ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION SEPT. 2015 Spiritual Rebirth How the World Commemorated the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide www.agbu.org | 2015 AGBU 1 Armenian General Benevolent Union ESTABLISHED IN 1906 Central Board of Directors Հայկական Բարեգործական Ընդհանու ր Միու թիւն President Mission Berge Setrakian To preserve and promote the Armenian heritage through worldwide educational, cultural Vice Presidents and humanitarian programs. Sam Simonian Sinan Sinanian Annual International Budget Treasurer Forty- ve million dollars. Nazareth A. Festekjian Education Assistant Treasurer 24 primary, secondary, preparatory and Saturday schools; scholarships; American Univer- Yervant Demirjian sity of Armenia; Armenian Virtual College (AVC); TUMO x AGBU. Secretary Sarkis Jebejian Cultural, Humanitarian and Religious Assistant Secretary AGBU News Magazine; the AGBU Humanitarian Emergency Relief Fund for Syrian Arda Haratunian Armenians; athletics; camps; choral groups; concerts; dance; lms; lectures; leadership; Honorary Member library research centers; medical centers; mentorships; music competitions; publications; radio; scouts; summer internships; theater; youth trips to Armenia. Armenia: Holy His Holiness Karekin II, Etchmiadzin; Arapkir, Malatya and Nork Children’s Centers and Senior Dining Centers; Catholicos of all Armenians Karabakh: Members Hye Geen Women’s Centers; Sevan eological Seminary; Ultrasound Center. Chamber Orchestra; AUA Extension—AGBU NKR Program. UNITED STATES Noubar Afeyan Districts, Chapters, Centers and Offi ces M. Michael Ansour Argentina: Buenos Aires, Córdoba; Armenia: Yerevan; Australia: Sydney, Melbourne; Joseph L. Basralian Austria: Vienna; Belgium: Brussels; Brazil: São Paulo; Bulgaria: So a, Plovdiv, Burgas, Ani Manoukian Dobrich, Haskovo, Ruse, Silistra, Sliven, Yambol; Canada: Montréal, Toronto; Cyprus: Lori Muncherian Larnaca, Nicosia; Egypt: Alexandria, Heliopolis; Ethiopia: Addis Abada; France: Lyon, Levon Nazarian Marseille, Nice, Paris, St. Chamond-St. Étienne, Valence, Vienne; Germany: Hamburg; Yervant Zorian Greece: Athens; Iran: Tehran; Iraq: Baghdad; Italy: Milan; Karabakh: Stepanakert; CANADA Lebanon: Beirut, Zahlé, Amanos, Antelias, Sin el-Fil; The Netherlands: Almelo; Lena Sarkissian South Africa: Johannesburg; Spain: Barcelona; Switzerland: Geneva; Syria: Aleppo, Da- FRANCE mascus, Kamishli, Kessab, Latakia, Yacoubieh; Uruguay: Montevideo; UAE: Dubai; United Kingdom: United States: Aris Atamian London; Boston, Canoga Park, Chicago, Cleveland, Alexis Govciyan Detroit, Fresno, Glendale, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Pasadena, Providence, San SWITZERLAND Diego, San Fernando Valley, Silicon Valley, Arizona, Orange County, Washington, DC. Vahe Gabrache Young Professionals SYRIA AND ARMENIA Argentina: Armenia: Austria: Belgium: YP Buenos Aires; YP Yerevan; YP Austria; Vasken Yacoubian Brazil: Bulgaria: Canada: YP Belgium; YP Brazil; YP So a, YP Plovdiv; YP Montréal, UNITED KINGDOM France: Germany: YP Toronto; YP Lyon Rhône-Alpes, YP Marseille, YP Paris; Greece: Iran: Lebanon: The Arnaud Attamian YP Hamburg; YP Athens; YP Tehran; YP Lebanon; Netherlands: Switzerland: Turkey: UAE: Joseph Oughourlian YP Amsterdam; YP Geneva; Istanbul; YP UAE; United Kingdom: United States: Council of Trustees YP London; YP Boston, YP Chicago, YP Los Angeles, Sarkis Demirdjian YP Greater New York, YP Orange County, YP Philadelphia, YP Northern California, Richard Manoogian YP Washington, DC. Nazar Nazarian Louise Manoogian Simone Karnig Yacoubian In Memoriam Boghos Nubar, Founder Alex Manoogian, Honorary Life President 2 AGBU 2015 | www.agbu.org Editorial n the spring of 2015, Armenia held the world’s spotlight faith ceremony in support of Armenia. It was also an occa- as it solemnly commemorated its painful past, while at sion to express our respect to all the survivors and their sup- the same time, celebrated a century of survival. In nearly porters for their courage and remarkable efforts to assure the every corner of the globe, the centenary of the Armenian survival the Armenian people. Genocide was marked by spiritual rebirth, unity and In this special issue of the AGBU News Magazine, we solidarity. One hundred years after the world’s first explore the lasting, if intangible, impact of this extraordinary IChristian nation was pushed to the brink of extinction, Arme- series of events marking the centenary of the Armenian nia once again became the center of at- Genocide. We hope to capture some of tention of the Christian world. the emotions, memories and effects of The first gesture to garner global rec- these historic acts of commemoration ognition of the historic plight of Arme- that have fostered a greater sense of nians came with the validation of one national identity and community spir- of the world’s most influential