Missak Medzarents (Միսաք Մեծարենց): Sweet is the Night (Գիշերն Անուշ է) and its composer (Երգահանը)՝ Hrant Kevorkian ( Հրանտ Գէորգեան).

Missak Medzarents (Միսաք Մեծարենց): Sweet is the Night (Գիշերն Անուշ է) and its composer (Երգահանը)՝ Hrant Kevorkian ( Հրանտ Գէորգեան). My translation. Vahe H Apelian

Hrant Kevorkian wrote  in his memoir, that he was at a restaurant in a mountain town resort in Lebanon where Vartevar Antossian was singing. Vartevar noting Hrant’s presence introduces him to the audience and sings the song and invites Hrant to dance it with a female friend from their group.

The author of the song is a Poet 

Missak Medzarents  (January 18, 1886- July 5, 1908) has been called the most lyrical, most musical poet to write in Armenian. It has been claimed his poetry would be impossible to translate into another language. I hope this translation justifies the tenderness the young poet expressed in his native language. He passed away at the age of 22. He poignantly notes in the poem, turned into a popular song, that the light in his soul wears down bit by bit. He died with thirsty lips longing for the single kiss. He was afflicted with tuberculosis since his yearly youth.

        The composer of the song is a Melkonian Institute graduate.                

The musical composition of the Missak Medzarents' poem was done by the late Hrant Kevorkian, a graduate of Melkonian Institute of Cyprus. He was a family friend and personalized his autobiographical book to my parents where he had noted about them and about my brother and I, and my paternal cousins Stepan and Ara. Hrant's musical composition of the poem became a very popular song at one time and was often sung during dances. 

Anecdotes

There was a group of us sitting and chatting on the veranda of Hotel Lux in an evening. The veranda was on the sixth and last floor. Patches of the Mediterranean Sea came in view, as well as the snow- covered mountaintops in Mount Lebanon in the north. It must have been a serene night especially for the lady from the dusty plains of Aleppo, who was staying in the hotel as a delegate to attend a meeting of HMENETMEN girl scouts that was to take place in Beirut. She was among the group enjoying the evening and chatting. I guess the atmosphere of the day lifted her spirits. Suddenly she took upon herself and started singing the song "Sweet is the Night". After she was done my mother pointed to her that the gentleman sitting on the chair next to her is the song's composer Hrant Kevorkian. It happened that he was actually sitting on a chair next to hers. Needless to say, she was caught in a pleasant and utter surprise. Hrant Kevorkian mentioned the incident in his autobiographical book.   ( http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2021/06/hrant-kevorkian-hotel-lux.html )

Hrant Kevorkian noted another anectode in his memoir. He wrote that he was at a restaurant in a mountain town resort in Lebanon where Vartevar Antossian was singing. Vartevar noting Hrant’s presence introduces him to the audience and sings the song and invites Hrant to dance it with a female friend from their group.

Գիշերն անոյշ է, գիշերն հեշտագի՜ն,

Հաշիշով օծուն ու բալասանով.

Լուսեղէն ճամբէն ես կ'անցնիմ գինով՝

Գիշերն անոյշ է, գիշերն հեշտագին...։

 

Համբոյրնէր կու գան հովէն ու ծովէն,

Համբոյր՝ լոյսէն որ չորս դիս կը ծաղկի,

Այս գիշեր Տօն է հոգւոյս՝ Կիրակի՜,

Համբոյրնէր կու գան հովէն ու ծովէն ։

 

Բայց լոյսն իմ հոգւոյս քիչ քիչ կը մաշի՜

Շրթունքս են ծարաւ միակ համբոյրին...։

Ցնծագին գիշեր է լոյս ու լուսին՝

Բայց լոյսն իմ հոգւոյս քիչ քիչ կը մաշի...։

 

Missak Medzarents

Mr and Mrs. Hovhannes and Zvart Apelian with Hrant Kevorkian, and
Ms. Aznive, a guest at Hotel Lux from Ethiopia 
Beirut, Lebanon

 

The Antochians’ flora and more

Albert S. Apelian’s book “The Antiochians” makes for a fascinating reading especially those who hail from Kessab. It would not take long for such a reader to draw a similarity between Albert Apelian’s father, Soghomon Apelian M.D., and to his mother, (see note 1). The attached is an early passage from the book (pages 9-11). Vahe H Apelian

Courtesy Hagop Cholakiian, Kessab native wild flower.

Albert S. Apelian wrote, “Kessab does not appear on every map of the Middle East; yet it existed as Kessabis in northern Syria, close to the borders of Cilicia, during the reign of Seleucians, wo had become heir to one part of the empire created by Alexander the Great. The crusaders, however, in their expeditions to liberate the Holy Land from the clutches of the Saraceans, had stopped at Kessabis after storming Antioch. For its natural beauty, they had named it Casabella. Thus, it is indefinite whether in later years Casabella had been mispronounced or if the Kessabis had been abbreviated to its present form. Regardless, Kessab’s approximately ten thousand Armenian inhabitants claiming descent from the nobility of the Armenian kingdom in Cilicia, called their birthplace Kaighu, meaning “hamlet” in the dialect spoken by them for hundreds of years. 

