The celebration began with the customary blessing of gifts, the beautiful ring Daron presented to Sona and the macho watch she gave him. (An Armenian priest once told me Armenians like blessing everything.) Then came official and off-the-cuff welcomes, followed by an extravagant meal. To everyone’s surprise, next up was an Armenian dance performance in full costume by a local troupe with which Daron has had a long-term relationship. After some coaxing from the audience, Daron joined in with wonderful footwork. Tons of pastries followed.

Before returning home, the six of us met privately for a get-to-know-you dinner at Paréa Greek taverna. Becky and I ate there at the beginning of our trip and liked it so much we returned. Conversation at the gala was difficult over the music, so having quiet time at the estiatório (Greek for ‘eating place’) was in order. Admittedly, dining out is somewhat passé by today’s standard of interaction by device, but who cares. We spoke excitedly of wedding plans, nostalgically about Sona’s late parents, whom we miss each day, dearly of mutual friends and perfunctorily about work. It turns out our server was to be married in a matter of days. We saluted her and wished her the very best. Even the restaurateur, when we told him we’re Armenian, comped us with a dish of meat stuffing for dolmades (dolma in Armenian) covered with lemon-egg avgolemono sauce. Nostimo. Delicious.

At the taverna, we realized the number of years of our respective relationships totaled nearly a hundred. Sounds crazy, correlating time together so numerically. But Varoujan, Anna, Becky and I are among those Armenians who married for the long run. Our marriages have endured through good times and bad. We wish Sona and Daron the same and place our bets on them. 

Thinking of them, I created a painting to celebrate longevity. After our sightseeing in downtown Chicago, Becky announced that she liked the ornate, 40-story Jewelers’ Building on Wacker Drive best. It resembles an old-fashioned wedding cake, with four corner towers and one central tower. Our host from the Chicago Architectural Center on our 90-minute Chicago River boat tour informed us that the building once housed valet parking via elevator. Effective but not efficient. We had learned at the engagement party that one guest is a jeweler in Chicago, perhaps familiar with the building. I chose to incorporate the structure into my painting entitled Built to Last. As constructors of relationships, I’ve placed each of us in construction helmets. I know, they mess up our hair, but the laughs are worth it.

Sona, settle into Chicago, then go with Daron on the river tour. It’s well worth your time, and you’ll get the lay of the land downtown. Be sure to check out 35 East Wacker Drive. Who knows, a jeweler might present you with another little something in an ornate box. Relish – pun intended – a Cheezborger at the original Billie Goat. Have a sundae at Ghirardelli’s. Consider having a funky wedding photo taken at Cloud Gate, the stainless steel egg sculpture (a.k.a. ‘The Bean’). Regardless of whether you’re R or D, check out the Obama Museum as soon as you can land a ticket, allegedly not until spring. The building and grounds are spectacular. Most importantly, have yourselves a good life in the Windy City. Fair winds are predicted. 

If you take the shuttle train between terminals at O’Hare, try to discover why the fully automated vehicle has windshield wipers. 

The post Built to Last appeared first on The Armenian Weekly.

WATERTOWN, Mass. — Every Armenian family has a story. Some have been lovingly preserved across generations. Others survive only in fragments — a faded photograph, a family name, a village remembered by grandparents or a story interrupted by the Armenian Genocide. For many descendants, the desire to recover those stories has become a deeply personal journey of discovery.

On Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, Armenians from across the United States and beyond will gather at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (ACEC) in Watertown, Massachusetts, for the 10th Anniversary Armenian Genealogy Conference, a milestone celebration of a movement dedicated to reconnecting Armenians with their families, ancestral communities and shared history.

With just one month remaining, organizers have announced the finalized lineup of speakers and are encouraging everyone interested in attending to register before the Nov. 11 deadline.

The conference, sponsored by the Armenian Cultural Association of America (ACAA), begins at 9 a.m. and promises a full day of fascinating presentations, practical research techniques, new resources and opportunities to connect with others who share a passion for Armenian family history.

Registration and additional information are available at https://armeniangenealogyconference.com/.

