Blog Archives
Vartanantz Day Celebrated in South Florida
Members of the Knights of Vartan, Hayasdan Lodge at St. David Armenian Church.
BOCA RATON, FL – Last month, the Knights of Vartan, Hayasdan Lodge, in collaboration with St. Mary & St. David Armenian Churches of South Florida, held their annual Vartanantz Day celebration. The celebration marks the anniversary of the historic Battle of Avarayr, where 10,000 Armenian troops battled 300,000 Persians in a fight to defend the Armenian homeland, the first Christian nation, from the invading Zoroastrian Persian army. Vartan Mamigonian, for whom the day and organization are named, was the prince of Armenia and military general who led the fight and died for his faith on the battlefield of Avarayr.
The Knights of Vartan program included a short video presentation about Vartanantz Day, remarks from John Kochkerian, dinner, desert, and singing of Armenian patriotic songs.
Taniel Koushakjian speaking to students at Palm Beach Central High School.
Earlier that day, Arsine Kaloustian, Chair of the Armenian Genocide Commemoration, Inc. and Editor of FLArmenians.com, and Taniel Koushakjian, Founder of FLArmenians.com, gave presentations on the Armenian Genocide and the importance of human rights education to students at Palm Beach Central High School.
Armenians in Naples Meet Designer Michael Aram
(L-R) Frank Avakian-Stoneson, Michael Aram, Rev. Fr. Garabed Kochakian
By Frank Avakian-Stoneson
FLArmenians Naples Contributor
NAPLES, FL – Members of the Armenian Church of Southwest Florida (ACSWFL) parish community were honored to attend a special showing by Michael Aram, the world-renowned artist and designer of his Spring 2017 fine jewelry and home collection on Friday, February 10, 2017 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Naples. In addition to the preview of his collection, there was an engaging Question and Answer session with the artist, with highlighted discussion about the Noah’s Ark sculpture designed by Mr. Aram for presentation to Pope Francis by the Armenian Catholicos as a gift on behalf of the people of Armenia during the Pope’s visit to Armenia last June.
Mr. Aram also discussed the strong emotions felt during the design and sculpting of ‘Migrations,’ a piece to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which is displayed on the plaza of the Diocese of the Armenian Church headquarters in New York City for public view.
We all left in awe of the talent and humbleness of Mr. Aram, who is so proud to be an Armenian American. The ACSWFL thanks community member Cherie Dunnigan, herself a jewelry designer, for providing us with the invitations.
Armenian Advocacy Groups: Contact White House, Congress
By Taniel Shant
FLArmenians Political Contributor
Armenian American advocacy groups, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) and the Armenian National Committee (ANC), are currently urging the Armenian American community to voice their concerns to the federal government.
Last month, both groups issued ‘Action Alerts’ on issues of concern to the over 1 million strong Armenian American community. Here in Florida, there are approximately 30,000 Armenian Americans.
With the inauguration of the President Donald J. Trump and the start of the 115th Congress, the groups called on their respective members to take action to boost the Armenian Caucus membership, express opinions regarding the nomination of Jeff Sessions for Attorney General and Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State, as well as contacting the Trump Administration to advance Armenian American policy priorities for 2017.
Prior to the calls for action, both the Assembly and ANC sent congratulatory messages to President Trump on his election (see the Assembly letter here and the ANC letter here).
The Assembly, an independent, non-partisan, Washington, D.C.-based organization, urged members to send messages to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee regarding nominees Sessions and Tillerson. Tillerson was confirmed by the Senate last week and Sessions is expected to be approved this week.
The Assembly is currently seeking to boost the bi-partisan Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, which currently stands at 87 Members of Congress, a historic low. “The 115th Congress is at work, and we are turning to you to urge your Representative to join the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues,” read the Assembly statement. “We need to expand the Armenian Caucus to counter growing opposition, and hostility in the region. Our goal is to increase the number of Members who will speak up for the rights of the people of Armenia and Artsakh. Please urge your Representative to join the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues,” read the Assembly alert.
The ANC, the U.S. arm of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, a Yerevan-based Armenian political party, issued calls to its membership to outline key policy priorities to the Trump White House. “Ask President Trump to support Armenia,” reads the ANC alert. The ANC outlined three key policy areas: “Properly commemorating the Armenian Genocide as a clear case of genocide challenging Turkey’s obstruction of justice for this still unpunished crime and more broadly rejecting Turkey’s efforts to control U.S. policy on Armenian issues; Advancing a durable and democratic peace in the Caucasus by recognizing and supporting the independent Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) and; Growing the U.S.-Armenia economic military and political partnership and supporting a secure prosperous and democratic Armenia.”
You can take action on the Assembly and ANC alerts here and here.
Florida Armenians 