Anyone traveling along the banks of Orontes River – also known as El-Assie for its rebellious northerly course – and approaching Antioch, will come face to face with the pyramidal Mount Casius, which the natives, irrespective of the language or origin, call Jebel-Akra, meaning in Arabic “the bold mountain.” The towering summit of Jebel-Akra, appearing from afar like a hairless giant, watches tirelessly from above the timber line over the Mediterranean Sea into which the serpentine Orontes spits its ever-turbid  waters and dives under the white-crested waves to reach the rocky shores of Cyprus, the Adam’s apple of the Anatolian Peninsula. And Kessab, appearing from a distance like a large amphitheater, is located on the southeastern slopes of that mountain. 

The picturesque countryside, with its mild climate, is a paradise containing a great variety of flowers, ranging from the common red poppys to scented violets, to exquisite mountain tulip, and to noonoofar, lavishly used in the luxurious hairdos of Kesabisti maidens, roaming the Caradouran Valley – known as the Corridorion, during the Roman conquest.

        The earliest panorama of Kessab at the foot of Mount Casius,
 courtesy Ms. Effie Chambers by Danette Hein-Snider

Miss Prockter, who was greatly interested in the flora of Cilicia and northern Syria, wrote to teacher Osanna asking for certain species of wild flowers. Osanna searched the countryside for such specimens, at times all alone, at other times accompanied by her devoted pupil Zaroohi Mossian. (see note 2).

In one letter, the missionary mentioned Jabalakra flowers, indicating that they thrived mainly on the mountain bearing that name. Blooming in earl spring, these blood-red and canary yellow strawflowers remained intact through summer and autumn, but as soon as snow covered the beak mountainside, they withered and died to reappear, when the sun again warmed the earth.

When one day Osanna mentioned Miss Prockter’s request to the pupils, Zaroohi Mossian offered to donate one of her precious bunches. However, the teacher said she would rather pick the antarams herself. 

Osanna had already heard a great deal about the never-fading lowers from a medical student whom she had met the previous summer. According to the information revealed by the youth, the Jabalakras thrived best in certain ravine near a stone pile which marked the grave of a mythical princess, who in a futile attempt to escape from a would be abductor, had thrown herself from the top of precipice. It was rumored that the red flowers sprouted from the princess’s blood, and the yellow originate form her blond hair.  

One morning Zaroohi Mossian approached her teacher and stuttered excitedly “Var…Varjoos…he….Osanna ……Varjou…joohi”

“My brother – I mean Doctor Haig – is arriving late his afternoon. He, he is returning from Constantinople, where he had gone to receive his certidicate for the practice of medicine.” (see noted 3). ……….”

Note 1: Altough Albert S. Apelian notes that “THE ANTOCHIANS is a work of fiction. With the exception of historical names, events and dates, any similarity to the names of persons living or dead or to actual events is coincidental and unintentional.” But, he also claims that “It is also self-evident that truth must prevail, or we shall all parish. And truth is to be found everywhere, even in the pages of a work of fiction.” There is much that will resonate, especially in a Kessabtsi reader.

Note 2: Dr. Albert Apelian’s mother’s name was   “Osanna, ne’e Arakelian. She was a graduate of the Aintab American School for Girls and taught Kessab Schools for some time. She wrote article for “Rahmuna” periodical in Constantinople.” (Yervant Kassouni from the book about Dr. Albert Apelian’s student thesis he edited).

Note 3. Albert Apelian’s father Soghomon Apelian was the first Kessabtsi to graduate from the American University Medical School.

"Kessab and its villages" by Albert Apelian, Yetvart Kassouny edited 
THe ANTIOCHIANS, Dr. Albert S. Apelian literary opus.

  

When Vartan Mamikonian Was About to Balk - Simon Simonian (1/2)

 In memory of DIKRAN GULLEKIAN. This blog was originally posted on Tuesday, August 3, 2021. I am reposting it in remembrance of Dikran Gullekian, whom I had befriended on Facebook. I had asked him to send me a picture of the painting of Vartan Mamikonian, I had seen on a wall in his room, in Beijing, China. Dikran Gullekian passed away on December 30, 2023 in Montreal (see below). I am reposting the blog in his Dikran’s memory.  Vaհe H Apelian

Courtesy Dikran Gullekian

«Geh khntrvi Khatchatsevel – Կը Խնդրուի Խաչաձեւել» is the title of an unusual book by the late Simon Simonian. He fictionalized an event that allegedly took place in Beirut’s UNESCO Hall filled to capacity, where  some of the Armenian historic figures, such as: Gregory the Illuminator, Catholicos Sahag Bartev, the legendary patriarch of the nation Haig, Dikran the Great, King Drtad and many others, came onto stage and said what they did and what would have happened had it been their way.