Five conferences, countless family connections

What began as an effort to introduce Armenians to the tools and resources available for researching their ancestry has grown into a vibrant community of researchers, historians, genealogists and individuals seeking to rediscover their roots.

Over the years, Armenian genealogy conferences have demonstrated that reconstructing family histories once thought permanently lost is increasingly possible. Immigration records, Ottoman-era documents, church registers, community memorial books, historical photographs and advances in DNA testing are opening doors that previous generations could scarcely have imagined.

But Armenian genealogy is about much more than names and dates. It is about restoring connections severed by genocide, displacement and migration. It is about discovering the villages where ancestors lived, the communities they built and the relationships that connect Armenian families across continents.

The 10th anniversary conference celebrates both the progress already made and the extraordinary possibilities that lie ahead.

An outstanding lineup of speakers

This year’s conference brings together leading researchers and innovators whose work is transforming how Armenians discover and preserve their family histories.

Mark Arslan: Reconstructing the Armenian immigrant experience
A pioneer in Armenian genealogy, Mark Arslan began researching his Armenian ancestry in 1971. A second-generation American, he established the Armenian DNA Project in 2005 and developed the Armenian Immigration Project, an extensive database documenting the Armenian diaspora in North America before 1930.

His decades of research have helped countless families identify immigrant ancestors, trace their arrival in America and reconnect with relatives whose paths diverged generations ago. His presentation will introduce participants to resources and methods for navigating the complex world of Armenian immigration and naturalization records.

Gregory Jundanian and Lisa Misakian: Preserving the Armenians of Whitinsville
What happens when an entire community becomes the subject of a genealogical research project?

Gregory Jundanian and Lisa Misakian, co-founders of the Armenians of Whitinsville Project, will demonstrate how local history, family records, photographs and personal memories can be brought together to preserve the story of an Armenian American community.

Their innovative website serves as a modern houshamadyan, continuing the Armenian memory-book tradition that emerged in the diaspora beginning in the late 19th century.

Their work offers an inspiring model for other Armenian communities seeking to document their own histories before invaluable memories and records disappear.

Zeynep Devrim Gürsel: Discovering Armenian lives through Ottoman-era photographs
Photographs can reveal stories that written documents leave untold.

Zeynep Devrim Gürsel, a media anthropologist and associate professor of anthropology at Rutgers University, is the author of “Portraits of Unbelonging,” an examination of Ottoman Armenian emigration to the United States during the politically turbulent years from the 1890s through the end of Sultan Abdülhamid II’s reign in 1909.

Her research offers a fascinating perspective on the visual documentation of Armenian migration and the ways historical photographs can help reconstruct the experiences of individuals and families navigating a world of political uncertainty and displacement.

Boghos Tchitchekdjian: Connecting Armenian families across Europe
Armenian family histories rarely respect modern national borders. Records of a single family may be scattered across Armenia, Turkey, France, the Middle East, the United States and numerous other countries.

Boghos Tchitchekdjian, co-founder and vice president of Relais International de Généalogie Arménienne (RIGA/RIGAGEN), will introduce participants to the important work being undertaken in France to preserve Armenian genealogical records and reconnect families.

RIGA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making dispersed archives more accessible and providing free genealogical assistance to Armenians throughout the diaspora. Its work demonstrates the tremendous potential of international cooperation in overcoming the barriers that have historically complicated Armenian family research.

George Aghjayan: DNA and the reconstruction of Armenian family history
For descendants of genocide survivors, traditional documentary research often encounters an almost insurmountable obstacle: the destruction or disappearance of records and the rupture of family connections.

George Aghjayan, organizer of the Armenian genealogy conferences and host of “Hye Roots: Descendants of Ararat,” will explore how advances in genetic genealogy are helping to overcome these obstacles.

His presentation will examine the critical role of DNA testing in identifying previously unknown relatives, reconstructing family relationships and recovering connections lost through generations of displacement.

DNA cannot replace historical research, but when combined with documentary evidence, oral histories and geographic knowledge, it can become an extraordinary tool for rebuilding Armenian family histories.

An evening of Armenian food, music and friendship

The conference experience will continue well beyond the final presentation.

Beginning at approximately 6 p.m., participants will gather for a festive Armenian dinner catered by Kevork Boyajian and the Armenian American Social Club of Watertown.

