Two departed giants of the American musical scene, the late George Avakian and Anahid Ajemian, were remembered in a tribute concert on March 15, 2018. The program remembered two people linked by their devotion to the arts, by their notable contributions to American and international music—but mostly by their tender marriage of some seven decades.
“The consecration of St. Mary Armenian Church is the realization of a much-cherished and long-awaited dream. Starting from the first deacons who held services on the shores of Miami Beach in the 1930s until today in our newly-built and relocated spiritual home, we have kept our religion alive. What started with a small group of newly-established Armenians on the shores of South Florida continues today with us, and tomorrow with our children and their children.”
When businessman Toros Mangassarian traveled to Armenia with his family two summers ago, he read his children a passage from William Saroyan’s short story “The Armenian and the Armenian.” The Pulitzer Prize-winner’s words struck a chord with his youngest daughter, Gabriela, who said the message taught her about the “strength and resilience” of Armenians.
During a meeting at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on February 20-23, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the Armenian Church’s Supreme Spiritual Council reviewed the past year’s developments at the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, and discussed the prospect of organizing patriarchal elections.
It was the first Armenian cathedral in the New World—the first built in generations.
It was realized through the united effort of ordinary people who had survived the greatest cataclysm ever to befall the Armenian people.
