Vatche Semerdjian’s Book Feted at Tekeyan Cultural Association Beshgueturian Center

Dr. Arpi Sarafian, a lecturer in English at California State University, Los Angeles, who earned her doctorate from the University of Southern California (USC) in English literature with a thesis on Virginia Woolf, spoke about her many decades of friendship and work with Semerdjian. She said that in the last four or five years, she came to see him in his personal daily life in the physical world, a grandfather, a teacher and most of all a man close to the soil who took patiently great care of trees and plants in his gardens. Sarafian felt this lived life gives value to the concerns and realities expressed in his writings. These two worlds are not contradictory. On the contrary, Semerdjian’s ideas are immediate, taken from real life.

Maria Chrissian, a graduate of Taruhi Hagopian Girls School in Beirut, studied Near Eastern Studies in Washington for her bachelor’s degree and later at California State University, Northridge, studied English. She began by stressing that it was only 41 years after 1915 and the Genocide when Semerdjian entered the field of journalism. Semerdjian made the Armenian press richer, and a portion of his contribution is found in the two volumes Lusartsagin dag. She spoke about his blossoming at the start of his career in Beirut, despite the difficulties of life, with important Armenian mentors and colleagues. It was his “firm faith, inextinguishable hope and boundless love” which turned his life productive and useful, along with the support of his family. He remained faithful to his ideology, and served his people through the ADLP, TCA and journalism despite many obstacles for almost 60 years.

Chrissian praised his sacrifices and work which led to a productive and useful life. Directly addressing Semerdjian, Chrissian concluded: “May your noble example inspire new apostles, and may you with new vigor and enthusiasm present us with new surprises.”

The newest of Semerdjian’s friends spoke next. Dr. Krikor Adanalian of Aleppo is a cardiologist who received his medical education in Armenia. He explained that he came to know Semerdjian first through his writings some twenty years ago, but then met him in person for the first time in Los Angeles in 2003, and then had another opportunity in 2014. Semerdjian’s articles broadened the horizons of Adanalian’s mind, forcing him to examine issues from different perspectives.

Adanalian found that true writers like Semerdjian are like beacons illuminating the paths people must take in life. Semerdjian for over half a century served Armenian literature and the Armenian people. His articles objectively dealt with the issues that were the most important for the Armenian people’s life in Armenia and in the diaspora. He left an inerasable imprint upon diasporan Armenian journalism. Adanalian expressed his thanks for this legacy.

Finally, keynote speaker Yervant Azadian of Detroit, also an old friend of Semerdjian, was introduced by Kartalian as the man who brought the Egyptian-Armenian newspaper Arev to its zenith and prepared a new generation of Armenians who today occupy responsible positions in the Armenian community. Today Azadian continues his leadership role, publishes books, and writes an editorial column in the Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

Azadian described Semerdjian’s work with a stream of superlatives: “A work which is inestimable, a work which is irreplaceable, and a work which is edifying. This is the kind of superlative praise a reader encounters when he picks up Vatche Semerdjian’s journalistic two-volume book, Lusartzagi dag, venerable both in terms of volume and aesthetic presentation, and even more so concerning its content, wisdom and understanding of political ideas.”

Azadian said Semerdjian’s journalistic legacy has been turned into part of the classic canon through the publication of these two volumes. He was amazed at the variety of topics in the work, which includes politics, the arts, history, science and sports, and pointed out that Semerdjian is one of the rare individuals in whom profound erudition and wisdom join together to form a fortunate whole. Furthermore, Semerdjian has an unusual talent for writing with humor and “incomparable linguistic richness.” Azadian felt that “it is worth reading these volumes just for their literary style.”

The reader derives great pleasure from his works because, as Azadian stated, “Even while examining the simplest matters, the reader begins with expectations about the path to be taken but always ends up encountering a pleasurable surprise and sometimes startling conclusions.”

Azadian said that as a journalist, Semerdjian goes beyond elucidating events and issues to give authoritative guidance to readers. Though he is a member of the ADLP, and does not fear taking strong positions, at the same time he does not blindly ignore or scorn the contributions of others to Armenian life. Furthermore, Semerdjian is an advocate of the change of generations in Armenian community life.

Azadian concluded that the rays of the “spotlight” of Semerdjian’s two volumes “illuminate the reader’s path, and enrich our souls.”

Archbishop Derderian closed the formal panegyric portion of the evening by speaking of his contacts and friendship with Semerdjian for over a decade. Semerdjian’s legacy for coming generations presents the characteristic features of Armenian identity and the colorful picture of his times. He is “a man who lives by visions of new dawns beyond the horizons of calm seas” and is homesick for the Armenian homeland.

Semerdjian stepped up to the podium at the end of this long evening to respond. He thanked the master of ceremonies, all the speakers, and the musicians, as well as those who contributed to the production of the two volumes, especially the donors and TCA. Mike Nahabed and Seta Khodanian greatly facilitated the publication process. Semerdjian declared, “I have to feel so small at this moment after such extensive praise and lofty words….I am greatly moved by the content, quality and sincerity of the assessments expressed during the past two to two and one-half hours.”

The evening closed with the ceremony of a kinetson, and refreshments. Semerdjian was asked to explain the meaning of this ceremony. He said that it originated in the early 1980s when the poet Mgrdich Hajian from Mexico City came for the publication of a new book of his. Harut Yeretsian told Semerdjian to get wine from a store next to the old TCA hall on Beverly Boulevard. He brought a bottle and Yeretsian explained that this was a widespread custom in Armenia which for the first time would be introduced now to the US.

Strangely, when Vartkes Bedrosian came as one of the first visitors from Soviet Armenia, Semerdjian told him we adopted this Armenian custom, and he exclaimed, “What a foolish thing!” Nonetheless, Semerdjian and others tried over the years to give meaning to this act of pouring wine on a newly published book. They said the wine gives long life to the book. Now there is no author who does not want to have a kinetson ceremony. Semerdjian and the Armenian writers and clergy present then participated in the kinetson and informally mingled with the audience.
Many letters of congratulations were received on the occasion of this event, of which three were read during the program by Kartalian. These were from the central board of the TCA of Armenia, signed by Executive Secretary Garegin Gevorgyan and President Ruben Mirzakhanian; the Writers Union of Armenia, signed by its president Eduard Militonyan; and Nerses Babayan of New York, writing also in the name of his father Yervant Babayan.

The long chain of speakers during the evening was interrupted twice by refreshing musical performances. First, Salpi Kerkonian on the flute with Sosi Kerkonian on the harp performed excerpts from the works of Loris Tjeknavorian and Antonio Vivaldi as the Yergnayin Dagher duo. Salpi, with a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in music from USC, has won many competitions, and has worked as Principal Flute for the American Youth Symphony and the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra. A tenure member of the Glendale Symphony, she has performed on 30 TV and movie soundtracks, and on various television shows.

Later, pianist Shushan Hakobyan and violinist Ophelia Nanagyulyan performed two classical pieces, and were joined by bass Vagharsh Martirosyan of Moscow, who sang an aria by Vincenzo Bellini.