The evening will feature an all-star ensemble of Armenian musicians:
John Berberian — oud
Mal Barsamian — clarinet
Jason Naroian — vocals and drum
Bruce Gigarjian — guitar

The dinner promises an evening of wonderful Armenian cuisine, traditional music and lively conversation, offering participants an opportunity to deepen the connections made throughout the day.

For many conference attendees, these informal conversations are among the most rewarding parts of the experience. A discussion over dinner can lead to the discovery of a common ancestral village, an unexpected family connection or a new research partnership.

Sunday, Nov. 22: A rare screening of ‘The Melody of Armenia’

The weekend’s celebration of Armenian heritage will continue on Sunday, Nov. 22, with a special screening of the historic Armenian film Երգն Հայաստանի (The Melody of Armenia).

Presented jointly by the ARF Boston “Sardarabad” Gomideh, Watertown High School’s Armenian Club and the Armenian Genealogy Conference, the screening will take place at 2 p.m. in the auditorium of the new Watertown High School, 50 Columbia St., Watertown, Massachusetts.

First premiered in 1930, “The Melody of Armenia” offers a powerful window into the lives of Armenian Genocide survivors attempting to rebuild their world in exile.

The film tells the story of Mrs. Ghazarian, an Armenian mother living in France during the 1920s. Of her six children, five perished during the genocide. Only one son survived, and together mother and son struggle to establish a new life while carrying the overwhelming burden of personal loss and the destruction of their homeland.

Haunted by the memories of what she endured, Mrs. Ghazarian embodies the grief, resilience and uncertainty experienced by countless Armenian survivors.

Yet the film is more than a dramatic account of one family’s suffering.

It incorporates remarkable historical footage, including images of the burning of Smyrna, appearances by prominent Armenian figures such as Alexander Khatisian and Avetis Aharonian and scenes depicting Armenian schools, scouting organizations and community life in France.

These images offer a rare visual record of a generation that experienced the destruction of its ancestral communities while simultaneously laying the foundations of a new Armenian diaspora.

For those attending the genealogy conference, the film provides a particularly meaningful complement to the preceding day’s presentations.

Where genealogy seeks to recover the identities and relationships of individual ancestors, “The Melody of Armenia” brings viewers face to face with the historical world those ancestors inhabited — their trauma, determination, institutions and enduring commitment to Armenian identity.

Together, the conference and film screening create a weekend devoted not simply to remembering the past, but to reclaiming it.

Proceeds from the film screening will benefit the ARF Archives project, an initiative dedicated to preserving and making Armenian historical materials accessible to future generations. Additional donations are warmly encouraged.

Tickets for the screening may be purchased at: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/film-screening-the-melody-of-armenia

A trailer for the film can be viewed at: https://www.instagram.com/p/DeKEcrTg2En/?hl=en

For questions about the screening, call or text (818) 649-4726.

Don’t wait — conference registration closes Nov. 11

Whether you have spent decades researching your Armenian ancestors or have only recently begun wondering about the names, places and stories that shaped your family, the 10th Anniversary Armenian Genealogy Conference offers an opportunity to learn, discover and connect.

You do not need to be an experienced genealogist to participate. Curiosity about your family and a desire to understand your Armenian heritage are all that is required.

The conference will provide practical tools for beginners, new insights for experienced researchers and inspiration for anyone interested in preserving Armenian history.

Most importantly, it offers an opportunity to become part of a growing effort to ensure that the stories of Armenian families and communities are not lost to future generations.

Conference details

Date: Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026
Time: 9 a.m.; dinner beginning approximately 6 p.m.
Location: Armenian Cultural and Educational Center, Watertown, Massachusetts
Registration deadline: November 11, 2026
Registration: https://armeniangenealogyconference.com/

Film screening details

Film: The Melody of Armenia (Երգն Հայաստանի)
Date: Sunday, Nov. 22, 2026
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: New Watertown High School auditorium, 50 Columbia St., Watertown, Massachusetts
Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/film-screening-the-melody-of-armenia

A century ago, Armenian families were scattered across the world, carrying with them fragments of their histories and memories of the communities they had lost. Today, through research, technology, collaboration and a shared determination to remember, those fragments are being brought together again.

