The title of this blog has nothing to do with dresses and fashion trends but is indirectly associated with the preservation of the Armenian identity in the diaspora(s). It is also in part and indirectly associated with Antranig Artinian, a dear friend and mentor of mine for the Armenian culture and history. At a social… Continue reading The “Closeted” Armenian Dress

It was easy for me to single out  Kourken Magarian as one of the leaders who played a significant role in the establishment of the ACC “ՀԱՅ ԿԵԴՐՈՆ”, especially the one at 18 Dupont street. But it will be harder to single out others. I will venture to name a few, without any sequence of… Continue reading Worthy Honorees. Պատիւ Արժանաւորաց.

The credit to build the first Armenian Community Center (ACC) at 18 Dupont street goes to hundreds and more humble and dedicated people who contributed to its success and helped paved the way to build the current ACC and School at 45 Hall Crown Place. Maybe it will be appropriate to write about some of… Continue reading Worthy Honorees. Պատիւ Արժանաւորաց

I just heard that Mrs. Elmassian passed away and it was too late for me to attend the funeral services and pay the last respect. I recall a happy event that happened a long time ago at the Elmassians residence. It must have been around the mid-sixties during the early and very active years of… Continue reading The Joy of Armenian Christmas Eve

As the title of this blog indicates, on January 26, the report of a Seminar hosted by The Armenian Communities Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation held between October 13-14 2014, was launched through a webcast that included some of the panelists from the participants of the seminar, and selected audience members from the American… Continue reading “Armenians in 2115. A Seminar Report”

It is often said and repeated that next to the Armenian language the Armenian CULTURE is the best venue for the preservation of the Armenian identity in the diaspora, which is true. But we must be realistic and accept the fact that every successive generation will be more in tune with the local culture and… Continue reading Diaspora and Armenian Identity (Part 4)

While in my previous blog I was talking about teaching the Armenian Language through Armenian schools and its importance for the preservation of the Armenian identity, I remembered an event that happened about thirty-eight years ago and I thought it was worthy to write about as a memoir. Յուշագրութիւն. It must have been late Spring… Continue reading Closing the best “School” we never had

Teaching the Armenian language to our young generation has been mainly through the Armenian schools, that includes, the all day schools “Ամէնօրեա վարժարան”, Saturday Schools, Sunday Schools, etc. So far we have failed to utilize the internet that could be wide ranging, and reach much larger audiences. But for that later. Needless to say that all day schools are very… Continue reading Diaspora and Armenian Identity (Part 3)

As I said in (Part 1) the  Armenian Communities in Canada and United States (USA) were revitalized by immigrants mostly from Middle East and I should add also that a sizable number came from Republic of Armenia after the fall of the Soviet Union. (The immigrants from Armenia congregate more with each other and with… Continue reading Diaspora and Armenian Identity (Part 2)

The Armenian Diaspora is very large and scattered all over the world. The largest seems to be that of the Russian Armenian Community which includes many recent immigrants from Armenia. They seem to be less well organized than some of the old qaghoots, but their proximity to Armenia, the similarities of the lifestyle and culture,… Continue reading Diaspora and the Armenian Identity (Part.1)