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2006 Press Releases

18 October 2006

Feast of the Holy Translators and Presentation of the Album of Armenian Paleography
in Holy Etchmiadzin

The Feast of the Holy Translators, one of the most beloved and celebrated days among the Armenians, was noted with special significance in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin this year.  On Saturday, October 14, the Armenian translation of the “Album of Armenian Paleography” was officially unveiled and presented to the public in the headquarters of the Armenian Church.  The event took place in the Pontifical Residence of Holy Etchmiadzin, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

The original English language version of the album was published by the Aarhus University Press in Denmark in 2002.  The editors of this definitive work are Professors Michael E. Stone, Dickran Kouymjian and Henning Lehmann.  The album comprehensively studies and interprets ancient forms of Armenian writing.

On the occasion of the 1600th Anniversary of the Creation of the Armenian Alphabet, His Holiness Karekin II authorized the “Karekin I Armenological & Theological Center” of Holy Etchmiadzin to pursue the Armenian translation of this seminal work with the goal of having it published by the Mother See.  The primary benefactor for the publication of the Armenian translation of the album is the Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund (USA).

The translation and editing work of the Armenian version was accomplished through the endeavors of Aram Topchian and Gohar Muradian, researchers at the “Mesrop Mashtots Matenadaran” Institute of Ancient Manuscripts in Yerevan; and Azat Bozoyan, Director of the “Karekin I Armenological & Theological Center”.  The album was published by the Tigran Mets Publishing House.

As the ceremony began, Azat Bozoyan welcomed the attendees and expressed his gratitude to the Catholicos of All Armenians for the creation of this important contribution to Armenian culture and science.  He noted the significance of continuing the mission of the Mother See in publishing similar works, which were initiated by Karekin Hovsepiants of blessed memory (later Catholicos of Cilicia) in 1913 in Holy Etchmiadzin.

On behalf of the authors, Professor Dickran Kouymjian, Chair of the Department of Armenian Studies at California State University in Fresno, spoke on the history of the nearly three-year process of creating the Armenian translation of the album.  He conveyed the appreciation and gratitude of the authors to the Pontiff of All Armenians for his support and sponsorship in publishing the work.

The event concluded with His Holiness Karekin II addressing those present with his message of blessing.  The Armenian Pontiff expressed his appreciation to the authors, translators and editors for their devoted and conscientious work.  He also specifically thanked M. Haigentz of the Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund for their generous financial gift, as well as Vrezh Markosian, Director of the Tigran Mets Publishing House, for the diligent efforts of his entire staff.  His Holiness highly evaluated the role of both the English and Armenian versions of the album in the sphere of Armenian Studies, noting, “This work will have the most important significance for researchers and scientists engaged in the history of the Armenian characters (letters), Armenian art and culture.  We are confident that the joint volumes, which complement one another, will greatly serve the study of our manuscripts and ancient writings by Armenians and non-Armenians alike.”

In attendance for the ceremony were members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, members of the Supreme Spiritual Council, professors and lecturers of the Gevorkian and Vaskenian Theological Seminaries, and scientists, intellectuals, and artists from throughout Armenia.  Throughout the evening, musical presentations of Bach, Komitas, and Babadjanian were performed by the string quartet of the Armenian Chamber Orchestra.

14 October 2006

Presentation of the Armenian translation of the Album of Armenian Paleography

The Armenian translation of the Album of Armenian Paleography by Professor Michael E. Stone (Editor-in-Chief), Prof. Dickran Kouymjian and Prof. Henning Lehman, was presented at a ceremony held in the presence of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, yesterday. The widely acclaimed book was translated into Armenian by Dr. Aram Topchyan of the Matenadaran, Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Yerevan) and published by the Catholicossate.

The ceremony in Holy Etchmiadzin, seat of the Catholicos, was attended by leaders of Armenia's scholarly and intellectual community. The Armenian alphabet has played a major role in the historical consciousness of the Armenian Church and culture. The availability of the Album of Armenian Paleography in the Armenian language will provide scholars in Armenia with an invaluable contribution to their studies.

Professor Kouymjian represented the Editors at the ceremony.

29 June 2006

Album of Armenian Paleography


AZG Armenian Daily --- A new precious publication - Album of Armenian Paleography – by famous Armenologists Michael Stone, Tigran Guyumtchian and Hening Lenman will see the light soon at "Tigran Mets" publishing house.

Published by the Aarhus University Press in 2002, the English volume was dedicated to the memory of Mesrop Mashtots, founder of the Armenian alphabet.