Join us Nov. 21 and 22 in Watertown for a weekend dedicated to discovering where we come from, honoring those who came before us and ensuring that their stories continue to be told.

Our ancestors’ stories are waiting to be rediscovered. The next discovery may be yours.

The post One month until 10th anniversary Armenian Genealogy Conference appeared first on The Armenian Weekly.

Arzruni devoted much of his career to documenting and promoting Armenian music and introducing Armenian composers to audiences worldwide.

Born in Istanbul on June 8, 1943, to Stepan Jirayr Arzruni and Maryam Kalpak, Arzruni grew up in the city’s Armenian community. Music entered his life early: He began playing piano at the age of 4, studying with his aunt, Sirvart Kalpakian-Karamanuk, an Armenian pianist and composer who became an important influence on his development. Arzruni attended the Esayan and Getronagan schools and studied at the Istanbul Municipal Conservatory.

In 1964, Arzruni moved to the United States to continue his musical education at The Juilliard School in New York. Supported by a scholarship from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, he studied there from 1964 to 1968, later pursuing doctoral studies at New York University. New York became his home and the base for an international career that encompassed concert halls, television, radio and recording studios.

As a pianist and chamber music artist, Arzruni performed throughout North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. His engagements included appearances at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Library of Congress and the White House, as well as command performances in several European countries. He reached audiences beyond the concert hall through appearances on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and “The Mike Douglas Show,” along with PBS productions including “Around the World in ’82,” “Gala of Stars” and “A Place of Dreams: Carnegie Hall at 100.” He also performed alongside comedian and pianist Victor Borge for approximately 18 years, serving as the musical foil in Borge’s comedy programs.

Arzruni’s work extended well beyond the stage. A Steinway Artist, he recorded music for numerous labels and championed Armenian composers. He hosted a five-year radio program on New York’s WNYC about piano pedagogy. He also composed, taught, lectured, produced cultural programs and wrote about music, contributing to scholarly journals and reference works, including “The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians” and the “Dictionary of the Middle Ages.”

At the heart of his work was a commitment to Armenian music. “My whole point is to disseminate Armenian music to the world,” he told The Armenian Weekly in a September interview.

Arzruni researched the musical traditions of his heritage and recorded a three-record anthology of Armenian piano music. He also co-produced an eight-disc collection of Armenian instrumental and vocal music, helping preserve and circulate a repertoire that was central to his artistic and cultural mission. His research took him into academic settings as well, where he delivered papers and organized symposia at institutions including Harvard University, Columbia University and the University of Michigan.

His engagement with Armenian music encompassed both its concert repertoire and its sacred traditions. In 2001, at the invitation of the U.S. Library of Congress, he delivered a lecture on Armenian liturgical chants. His performances and recordings of Armenian composers, including Aram Khachaturian, brought this music to new audiences. In 2013, Armenia’s Ministry of Culture selected his performance of Khachaturian for a special collection recognizing outstanding Armenian musical talent.

Arzruni’s work earned recognition from Armenian religious and state institutions. In 1996, he received the Sts. Sahak and Mesrob Medal and an encyclical from His Holiness Karekin I. In 2003, during celebrations marking the centennial of Aram Khachaturian’s birth, he was appointed a representative of Armenia’s Ministry of Culture in the Diaspora. A specialist in the music of Komitas, Arzruni also received the title of honorary professor at the Komitas State Conservatory in 2008. In 2016, then-President Serzh Sargsyan awarded him the Movses Khorenatsi Medal in recognition of his contributions to cultural development and ties between Armenia and the Diaspora.

Beginning in 2017, with support from the Fund for Armenian Relief, Arzruni traveled extensively throughout Armenia, visiting more than 50 locations to give performances and conduct master classes at music and art schools. His tours also took him to Artsakh.

Arzruni continued to expand the Armenian piano repertoire until late in his life. His album “By Women” featured works by Armenian women composers. It was part of a larger project to record eight collections tracing the breadth of Armenian piano music, from Komitas and his contemporaries to composers in Armenia and the Diaspora. The project also included a collection of piano works by the late Alan Hovhaness.