leaders, it, touching the lives of Armenians the Pope Francis, who bestowed the Vati- world over. can’s ‘highest sanction’ in referring to For AGBU, it was also a critical mo- the first genocide of the twentieth cen- ment in our mission to preserve and tury. In the days that followed, Arme- promote the Armenian heritage as we nia received more affirmation from the held the 88th General Assembly in Ye- European Parliament and with the ad- revan where we welcomed new dele- dition of Germany and Austria to the gates, recognized the contributions of growing list of nations to have officially existing members and established new recognized the Armenian Genocide. cultural and educational programs with For the first time in four hundred the aim of serving and linking Arme- years, the Armenian Apostolic Church nians globally. performed the sacred rite of canoniza- I would like to conclude by express- tion, in a deeply moving and meaning- ing our appreciation to the government ful ceremony that elevated the nearly of Armenia for its part in the successful 1.5 million victims of the genocide to sainthood. In the planning and coordination of the centenary, and in particular homeland and throughout the vast Armenian diaspora, mil- to our spiritual leaders, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos lions of people participated in memorials and marches to of All Armenians and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of honor the victims and survivors, pledging to pursue the the Great House of Cilicia, for their spiritual leadership and struggle for recognition and justice. And in the United States, ever-present grace in presiding over the commemoration cer- at Washington’s National Cathedral, political, spiritual and emonies and uniting Armenians throughout the world community leaders united in a powerful and poignant inter- through our shared faith. Berge Setrakian President www.agbu.org | 2015 AGBU 3 Arm eniAN GenErAl BENEvolENT UNioN SEPT. 2015 volume 25/Number 2 www.agbu.org 03 Editorial 36 Education 36 Over $1 Million in Scholarships Awarded 06 Features The programs include $130,000 for Syrian 06 Spiritual Rebirth Armenian students The canonization of the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide 39 TUMO x AGBU Expands Beyond Yerevan 10 Divine Intervention New centers prepare youth to enter the media and Pope Francis exercises moral authority creative industries 12 Return as a Form of Resistance 40 A Year of New Achievements Author Nancy Kricorian pays tribute to her ancestors The American University of Armenia continues in Turkey to build its reputation for quality education in 15 Gratitude, Unity and Remembrance Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh Historic national cathedral service unites religious faiths in support of Armenia 42 AGBU Donors 2014 18 The Kardashian Effect 43 Martha Mirigian A family visit brings Armenia global recognition 44 Barbara Apisson 21 In Pictures 4 7 Samuel and Victoria Magzanian Worldwide commemorations in honor of the 48 Therese Ohanian Armenian Genocide 2 4 A Statement of Armenian Unity at Eurovision 56 AGBU News Armenia’s Genealogy included singers from five continents 56 Highlights 2 6 A Century of Revival 64 Young Professionals Vigen Sargsyan, the President of Armenia’s chief of staff and 68 Chapters main coordinator of the Armenian Genocide centenary events in Armenia, discusses the commemorations with AGBU 77 Bookstore 28 The AGBU 88th General Assembly 2 8 Highlights from the General Assembly Strengthening the bond between Armenia and the diaspora in Yerevan 3 0 Recognizing Outstanding Achievement Medals and honorary memberships awarded to AGBU members and supporters 32 Uniting the Global Armenian Community #AGBUtalks launches groundbreaking conversations on new technologies to link Armenians in Armenia and across the diaspora 3 4 AGBU Yerevan’s New Home Inaugurated The new complex incorporates the latest green technologies in its state-of-the-art facility 35 AGBU Elects Five New Members to its Central Board of Directors Arnaud Attamian, Alexis Govciyan, Ani Manoukian, Lori Muncherian, and Lena Sarkissian join the AGBU Central Board. AGBU News Magazine is published by the Central Board of the Armenian General Benevolent Union: 55 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022-1112. Tel:212 319-6383 Fax: 212 319-6507/08. E-Mail: [email protected]. POSTMASTERS: Send address changes to above. Printed in U.S.A. 4 AGBU 2015 | www.agbu.org AGBU News Magazine COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR Lara Messerlian EDITOR Daniel Halton EDITORIAL STAFF Randa Akda, Anita Anserian, Alex Basmagian, Hrant Kamalyan, Vahe Kiljian, Ani Manoukian, Jennifer Manoukian, Karen Papazian, Gloria Sanders, Jesse Soursourian ART DIRECTOR Levi Nicholson/Biohazard Design This publication of the Armenian General Benevolent Union is mailed