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ARS Eastern Region Holds Regional Seminar in New York
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/05/30/ars-eastern-region-holds-regional-seminar-in-new-york/
May 30, 2013
On March 18, the `Erebouni' and `Mayr' Chapters of the Armenian Relief
Society (ARS) hosted the ARS Eastern Region seminar at the St.
Illuminator's Cathedral Hall in New York. More than 85 members from
the `Agnouni,' `Ani,' `Artemis,' `Bergen County,' `Erebouni,'
`Lousintak,' `Mayr,' `Shakeh,' `Soseh,' and `Spitak' Chapters
participated in the seminar.
Seminar group photo
His Holiness, the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
declared 2013 `The Year of the Armenian Mother.' The ARS Eastern
Regional Executive Board dedicated the seminar to the Armenian Mother,
who is the pillar of our national existence, having sacrificed herself
throughout our history.
ARS Eastern USA Board member Sevan Kolejian welcomed the guests and
gave opening remarks, during which she spoke about the important role
that Armenian women, our mothers, have played in strengthening and
preserving our cultural identity. She thanked St. Illuminator's
Armenian Cathedral Pastor, Father Mesrob Lakissian, who generously
donated the use of the hall for the seminar.
ARS Eastern USA chairwoman Ani Attar addressed the attendees and
thanked them for making the effort to participate in the seminar,
contributing greatly to its success. Attar quoted from Hovhannes
Shiraz's `Mayr-s' poem:
Mer houysi toorn eh mayrs / Mer dan madurn eh mayrs / Mer hatsn ou
choorn eh mayrs / Mer teghn ou jarn eh mayrs / Mer dan jerakn eh mayrs
We salute and honor our Armenian mothers for the heroes they are and
their continual dedication to the needs of the Armenian people in
Armenia and the diaspora, she said.
Attar then introduced Dr. Chris Garo Sassouni, the son of Vicken
Sassouni, and grandson of Garo and Leola Sassouni, who made a
presentation on the life of Leola Sassouni.
Chris Sassouni was unaware of the importance his grandparents had
played in shaping Armenian history. His grandmother, Leola (who
changed her name from Hripsime), was a fedayee who fought alongside
her male counterparts as an equal. She was an excellent horsewoman and
marksman. Leola fought at the crucial battle of Sardarabad; she had
given birth to her first child just two months prior. In addition to
her fighting skills, she was instrumental in navigating to safety
10,000 Armenian orphans of the genocide. She instituted the `Benag me
geragoor' program and was a founder of the Armenian Red Cross, which
was later renamed the Armenian Relief Society. Garo Sassouni was a
Minister in the first Republic of Armenia. When the family later
immigrated to the United States, Leola remained active in the ARS. The
Watertown `Leola Sassouni' Chapter was named after her.
Chris Sassouni received a standing ovation from the attendees, not
just in gratitude for his informative presentation, but in honor of
his grandmother. Leola Sassouni was a true Ungerouhi of the highest
order.
Seminar participants were then treated to a delicious lunch, prepared
by the host chapters. After lunch, Attar introduced the second guest
speaker, Bared Maronian, a documentary filmmaker and four-time
regional Emmy Award winner who has produced four Armenian films. His
latest work is `Orphans of the Genocide,' which contains original
footage of the genocide, taken from mostly German archives. It depicts
the tragedy as it played out, especially for the children.
Maronian is currently working on another documentary film, entitled
`Women of 1915.' This project is in its beginning stages but will
bring to life the lives of the many courageous women who sacrificed
their own comfort and safety for that of others.
In appreciation, both Sassouni and Maronian were presented with the
most recent edition of the `Atlas of Historical Armenia,' published by
the Armenian National Education Committee.
Father Lakissian offered his inspiring words and commended the ARS for
its work. He blessed the attendees with a closing prayer.
The ARS Regional Board of Directors thanked the organizers of this
very successful seminar, and also thanked the 80 members who made the
effort to attend, many traveling for hours to participate. It was a
wonderful day of camaraderie, reinforcing the purpose of the ARS, and
honoring those who came before us.
