Two Up-and-coming, I wrote about

Vaհe H Apelian

Having learned about them, a year ago I wrote about two young, upcoming Armenians in Armenia. They were Hayk Konjoryan and Vahagn Aleksanyan. At the present both are Deputy Speakers (Vice Speakers) of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia. 

I quote my introductory paragraph of each.

Invoking Khrimian Hayrig 

“Hayk Konjoryan is a young man of conviction. I came across Hayk Konjoryan for the first time nine years ago when he was a candidate for National Assembly deputy from Arabkir, Ajapnyak, Davitashen communities on behalf of the “The Way Out-Yelk” party, invoking Khrimian Hayrig.”

A true role model

“Vahagn Aleksanyan is a true role model because he grew up to be a responsible man in spite of the fact that his father abandoned the family early in his childhood and moved away, and settled there with a family of his own. He became a role model to all those who had similar experiences, in the highly patriarchal Armenian society, telling them that they too can grow up and be productive citizens.” 

Those who are interested may read the blogs I wrote about them, by pressing on the links below.

The evolution of Hayk Konjoryan: https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-evolution-of-hayk-konjoryan.html

Vahagn Aleksanyan, a true role model: https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2025/07/vahagn-aleksanyan-true-role-model_95.html

 

 

A chronology of Armenia related events between 1915--1923

1915 to 1923 is a crucial period in Armenian history and is a very convoluted era. In order to give a structure to that period and facilitate its visualization, I listed pertinent dates in a chronological order to personify. Vaհe H Apelian

 