The slogan of the event, in classical Armenian, was the following: “There has not been a dusk that was not followed by a dawn”. The  theme of the dignitaries’ discourses was tri fold: 1.What did we do for the Armenian people. 2. How is that the Armenian people survive and did not die off? 3. Why is it that the Armenian people will not die off?

This fictitious event was supervised by the current Armenian political parties, each having assigned a specific task. The Hnchagians were to ring the bell alerting the attendees to the succession of the appearances of these Armenian historical dignitaries on stage. The Tashnags were tasked to oversee the security of the event. The Ramgavars were tasked to maintain silence as the event progressed. The Communists were tasked to create commotion. The event supposedly took place on January 1, 1965, the year the 50^th anniversary of the Armenian genocide was to be commemorated

From the get-go, the readers are alerted that this  unusual event is a satirical Armenian history review. Customarily when organizers announced an upcoming event, they  alerted  the community not to hold another event that would overlap theirs. But this time around, the organizers were imploring to have this event overlapped, which made the title of the book "Please Overlap". After the appearance of the dignitaries on stage was concluded a dinner dance was held. 

The book is 152 pages long and was published by Simon Simonian’s Sevan Publishing House in Beirut in 1965. The book retailed for 2.5 Lebanese Lira, or 3 Syrian pounds. For those who live abroad (aradasahman) the book retailed  for a dollar. 

It should be noted that ardasahman is a term Armenians in Armenia use for those who live outside Armenia. It also should be noted that Simon Simonian was a persona-non-grata in Soviet Armenia and his literary works and the bi-weekly “Spuyrk” he published were banned in Soviet Armenia. Consequently, Simon Simonian must have  known that his book will not see the light of day in Soviet Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora outside Lebanon was abroad for him. Simon Simonian was a fiercely independent person and the only organization he belonged was the compatriotic union of the Sassountsi Armenians. His parental lineage was  from Sassoun.

 A quote in the book pertaining to Vartan Mamigonian prior to the famous Battle of Avarayr, bewildered me. It reads as follows: “On the Greek-Persian border, shortly before the Battle of Avarayr, Zoravar Vardan Mamikonian was stopped  by Armenian border guards as he tried to cross to the Greek side with his entire family, his wife, his two brothers, Hmayak and Hamazasp, and their wives, sons and grad children and with all his blood relatives (nobles) and servants. Vartan Mamikonian declared at the border that he is crossing to the Greek section for the freedom of worship, and that his brother Hmayak was even willing to do begging (pp. 176-7). The border guards returned Vardan Mamikonian and his blood relatives to the Ayraradian plain and showed them the way to Avarayr. It is evident that Vartan was forcibly led to Avarayr, against his free will. They were ordered to rest all winter.” GHAZAR PARBETSI, a relative and friend of the Mamikonians. (Venice Press, pp. 174-185).”

Simon Simonian attributed the quote to the Armenian chronicler Ghazar Parbetsi and “authenticated” it by citing not only the author but  also the pages of the book and its source. When I inquired about the authenticity of the quote, some friends claimed its completely ficticious. Sassoun, Simon Simonian’s claimed it is an authentic quote.  Fortunately, two friends came to my rescue forwarding me a copy of the chronicle and Harout Topjian, who is educated in Cilician See, shared the following by putting it in context and noted that Vartan Mamigonian, angered by the disunity and discord among the Armenian wanted to pass to Armenia under the Hellenic rule. The Armenian nobles having heard from Vasak Sunni, who was the marzban (Persian appointed governor) of Armenia, Vartan Mamigonian’s intention and preparation  to cross to Armenia under the Greek side sent a delegation headed by the priest Ghevont Yerets who assured him the Armenian nobles stood by the secret vow they took, while they pretended yielding to the Persian King Yezkert’s demands and accepting the Persian religion so that they could return to Armenia for the sake of their homes and families. The delegation implored him to return for they knew without Vartan Mamigonian’s leadership they will not be able to counter the eminent attack by the angered Persian king. 

Vartan Mamigonian relented and returned noting to them he feared neither  the enemy, nor the dreaded war. It is only because of the divided loyalties and disorderly deeds that he decided to move to Armenia on the Byzantine side with his family, brothers, their families and his courtiers and that he would return as long as the nobles promised to act in an orderly manner and remain united.

Thus began the preparation of the famous battle waged on the plains of Avarayr. The disunity and the discord among the Armenians appeared to have posed to doom the most famous Armenian battle, its contemporary chronicler Eghishé described in detail.

As to the Simonian’s quote, there is a kernel of truth in it, but surely he has changed the wording as the actual text by Ghazar Parbetsi indicates (next).