Pianist Şahan Arzruni performs Arno Babajanian’s “Elegy” in a video recorded by Rosie Nisanyan in 2026 for The Armenian Weekly. In a September interview, Arzruni explained that Babajanian composed the piece in 1978 after learning of Aram Khachaturian’s death, drawing on a melody by Sayat Nova.

In his September interview with The Armenian Weekly, Arzruni reflected on his lifelong engagement with Komitas’ music. “Komitas is the root of everything,” he said. Even after performing Komitas’ “Seven Dances for Piano” for five decades, he explained, he continued to discover new elements in the music.

Through his performances, recordings, scholarship and teaching, Arzruni helped preserve Armenian musical heritage and ensure that its composers continued to be heard around the world.

In accordance with his wishes, Arzruni’s ashes will be interred at the Arzruni family gravesite in Istanbul.

The post Şahan Arzruni, pianist and scholar, dies at 83 appeared first on The Armenian Weekly.

This was Armenia’s third win, following victories in 2010 and 2021.

Contestants ages 9 to 14 were selected by national broadcasters that are members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), including Armenia’s Public Television (AMPTV). In total, 16 countries took part in the annual competition.

Malta’s Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) hosted the contest at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre in Ta’ Qali before an audience of about 4,000. The live show lasted 150 minutes.

Under contest rules, national juries and online voting each accounted for 50% of the final score. Each national jury consisted of three music industry experts and two children ages 10 to 15.

According to organizers, millions watched the performances, with online votes cast from 194 countries and territories to help decide the winner. Each viewer could vote for up to three songs.

Online voting took place in two rounds: one before the show, based on preview clips of the performances, and another after the final live performance

Naré topped the scoreboard with 202 points.

Spain’s Lucas Paulano, 10, came in second with 184 points for the song “Cuore Bello (Te Quiero, Te Quiero).” France’s Alec, 12, took third place with 165 points for “Comment Tu Vas?”

Hailing from Yerevan, Naré started singing at a young age and has appeared in musicals, television shows and other music projects. She was chosen to represent Armenia from a pool of more than 100 applicants after auditions in Yerevan.

“BOO!” was written by Lilit Navasardyan, Grigor Kyokchyan, Nick Egibyan, Martin Mirzoyan and Anush Ter-Ghukasyan.

The post Armenia’s Naré wins Junior Eurovision 2026 appeared first on The Armenian Weekly.

Yet this anniversary is more than a celebration of the past. It is also an opportunity to reflect anew on the irreplaceable role of Armenian seminaries in the life, continuity and witness of the Church.

A seminary is far more than an academic institution. It is a sacred place of formation, where the mind is shaped by truth, the heart is refined by virtue, and the soul is prepared for a life of service. There, the future clergyman or pastor does not simply gain theological knowledge; he undergoes a deeper inner formation through which prayer becomes as natural as breath, humility becomes a mark of character, obedience a source of strength, discipline a way of life, and pastoral care the true expression of vocation. The seminary is blessed ground, where a calling takes root, spiritual life deepens, and the whole person is steadily prepared for the responsibilities of sacred ministry.

The life of the Church finds one of its clearest and most vital expressions in the parish. It is there that the child is reborn through Holy Baptism, that the faithful share in the grace of the Divine Liturgy, that the sorrowing receive comfort, and that weary hearts are renewed by the presence of God. At the center of this living reality stands the spiritual shepherd, offering faith, prayer, guidance and loving service to the people entrusted to his care.

Yet to be a shepherd is far more than to hold an office. It is a vocation shaped by the Cross and fulfilled in love. The spiritual pastor is called to love his people without distinction, without calculation and without condition. His care cannot be reserved only for those who are close to him or supportive of him. Rather, his heart must remain open also to those who criticize him, misunderstand him or cause him pain. The true shepherd does not allow hardship or disappointment to harden his heart. Instead, he returns to his people with deeper prayer, greater gentleness and a love made more steadfast through trial.

