Around Town

Watertown’s Hairenik Press Releases First Translation of Armenian Classic ‘Letter to Yerevan’

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Translators Tatul Sonentz-Papazian (left) and Rupen Janbazian have produced the first English version of the Armenian long-form poem “Letters to Yerevan.” Janbazian is the former editor of Watertown-based Armenian Weekly. Watertown’s Hairenik Press recently announced the first-ever publication of the English translation of Andranik Tzarukian’s long-form poem Letter to Yerevan («Թուղթ առ Երեւան» “Tught ar Yerevan”). 

The translation was a collaborative effort between the former director of the ARF and First Republic of Armenia Archives and former editor of the Armenian Review Tatul Sonentz-Papazian, and former editor of the Watertown-based Armenian Weekly Rupen Janbazian. It features an in-depth introduction by another former editor of the Armenian Weekly and the volume’s English editor, Vahe Habeshian, as well as six original illustrations by Yerevan-based artist Meruzhan Khachatryan. The Armenian language republication was edited by Yeprem Tokjian of Toronto, Canada.

Entertainment

Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Armenian Republic with Film, Dance in Watertown

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The Boston-area Armenian community will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Republic with a weekend of film, music and dance, including two event in Watertown. The schedule of events:

Friday, May 4 — Screening of the film, “State on the Last Piece of Land,” at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (ACEC – 47 Nichols Ave. Watertown, MA). Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the program starts at 8 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Saturday, May 5, Dance with entertainment from Armenia, starring Ruben Sasunci and Gohar Hovhannisyan, who will be in Boston together for the first time!

Armenians

Public Invited to Presentation About Examining Armenian Photographs

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At it’s Thursday, Feb. 2 meeting, World in Watertown welcomes member Ruth Thomasian, President and Founder of Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives, to present an interactive program titled READING PHOTOGRAPHS: Armenians Through the Camera’s Eye. Using photo enlargements from Project SAVE Archives, Ruth will engage her audience in observing, questioning, and thinking critically about what they see in the photos. Topics will include multicultural and human issues as well as details of Armenian life in the homeland and Diaspora. World in Watertown invites the public to attend READING PHOTOGRAPHS at First Parish Church, 35 Church St.

Around Town

106-Year-Old Armenian Genocide Survivor Coming to Watertown

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A 106-year-old woman who survived the Armenian Genocide will be a special guest at an event at the Armenian Library and Museum of America in Watertown. The Genocide Education Project will host a training workshop for high school teachers on how to teach about the Armenian Genocide on June 10 in Watertown. Asdghig “Starrie” Alemian, 106, of Weymouth, will be in attendance at the event, according to a report on the Public Radio of Armenia website. Also speaking at the event will be Sara Cohan of the University of Southern California Shoah Foundation, who will deliver a talk called, “Testimony: The educational power of Armenian Genocide survivor interviews.”

The event will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the ALMA, 65 Main St. in Waterotwn.

Armenian Genocide

Local Groups Taking Part in State Legislature’s Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide

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Each April for the past 31 years, members of the Armenian community along with state legislators and guests have come together at the State House to commemorate the Armenian Genocide, according to State Sen. Will Brownsberger’s office. This year marks the 101st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with the commemoration taking place on Friday, April 22 at 10:30 a.m. in the House Chamber with a program of speakers, music, and honorees. Following the ceremony a reception provided by Ani Catering of Belmont will be held at the Grand Staircase and guests can view a video created especially for this event by filmmaker Roger Hagopian about Armenia and survival of the Armenian nation. The event recognizes the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1923 by the Ottoman Turkish government. This is an opportunity for survivors and Armenian-American descendants to demonstrate their commitment to preserving their culture, religion, and language; working for humanitarian projects and awareness; and striving for recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Armenians

President of Armenia Has Arrived, Makes Stop Around Watertown

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Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan had a very busy first day during of his visit to the Boston area, including several stops in Watertown. 

The president visited the Armenian Museum of America in Watertown Square, where he saw the exhibits about the Armenian’s heritage, according to Public Radio of Armenia. Another stop was St. Stephen’s Armenian Church – or Saint Stepanos – in East Watertown. Sargsyan also stopped by the Hairenik center on Biglow Avenue, which is home to the East Coast Armenian Revolutionary Federation office, headquarters of the Armenian Relief Society, Hairenik radiostation, and  the Armenian Weekly and Hairenik Weekly papers. The president is also due to visit St.

Armenians

President of Armenia Coming to Watertown During Visit to Boston

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Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will stop in Watertown during his visit to Boston this week, including local churches, newspapers and the Armenian Museum of America. Along with visits to the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Boston, the State House, MIT and Tufts’ Fletcher School of Diplomacy, the president plans a number of visits in Watertown. President Sargsyan arrives Monday and be in the area through Wednesday. He will be visiting some local churches and organizations including St. Stephen’s Church, St.

Armenians

Historical Society Hosts Film ‘The Legacy of a Lost Armenian Community’

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A film about the a small town in Turkey, from ancient times through the Armenian Genocide, will be presented by the Historical Society of Watertown at the Watertown Free Public Library. Memories of Marash: The Legacy of a Lost Armenian Community, a documentary film by Roger Hagopian, will be shown on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015 at 2 p.m. It will be hosted by the Historical Society of Watertown at the Watertown Savings Bank Meeting Room in the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main Street, Watertown. The Historical Society sent out the following announcement:

This 68-minute documentary film presentation on the 100th year commemoration of the Armenian Genocide was originally created in 2002. Producer Roger Hagopian remastered the film in 2015 to widescreen format with high resolution photography, hundreds of new high resolution images and animated maps.