 

Note:          Simon Simonian’s posted quote: “Յոյն-պարսկական սահմանին վրայ, Աւարարայրի ճակատամարտէն քիչ առաջ, Հայ սահմանապահերու կողմէ վար դրուեցաւ Ծօրավար Վարդան Մամիկոնեան, երբ կը փորձէր պարսկական բաժնէն յունական կողմը անցնիլ՝ իր ամբողջ ընտանիքին եւ տոհմին – կնկան, երկու եղաբայրներուն՝ Հմայակին եւ Համազասպի, անոնց կիներուն, զաւակներուն ու թռռներուն, իր բոլոր արիւնակից ազգականերուն (ազնուական) եւ ծառաներուն հետ։ Վարդան Մամիկոնեան սահմանին վրայ յայտարարեց թէ ոգիի ազատութեան համար կ՚անցի յոունական բաժինը, իսկ իր եղբայր Հմայեակ՝ նոյիսկ մուրացկանութիւն ընելու համար ( էջ 176-7)։ Սահմանապահերը Այրարատեան դաշտ վերադարձուձին Վարդան Մամիկոնեանն որ իր արիւնակիցները եւ անոնց ցոյց տուին Աւարարայրի ճամբան։ Յայտի է որ Վարդան բռ նութեամբ կ՚առաջնորդուի Աւարայր, իր ազատ կամքէն հակառակ։ Հրամայուեցաւ անոնց՝ ամբողջ ձմեռը հանտիստ ըմել։ՂԱԶԱՐ ՓԱՐՊԵՑԻ, Մամիկոնեաններու ազգական եւ բարեկամ պատմիչ։ (Տպ. Վենետիկ, էջ 174-185 ).

                                                                                    ***

Dikran Gullekian

 

Hamprtsoum Antourian broke the news of the death of Dikran Gullekian noting:  “With great regret I announce the death of a great friend DIKRAN GULLEKIAN (KELEKIAN), a the of 70 after a long illness. He left us quietly in the evening of December 30, 2023."

I befriended Dikran on Facebook. He was born and raised in Lebanon. The whirlwinds of life had taken him to Beijing, China where he made a living catering middle-eastern food and had become a good ambassador to all things in Armenian. He was divorced after having married locally. He often posted about food and about pets. He appeared to be an animal lover.

ON December 10, 2019, Suzanne Ajamian, on behalf the Armenian community in China (CHINA-HAY) posted that “Dikran Gullekian, an Armenian residing in Beijing and fighting for his  December 9, our friend Dikran Gullekian – much loved for his kind heart and delicious hummus – suffered a stroke requiring immediate heart surgery to save his life. Together the Beijing community raised a miraculous Y250,000 for doctors to successfully operate on Monday night. Dikran is now stable in the ICU and faces a long road for recovery.

It was around that time that I befriended him on Facebook. He seemed to get by doing what he did, middle eastern cuisine and attended to pets. He had posted a picture of Vartan Mamikonian he had someone draw for him. I had asked him to have a picture of the painting forward to me. He did and I posted it in my blog and reposted it here next to a picture of his.  He left the painting behind in Beijing, China,  when he moved to Montreal, Canada where he had relatives and friends. He passed away, on December 30, 2023, as posted.

I attached some of the comments on his Facebook page.

 

“He is one friend I miss a lot, he was my 5th friend on FB. Humorous, kind, respectful & very considerate. I pray for the Holy Spirit to comfort us all.... in Jesus Name. (Nora Matossian)

 

“RIP my friend. will miss our talk around food and Spice”.  (Bedros Bedros) 

 

“Just learnt the passing of Dikran, RIP “Laogu. (Zhen Gupo)

 

“Rest in Eternal Peace dear Dikran my Facebook friend, although I never met you but you were a part of my daily visit to Facebook” (Armineh  Արմինէ Khachadourian)

 

“老友老顧Dikran Gullekian於加拿大時間2023/12/30過世

享壽70歲 RIP” Leo Liu

 

 

When Vartan Mamikonian Was About to Balk - Simon Simonian (1/2)

 This blog was originally posted on Tuesday, August 3, 2021. I am reposting it in memory of DIKRAN GULLEKIAN, whom I had befriended on Facebook. I had asked him to send me a picture of the painting of Vartan Mamikonian, I had seen on a wall in his room, in Beijing, China. Dikran Gullekian passed away on December 30, 2023 in Montreal (see below). I am reposting the blog in his Dikran’s memory.  Vaհe H Apelian

A painting of Vartan Mamikonian courtesy Dikran Gullekian

«Geh khntrvi Khatchatsevel – Կը Խնդրուի Խաչաձեւել» is the title of an unusual book by the late Simon Simonian. He fictionalized an event that allegedly took place in Beirut’s UNESCO Hall filled to capacity, where  some of the Armenian historic figures, such as: Gregory the Illuminator, Catholicos Sahag Bartev, the legendary patriarch of the nation Haig, Dikran the Great, King Drtad and many others, came onto stage and said what they did and what would have happened had it been their way.