For this reason, Armenian seminaries hold a decisive and indispensable place in the life of the Church. They do not simply prepare church leaders or servants; they form shepherds — men of spiritual maturity, inner strength, theological wisdom and generous, impartial love. They are sacred places where the faith of the Church, her liturgical life, language, traditions and spiritual inheritance are carefully preserved and faithfully handed on with renewed vitality. Within their walls, the past does not remain simply a memory; it becomes a living inheritance that nourishes the present and helps shape the future.

The anniversary of St. Nersess Seminary, therefore, should be seen not only as a cause for rejoicing, but also as a moment of renewal and responsibility. Our seminaries are the quiet yet enduring foundations of the Church’s future. Within them are formed those clergy who will one day stand before our altars, proclaim the Word of God, comfort wounded hearts, educate younger generations, guide our communities with wisdom and faithfulness, and keep alive the flame of our holy faith.

The post Armenian seminaries: The heartbeat of the Church and the foundation of her future appeared first on The Armenian Weekly.

Following the invitation, the ensembles spent approximately three months preparing for the festival and developing a special program.

On Oct. 21, the organizers informed the ensembles that their participation had been canceled. In subsequent written correspondence between Apres Margaryan, president of the NGO, and Zoran Strezovski, president of WOFA, Strezovski stated that a letter received from an embassy had described the cultural groups as “dangerous” and called for their invitations to be withdrawn.

On Oct. 23, Strezovski provided further clarification, stating that several embassies had intervened, accusing the ensembles of engaging in “separatist activity” in their country and recommending that they not be invited to the festival.

The Artsakh Cultural Preservation Center NGO rejected the allegations against the ensembles.

Since the forced displacement of the Armenian population of Artsakh in 2023, the organization has worked to preserve Artsakh cultural ensembles and support the continuation of their professional activities.

These ensembles represent aspects of Artsakh’s intangible cultural heritage. UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage recognizes performing arts as one of the principal domains of intangible cultural heritage.

In 2025, Artsakh artists participated in international festival programs organized under the auspices of CIOFF in Italy, receiving recognition and certificates. CIOFF is an official partner of UNESCO and is accredited to provide advisory services to the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Artsakh artists forcibly displaced from their homeland have already been deprived of the opportunity to create and perform within their cultural environment. The Artsakh Cultural Preservation NGO expressed concern that restricting their participation in international cultural events on the basis of political allegations could affect their cultural rights.

The organization has contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and international human rights organizations, requesting an examination of the incident and support for the protection of Artsakh artists’ cultural rights.

The NGO has also requested that the president of WOFA identify the embassies involved and provide the factual basis for the allegations made against the ensembles. According to the NGO, Strezovski has promised to provide further details by email; but those details have not yet been received as of Oct. 23.

The Artsakh Cultural Preservation Center NGO said it will continue seeking clarification of the incident and advocating for the cultural rights of Artsakh artists.

For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FEprveZXF/

The post Embassy interventions reportedly canceled Artsakh ensembles’ Vienna festival appearance appeared first on The Armenian Weekly.

There are people whose souls are so filled with experiences that ordinary words become powerless. At such moments, the soul may uncontrollably explode with colors and energy. The art of artist Lusine Shaboyan is precisely that spontaneous, sincere and profound movement to the soul. Each of her canvases is a distinct story, and every brushstroke a liberation. In this conversation with the Weekly, Lusine shared the turning points of her life, faith and canvases, and the invincible force that drives her toward art.

At the crossroads of finance, management and art

Lusine graduated from the English Faculty of Gyumri Pedagogical University and subsequently studied management at the National Academy of Sciences. Today, she manages a company, working in finance and accounting. However, as she notes, numbers and rules cannot restrict the flight of the soul.

“My profession has nothing to do with painting at all, but without painting, it feels as though something is missing in my life or remains unfulfilled,” Shaboyan said.

Although she attended art school as a child in Gyumri and then at the Saryan Art School in Yerevan, she did not start painting until 2022.

The turning point

The year 2022 became a breakthrough in Lusine’s life. A tragic accident — one she still speaks of with difficulty and emotion — forced her to look at the world through entirely different eyes. Experiences and her worldview blended with colors, becoming a silent yet powerful dialogue with the canvas.

