The U.S. embassy canceled a gala event in Baku for alumni of American universities after a pro-government website called its invitees “agents.”
BELMONT, Mass.—Ani Babaian, Curator of the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) Mardigian Library and accomplished artist and art restorer, will be the featured speaker during the NAASR Holiday Open House on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at the NAASR Vartan Gregorian Building, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA.
Babaian’s talk will be titled “Revealing the Murals of Amenaprkich Vank of New Julfa,” and will be the third and final program in the 2023 series on the art of Armenian church mural painting that has been supported by a grant from the Dadourian Foundation. Her presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be given in-person at NAASR and streamed live on Zoom (register here) and on NAASR’s YouTube channel.
Presentation of Jesus at the Temple to Simeon (above) and Mary Magdalene washing the feet of Jesus (below), in S. Amenaprkich
The Open House will run from 4:00 p.m. until the conclusion of the evening’s programs. Light refreshments will be offered prior to the 7:30 program. There will be a one-day-only 20-percent discount for in-store and online sales of all items in the NAASR bookstore.
Nor Jugha (New Julfa) played a unique and essential role in the history of the Armenian community of Iran. Surb Amenaprkich Vank (St. Savior’s Cathedral, 1664) is the seat of the Diocese of Isfahan and the southern part of Iran, and until the mid-20th century also for Armenians in India.
In this presentation, Babaian will talk about S. Amenaprkich Vank’s murals—the artistic styles, the artists, the projects to conserve the murals and new findings discovered during the conservation process.
The construction of this remarkable church began in 1655 and ended in 1664. The church is decorated with fascinating murals, which show scenes from the Old and New Testaments, the life of St. Gregory the Illuminator, the Last Judgment, floral ornaments and bands of ceramic tiles.
Babaian serves as Curator for NAASR’s Mardigian Library, where she has worked since 2013. She is also an independent researcher, artist and art conservator who holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Alzahra University in Tehran, where her thesis was entitled “Mutual Influences: New Julfa and Isfahan Mural Paintings of the 17th Century.” She has authored numerous articles on Armenian and Persian art, participated in conferences held in Iran and Armenia and given presentations on Armenian art in the U.S. She has contributed to the volumes Armenian Frescoes edited by Dr. Karen Matevosyan (2019) and Armenian Communities of Persia/Iran edited by Richard G. Hovannisian (2022).
A detail from the mural painting of Jesus with the Apostles at the altar of S. Amenaprkich
During her tenure at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts of Isfahan, Babaian worked on numerous important conservation projects, including the murals in the gavit or narthex of S. Amenaprkich Vank, in Chehel Sotoun Palace and in the Museum of Decorative Arts of Isfahan. She has continued her conservation work for private collections and institutions, including Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Boston and others.
Admission is free and all are welcome. The NAASR Center is located opposite the First Armenian Church and next to the U.S. Post Office. Parking is available around the building and in adjacent areas.
More information about the open house and programs is available by emailing hq@naasr.org.
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NAASR
Founded in 1955, NAASR is one of the world’s leading resources for advancing Armenian Studies, supporting scholars, and building a global community to preserve and enrich Armenian culture, history, and identity for future generations.
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Jason Takhtadjian
The Armenian community is made up of remarkable people who are elevating causes and making a difference in the world. Among such people is Jason Takhtadjian, a news anchor for KCAU-TV in Sioux City, Iowa.
Takhtadjian was born in Glendale, California and moved to Las Vegas during his elementary school years. He remembers Glendale as a beautiful mosaic of diversity. He faced culture shock in Las Vegas, where it seemed like nobody spoke Armenian, while his tatik and papik (grandparents) spoke Armenian at home. His home was always filled with the Armenian language, customs and foods. Takhtadjian was always fascinated with history, math, science, sports and geography, and his grandfathers introduced him to soccer. He joined the Armenian Church Youth Organization in Las Vegas as its Armenian population grew.
Takhtadjian enrolled in the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he planned to study mechanical engineering, since he was enamored with aerospace engineering, space and flights. After a semester, he knew it was not the route for him. He returned to sports and switched his major to journalism. He started his own podcast for the UNLV radio station and worked in anchoring, producing, editing, filming and writing.
Takhtadjian was part of an Armenian duo (along with David Stepanian) providing color and play-by-play commentary for UNLV Runnin’ Rebels men’s basketball games. He was one of the few thousand people in attendance during the first Las Vegas Raiders home game during the pandemic, and his first NFL game as a journalist. Since no fans could attend, only players, owners and media personnel were present. After graduating in May of 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was in full effect, he started working at KCAU 9, Sioux City, Iowa. After a year, he was also appointed as the weekend anchor and producer.