The slogan of the event, in classical Armenian, was the following: “There has not been a dusk that was not followed by a dawn”. The  theme of the dignitaries’ discourses was tri fold: 1.What did we do for the Armenian people. 2. How is that the Armenian people survive and did not die off? 3. Why is it that the Armenian people will not die off?

This fictitious event was supervised by the current Armenian political parties, each having assigned a specific task. The Hnchagians were to ring the bell alerting the attendees to the succession of the appearances of these Armenian historical dignitaries on stage. The Tashnags were tasked to oversee the security of the event. The Ramgavars were tasked to maintain silence as the event progressed. The Communists were tasked to create commotion. The event supposedly took place on January 1, 1965, the year the 50^th anniversary of the Armenian genocide was to be commemorated

From the get-go, the readers are alerted that this  unusual event is a satirical Armenian history review. Customarily when organizers announced an upcoming event, they  alerted  the community not to hold another event that would overlap theirs. But this time around, the organizers were imploring to have this event overlapped, which made the title of the book "Please Overlap". After the appearance of the dignitaries on stage was concluded a dinner dance was held. 

The book is 152 pages long and was published by Simon Simonian’s Sevan Publishing House in Beirut in 1965. The book retailed for 2.5 Lebanese Lira, or 3 Syrian pounds. For those who live abroad (aradasahman) the book retailed  for a dollar. 

It should be noted that ardasahman is a term Armenians in Armenia use for those who live outside Armenia. It also should be noted that Simon Simonian was a persona-non-grata in Soviet Armenia and his literary works and the bi-weekly “Spuyrk” he published were banned in Soviet Armenia. Consequently, Simon Simonian must have  known that his book will not see the light of day in Soviet Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora outside Lebanon was abroad for him. Simon Simonian was a fiercely independent person and the only organization he belonged was the compatriotic union of the Sassountsi Armenians. His parental lineage was  from Sassoun.

 A quote in the book pertaining to Vartan Mamigonian prior to the famous Battle of Avarayr, bewildered me. It reads as follows: “On the Greek-Persian border, shortly before the Battle of Avarayr, Zoravar Vardan Mamikonian was stopped  by Armenian border guards as he tried to cross to the Greek side with his entire family, his wife, his two brothers, Hmayak and Hamazasp, and their wives, sons and grad children and with all his blood relatives (nobles) and servants. Vartan Mamikonian declared at the border that he is crossing to the Greek section for the freedom of worship, and that his brother Hmayak was even willing to do begging (pp. 176-7). The border guards returned Vardan Mamikonian and his blood relatives to the Ayraradian plain and showed them the way to Avarayr. It is evident that Vartan was forcibly led to Avarayr, against his free will. They were ordered to rest all winter.” GHAZAR PARBETSI, a relative and friend of the Mamikonians. (Venice Press, pp. 174-185).”

Simon Simonian attributed the quote to the Armenian chronicler Ghazar Parbetsi and “authenticated” it by citing not only the author but  also the pages of the book and its source. When I inquired about the authenticity of the quote, some friends claimed its completely ficticious. Sassoun, Simon Simonian’s claimed it is an authentic quote.  Fortunately, two friends came to my rescue forwarding me a copy of the chronicle and Harout Topjian, who is educated in Cilician See, shared the following by putting it in context and noted that Vartan Mamigonian, angered by the disunity and discord among the Armenian wanted to pass to Armenia under the Hellenic rule. The Armenian nobles having heard from Vasak Sunni, who was the marzban (Persian appointed governor) of Armenia, Vartan Mamigonian’s intention and preparation  to cross to Armenia under the Greek side sent a delegation headed by the priest Ghevont Yerets who assured him the Armenian nobles stood by the secret vow they took, while they pretended yielding to the Persian King Yezkert’s demands and accepting the Persian religion so that they could return to Armenia for the sake of their homes and families. The delegation implored him to return for they knew without Vartan Mamigonian’s leadership they will not be able to counter the eminent attack by the angered Persian king. 

Vartan Mamigonian relented and returned noting to them he feared neither  the enemy, nor the dreaded war. It is only because of the divided loyalties and disorderly deeds that he decided to move to Armenia on the Byzantine side with his family, brothers, their families and his courtiers and that he would return as long as the nobles promised to act in an orderly manner and remain united.

Thus began the preparation of the famous battle waged on the plains of Avarayr. The disunity and the discord among the Armenians appeared to have posed to doom the most famous Armenian battle, its contemporary chronicler Eghishé described in detail.

As to the Simonian’s quote, there is a kernel of truth in it, but surely he has changed the wording as the actual text by Ghazar Parbetsi indicates (next).