1914 – 1915
July 28, 1914,  a Tuesday	On this day, World War I formally started, when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
February 19,1915,  a Friday	On this day, the Gallipoli campaign (also known as the Dardanelles campaign) officially began during World War I when British and French naval forces started a long-range bombardment of Ottoman fortifications in the Dardanelles, located in present-day Turkey. Historian claim that the Ottoman victory at Gallipoli did not cause the Armenian Genocide, but the wartime crisis surrounding the campaign created a climate of fear that the Committee of Union and Progress used to justify the massacres.
April 24, 1915,  a Saturday	On this day, Ottoman authorities arrested over 200 Armenian community leaders, intellectuals, and professionals in Constantinople, marking the beginning of the Armenian Genocide
1918
May 28, 1918, a Tuesday	On this day, the Armenian National Council in Tiflis, Georgia, declared the independence of Armenia, marking the establishment of the First Republic of Armenia.
June 4, 1918, a Tuesday.	On this day, and a week after declaring Independent Armenia, the First Republic of Armenia, signed the Treaty of Batumi. Turkey recognized Armenia's impendence. The treaty left Armenia with a severely truncated, landlocked territory, including (10,400 square km) areas like Yerevan and Etchmiadzin.
June 13, 1918, a Thursday	On this day, and two weeks after declaring independencc, a Republic of Armenia delegation, comprised by Avedis Aharonian, Alexander Khadisian, and Mikayel Papajanian left Tiflis on an official visit to Turkey as the Republic Of Armenia’s maiden visitation to friendly Turkey.
June 19, 1918,  a Wednesday	On this day, the Avedis Aharonian, Alexander Khatisian and Mikayel Papajanian, delegation arrived in Constantinople, where it was received in a manner appropriate to dignitaries representing a state. They remained until November 1, that is, approximately 4 and a half months. https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2025/11/republic-of-armenia-first-official_26.html
August 1, 1919,  a Thursday	On this day, the inaugural session of the National Assembly of Armenia convened, while Avedis Aharonian and his delegation were in Constantinople. https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2025/11/republic-of-armenia-first-official.html
October 30, 1918, a Wednesday	On this day, Armistice of Mudros was signed. Armenians did not formally participate in the Armistice of Mudros. The agreement was made exclusively between representatives of the victorious Allied Powers (represented by Great Britain) and the defeated Ottoman Empire. It enabled the Allied powers to begin partitioning the Ottoman Empire. The armistice of Mudros led to the Treaty of Sèvres, the little ally to the allied powers.
November 1, 1918, a Friday	On this day, The Avedis Aharonian, Alexander Khatisian and Mikayel Papajanian, delegation, having spent almost four and half month in Constantinople, left the capital city Constantinople around November 1, 1918, following the signing of the Armistice of Mudros on October 30, 1918.
November 11, 1918, a Monday.	On this day, the World War I formally and famously ended on the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
1919-1920
January 18,1919,  a Saturday	On this day, the historic Paris Peace Conference of 1919 formally opened on January 18, 1919, though preliminary meetings and arrivals began on January 12, 1919.
January 21,1920, a Wednesday	On this day, the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 officially ended.
August 10, 1920, a Tuesday	On this day, the Treaty of Sèvres was signed after the main formal sessions of the Paris Peace Conference concluded, though it was part of the overall peace process. The Treaty of Sèvres promised a post-World War I independent Armenia with a territory on the Armenian Highland, including provinces like Van and Erzerum, and an outlet to the Black Sea. However, this treaty was never implemented because it was rejected by the emerging Turkish nationalist movement led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who waged a war against the Allied Powers and established the Republic of Turkey. Consequently, the Treaty of Sèvres was replaced by the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923, which made no provisions for an Armenian state and set back the prospects for Armenians.
November 29, 1920 Monday	On this day, On this day, Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed by local revolutionaries.
December 2,1920, a Thursday	The leadership of the First Republic of Armenia (the ARF government) agreed to cede power to the communists. The 4th PM of the first Republic of Armenia Simon Vratsian was in office between November 23, 1920 to December 2 of 1920 when he ceded power to the Bolsheviks. Armenia became part of the Russian dominated Soviet Union.
December 2, 1920, a Thursday	On this day, the Treaty of Alexandropol, signed on. It was a devastating accord between the First Republic of Armenia and Turkey. For Armenia, the treaty was a capitulation that forced the country to cede over half of its territory, including the Kars region, renounce the Treaty of Sèvres, and accept severe military restrictions that left it a vulnerable, de facto protectorate of Turkey. The treaty was never ratified due to Armenia's Sovietization. The treaty's terms, particularly concerning borders, were largely confirmed by the subsequent Treaty of Kars.
1921-1923
13 October 1921, a Thursday	On this day, the signing of the Treaty of Kars took place that established the borders between Turkey and the three Transcaucasian Soviet republics, which are now the independent republics of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. The treaty was signed in the city of Kars.
June 24, 1923, a Saturday	On this day, the infamous Treaty of Lausanne, the “granddaddy” of all Turkish Armenian treaties, took place. The treaty effectively ended the Armenian Cause / Hai Tahd, by abolishing the Treaty of Sèvres, which had envisioned an independent Armenia. While the treaty did not explicitly mention Armenians, it granted amnesty to perpetrators of past crimes, including those related to the Armenian Genocide, and codified the borders of modern Turkey consolidating Turkey's control over the historic Armenian lands and resulting in expulsion of the Armenians and the confiscation of their properties.

 

 

Along the dawn of Armenian pop music - 1/3 -

Vaհe H Apelian

GURUMIA with film maker Hagop Manukian 

A few days ago, two friends, Vahig Vartabedian from Los Angeles, and Hrach Kalsahakian from UAE, brough to my attention an Instagram post that had to do with Boghos Shahmelikian’s book I translated and titled it “Dawn Armenian Pop Music.” Vahig Vartabedian is a musician and has been part of the music scene Boghos Shahmelikian had written about. Boghos. Had his book in Armenian titled, “ “. Hrach Kalsahakian published the my translation of Boghos Shahmelikian’s book.

The Instagram video posting was from Gurumira. This is what he said. 

“How much do you know about Lebanon’s music scene and the Armenian Diaspora that helped it. Over the next few week, I will be in Beirut documenting this remarkable and often forgotten chapter of Lebanon’s cultural history.