“I wanted to understand those inner turmoils, my psychology, my worldview. All of that mixed with colors and became a conversation between the canvas and my perception of the world,” Shaboyan said. “Although I have a separate studio where I could also work, at this moment, home is the most comforting and harmonious environment for me. This is where I create my works using oil and acrylic paints.”

Thus was born her first abstract work, “Emotional Explosion.” It was an explosion in her personal life. Shaboyan shared that the painting has extraordinary energy: people looking at it feel warmth, as though energy accumulated over years is bursting forth from the canvas.

The July solo exhibition at the Pyunik Center

Shaboyan has already created more than 60 large-scale canvases. She dislikes painting on small surfaces; she needs breadth and freedom. Although early on she only showed her works to relatives and close friends, her talent could not remain unnoticed.

Over her four years of creative journey, she has already held two solo exhibitions. The first took place in her birthplace at the Kumayri Historical and Cultural Museum in Gyumri. One of the most significant milestones in Shaboyan’s artistic path was her second solo exhibition, organized in July at the Pyunik Development Center. It offered art lovers the opportunity to connect with the artist’s inner world and experiences. In addition to her solo exhibitions, Shaboyan has also participated in group exhibitions, including at the Liver company showroom and other cultural platforms.

Faith and the subconscious

Faith holds a central place in Shaboyan’s art. “I believe that a person does not live only in this life; they are guided from above. Many things in our life happen beyond our control. That is why I believe that within every canvas lies a power that emanates from above through the artist,” Shaboyan said.

For her, every painting is born unexpectedly. Her paintings are not planned but emerge as colors and shapes spontaneously come to life from her subconscious: “Every canvas feels like a new child to me. My soul, my stories, my feelings are inside every canvas. Sometimes, even while painting, I do not realize what I am creating, but later very interesting emotions, figures and lights emerge.”

Lusine Shaboyan’s abstractions, like music, are perceived uniquely by each person. Everyone finds their own story and their own pain within them. Today, the artist continues her restless search to prove that art knows no boundaries, rules or shapes. It is simply an expression of the soul turned into color.

Readers can follow the artist on Instagram.

Photos courtesy of Lusine Shaboyan.

The post Lusine Shaboyan paints what words fail to express appeared first on The Armenian Weekly.

“We are really looking forward to launching this year’s Christmas Auction,” said ANCA Eastern Region Endowment Fund Treasurer Steve Mesrobian. “Each year we’re back with new and exciting items that are curated to reflect our community’s pride and heritage, and we can’t wait to share this year’s selection with everyone. Participating in this auction directly uplifts the ANCA Eastern Region’s advocacy work, and we are grateful to our community for continuing to invest in this grassroots effort.”

We invite you to browse and bid on this year’s listings by visiting givergy.us/ancaerauction beginning Nov. 10. Filled with handcrafted jewelry, artwork, musical instruments, experiences and more, this auction is a wonderful opportunity to find one-of-a-kind gifts while promoting Armenian-owned businesses and strengthening the ANCA Eastern Region.

The generosity from our community and friends remains essential in advancing the work we do on behalf of our fellow Armenian Americans. The success of last year’s Online Auction helped promote the Eastern Region’s advocacy, educational and community-building work, from our Inaugural Grassroots Seminar this past March to coordinating nearly 100 meetings during our September Advocacy Days. These efforts helped advance Armenian American priorities at every level of government, from securing resolutions and proclamations at the local and state levels to building congressional support for key legislation and bipartisan letters at the federal level.

Drawing on the support of our grassroots community, the ANCA Eastern Region engages activists at all levels of government to fight for justice and a secure future for the Armenian people. Help us continue this mission by participating in our Seventh Annual Christmas Auction this November.

The post ANCA ER announces Seventh Annual Online Christmas Auction appeared first on The Armenian Weekly.

More than 100 new members of Congress are expected to take office this January and the ANCA’s national, regional and local teams are already working with advocates in all 50 states to put Armenian American priorities in front of every one of them.

The ANCA Nationwide Townhall takes place Thursday, Nov. 5, at 9 p.m. EST / 6 p.m. PST via Zoom, under the banner “Our Work Starts Now: Post-Midterm Analysis and Action.” To register for the free online event, visit https://anca.org/townhall.