 

Note:          Simon Simonian’s posted quote: “Յոյն-պարսկական սահմանին վրայ, Աւարարայրի ճակատամարտէն քիչ առաջ, Հայ սահմանապահերու կողմէ վար դրուեցաւ Ծօրավար Վարդան Մամիկոնեան, երբ կը փորձէր պարսկական բաժնէն յունական կողմը անցնիլ՝ իր ամբողջ ընտանիքին եւ տոհմին – կնկան, երկու եղաբայրներուն՝ Հմայակին եւ Համազասպի, անոնց կիներուն, զաւակներուն ու թռռներուն, իր բոլոր արիւնակից ազգականերուն (ազնուական) եւ ծառաներուն հետ։ Վարդան Մամիկոնեան սահմանին վրայ յայտարարեց թէ ոգիի ազատութեան համար կ՚անցի յոունական բաժինը, իսկ իր եղբայր Հմայեակ՝ նոյիսկ մուրացկանութիւն ընելու համար ( էջ 176-7)։ Սահմանապահերը Այրարատեան դաշտ վերադարձուձին Վարդան Մամիկոնեանն որ իր արիւնակիցները եւ անոնց ցոյց տուին Աւարարայրի ճամբան։ Յայտի է որ Վարդան բռ նութեամբ կ՚առաջնորդուի Աւարայր, իր ազատ կամքէն հակառակ։ Հրամայուեցաւ անոնց՝ ամբողջ ձմեռը հանտիստ ըմել։ՂԱԶԱՐ ՓԱՐՊԵՑԻ, Մամիկոնեաններու ազգական եւ բարեկամ պատմիչ։ (Տպ. Վենետիկ, էջ 174-185 ).

                                                                                    ***

Dikran Gullekian

 

Hamprtsoum Antourian broke the news of the death of Dikran Gullekian noting:  “With great regret I announce the death of a great friend DIKRAN GULLEKIAN (KELEKIAN), a the of 70 after a long illness. He left us quietly in the evening of December 30, 2023."

I befriended Dikran on Facebook. He was born and raised in Lebanon. The whirlwinds of life had taken him to Beijing, China where he made a living catering middle-eastern food and had become a good ambassador to all things in Armenian. He was divorced after having married locally. He often posted about food and about pets. He appeared to be an animal lover.

ON December 10, 2019, Suzanne Ajamian, on behalf the Armenian community in China (CHINA-HAY) posted that “Dikran Gullekian, an Armenian residing in Beijing and fighting for his  December 9, our friend Dikran Gullekian – much loved for his kind heart and delicious hummus – suffered a stroke requiring immediate heart surgery to save his life. Together the Beijing community raised a miraculous Y250,000 for doctors to successfully operate on Monday night. Dikran is now stable in the ICU and faces a long road for recovery.

It was around that time that I befriended him on Facebook. He seemed to get by doing what he did, middle eastern cuisine and attended to pets. He had posted a picture of Vartan Mamikonian he had someone draw for him. I had asked him to have a picture of the painting forward to me. He did and I posted it in my blog and reposted it here next to a picture of his.  He left the painting behind in Beijing, China,  when he moved to Montreal, Canada where he had relatives and friends. He passed away, on December 30, 2023, as posted.

I attached some of the comments on his Facebook page.

 

“He is one friend I miss a lot, he was my 5th friend on FB. Humorous, kind, respectful & very considerate. I pray for the Holy Spirit to comfort us all.... in Jesus Name. (Nora Matossian)

 

“RIP my friend. will miss our talk around food and Spice”.  (Bedros Bedros) 

 

“Just learnt the passing of Dikran, RIP “Laogu. (Zhen Gupo)

 

“Rest in Eternal Peace dear Dikran my Facebook friend, although I never met you but you were a part of my daily visit to Facebook” (Armineh  Արմինէ Khachadourian)

 

“老友老顧Dikran Gullekian於加拿大時間2023/12/30過世

享壽70歲 RIP” Leo Liu

 

 

 

 

 

The audacity of Vartan

Vaհe H Apelian

It’s February and it’s the month in which the name Vartan dominates Armenian calendar. It’s the month that we celebrate Vartanank, The Feast of Vartanantz, also known as the Feast of St. Vartan the Captain and Companions. It is in celebration of the 451 A.D. Battle of Avarayr, led by Vartan Mamigonian. 

But it is not about Vartan Mamigonian I am going to muse in this blog, in this month of February. But it's about the former foreign minister of Armenia, Vartan Oskanian, who seems to have taken his one-time vocation in foreign ministry and brought it to the  Diaspora. But, his mission is not for forging an alliance between Diaspora and Armenia, or soliciting Diaspora supporting the government the citizens of Armenia have chosen. His present-day ministerial mission is to incite Diaspora against it. I have to correct myself and note that it is to incite the Armenians in the West to stand against the present government the citizens of Armenia voted for thrice, the first time by a snap parliamentary election on May 8, 2018, and twice by general elections; one held  in December 2018, and the other in June 2021. His message, in his impeccable English, is not addressed  to the Russian Armenians, because he wants the Armenians in the Western hemisphere and in Armenia, present Armenia on a platter onto the fold of the Russian Federation, damning Nikol Pashinyan policy of diversification and the pursuit of the crossroad for peace initiative.