If you are new here, I am GURUMIRA, a Lebanese Armenian musician. I was born in Beirut during the Civil War and after the Beirut port explosion on August, 2020, I left Lebanon and moved to Armenia.

But my story is not unique. During 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s Armenian musicians played a definitive role in Lebanon’s music scene, forming dozens of bands and they played in legendary venues like Epi Club, La Fourmi, Le Temple, Caravan Serai, and Casino Du Liban and they helped create the sountdrack of an entire generation. But when the Civil War began, many were forced to leave and rebuild their lives elsewhere. 

A few months ago, my friend and film maker Hakob Manukian, introduced me to the “Dawn of Armenian Pop Music”, a book that tells their story. As I turned the pages, I realized something. My journey is not unique. I had become part of the same history. 

So, Hagop and I decided to return to Lebanon with a team of filmmakers and musicians to retrace these stories and preserve a chapter of Lebanon’s musical heritage before its lost.”

He went on saying, “If there are musicians, producers, venues or stories we should not miss, leave them in the comment. We like to hear from you.

And one last thing, on Friday August 17, I will be perfroming my first concert in Beirut since leaving Lebanon in 2020, in collaboration with Metro LA Madina, a venue, that has home to so many of my musical project.

Discount tickets are available through the link in my bio. I hope to see you there."

Those who are interested may view his video recording in Instagram. 

Next: Boghos Shahmelikian and my translation of his book. 

Պանք Օթօմանը գրաւած էր.....

Պանք Օթօմանը գրաւած էր Դաշնակցութեան Կոմիտէն` ըսեմ որ Պանք Օթօմանի գրաւումին երգը, տակաւին կ՚ունկդեմ, թերեւս ալ նոյն այն խառն զցացումներով երբ կ՚երգէի խմբովին իմ պատանեկութեանս որպէս անդամ Պէյրութի Բաբգէն Սիւնի Պատանեկան Միւթեան։ 

Բայց, Պանք Օթօմանի գրաւումին պատմական ճշմարտութիւններուն, անոր անդրարձներուն մասին, որեւէ այլ ակնարկ չունիմ,  չեմ ալ ուզէր ունենալ։ (տեսնել կցած ագոյցները ներքեւը)։ Վահէ Յ Աբէլեան

Լinks:

1.   The debate I will never forget: The seizure of the Ottoman Bank - https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-debate-i-will-never-forget-va-e-h.html 

2.   THIS PHOTO: https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2026/08/this-photo.html

3.   Excerpts about the Ottoman Bank and Armenians– 1: https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/search?q=Ottoman+Bank

4.   Excerpts about the Ottoman Bank and the Armenians – 2/ -: https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/search?q=Ottoman+Bank

Remembering Kourken Noris Bedirian

Vaհe H Apelian

 

I happened to read today that “A three-year-old Nelore cow in Brazil has made agricultural history. Carina FIV do Kado sold for a record-breaking $4.74 million at auction, officially earning her a Guinness World Record as the most expensive cow ever sold. But here's the catch: She's not worth millions for her meat. She's worth millions for her genetics.”

Inevitably Kourken Bedirian came to my mind. Kourken passed away on February 13, 2023 in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. He was a pioneer in In-vitro fertilization (IVF) in cattle, where a donor cow's eggs are collected, fertiliized and then transferred into recipient cows or frozen for later use.

I quote: “Dr. Kourken Bedirian was a pioneer in transcontinental cow embryo transfer and the commercial application of cattle embryo transfers using a mobile laboratory. He performed the first commercial cattle embryo transfers by exporting Holstein cow embryos from Canada to Hungary. He developed commercial applications for cattle embryos directly on farms utilizing mobile laboratory setups. He earned his Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from McGill University and achieved international acclaim for his research in bovine fertilization and embryo transfer.” 

