2005_10 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper October 2005

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Armenian Action
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27th
Year
October 2005
Vol. 27, No. 1 (91)
Ethnic Supplement to The Collegian
Catholicos Aram I in Fresno
October 10th through 12th
Catholicos Aram I
Armine Sargsyan
Staff Writer
This year many anniversaries of
the Armenian world coincide. The
Catholicos of the Holy See of the
Great House of Cilicia, Aram I,
will pay a special visit to the United
States in honor of four events: the
75th anniversary of the Seminary
of the Great House of Cilicia; the
1600th anniversary of the Invention ofthe Armenian Alphabet; the
tragic 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; and His 10th
year anniversary as Catholicos.
Fortunately, Fresno will be one of
the places that His Holiness will
visit during his stay in the United
States.
His Holiness obtained an extensive international education-from
the Seminary of Antelias and the
Ecumenical Institute of Bossey in
Switzerland to the Near Eastern
School of Theology, the American
University in Beirut and Fordham
University of New York, where he
received his PhD. His extensive
education spans the subjects of philosophy, systematic theology, and
Near Eastern church history.
Aram I was ordained to the
priesthood in 1963, and received
the Armenian designation of
Vartabed (doctor ofthe church) in
1970. In 1979, he was elected as
Primate ofthe Armenian Orthodox
community of Lebanon and in 1980
he received Episcopal ordination.
In 1995 His Holiness was elected
Catholicos of the Holy See of the
Great House.
His Holiness has published over
20 books pertaining to theology,
Armenology, and ecumenical subjects. In addition, he played a lead-
see Catholicos Aram page 8
Armenia Summer Study Program
2005 Leaves Lasting Impressions
Armenia Summer Group at KhorVirap.
Barlow Der Mugrdechian
Advisor
The Armenia Summer Study Program 2005 brought together nine students and their professor for a three-
week journey to Armenia. Students
gained three units credit as part ofthe
class, which ran June 20-July 9. After a quick two-day visit to London,
the excited group arrived in Yerevan
on June 23, beginning what was to be
an unforgettable experience for all.
Headquarters for the group was
the Yerevan State University Guest
House located in the center of
Yerevan, just   steps   from  the
Matenadaran. And university life was to be a
major part of the visit, as
students met with their
counterparts from
Yerevan State University
on many occasions .forming lasting friendships.
A typical day included
an outing to one of the
many historical sites in
the  country, such as
Garni-Geghart, Haghbat,
Sanahin, Khor Virap,
Etchmiadzin, Ambert,
etc. These visits included
class sessions where the
historical background of the monuments were discussed. Other days
included visits to local museums such
as the National Gallery of Art, the
Sardarabad Ethnographic Museum,
the Armenian Genocide Museum, and
others.
The days flew by with language
classes, special seminars by YSU
faculty in the area of business and
economics, and a visit with the For-
eignMinister of Armenia, His Excellency Vartan Oskanian.
A special visit to Holy
Etchmiadzin and a visit with His
see Armenia page 5
Catholicos Karekin II Visits Fresno State
Left to Right: Fresno State President Dr. John Welty with His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II.
Staff Report
California State University,
Fresno President Dr. John Welty
bestowed the President's Medal of
Distinction upon His Holiness
Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, at a special ceremony on
Tuesday, June 14, at Fresno State.
The President's Medal of Distinction is the highest non-degree
honor the University can bestow
on an individual. It is presented to
individuals whose contributions in
the areas of professional achievement or public service are of na
tional or international significance,
or represents a contribution of great
significance to the university. It is
awarded to those who are worthy
of emulation through their leadership.
see Catholicos Karekin page 8
7th Annual Armenian
Film Festival at CSUF
February 10,2006
Sponsored by the Armenian
Students Organization
Armenian Studies Program
California State University, Fresno
Partially funded by the Diversity
Awareness Program ofthe University Student Union
First Call for Entries
Entries are being sought for the 7th
Annual Armenian Film Festival.
Films made by Armenian directors/writers, or films with an Armenian theme are being sought.
Films may be in any language,
English preferred. Films may be on
any topic, Armenian theme preferred. Films must be in video
(NTSC)/DVD format.
Deadline for entries to be received
is January 15,2006.
Please send the video/DVD to:
Armenian Film Festival, c/o Armenian Studies Program 5245 N.
Backer Ave. PB4, Fresno, CA
93740-8001.
For more information call the Armenian Studies Program office at
559-278-2669.
Pianist Vahan Mardirossian
Opens Keyboard Concert Series
L. to R.: Keyboard Concert Series Director Andreas Werz,
Vahan Mardirossian, and Tiroui Melkonian.
Sebouh Krioghlian
Staff Writer
Vahan Mardirossian,an accomplished Armenian pianist, performed in the Concert Hall atFresno
State on September 11, in a concert
sponsored by the Philip Lorenz Memorial Keyboard Concerts series
and the Armenian Studies Program
at California State University,
Fresno.
Born in Yerevan, Armenia, in
1975,      the      prize-winning
Mardirossian went on to graduate
from the Paris Conservatory and
become one of Armenia's leading
pianists. After entering the Paris
Conservatory in 1993, he was
awarded the first prize for piano,
the chamber music prize and the
Conservatory's higher diploma in
1996. He then moved on to postgraduate studies.
see Mardirossian page 4