Vartan Oskanian, should know that not all Armenians think the way he does. Yes, Armenians living in the United States are painfully aware of the ever-evolving geopolitics. They also know that no other super power in its day, has been as restrained as America was after Word War II. They also know that no other nation, no other people, has helped Armenians in their times of need, as America and Americans did.  And this blogger will not forget what Simon Vratsian said, “Whatever happens; however we regard America’s role in the Armenian Question, we do not forget nor should we forget the U.S. humanitarian assistance to Armenia and the provisions they provided.” (Link 1)

What is the message Vartan Oskanian brings to the Armenians in the west?

In fact, it is a very simple message. It goes like this.

See folks, he says, your United States government is so unreliable that you should heed to its ugly American reality, and you should have the citizens of Armenia also heed to the ugly American "reality". Much like Ukraine that faces dwindling American support, Armenia will soon face the same unsettling scenario, in spite of the cordial relations that have come about between Armenia and the United State of America. 

In simple terms, Vartan Oskanian’s mission is for Western Armenians renounce Armenian American relations, and help Armenia  do the same, right onto the Russian Federation fold. Forget about the Russia reneging its November 9, 2020 agreement and seeing that Azerbaijan depopulated the native Armenians to the latest soul, and had eight of its leaders abduct and have them languish in the Baku prisons. That, he implies, came about because of the fault of the present Armenian leaders. Don’t you see, what happened to the last president of Republic of Artsakh, who signed the capitulation of the Republic he presided? Vartan Osaknian implies. Samvel Shahramadian was flown on Russian helicopter to Armenia and lives there a comfortable life. So will Armenia and Armenians and so will of course Vartan Oskanian, Robert Kocharian and their cronies.

Coming to Vartan Oskanian

Vartan Oskanian is a repatriate who joined the Armenian foreign ministry under president Levon Ter Petrosyan, and in a relatively short period of time worked his way up the diplomatic hierarchy. He likely knew LTP’s policy about settling the Karabagh issue by major concessions LTP asserted in his November 1, 1997 position paper titling it “War or peace, time to get serious.” Where LTP noted:

“The only option for solving the Karabakh question is compromise, which does not mean victory for one side and defeat for the other but by possible agreement reached through conflict resolution. Let them not try to mislead the people by saying that there is an alternative to compromise. The alternative to compromise is war.

Rejection of compromise and maximalism (striving to achieve the maximum and not the possible) is the shortest way to the complete destruction of Karabakh and deterioration of the situation in Armenia.

It is not about giving or not giving Karabakh. It is about keeping Karabakh Armenian. It was inhabited by Armenians for 3000 years and it should be inhabited by Armenians after 3000 years." (Link 2)

But a few months after publishing his policy position for settling of the Karabagh issue, LTP was forced to resign. The palace coup was led by a quartet that included Robert Kocharian, Sezh Sargsyan, Vazken Sargsyan and Vartan Oskanian.

The consequences of the shift of the policy is the chapter before last of the torturous and tragic Armenian history, whose last chapter is the present day Republic of Armenia.

Much will be written about the period between the February 1998 forced resignation of LTP and September, 2023 capitulation of Republic of Artsakh. But one thing is regrettably certain for me. Years will turn into decades, into quindecinnium (quarter century), and semi-century and on. Not much will remain from the once proud native Armenian inhabitants of historic Artsakh, the land of the legendary Meliks. 

But the red poppies will continue to blossom on the hills of mountainous Nagorno-Karabagh, as Artsakh recedes onto history and Vartan Oskanian too, unlike Vartan Mamigonian, will never be able to redeem himself.   

                                                ***

Links:

1. REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA’S ECONOMIC STATUS IN THE BEGINNING OF 1919 and THE U.S. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

 https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2019/02/republic-of-armenias-economic-status-in.html

2.  The most consequential palace coup in recent Armenia.histor

   https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2025/02/vartan-oskanian-is-complicit-in-most.html

The audacity of Vartan

Vahe H Apelian

A field of red poppies on a hillside in Nagorno-Karabakh, June 3, 2019

It’s February and it’s the month in which the name Vartan dominates Armenian calendar. It’s the month that we celebrate Vartanank, The Feast of Vartanantz, also known as the Feast of St. Vartan the Captain and Companions. It is in celebration of the 451 A.D. Battle of Avarayr, led by Vartan Mamigonian. 

