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SHARZHOOM
Armenian Action
28
th
Year
December 2006
Vol. 28, No. 2 (96)
Ethnic Supplement to The Collegian
Society for Armenian Studies Holds 32nd Annual Meeting in Boston-Academic Panels
Explore Armenian Literature, Armenian Press, and Global Trade Networks
Staff Report
Professor Barlow Der
Mugrdechian of the Armenian
Studies Program traveled to Boston, MA, the weekend of Nov. 18
and 19 to participate in the 32nd
Annual Membership meeting ofthe
Society for Armenian Studies
(SAS). In addition, he participated
in the annual Middle East Studies
Association conference.
The SAS is an international organization, which represents scholars and teachers in the field of Armenian Studies. Der Mugrdechian
has been the SAS treasurer for the
past two years. President Joseph
Kechichian conducted the meeting, where members gathered to
hear reports on the activities of the
Society over the past year, on Saturday, November 18.
Following the membership
meeting, the ArmenianLibraryand
Museum of America (ALMA) invited SAS members and guests to a
L. to R.: Dr. Hiilya Adak, Dr. Ayshe GUI Altinay, Barlow Der
Mugrdechian,  Dr.  Rubina  Peroomian,  and  Dr.  Richard
Hovannisian.
special reception at ALMA headquarters in Watertown. There, SAS
members enjoyed a tour of the exhibits at the museum, followed by
food and refreshments shared with
members and friends of ALMA.
Photo: Mark Mamigonian
While in Boston, SAS members
p arti cip ated in three S A S sp onsore d
panels, on a variety of themes. All
of the panels were held on Sunday,
November 19, in the Boston
was the conference headquarters.
One panel was "Historical
Memory and Identity: Exploring
the Impact of the Events of 1915-
1916 in Armenian and T urki sh Literature," organized by Barlow Der
Mugrdechian and chaired by Richard G. Hovannisian of UCLA. Panelists were Barlow Der
Mugrdechian, California State University, Fresno, "Three Apples Fell
from Heaven: Memory and Identity in Post Genocide Armenian
Literature;" Htilya Adak, Sabanci
University (Istanbul), "The Armenian Deportations in Turkish Fiction;" and Rubina Peroomian,
UCLA, "The Metamorphosis of the
Post-Genocide Armenian Identity
as Reflected in Artistic Literature."
Ayshe Gtil Altinay of Sabanci University (Istanbul) was the discussant for the panel.
This groundbreaking panel
brought together Armenian and
Turkish scholars to examine the
Genocide through literature. It was
an opportunity for scholars to approach the issue from differing
viewpoints. More than fifty scholars were in attendance at the panel,
and engagedin an exchange of i deas
with the panel participants. This
dialogue will continue over the next
few months.
Another panel, "Narrative and
Identity in the Armenian Press,
1850-1923," was organized by
Victoria Rowe. The panel was
chaired by Barlow Der
Mugrdechian of California State
University, Fresno. Panelists were
Lisa Khachaturian, Georgetown
University, "Cultivating Nationhood in Imperial Russia: The Periodical Press andthe Formation of a
Modern Eastern Armenian Identity;" Victoria Rowe, Chuo University, Japan, "The Politics of
Exile: An Armenian Women's
Journal in Egypt, 1902-1904;" and
Lerna Ekmekcioglu, New York
Dr. Levon Chookaszian Leads Audience
in Journey Through Armenian Art
Zhanna Bagdasarov
Editor
A large crowd devoted to all
things Armenian gathered at the
Alice Peters Auditorium at7:30PM
on November 15 to listen to Dr.
Levon Chookaszian's final lecture
entitled, "Armenian Art Treasures
Saved from the Genocide." Dr.
Chookaszian, the 6th Henry S.
Khanzadian Kazan Visiting Professor in Armenian Studies for Fall
2006, is spending the current semester instilling a love for Armenian art in his students, as well as
the audience attending his lectures.
His passion for the topic has been
evident throughout his lecture series and stay in Fresno, but it was
especially apparent as he progressed
through his last talk.
The beautifully illustrated
slideshow accompanying the lecture began with timeless images of
Aghtamar, the famous palatine
church erected in 915-921 AD by
King Gagik Artsruni, onthe island
of Aghtamar, in Lake Van. These
illustrations showed the magnificent mural paintings, based on the
New T estament, within the interior
ofthe church, as well as the carved
biblical scenes onthe exterior, with
themes from the Old Testament.
The superb workmanship withstood
the test of time and one of the most
beloved examples of Armenian art
treasures was preserved. Accord
ing to Dr. Chookaszian, this church
has recently undergone restoration
work carried out by the Turkish
government.
Throughout the lecture, Dr.
Chookaszian provided expl anati ons
for why some Armenian artworks
remained and others disappeared
with time. Artworks ofthe 11th century survived better than those created in the 12th century, which is
attributed to their obliteration by
the Seljuk Turks, whereas the
Bagratunis are credited with saving various artworks of the 11th
century. Furthermore, thoughmany
of these treasured pieces were hidden during the time of the Genocide, the Turks succeeded in find-
see Chookaszian page 4
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Marriott Copley Place Hotel, which
Reception at Holy Etchmiadzin for
Armenian Version of Album of Armenian Paleography
see SAS page 3
Publication of
Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin
Information Services
The Feast of the Holy Translators, one of the most beloved and
celebrated days among the Armenians, was noted with special significance inthe Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin this year. On Saturday, October 14, the Armenian
translation of the Album of Armenian Paleography was officially
unveiled and presented to the public in the headquarters of the Armenian Church. The event took place
inthe Pontifical Residence of Holy
Etchmiadzin, under the presidency
of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians.
The original English language
version of the Album was published
by the Aarhus University Press in
Denmark in 2002. The editors of
this definitive work are Professors
Michael E. Stone, Dickran
Kouymjian and Henning Lehmann.
The album comprehensively studies and interprets ancient forms of
Armenian writing.
On the occasion of the 1600th
Anniversary of the Creation of the
Armenian Alphabet, His Holiness
Karekin II authorized the "Karekin
I Armenological & Theological
Center" of Holy Etchmiadzin to
pursue the Armenian translation of
this seminal work with the goal of
Dr. Dickran Kouymjian, Director ofthe Armenian Studies Program, addressing guests at the reception honoring the publishing ofthe Armenian
language edition ofthe Album of Armenian Paleography.
having it published by the Mother
See. The primary benefactor for
the publication of the Armenian
translation of the Album is the
Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund
(USA).
The translation and editing work
of the Armenian version was accomplished through the endeavors
of Aram Topchian and Gohar
Muradian, researchers at the
"Mesrop Mashtots Matenadaran"
Institute of Ancient Manuscripts in
Yerevan; and Azat Bozoyan, Director of the "Karekin I
A rm enol ogic al & T he ol ogi cal Center." The album was published by
the Tigran Mets Publishing House.
As the ceremony began, Azat
Bozoyan welcomed the attendees
and expressed his gratitude to the
Catholicos of All Armenians for
the creation of this important contribution to Armenian culture and
science. He noted the significance
of continuing the mission of the
Mother See in publishing similar
works, which were initiated by
Karekin Hovsepiants of blessed
memory (later Catholicos of
Cilicia) in 1913 in Holy
Etchmiadzin.
On behalf of the authors, Professor Dickran Kouymjian, Direc-
see Album page 8