When the Komitas Choir of St. John Church of Southfield, MI, took a trip to Armenia in 2007, it led to the creation of a new program to instruct and inspire young souls of the parish. Some 16 years after its conception, St. John’s “Arts of Armenia” program is still flourishing.
Back in 2007, while choir members toured Armenia (and even joined the Etchmiadzin Choir one Sunday morning), a visit to a local Arts and Crafts school planted the seed for the parish’s “Arts of Armenia” program. As that seed germinated, choir director Dn. Rubik Mailian had the idea that the choir should sponsor a program to teach parish children the Armenian arts.
Now 16 years later, the “Arts of Armenia” program continues to introduce St. John students to Armenian literature, music, art, dance, food, and important events in Armenian history (such as the Battle of Sardarabad or the history of Artsakh). For three years, a dance instructor and an artist were brought from Armenia to teach the children. After those few years, the classes were taught by professional teachers and artists from St John the parish. Under the leadership of Dn. Rubik and chair Denise Karakashian, the “Arts Armenia” committee has retained its members and instructors for the entire 16-year period.
Each day of classes during the week-long program begins with the Lord’s Prayer and the national anthem of Armenia. The sessions revolve around a different theme every camp season, such as Royalty and Saints, An Armenian Wedding, and Faith and Family. This year’s theme was Historical Figures and Monuments.
Various art classes have involved making khatchkars, wedding narods, trchnakir or bird-letter calligraphy, painting miniatures from Bible stories, and painting historical flags of Armenian dynasties. This year, students made paintings of the Sardarabad Memorial; Artsakh’s famous monument “We Are Our Mountains” (affectionately known as “Tatik-Papik“); and the mystical 7th letter of the Armenian alphabet, “Eh,” which signifies the unutterable Name of God.
Fr. Garabed Kochakian and Zabel Belian have been teaching these classes, and this year were joined by a new instructor, Alex Koceyan: a fine arts student at the College of Creative Studies in Detroit, who was a student from the very first year of “Arts of Armenia.”
Passing On an Ancient Artistic Legacy
Dance instructors Nayiri Karapetian and Dikran Callan teach the Kochari, Lorke, Pampoori, Musa Ler, Tamzara, and Artsakhian dances–the latter dating back some 5,000 years, according to archeological evidence found in cave drawings.
Music instructor Dn. Rubik Mailian teaches students traditional folk songs that tie into the yearly theme. This year’s songs were “Sardarabadi Kacher,” “Aravod Looso,” “Seghan eh Arad,” and “Sourp Asdvadz.”
During cooking classes, students learn to make two or three Armenian baked or cooked items, including manti, cheoreg, bourma, and lahmajun. This year the students made dolma, lavash and hummus. Instructors for these classes are Yerchanig Callan, Marianne Dardarian, Yn. Roberta Kochakian, and Dolly Matoian.
Students also enjoy story-telling sessions on Armenian folk tales, legends, heroic epics like the poem “David of Sassoun,” and the story of the beginnings the Armenian language. Anahit Toumajan teaches this class.
All the participants also tour the magnificent Manoogian Museum, guided by museum director Lucy Ardash. The artifacts on display connect to the classes and bring Armenian history to life. Some highlights from this year include paintings by Sarian, an oriental rug made in 1907 by orphans, a statue and death mask of Gomidas Vartabed, and a 500-year-old khatchkar. A walk to the Martyrs’ Monument on the St. John Church campus was a chance to learn about the Genocide and recall the sister monument on the grounds of Holy Etchmiadzin in Armenia.
A field trip is also planned for each year. Previous excursions visited the Detroit Institute or Art, the Henry Ford Automotive Museum, Pewabic Pottery, and an artist’s studio. This year saw trips to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church; to St. John’s Episcopalian Church, where Detroit Armenians worshipped before having a church of their own; and to the first church built by the Detroit Armenian community on Oakman Boulevard.
Parish pastor Fr. Aren Jebejian, assistant pastor Fr. Armash Bagdasarian, and former pastor Fr. Garabed Kochakian teach religious sessions on the priest’s vestments and the vessels of the church. This year, Fr. Aren Jebejian explained the mosaics that adorn the St, John sanctuary.
Guest artist John Merigian gave a presentation on the sculpture of the three figures he constructed, that stands on the church grounds outside the front doors. He explained his inspiration for the piece entitled “Let Us Rejoice,” and invited students to explore the sculpture up close.
All the students greatly enjoyed their classes and made new friends as they learned the “Arts of Armenia.”
By Dolly Matoian