Celebrating Armenian Cultural Month

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By Kevork Keushkerian

ALTADENA, Calif. — Catholicos Karekin I of the Great House of Cilicia had declared October to be commemorated as cultural month. This year the feast of the Holy Translators was on Saturday, October 13. The cultural month denotes the translation of the Holy Bible by the disciples of St. Mesrob Mashtots, the founder of the Armenian alphabet.

Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Pasadena-Glendale Chapter Committee organized an evening of artistic renditions to commemorate the Armenian Cultural Month. It took place on Sunday, October 14, at TCA’s Beshgeturian center in Altadena.

In commemoration of the Armenian Cultural Month, Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Los Angeles Chapter had organized a lecture about novelist Zabel Yesayan on Wednesday, October 10, at 7:30 p.m. at the Glendale Central Library. The lecturer was Dr. Minas Kojayan.

In the same spirit, the newly-founded Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Los Angeles Metro Chapter is organizing a comedy night on Saturday, October 27, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. at Pasadena’s Rococo Restaurant. It will feature comedian Harout Soghomonian, with the participation of Maro Ajemian and Narine Avakian. It is a sold-out event.

Now, back to the TCA Pasadena-Glendale Chapter’s event. In his opening remarks, Kevork Keushkerian briefly dwelled upon the significance of the Cultural month and then invited the various artists to participate in the program. The program consisted of vocal renditions, poetic recitation, and dance performance.

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Raffi Kerbabian was phenomenal in his rendition of 3 Armenian popular folk songs and an English song from our famous Charles Aznavour (Yesterday when I was young), which was in tribute to the late singer-song writer. Following this, Keushkerian asked the audience to stand and observe a moment of silence, in his memory.

Asdghig Dadourian eloquently recited two poems from poet Vahan Tekeyan and poet Henrig Toumanyan. Pateel and Cynthia Albarian intermittently performed 3 dances, the last of which was in memory of the Sardarabad victory.

Finally, Khatchig Nahabedian of our chapter committee rendered three songs, the first of which was from Sayat Nova. This one was also in tribute to the late Charles Aznovour, as he had performed this with his daughter, Seta.

At the close of the artistic renditions, Very Reverend Father Kegham Zakarian of the St. James Brotherhood in Jerusalem, recited the Lord’s Prayer and dismissed the audience with his Benediction. This was followed by a light reception, when the audience had a chance to congratulate the artists and the committee members for an evening of highly acclaimed performances.

Topics: ADL, tekeyan
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