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/05/30/ars-eastern-region-holds-regional-seminar-in-new-york/
May 30, 2013
On March 18, the `Erebouni' and `Mayr' Chapters of the Armenian Relief
Society (ARS) hosted the ARS Eastern Region seminar at the St.
Illuminator's Cathedral Hall in New York. More than 85 members from
the `Agnouni,' `Ani,' `Artemis,' `Bergen County,' `Erebouni,'
`Lousintak,' `Mayr,' `Shakeh,' `Soseh,' and `Spitak' Chapters
participated in the seminar.
Seminar group photo
His Holiness, the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
declared 2013 `The Year of the Armenian Mother.' The ARS Eastern
Regional Executive Board dedicated the seminar to the Armenian Mother,
who is the pillar of our national existence, having sacrificed herself
throughout our history.
ARS Eastern USA Board member Sevan Kolejian welcomed the guests and
gave opening remarks, during which she spoke about the important role
that Armenian women, our mothers, have played in strengthening and
preserving our cultural identity. She thanked St. Illuminator's
Armenian Cathedral Pastor, Father Mesrob Lakissian, who generously
donated the use of the hall for the seminar.
ARS Eastern USA chairwoman Ani Attar addressed the attendees and
thanked them for making the effort to participate in the seminar,
contributing greatly to its success. Attar quoted from Hovhannes
Shiraz's `Mayr-s' poem:
Mer houysi toorn eh mayrs / Mer dan madurn eh mayrs / Mer hatsn ou
choorn eh mayrs / Mer teghn ou jarn eh mayrs / Mer dan jerakn eh mayrs
We salute and honor our Armenian mothers for the heroes they are and
their continual dedication to the needs of the Armenian people in
Armenia and the diaspora, she said.
Attar then introduced Dr. Chris Garo Sassouni, the son of Vicken
Sassouni, and grandson of Garo and Leola Sassouni, who made a
presentation on the life of Leola Sassouni.
Chris Sassouni was unaware of the importance his grandparents had
played in shaping Armenian history. His grandmother, Leola (who
changed her name from Hripsime), was a fedayee who fought alongside
her male counterparts as an equal. She was an excellent horsewoman and
marksman. Leola fought at the crucial battle of Sardarabad; she had
given birth to her first child just two months prior. In addition to
her fighting skills, she was instrumental in navigating to safety
10,000 Armenian orphans of the genocide. She instituted the `Benag me
geragoor' program and was a founder of the Armenian Red Cross, which
was later renamed the Armenian Relief Society. Garo Sassouni was a
Minister in the first Republic of Armenia. When the family later
immigrated to the United States, Leola remained active in the ARS. The
Watertown `Leola Sassouni' Chapter was named after her.
Chris Sassouni received a standing ovation from the attendees, not
just in gratitude for his informative presentation, but in honor of
his grandmother. Leola Sassouni was a true Ungerouhi of the highest
order.
Seminar participants were then treated to a delicious lunch, prepared
by the host chapters. After lunch, Attar introduced the second guest
speaker, Bared Maronian, a documentary filmmaker and four-time
regional Emmy Award winner who has produced four Armenian films. His
latest work is `Orphans of the Genocide,' which contains original
footage of the genocide, taken from mostly German archives. It depicts
the tragedy as it played out, especially for the children.
Maronian is currently working on another documentary film, entitled
`Women of 1915.' This project is in its beginning stages but will
bring to life the lives of the many courageous women who sacrificed
their own comfort and safety for that of others.
In appreciation, both Sassouni and Maronian were presented with the
most recent edition of the `Atlas of Historical Armenia,' published by
the Armenian National Education Committee.
Father Lakissian offered his inspiring words and commended the ARS for
its work. He blessed the attendees with a closing prayer.
The ARS Regional Board of Directors thanked the organizers of this
very successful seminar, and also thanked the 80 members who made the
effort to attend, many traveling for hours to participate. It was a
wonderful day of camaraderie, reinforcing the purpose of the ARS, and
honoring those who came before us.