There are some Armenians in Des Moines, Iowa, but Takhtadjian has only met a couple of Armenians in Sioux City. His first experience with reporting on Armenian issues was in 2022, when he did a weekend piece on the Armenian Genocide. Takhtadjian tried to localize the issue by focusing on local politicians and their recognition of the Armenian Genocide. During the blockade of Artsakh, he connected the 120,000 people living in Sioux City and surrounding areas to the 120,000 Armenians of Artsakh and looked for voices of solidarity.
Takhtadjian told the Weekly that it was challenging to move away from his family to Sioux City, which is nearly 2,000 miles away from Las Vegas. Sioux City is very quiet and peaceful, but he misses the Armenian community. While he enjoys reporting the news, he would love to return to his real passion: sports. He hopes to move closer to Las Vegas or Los Angeles but is open to relocating anywhere to pursue sports journalism.
Takhtadjian is also a contributor to the Armenian Sports News page that started in 2021 on Instagram, run by Weekly contributor Andre Khachaturian. He connects sports with Armenian culture and interviews athletes. He interviewed the basketball player Andre Mkrtchyan Spight at UNLV in 2017 and again this year before the Pan Armenian games. He also interviewed Rex Kalamian, the Pro Player Personnel Scout for the Brooklyn Nets and head coach of the Armenian national basketball team.
Another important interview was with the head of Armenian National Committee of Artsakh, Gev Iskajyan, during the forced displacement of the indigenous people of Artsakh. They had planned a Zoom call, but it didn’t work out because of the poor internet connection under blockade. Instead, Takhtadjian asked questions via WhatsApp, and Iskajyan responded with audio files. Takhtadjian said it was rewarding to get to the voice of the people from a primary source during such a difficult time. He also used information from Mary Asatryan, who was the assistant to the Artsakh Ombudsman.
Takhtadjian’s advice to those pursuing journalism is not to be a one trick pony. Journalists need to learn how to run social media, use a camera, utilize radio, and most importantly, write well. During the NBA Summer League in 2017, he had the privilege to speak with sports journalist Stephen A. Smith. Smith told Takhtadjian to develop multiple skills and showcase his versatility as a journalist. “You can be witty and be handsome or pretty, but you need to make sure that you can write well,” Takhtadjian said.
Takhtadjian is grateful for all the opportunities he has had working as a journalist in Sioux City as well as within the Armenian community. He loves the growth of Armenian journalists and meaningful content about Armenian issues. “We have an opportunity to share the message of Armenians in a positive light. Right now, we need to see more positivity. It’s interesting to see all of the Armenian content that is out there,” Takhtadjian said.
Takhtadjian will make us even more proud in the future with his passion for incorporating sports, news and Armenia.
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Talar Keoseyan
Talar Keoseyan is a mother, educator and writer. Talar’s book called Mom and Dad, Why Do I Need to Know My Armenian Heritage? is available on Amazon. Tigran’s Song is available at Abril Bookstore. She has been an educator for 25 years and resides in Los Angeles, CA. She can be reached at talar725@gmail.com
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On Tuesday, Georgia’s National Environment Agency revoked a license granting a private company the right to establish a hunting farm in a 1,000 square kilometre area of forests in Racha.
The land was auctioned off to HG Capra Caucasica, a limited liability company owned by Davit Khidasheli, in April 2022.
Khidasheli is a Russia-based businessman with reported ties to Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Georgia’s Environment Agency announced that it was revoking the license due to HG Capra Caucasica’s ‘non-fulfilment-of-license obligations’.
Georgian activists have opposed the lease over the forest in the Racha-Lechkumi and Kvemo Svaneti regions, citing Khidasheli’s ties to Russian oligarchs such as Vladimir Yevtushenkov.
Saving Rioni Valley, a grassroots environmental movement, has led several protests against the lease since late September, starting in Racha and then moving their protests to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture in Tbilisi in mid-November.
When Saving Rioni Valley moved to Tbilisi to protest, the police arrested 11 of their members for attempting to set up a tent. While all activists were later released, they are awaiting trial on charges of petty hooliganism and disobeying police orders.
[Read more: Eleven detained at Racha forest protest in Tbilisi]
At around the same time, Khidasheli announced that he was selling both his company, HG Capra Caucasica, and the license because of ‘misunderstandings created by the state’.
The post Georgian government revokes controversial Racha hunting license appeared first on OC Media.
