News

Following the successful experience of the 12-week Գրաբար medieval Armenian poetry reading course and based on student demand, a ten-week continuation course will be offered April 7 – June 9 on Mondays from 2:00pm–4:00pm ET by Zoom, taught by Zohrab Center director Dr. Jesse Arlen.

In part 1 of the course, in addition to some basic grammar lessons, participants read and translated hymns by two early female hymnographers, Khosrovidukht Goghtnatsi and Sahakdukht Siwnetsi, a poetic meditation on the transience of this world by Anania of Narek, selections from the prayerbook of St. Gregory of Narek, as well as one of the latter’s liturgical odes on the Resurrection.

In the continuation course, participants will read from the poetic works of St. Nerses Shnorhali and other later medieval poets.

There is no course fee, but some basic familiarity with Classical Armenian (or knowledge of Modern Armenian) is recommended for participants.

Please register at this link. Those unable to follow the sessions live may have access to the recordings and course materials by registering at the above Zoom link.

To view a flyer with more details, click here.

Following the successful experience of the 12-week Գրաբար medieval Armenian poetry reading course and based on student demand, a ten-week continuation course will be offered April 7 – June 9 on Mondays from 2:00pm–4:00pm ET by Zoom, taught by Zohrab Center director Dr. Jesse Arlen.

In part 1 of the course, in addition to some basic grammar lessons, participants read and translated hymns by two early female hymnographers, Khosrovidukht Goghtnatsi and Sahakdukht Siwnetsi, a poetic meditation on the transience of this world by Anania of Narek, selections from the prayerbook of St. Gregory of Narek, as well as one of the latter’s liturgical odes on the Resurrection.

In the continuation course, participants will read from the poetic works of St. Nerses Shnorhali and other later medieval poets.

There is no course fee, but some basic familiarity with Classical Armenian (or knowledge of Modern Armenian) is recommended for participants.

Please register at this link. Those unable to follow the sessions live may have access to the recordings and course materials by registering at the above Zoom link.

To view a flyer with more details, click here.

At the start of this year’s Holy Week, St Vartan Cathedral will be hosting a Palm Sunday ‘Blessing of Children’ luncheon and program. During which, an Easter Bake Sale will be held to aid in contributions towards the Cathedral’s Renovation Project. Starts at 12pm on April 13 w/ free admission. Click here to view a flyer.

On Tuesday, April 29th, at 7:00pm, the Zohrab Center will host a conversation between internationally renowned author, Narine Abgaryan, and her English-language translators, Margarit Ordukhanyan and Zara Torlone, in celebration of the release of the short story collection To Go on Living (Plough Press, 2025) and as part of the author’s April US tour.

Set in an Armenian mountain village, thirty-one linked short stories trace the interconnected lives of villagers tending to their everyday tasks, engaging in quotidian squabbles, and celebrating small joys against a breathtaking landscape. Yet the setting, suspended in time and space, belies unspeakable tragedy: every character contends with an unbearable burden of loss. The war rages largely off the book’s pages, appearing only in fragmented flashbacks. Abgaryan’s stories focus on how the survivors work, both as individuals and as a community, to find a way forward.

At the event will be copies of the book for sale and a book signing with the author and translators. Click here to view a flyer and read more about the event on the Zohrab Information Center’s webpage.

The Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee of Connecticut will host a commemoration of the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on Saturday, Apr. 26, at 10:30 a.m. The event will take place at the historic Connecticut House Chamber of the State Capitol (210 Capitol Ave., Hartford). Clergy from the state’s Armenian churches will offer the “Prayer for the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.” Keynote speaker Artak Beglaryan (former official of the Artsakh Republic; current president of the Union for the Protection of Rights of the Artsakh People) will speak on the “Genocide of Armenians in Artsakh.” A reception will follow. For information, call (860) 651-0629. Click the link to read more about the Connecticut commemoration.