Alajajian 1 — Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church (photo TCA Metro Los Angeles Chapter)

Arts & Culture Community ADL Party Tekeyan Cultural Association Metro LA chapter

An Evening of Remembrance in Glendale for Writer Stepan Alajajian

October 23, 2025

by

The Armenian Mirror-Spectator

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By Jane Partizpanyan

Special to the Mirror-Spectator

GLENDALE — The Tekeyan Cultural Association Metro Los Angeles Chapter (TCA) hosted a program on Sunday, October 5, in remembrance of the Armenian writer, prosaist and translator Stepan Alajajian at the Glendale Central Library auditorium.

The event featured remarks from family members and a broad array of Los Angeles Armenian community leaders, including an homage by the Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, under whose auspices the event took place.

Founded in 1947 and named after the “prince of Armenian poets,” Vahan Tekeyan, TCA’s mission stands firm in the aim to preserve Armenian culture and heritage through community events, educational programs and cultural experiences. Spotlighting the life and cultural contributions of Alajajian is one way in which TCA continues to intellectually enrich its local communities.

Attorney Marie M. Hayrapetian, the granddaughter of eminent writer Stepan Alajajian (photo TCA Metro Los Angeles Chapter)

Alajajian was born in Aleppo, Syria on January 3, 1924. He studied at American Aleppo College and the American University of Beirut, later further pursuing higher education at the Philological Faculty of Yerevan State University and Moscow State University, respectively, after immigrating to Soviet Armenia in 1946.

In 1966, he was elected Secretary of the Writer’s Union in Soviet Armenia and was awarded as an “Honored Worker of Culture of the USSR” in 1970. Stepan Alajajian was highly engaged in politics in his lifetime, remaining mostly active as an Armenian Democratic Liberal (Ramgavar) Party member.

Keynote Speaker Hratch Sepetjian (photo TCA Metro Los Angeles Chapter)

Alajajian is the author of many Armenian-language works, including In the Desert, which was published in 1953 during his years as a student, Defeat, Phoenix, Without a Homeland, and The Reeds Did Not Bow Down. He has also translated several works of William Shakespeare, H.G. Wells and William Saroyan into Armenian.

Renowned reciter and expert of Armenian literature Nune Avetisyan (photo TCA Metro Los Angeles Chapter)

Due to deteriorating health, Alajajian moved to Los Angeles in 1991 and died in 2010.

The evening kicked off with an nostalgic photographs from the Alajajian family’s personal collection, featuring images of Alajajian standing shoulder to shoulder with Armenian literary and artistic greats, such as Paruyr Sevak, Silva Kaputikyan, Lusine Zakaryan, Khoren Balian and Sos Sargsyan.

TCA Los Angeles Chapter Vice Chair Sevan Deirbadrossian served as the master of ceremonies, setting the tone for the memorable evening ahead.

Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles Dr. Karen Israyelyan addresses the crowd (photo TCA Metro Los Angeles Chapter)

Dr. Karen Israelyan, Consul General of Armenia to Los Angeles, in attendance with his wife Anna, led the tributes that continued throughout the evening. Israelyan emphasized Alajajian’s many talents and the importance of remembering him.

The Armenian Mirror-Spectator

Topics: ADL Party, Tekeyan Cultural Association Metro LA chapter

People: Stepan Alajajian

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His speech was followed by a musical performance by pianist Ripsime Rshtuni, who brought to life compositions of Alexander Arutunian (Karouna) and Arno Babajanian (Vagharshapat Bar).

Pianist Ripsime Rshtuni performs for guests (photo TCA Metro Los Angeles Chapter)

Literary expert and reciter Nune Avetisyan read excerpts from Alajajian’s works. She described Alajajian as a man with an “honest heart.” Avetisyan also read a poignant tribute to Alajajian by literary critic and longtime TCA leader Lilit Keheyan.

The keynote speaker was Hratch Sepetjian, who stressed the importance of preserving Armenian culture with such events.

Master of Ceremonies and Tekeyan Cultural Association Metro Los Angeles Chapter Vice Chair Sevan Deirbadrossian (photo TCA Metro Los Angeles Chapter)

While each individual stood to speak, the images of Alajajian’s life continued to cycle on the big screen. However, the images that truly captured him at the heart were the ones with family.

Alajajian’s granddaughter, attorney Marie M. Hayrapetian, spoke about the memories of her grandfather and lifted the curtain on the man, husband, father and grandfather behind the name. “For his grandchildren, his legacy lives not only in his books and films,” she said, “but in the way he taught us to live.”

Architect Aram Alajajian, nephew of the eminent writer Stepan Alajajian (photo TCA Metro Los Angeles Chapter)

The architect of the Armenian American Museum and nephew of Stepan Alajajian, Aram Alajajian, surprised the crowd with a speech, saying, “he passed down to us what it means to love the homeland.” The younger Alajajian also gifted Stepan Alajajian’s daughter, Teresa Alajajian Hayrapetian, 10 pages of Stepan Alajajian’s handwritten personal work.

The event closed with words of fond remembrance by Archbishop Derderian. Fr. Nzhdeh Keshishyan of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church concluded the evening with a benediction.

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