Archive for May, 2012
Armenian national instruments
Portrait of an Armeense lady, between 1860 and 1920
Portrait of an Armenian lady from the old Yerevan (ca.1900)
Ruben Malayan has made a video of his stunning work on Armenian Calligraphy. Isn’t this wonderful?
for more information visit SOUTHERN CORRIDOR project.
Parseg Kashishian
Five Armenian religious manuscripts traveled this week from Racine to Boston, where they are being donated to the Armenian Library and Museum of America. What makes these lengthy, large-format books unique is that every word in all five of them was carefully handwritten in the Armenian alphabet (invented by an Armenian monk in 405 A.D.), using imported pens, India ink and heavy parchment paper, in the 1960s.
What makes the books special to Racine is that they were created by one of the founders of St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church, Parseg Kashishian. Kashishian (1890-1970) came to America in 1920 and had dreamed of completing an entirely handwritten copy of the Bible since he was a boy of 12 in Armenia, according to those who knew him well.
Having lost his first wife and children to the Armenian massacres of 1915-16, Kashishian had lived in Syria and Istanbul before coming to Racine. It wasn’t until he had lived and worked here — as a castings grinder for J.I. Case Co. — for more than 25 years, though, that he truly had the time to pursue his childhood dream, according to Varteney (Var) Krikorian, whose late husband, Stephan, was Kashishian’s stepson. Continue reading
Speaker Fox welcomes representative Avetisyan (L, standing)
From The Armenian Weekly
State House Calls on U.S. Government to Recognize Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s Independence
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (A.W.)—The Rhode Island House passed a resolution today calling on the U.S. President and Congress to recognize the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR). The resolution also encouraged the republic’s “continued efforts to develop as a free and independent nation,” and praised Artsakh’s “constructive involvement with the international community and its efforts to reach a lasting solution to the existing regional problems.”
“I thank the Rhode Island House for passing this resolution in support of Karabakh’s aspirations for freedom, and hope that the legislature’s commitment to our shared values of human rights and justice will set an example for other legislatures in the U.S. and beyond,” said Robert Avetisyan, the permanent representative of NKR to the U.S. and Canada.
The resolution was voted on the House floor in the presence of Avetisyan, whom House speaker Gordon Fox (D) warmly welcomed in his introductory remarks. Fox also welcomed a delegation from the local Armenian community accompanying Avetisyan: Chairman of the Armenian Cultural Association of R.I. Hagop Donoyan, youth advisor to the AYF of R.I. Levon Attarian, member of the board of trustees of the Sts. Vartanantz Church Stephen Elmasian, and member of the ARF Eastern U.S. Central Committee Ani Haroian.
Dozens of local Armenian-Americans filled the gallery of the House during the session.
Almost concurrently, on Capitol Hill, Congressmen James Langevin (D-R.I.) and Congressman David Cicilline (D-R.I.) made statements on the House floor in support of the people of NKR. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), in turn, issued statements.
“It is more important than ever that the United States maintain a principled stand for peace in this region, show that democracy can be born from conflict, and support Nagorno-Karabakh,” said Langevin. “It is my sincerest hope that Nagorno-Karabakh’s right to self-determination can be affirmed without further loss of life.”
“20 years ago, the people of Nagorno Karabakh fought and died for their independence from Soviet Azeri repression and discrimination,” said Cicilline. “I join the people of Nagorno Karabakh today in recognizing the 20th anniversary of their independence and the formation of the Republic’s Army and the liberation of Shushi.”
Representative Avetisyan will continue his meetings in Rhode Island over the next several days, pursuing economic development opportunities for NKR. His visit will conclude on May 20 with a community-wide celebration of the 20th anniversary of the liberation of Shushi.
Details to follow.
YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Ambassador to Italy, Ruben Karapetyan, visited the City of Pavia on Wednesday to attend the official opening of an Armenian cross-stone, at the city’s 14th Century Castello Visconteo Castle, to mark the Victory Day against fascism during the Great Patriotic War in World War II, and 20th anniversaries of the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s (NKR) City of Shushi and formation of the NKR Defense Army.
The event brought together Pavia’s municipal authorities, public representatives, and members from the Italian-Armenian community.
Pavia’s Mayor Alessandro Cattaneo and Ambassador Karapetyan delivered opening remarks.
The Mayor reflected on the Armenian people’s exceptional history and culture, and noted: “Pavia became enriched by the erecting of the Armenian cross-stone.”
In his turn, Armenia’s ambassador stated that this cross-stone, which is placed at the aforesaid Castle’s entrance, “has found its worthy place, and it will further sanctify this historic site.”
The cross-stone is a gift to Pavia from the Municipality of its sister Armenian city, Gyumri.
Source: http://news.am/eng/news/105228.html
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