yerevan Slate University have
played a great roll?, in bringing
broader international attention to
Armenian Studies.
The booksand articles which
you have published and the papers
which you have read at various
conferences and symposia, have
provided a great contribution to
contemporary knowledge. Through
those works you have- Created a
valuable body of knowledge in
Middle Eastern coinage. Armenian
historiography, and medieval art.
especially in the area of manuscript
illumination.
Your studies have also been
an invaluable treasure in the analy¬
sts and discussion of the ages old
Armenian architecture, sculpture,
carpets, and archaeology
You were the first among
the scholars to utilize the computer
in the study ol Armenian art and in
Armenian Studies, communicating
a ne w contemporary qual it y to your
work in Armenian history and phi¬
lology.
Your work in the area ol
Armenian film has been a unique
contribution in that field in ihe
Diaspora
With your numerous and
varied interests you have become
unique among the new and old gen-
erationsof Armenian scholars, with
your new. bold ideas bringing a
fresh breath to the fields of Arme¬
nian Studies and Middle Eastern
Studies. By your authontati ve work
you have benefited the develop¬
ment of Armenian Studies in dif¬
ferent countries.
In appreciation of and in rec¬
ognition of your scholarly achieve¬
ments you have been worthy of
many honorary degrees and are a
member of important scholarly or¬
ganizations and societies.
Accept please, our wishes
tor your good health, for your
happiness and for your continued
contributions and success.
Radick Marurossian
Academician
Rector. Yerevan State University
Greatly respected professor, dear
friend, and associate,
On behalf of the scientific
council and all associates of die
Mashtots Matenadaran. and per¬
sonally. I would like to express my
heart fell congratulations on your
See LETTERS, page 8
Karabian Reunion: 100 Years
By Karen Karabian
()n Thanksgiving day. Novem-1
her 28. a pioneer Fresno family
celebrated MX)years in Fresno. The
Centennial cclcbrauon included a
gathering of nearly 250cousins and
relatives who were descendants rjf
Krikor Karabian.
Krtkor had arrived in Fresno
with his family in 18% in time for
Thanksgiving. He had spent four
years in Constantinople saving up
lor the trip. By 1906 Krikor. who
was working as a sheet metal
worker, had managed to save'
enough money tohnnghisbriHher's
son. Hosep -and wile, with dieir
three children Mary. Satenig. and
Frank (Tex) to Fresno. His sister
had stayed in Bulls and was ulti-
' mately killed in die Armenian mas¬
sacre of 1912-17.
It was Frank as a young man
•who initiated the namechange trom
Kanbian to Karibian He believed
the family needed to assimilate into
American culture.
The celebration was hosted by
Wally Karabian. a man whose pas¬
sion for his family has inspired so
many In attendance was 86-year
old Levon (Leo) Knkorian. He
was the last of ihe family to lmmi
grate from the ancestral home of
Bnlis
On display at die reunion was
a remarkable historic treasure
Satenig (Ha/el) Karabian had kept
volumes ofscrap books in her home
preserving the newspaperchppings
ot every Armenian who appeared
in the Fresno Bee from 1930 until
1980. when she died.
It was rare to find an article or
photograph regarding and Ameri¬
can Armenian in the Fresno Bee.
Krikor Karabian. Founder and
patriarch of the Karabian dan of
Fresno.
For this reason Satenig. unknow¬
ingly captured the births, deaths,
and major events ot every original
Armenian family in Fresno. Wc
can now trace the families, who are
unidentifiable as Armenians today
because of a name change, back to
their original Armenian roots.
The reunion was an awesome
moment in history for the
Karabians.Simomans. Krikorians.
Avakians. Badigians. and
Basmaiians. The room was united
in prayer and peace as ihey mutt
have been in 1896 li reminded
everyone of the little .Armenia that
exists in Fresno. The famihesdrew
ComfOfl in each other for each stood
next to a fellow friend, a fellow
Armenian.