Translation of this 554-page book was ordered by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Head of "Tigran Mets", Vrezh Markosian, said that publishing is already over and they are working on the cover.

April 30, 2006

91st COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
HELD AT HEBREW UNIVERSITY

JERUSALEM--- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem held its commemoration of the Armenian Genocide on Wednesday 26 April 2006, two days after Armenians officially mark the deportation and murder of 1.5 million of their people between 1915 and 1917 by the Ottoman Turks. Close to 200 people, both Jews and Armenians, filled the library at Beit Belgia on the University’s Givat Ram Campus in Jerusalem for the moving tribute and remembrance.

Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Professor Steven Kaplan, officially represented the University at event, which is initiated and organized annually by the long-standing Armenian Studies Program of the University headed by Professor Michael Stone.

Professors Kaplan and Stone addressed the audience as did the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, who was accompanied by His Excellency Bishop Aris Shirvanian and members of the Brotherhood of St. James, and His Excellency Mr. Tsolag Momjian, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia.

As in previous years, the commemoration of the Genocide coincided with the State of Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day, which pays tribute to the 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazis in World War II.  The result was children and survivors of the Holocaust sitting amongst children and grandchildren of survivors of the Armenian Genocide, together paying respect to its victims.

The keynote speaker for the evening was former Member of Knesset and former Education Minister Yossi Sarid, a passionate campaigner for Israeli recognition of the most tragic event. The State of Israel unfortunately does not officially recognize the Genocide mainly due to its relations with Turkey. Since Jews know the tragedy of genocide so well, stressing the moral imperatives, Sarid said, “there is no greater educational mistake” than to be silent while others suffer the pains of denial, even when one’s self interests are at stake.

His words were echoed in concluding remarks given by distinguished Fulbright Scholar and Professor Abraham Terian who said the psychology of denial in comparison to the Genocide itself sometimes “hurts just as much or more so.”  He added that Jews and Armenians understand this, as their histories are very similar and with a concerted voice, Armenian people and the Jewish people should be in the forefront of decrying such acts.

With the poignant yet positive evening of reflection and introspection coming to an end, there was optimism that in the coming years, changes will happen regarding the denial of the Armenian Genocide in all countries, and even in Turkey, Sarid and Terian noted, some measure of change can be discerned. 

For further details contact:
The Armenian Studies Program
Phone: +972-2-588-3651
Fax: +972-2-588-3658
E-mail: armenian@mscc.huji.ac.il
Website: http://micro5.mscc.huji.ac.il/~armenia

April 1, 2006

Gohar Muradyan publishes the Physiologus:
A New Volume of Hebrew University
Armenian Series (HUAS)

Dr. Gohar Muradyan, Senior Researcher at the Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Manuscripts in Yerevan, Armenia, has just published the latest volume of Hebrew University Armenian Series. The Physiologus, an early Christian writing (ca. 200 AD) consists of cameo stories about the nature of animals, with a religious interpretation of their peculiarities. It was widespread during the Middle Ages in various languages. On the basis of study of more than 40 manuscripts of the Armenian Physiologus, Gohar Muradyan, past Visiting Fellow at HU Armenian Studies Program, has edited the Armenian text and translated it into English for the first time. The Physiologus had widespread influence in both eastern and western writings, and the Armenian version is one of the oldest and most faithful witnesses. The study of the Physiologus was started as part of the program of a Research Group at the Netherlands Institute of Advanced Studies in 1997-8, directed by J.J.S. Weitenberg and M.E. Stone. Members included Th.M. van Lint, D.Th.Runia, M.E. Shirinian and J. Mansfeld.

 Hebrew University Armenian Series has produced six volumes since its founding and two more are currently in press, a study of the sources of Movses Xorenats'i by Aram Topchyan (Armenia) and a trilingual edition of the Old Armenian Version of Job by Claude Cox (Canada). A number of other volumes are in final stages of preparation. For further information about the series, please contact its editor, M.E. Stone, at michael.stone@ huji.ac.il

 Dr, Muradyan's volume may be accessed on: http://www.peeters-leuven.be/

 Hebrew University Armenian Series may be accessed on: http://www.peeters-leuven.be/

 Books published in HUAS are the following:

1 - Stone M.E.: A Concordance of the Armenian Apocryphal Adam Books

2 - Maranci C.: Medieval Armenian Architecture

3 - Thomson R.W.: The Armenian Adaptation of the Ecclesiastical History of Socrates Scholasticus

4 - Ervine R.R. , Stone M.E. , Stone N.: The Armenians in Jerusalem and the Holy Land

5 - Thomson R.W.: Hamam. Commentary on the Book of Proverbs

6 - Muradyan G.: Physiologus

7 - Topchyan A.: The Problem of the Greek Sources of Movses Xorenac'i's «History of Armenia»

8 - Cox C.E.: Armenian Job

 The books are all available from Peeters Publishers, Leuven, Belgium.

