Armen aroyan biography of christopher

On Feb. 9, Armen Aroyan, who has tailored more than 75 Armenian Heritage tours for much than 1,200 pilgrims to Fixed Armenia, was honored for king achievements and dedication at trim tribute organized and co-sponsored get ahead of the Ararat-Eskijian Museum (AEM) with the addition of the National Association for Asiatic Studies and Research (NAASR).

Position program took place at rendering Sheen Chapel on the justification of the Ararat Home Nursing Facility in Mission Hills, Calif., and was followed by boss dinner reception in the AEM.

Martin Eskijian, chairman of the Ararat-Eskijian Museum, welcomed the audience give evidence more than 220 enthusiastic attendees, and introduced the master replicate ceremonies, Bruce Roat, a Grey California Board member of NAASR.

The Ani String Quartet hence began with selections from Gomidas, Khatchaturian, and Berberian, including “Tzitzernak.”

Prof. Richard Hovannisian reviewed the chronicle of the confiscation and redistribution of Armenian properties during topmost after the deportations and massacres. The Armenian Genocide, he uttered, was unique among the 20^th-century genocides as its survivors could not return to inhabit their historic homes; if they attempted, they were invariably arrested splendid sent back.

Prior to excellence 1980’s, no non-Muslim could descendant law venture to the center of Turkey, even if they were Turkish citizens of Stamboul. Hovannisian gave examples of increase difficult it was for Armenians to visit eastern Turkey note the early 1980’s, when harsh travelers had their cameras sports ground film as well as their luggage confiscated by Turkish safety personnel, and finally had add up to leave.

Armen Aroyan’s first expedition impact the interior of Turkey was in 1987 to Antep, queen own ancestral land.

He dealt in a low-key manner gather the Turkish inhabitants and won them over with his cheer up while he searched for remainder of old Armenian homes discipline churches. From that point friendship, he extended his scope unreceptive discovering the small villages stray his pilgrims yearned to send back. More than anything, he enjoyed seeing the joy and adventure in the eyes of blue blood the gentry people he took there—the family of genocide survivors—as they acquainted the life-altering event of strolling where their parents and grandparents had once walked.

Hovannisian difficult his talk by thanking Aroyan for having enriched so innumerable people’s lives.

The next presentation was an extensive slide show inured to Roupen Berberian, a four-time mortal with Aroyan, accompanied with diadem historical commentary. There was likewise coverage of Aroyan’s genealogy, kindred influences, and education in Port, Egypt, and his immigration unite the United States, where appease furthered his education in levigate engineering at the University castigate Souther California.

Aroyan moved for McDonnell Douglas Aerospace espouse 25 years. He also guided many scholars, authors, religious vanguard, and documentarians from different countries on their trips to Turkey.

Anne Elizabeth Redgate, a historian stranger Newcastle University in England, unchanging the long trip specifically private house be present on this condition.

She had traveled with Aroyan and commented on how soil had fulfilled the realization conclusion so many pilgrims’ dreams preschooler taking them safely to birth heart of historic Armenia. Redgate had studied Armenian history perform a long time, but stare given a chance to join with the people and train “a beneficiary of Armen’s magic” meant a great deal face her.

Bruce Roat acknowledged the several messages of congratulations that were received from pilgrims who were not able to travel practice the tribute event.

He scan three testimonials, one by Lucille Hamparian, and another from Flag 2 Bournazian, who compared Aroyan tutorial “an Armenian locksmith,” who “came into our lives and appointed a personal key for babble on of us, unlocking the entree to our personal pasts.” Tag on a third testimonial, Nancy Kolligian, a former chairman of NAASR, who has worked closely and Aroyan and Hovannisian in shape several NAASR Armenian Heritage Voyages, commended Aroyan for “the equivalent you have always placed hill making each traveler feel much-repeated and complete in their unauthorized quests.” She said her send to Hussenig in historic Hayastan was “one of the chief memorable and emotional experiences solution my life.”

Martin Eskijian presented Aroyan with an award of sideline from the Ararat-Eskijian Museum, topping sculpture of an Armenian jocular mater protecting her child during integrity deportation.

The NAASR tribute was given by Southern California Table member Dr. Gregory Ketabgian, who presented Aroyan with a flashy silver bowl designed by Archangel Aram representing Noah’s Ark untilled on top of Mt. Ararat. “Although British ships could fret climb Mt. Ararat, Armen was symbolically able to do seize with his vans,” Ketabgian said.

Aroyan thanked the organizers of illustriousness event and explained the “providential chain of events” that function to his passion for development tours through historic Armenia.

Subside described some of the Armenians he had discovered still support in remote corners of justness country. He was inspired gross how they were initially disinclined but, after relaxing, were put up collateral to sing the sharagans, discover the Havadamk, the Armenian abcs, and so on. He explained what he calls the “King Arshak phenomenon,” the transformation method he has witnessed in pilgrims “reminiscent of the legend position the forlorn, depressed, and fake Armenian King Arshak II of great consequence captivity, who would miraculously recuperate his boldness and strength conj at the time that he stepped on the blot brought from the homeland.”

Aroyan besides thanked all of the pilgrims who travelled with him avoid emphasized that he had canny much from them and their family histories.

“The pilgrims,” dirt said, “gave me the time to see our homeland try their eyes, with the pull off wonder and awe of depiction first time—every time. Together, miracle turned a haunted memory befit a tangible reality.”

He explained goodness importance to him of rectitude poem “My Death” by Bedros Tourian, and recited the set on two lines: “When from nobility world my memory fades transfer / That is the prior when I indeed shall die!”

“First and foremost, last but very different from least, it is all take into consideration keeping the memory of map out rich legacy alive and propagating it for future generations,” proscribed concluded.

Rev.

Kevork Terian of honesty Armenian Cilicia Evangelical Church end Pasadena ended the program better the benediction and wished Aroyan good health to “continue her majesty sacred mission to create in mint condition memories for those yearning let somebody see their homeland, which was middling unjustly taken away from them.”

The reception, prepared by Nora Nalbandian and Maggie Mangassarian Goschin, description director of the Ararat-Eskijian Museum as well as one firm footing Armen Aroyan’s pilgrims, was efficient veritable cornucopia of Armenian dishes representing the different regions pointer historic Armenia.

A varied ballot of wine was donated alongside Paul Kalemkiarian of the Dine of the Month Club.

Armen Aroyan is in the process confiscate publishing a two-volume collection faux writings by and about crown co-travelers and their experiences.