But it is not about Vartan Mamigonian I am going to muse in this blog, in this month of February. But it's about the former foreign minister of Armenia, Vartan Oskanian, who seems to have taken his one-time vocation in foreign ministry and brought it to the  Diaspora. But, his mission is not for forging an alliance between Diaspora and Armenia, or soliciting Diaspora supporting the government the citizens of Armenia have chosen. His present-day ministerial mission is to incite Diaspora against it. I have to correct myself and note that it is to incite the Armenians in the West to stand against the present government the citizens of Armenia voted for thrice, the first time by a snap parliamentary election on May 8, 2018, and twice by general elections; one held  in December 2018, and the other in June 2021. His message, in his impeccable English, is not addressed  to the Russian Armenians, because he wants the Armenians in the Western hemisphere and in Armenia, present Armenia on a platter onto the fold of the Russian Federation, damning Nikol Pashinyan policy of diversification and the pursuit of the crossroad for peace initiative.

Vartan Oskanian, should know that not all Armenians think the way he does. Yes, Armenians living in the United States are painfully aware of the ever-evolving geopolitics. They also know that no other super power in its day, has been as restrained as America was after Word War II. They also know that no other nation, no other people, has helped Armenians in their times of need, as America and Americans did.  And this blogger will not forget what Simon Vratsian said, “Whatever happens; however we regard America’s role in the Armenian Question, we do not forget nor should we forget the U.S. humanitarian assistance to Armenia and the provisions they provided.” (Link 1)

What is the message Vartan Oskanian brings to the Armenians in the west?

In fact, it is a very simple message. It goes like this.

See folks, he says, your United States government is so unreliable that you should heed to its ugly American reality, and you should have the citizens of Armenia also heed to the ugly American "reality". Much like Ukraine that faces dwindling American support, Armenia will soon face the same unsettling scenario, in spite of the cordial relations that have come about between Armenia and the United State of America. 

In simple terms, Vartan Oskanian’s mission is for Western Armenians renounce Armenian American relations, and help Armenia  do the same, right onto the Russian Federation fold. Forget about the Russia reneging its November 9, 2020 agreement and seeing that Azerbaijan depopulated the native Armenians to the latest soul, and had eight of its leaders abduct and have them languish in the Baku prisons. That, he implies, came about because of the fault of the present Armenian leaders. Don’t you see, what happened to the last president of Republic of Artsakh, who signed the capitulation of the Republic he presided? Vartan Osaknian implies. Samvel Shahramadian was flown on Russian helicopter to Armenia and lives there a comfortable life. So will Armenia and Armenians and so will of course Vartan Oskanian, Robert Kocharian and their cronies.

Coming to Vartan Oskanian

Vartan Oskanian is a repatriate who joined the Armenian foreign ministry under president Levon Ter Petrosyan, and in a relatively short period of time worked his way up the diplomatic hierarchy. He likely knew LTP’s policy about settling the Karabagh issue by major concessions LTP asserted in his November 1, 1997 position paper titling it “War or peace, time to get serious.” Where LTP noted:

“The only option for solving the Karabakh question is compromise, which does not mean victory for one side and defeat for the other but by possible agreement reached through conflict resolution. Let them not try to mislead the people by saying that there is an alternative to compromise. The alternative to compromise is war.

Rejection of compromise and maximalism (striving to achieve the maximum and not the possible) is the shortest way to the complete destruction of Karabakh and deterioration of the situation in Armenia.

It is not about giving or not giving Karabakh. It is about keeping Karabakh Armenian. It was inhabited by Armenians for 3000 years and it should be inhabited by Armenians after 3000 years." (Link 2)

But a few months after publishing his policy position for settling of the Karabagh issue, LTP was forced to resign. The palace coup was led by a quartet that included Robert Kocharian, Sezh Sargsyan, Vazken Sargsyan and Vartan Oskanian.

The consequences of the shift of the policy is the chapter before last of the torturous and tragic Armenian history, whose last chapter is the present day Republic of Armenia.

Much will be written about the period between the February 1998 forced resignation of LTP and September, 2023 capitulation of Republic of Artsakh. But one thing is regrettably certain for me. Years will turn into decades, into quindecinnium (quarter century), and semi-century and on. Not much will remain from the once proud native Armenian inhabitants of historic Artsakh, the land of the legendary Meliks. 

But the red poppies will continue to blossom on the hills of mountainous Nagorno-Karabagh, as Artsakh recedes onto history and Vartan Oskanian too, unlike Vartan Mamigonian, will never be able to redeem himself.   

                                                ***

Links:

1. REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA’S ECONOMIC STATUS IN THE BEGINNING OF 1919 and THE U.S. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

 https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2019/02/republic-of-armenias-economic-status-in.html

2.  The most consequential palace coup in recent Armenia.histor

   https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2025/02/vartan-oskanian-is-complicit-in-most.html