 

April 1, 2006
 

Public Lecture by Prof. Terian

Professor Abraham Terian will give a public lecture on May 30 at 6.30 pm in Beit Meirsdorf Faculty Club on Mt. Scopus campus. His subject will be "The Historial Jesus and the Son of Man in Daniel". The public is invited.

Contact the Armenian Studies Office for an official invitations: armenian@mscc.huji.ac.il, tel: (02) 641 2906, fax: (02) 588 3658.

 

January 30, 2006
 

HEBREW U. WELCOMES FIRST
‘FULBRIGHT DISTINGUISHED CHAIR
IN THE HUMANITIE’

 

PROFESSOR ABRAHAM TERIAN, PROFESSOR OF ARMENIAN PATRISTICS, ARRIVES FOR THE SPRING TERM

 Hebrew University announced last week that PROFESSOR ABRAHAM TERIAN is arriving in Israel to take up his position as the first Fulbright Distinguished Chair in the Humanities. He will serve as a visiting professor for the spring semester, which starts on February 5

“Dr. Terian’s appointment, the fist of its kind, not only honors him, but also demonstrates the high esteem in which the Armenian Studies Program is held,” said PROFESSOR MICHAEL E. STONE, Director of the University’s Armenian Studies Program.  Stone added that Dr. Terian grew up in the Armenian compound of St. James in Jerusalem, and “we are delighted to welcome him back to his native city.”

Dr. Terian is Professor of Armenian Patristics and Academic Dean at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in New Rochelle, New York.  He is also editor of St. Nersess Theological Review.  Dr. Terian holds a Bachelor’s degree in history and biblical languages, and a Master’s in archaeology and antiquity.  His Doctorate in Theology, completed at the University of Basel, Switzerland, focused on Early Christianity and its Jewish and Hellenistic foundations. 

Before coming to St. Nersess in 1997, he was Professor of Intertestamental and Early Christian Literatures at Andrews University, and Visiting Professor for both Classical Armenian and Hellenistic Judaism at the University of Chicago.  Dr. Terian’s latest book, Patriotism and Piety in Armenian Christianity, is part of the St. Nersess’ AVANT Series, published by St. Vladimir’s Press (2005). His publications also include three books about the first-century Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria, a portion of whose works survives solely in Armenian translation.  Additionally, his articles appear in historical, philological and literary periodicals and monographs.

Dr. Terian served as Secretary of the Society for Armenian Studies in 1993, was President of the Society of Biblical Literature's Midwest Region from 1990-92, and has been on the editorial board of Studia Philonica Annual since its creation in 1989.

 

January 30, 2006

RUDIN GRANT RENEWED FOR
SPRING SEMESTER 2006

With the aim of further strengthening the relationship between the Armenian Patriarchate and the Hebrew University, the May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, Inc. has renewed its grant for the current academic year.  This grant offers aid to Armenian priests of the Brotherhood of St. James, Jerusalem, who study at the Hebrew University.

Four priests are currently studying under its provisions, all at different stages of their academic training.  Fr. Pakrad Bourjekian, the most advanced of the group, will complete his Master’s thesis on a Homily of St. Gregory Martyrophile (S. Grigor Vkayaser) by the summer. The other three, Fr. Goriune Baghdassarian, Fr. Norayr Kazazian and Fr. Isahak Minassian, are working towards their Bachelor’s degrees.

 

January 15, 2006

Armenian Genocide Event in the Works

 The Committee for the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide held its first meeting on January 11 to discuss the April 24 remembrance event.  As in years past, the Hebrew University will host a meaningful and intellectual event in tribute to those Armenians murdered at the hands of the Turkish Ottoman Empire.

Professor Stone oversees this committee.  Other members include Armenian Patriarchate representative, Very Rev. Fr. Pakrad Bourjekian; Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia, H.E. Mr. Tsolag Momjian; Executive Director of the Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide in Jerusalem, Professor Israel Charney; Hebrew University Armenian Studies lecturer, Dr. Sergio La Porta; and Professor Stone’s assistants, Mrs. Vered Hillel and Ms. Irina Bochevar.