To Armenians in the U.S., “Armenian Cultural Month” has been a feature of community life for as long as they can remember. It arrives each October—with a flurry of lectures, readings, exhibits, sacred celebrations, and events intended to remind Armenians of their rich cultural heritage.
A three-day celebration of Armenian Church music brought clergy, deacons, choir singers, instrumentalists, and lovers of liturgical music to the St. James of Nisibis Church in Evanston, IL, over the weekend of October 4-6.
In the Armenian musical heritage, one voice rings out above all others: the immortal voice of Gomidas Vartabed. This week marks the 150th anniversary of his birth.
You might think it’s a misprint. Everyone knows that Jesus had exactly twelve disciples—so why does the Armenian Church calendar reserve a feast day for the Seventy-two Disciples of Christ? (We’ll observe it this Saturday, October 5.)
Two upcoming gatherings will give Armenians and fellow Oriental Orthodox Christians a precious opportunity to celebrate their ancient spiritual heritage together.