The Townhall will report how ANCA-endorsed candidates fared, review the outcome of the ANCA’s targeted races and outline the community’s strategy for engaging returning legislators and newly elected members from their first day in office.

“Armenian Americans spent this cycle generating political capital — grading Members of Congress, endorsing our allies, and taking on candidates who crossed our red lines — shaping the legislative environment in support of our priorities,” said ANCA National Grassroots Director Gev Iskajyan. “The work starts on November 5th, as we take stock of what our votes delivered and pivot to the challenges and opportunities ahead. Every new member of Congress will hear from Armenian Americans in their district before they cast their first vote.”

Watch Iskajyan’s video invitation to the ANCA Nationwide Townhall:

Hitting the ground running in the 120th Congress

The 120th Congress, convening in January 2027, will look markedly different from the one sworn in last year. At the close of the 2026 primary season, 99 seats, 83 in the House and 16 in the Senate, were guaranteed to have a different member than at the start of 2025, according to NPR’s congressional retirement tracker, with that number expected to rise as dozens of incumbents face competitive general elections. The cycle produced 68 retirements, 11 senators and 57 House members, the second-highest departure count since 1992. That turnover gives Armenian Americans an early opening to set expectations with lawmakers who have yet to build a record on these issues.

The ANCA’s priorities for the new Congress include:

• Freeing Armenian hostages held by Azerbaijan in Baku.
• Securing the right of return for Armenians forcibly displaced from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), under international guarantees, and protecting Artsakh’s Armenian Christian heritage.
• Enforcing Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act and ending all U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan.
• Sanctioning Azerbaijani officials responsible for war crimes under the Global Magnitsky Act.
• Strengthening Armenia’s security and sovereignty, including through a deeper U.S.-Armenia defense partnership and an end to Azerbaijan’s occupation of sovereign Armenian territory.
• Ending Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide and advancing Armenian Genocide education nationwide.
• Defending Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter and Christian communities across the Middle East.

ANCA Election Hub: Endorsements, report cards and races to watch

On Oct. 14, the ANCA released its 2026 Congressional Report Cards and 64 endorsements, grading every U.S. senator and representative across more than 70 pro-Armenian legislative metrics.

The endorsements and grades are featured on the ANCA Election Hub, anca.org/electionhub, along with detailed information on target races, the latest news from key contests, and sign-up for ANCA election alerts.

Townhall participants will hear results and analysis from the races the ANCA has prioritized this cycle:

• Texas’ 28th District: Rep. Henry Cuellar, graded “F,” tops the ANCA’s list of targets after a federal indictment charging him with accepting bribes from an oil company controlled by the government of Azerbaijan. President Trump pardoned Cuellar in December 2025. The ANCA has endorsed Judge Tano Tijerina.
• New Hampshire Senate: The ANCA has endorsed Rep. Chris Pappas, graded “A,” against former Sen. John E. Sununu, whose family holdings include a major stake in Anglo Asian Mining, which operates on Artsakh lands from which Armenians were forcibly displaced.
• Michigan Senate: With Armenian Caucus champion Sen. Gary Peters retiring, the ANCA has endorsed Dr. Abdul El-Sayed for the open seat.New York’s 17th District: Rep. Mike Lawler, graded “A-,” co-led the Lawler-Pallone-Bilirakis-Amo letter demanding full enforcement of Section 907.California’s 22nd and 40th Districts: Rep. David Valadao, graded “A+,” a leader of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, faces a competitive race, while Rep. Young Kim, graded “A-,” is endorsed over Rep. Ken Calvert, graded “B-,” in a member-versus-member contest.

  

Register for the free Nov. 5 Townhall at https://anca.org/townhall.

The post ANCA post-election Townhall to map out Armenian American agenda appeared first on The Armenian Weekly.

and now…
your essence
your best
a soft and
soaring lament
a taksim
timeless in
timelessness
carrying us
to our lost lands
on your reedy breaths
almost covering
the holes
    in our hearts
    our livers and
    our collective
    souls

The post Listening to Hachig appeared first on The Armenian Weekly.