On August 20, 1979, the internationally acclaimed Time magazine wrote his pioneering work. I quote: “Dr. Kourken Bedirian, a Canadian physiologist who has pioneered the transfer of cow embryos, says that the success rate has averaged more than 60%. About 10,000 transferred calves have been born since the process moved from the lab to the barn in the early 1970s, and the procedure is rapidly spreading in the U.S. and Canada. For Bossie, motherhood will never be quite the same again.”

Bossie is a traditional term for a cow. Indeed so, for this Brazilian bossie, her motherhood has been worth $ 4.7 million, and her eggs have been valued at $100,000 each. Carina’s eggs will be harvested and sold off individually to different ranchers. The fertilized eggs will be implanted in surrogate cows, a procedure Dr. Kourken Noris Bedirian pioneered.

Kourken was born in Keurkune, Kessab. His preliminary education was in village at a time when the village’s church, also served as clasroom. After which he has continued his secondary education in Kessab, and then Beirut. Subsequently, he attended the American University of Beirut studying at the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, from which he received his Master of Science degree in 1964. His major is listed Animal production-Animal Deseases and his Minor, poultry production. After immigrating to Canada, he furthered his education at McGill University and receive his PhD. His dissertation is titled “Recovery, Fertilization and Transfer of Bovine Eggs” (1973).

He was a true Kessabtsi. I have retained the following from him in my files, “Congratulations Vahe ! What a superb way of describing Keurkune’s long gone olive oil industry and thus preserving it in our archives, not to mention your refreshment of our memories of the delicious taste of freshly baked bread (toniri hats) dipped in freshly squeezed olive oil (dsennoon).”

I quote from his obituary: “He was loved and cherished by many people including: his daughters, Naro (Dennis) and Vani (Mark); his nephew Mher (Niki); his grandchildren, Sam, Annie, Daniel, Duncan, Alex and Leo; his parents, Noris Bedirian and Lydia Bedirian (Ashekian); his siblings, Assadour (Sona), Asdghig (Joseph), Parouhi (Zohrab), Loucine and Papken (Wende); and his nieces and nephews, Manas, Moushegh, Steve, Ara, Zeron, Vani, Ankiné, Krysia, Kristen, Vahakn, Hovag, Hratch, Chanel and Barkev.”

May his memory remain unfading.

Յիշատակը անթառամ մնայ

 

THIS PHOTO

Attached is a translation of Ara Sanjian’s post today on his Facebook page, titled, ԱՅՍ ԼՈՒՍԱՆԿԱՐԸ.

 

Courtesy Wikipedia

"Since it was the anniversary of the seizure of the “Bank Ottoman”, many Armenian Facebook users, and not only they, had reposted this famous photo on their pages.

There is a widespread belief that this group photo shows the Dashnak youth who seized the bank, photographed after arriving in Marseille from Constantinople. I have also shown this photo to my students in the past, during my lectures. I must admit, however, that I was always puzzled as to why these young people were dressed in the typical attire of peasant farmers. It seemed somewhat illogical to me that they would have worn such clothes in their daily lives in the mid-1890s, or that they would have been able to enter the bank building and take it under their control while wearing such clothes.

A few months ago, Zeynep Devrim Gürsel’s study “Portraits of Unbelonging” was published in the United States, about some circumstances of the history of Western Armenians during the Hamidian era. I have not yet seen the published volume, but I read an early version of it in unpublished form. The author also referred to this photograph, which was printed in the French newspaper L’Illustration on October 31, 1896. Based on Ottoman archives, the author shows that the Ottoman chief diplomat in France was closely interested in this photograph, as he wanted to identify the individuals involved in the incident. In the end, he found out that the people in the photograph were not the young men who had seized the bank, but Armenian villagers from the Ottoman Empire who were emigrating to the United States at about the same time.

Therefore, from now on, this photograph should be presented within the framework of the Armenian migration from the Ottoman Empire to North America at the end of the 19th century.

I fear, however, that it has already become so widespread that, due to inertia, it will continue to be circulated for a long time as a group photo of young Armenian Dashnaks who seized the “Bank Ottoman”.