There were unfamiliar faces
and forgotten stones. There were
voices of encouragement and ever-
changing, dreams. But (tee thing
would always stay true in die lives
ot these people, ihe Armenian NmxJ
which tlowed through their veins.
Encyclical, from Pg. *>     *
scholarly research and successes in the field oi Armenian Studies
Consequently. We, can without hesitation affirm, that You have become
not only a dedicated teacher, who has led many Armenians and non-
Armenians alike into an appreciation of Armenian history and culture, but
You have also been and remained a scholar-philologist. Your philologi¬
cal interests have been multi-faceted and extensive. History, numismat¬
ics. Islamic Studies, manuscript, illumination, the study of manuscript
texts, bibliography, and other areas have all been'apan of your scholarly
interest and scientific research. You did not simply follow others but
investigated your own original path. A serious, attentive, and organized
work became a part of your everyday life-a permanent struggle. You
stayed away from a quest for glory. You became tied to serious work, you
believed in your work, as a permanent value. The scholarly research You
have conducted over the past years and .the work You have published are
eloquent testimony to Your multi-faceted interests. Your Specialization.
and diligent labor.
At this important moment in Your life, when your friends, col¬
leagues, and students remember You. and praise your merit, we do not
only want to meniion Your work as a teacher, but also as an Armenian.
• a true Armenian.'who in the assimilating atmosphere of America has been
able in maintain firmly his Armenian identity, as a sacred inheritance, and
to live it every moment, and every place, trom the home to the classroom
In Your work and actions, in Your service and success. Your
matchless wife AngeW has been an inseparable part. You have not been
only a beloved and inseparable life-partner, but You always thought
together, planned togedier. aild labored together, believing that love and
unity would always be a source of success and progress. Therefore, today
We also today congratulate and honor her
Dear Dickran. this moment in Your life is surely a beautiful occasion
to look back and lo remember the past, this moment is also a decisive
occasion to look Ukta the future and to plan it lor it We arc sure dial You
still have many plans. We wish You complete health and the total
realization ol your plans and dreams. May GixJ bless Your family and
always lead You towards happiness and active success.
With Pontifical Blessings and warm affectionate greetings.
Prayerfully. ,
Aram I
Catholicos ol the Great House of Cihcia
November 1996 .
review
By Barlow Der Mugrdechian
Yerevan Women's Choir of
Armenia (69* IK")
MEG Recordings. PO BOX
412. Cambridge, MA 02338.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
based composer and musician Dr.
OhannesSalibian has been produc¬
ing a series ol digitally recorded
compact discs, one of the latest oi
which is called Yerevan Women's
Choir of Armenia:
The choir is under the direc¬
tion of Ahur Veraman. a graduate
of die Komitas conservatory in
Yerevan. Armenia, and who
founded ihe Yerevan Women's
Choir in 1976. He has adapted work
especially for women's choral
groups.
The CD is comprised ot eigh¬
teen works, eight by die world-
famous Armenian musician
Komitas. In addition, works h\
Robert Petrosiaii.MakarEkmalian.
Nerses Shnorhah (12th century).
Mcsiop Mashtots (5th century i.
Ervand Erkanian. Giovanni
Gabneh (16-17thccniury >. Nikolay
Sidelnikov. Arne Melinas, and
David Haladjian round out the mix
Ol classical and modern compos¬
ers
The Yerevan Women's chow
is a thirty-member musical cham¬
ber group with a distinctive sound
Most ot their works arc.irom the n
capetta tradition ol Armenian mu¬
sic They have performed at more
than 300 concerts world-wide
throughout Armenia, die former
Soviet Republics, and Western
Eurdpc The) have received main
international awards
This CD highlights die choral
mastery thai the Yerevan Women's •
Choir oi Armenia has achieved
They mow easily from sacred
pieces to traditional folk music.
always producing ahcautiful sound
Excerpts from die Armenian Di¬
vine Liturgy are among the most
beautiful of their renditions (fir
example Surh. Surh. Amen Hair
Surh)
Tins CD is a musi add to the
anyone's collection ol music
f