In the initial version of Kursel's book that I saw, there were copies of other documents and photographs related to the capture of Ottoman Bank", although not of individuals. I hope they are included in the printed copy and will later be circulated by Armenian history buffs. "

Yerneg ayn oreroun

Երնէկ այն օրերուն

Vaհe H Apelian 

To Vatche Baghdikian

Members of the Armenian Evangelical College (AEC) Student Association, in NJ
with the principal of the school, Dr. Zaven Messerlian

On August 8, 2026, I came across the following note on Elbiz Baghdikian’s Facebook page, “8/8/1968 on this day at 5 pm on a bus from Beirut to Bois the Bologna, I met the love of my love it has been a beautiful journey with you. 3/13/2026 you went to Heaven leaving me with joyous memories with the family around me.” 

It suddenly dawned on me that Vatche Baghdikian has left us for good, a few months ago. It is right there and then, the saying yerneg ayn oreroun, came to my mind.

Երնէկ այն օրերուն  - Yerneg ayn oreroun - Yearning for those days - is the title of a story the eminent writer Hamasdegh wrote in his book The Village- Kyughe - Գիւղը։ Underneath the title he noted to R. Tarpinian (Ռ. Դարբինեանին), who was the longstanding editor of Hairenik Daily in Boston, where also Hamasdegh lived.  Hamasdegh surely noted "to R. Tarpinian (Ռ. Դարբինեանին)", because they were literary collaborators. In his autobiography Hamasdegh noted «I owe to Tarpinian the publication of my two books in America, “The Village” (Գիւղը) and the “The Rain” (Անձրեւը).»

It is with a similar spirit that I noted Yerneg ayn oreroun,  to Vatche Baghdikian, although I saw him sporadically after the company I was going to work for, moved us to Cincinnati, OH in 1995. But since 1976 our social lives evolved about the Armenian Evangelical College (AEC) Alumni Association and the Sipan Armenian Day school. Among others, Vatche Baghdikian and I were founding members of both

I set foot in the United States at the J.F.Kennedy international airport on the early Friday afternoon on July 9, 1976. Noubar Manougian and his wife Knarig, formerly from Egypt, were supposed to pick me and after a few days with them, I was to conclude my immgrant's journey in Los Angeles. .But they were not there. Instead, it was my former classmate, who would be my brother-in-law, who came and picked me up. 

Movses and his wife  happened to live in Hackensack, NJ, next town to Paramus, where the Armenian Presbyterian church is located. It is there, at the church, that I soon met familiar faces from our days at the AEC in Beirut and changed my mind and stayed foot in NJ for the next nineteen years. Throughout those years, the Armenian Presbyterian Church where Sipan Armenian school took place, became our regular hangout. and if we met elsewhere, it was mostly about organizing a social function under the auspices of the AEC Student Association and about  Sipan Armenian School, the one day evening school, we founded for our children so that they may  have a glimpse of our upbringing. Sipan the highest peak in Western Armenia is the name of the our high school's yearbook.

The  beautiful graduation diplomas of our two sons.

Yerneg ayn oreroun is the story about a widow and a widower. Mkhsi was a recent widower, and 50 years old Mnsoush was alredy long time widow. They not only kept their distance from each other lest they rose the suspicion of the rest of the villagers, but also bitterly often quarreled and bickered.

Not long after, on an ominous year the govenment ordered the villagers  to close the doors of their houses and pack,  for the government was to move them elsewhere where they will be taken care of. But the reality of the exile settled in soon. And one day, the former bikering neighbots, Mkhsi and Mnoush, found each otherand fell into each other arms saying, yerneg ayn oreroun.

Those years, 1976-1995,  were good days for us, as well. 

Along with the cherished memories, the Sipan Armenian School continues to functions with vigor. The former students are now parents and have their children attending it.  Attendance not only did not decline, but increased at a steady pace. 

On September 11, 2026, Sipan Armenian School resumes its 48th academic year.

Sipan Armenian School may be viewed on Facebook.