“If you are capable of maintaining, implementing, and developing your cultural legacy, you are immortal as a nation.”
— Zarmig Boghikian
The ninety-fifth anniversary of Hamazkayin was celebrated on December 17, 2023, at the Aharonian Center in Damascus under the auspices of the Hamazkayin Regional Executive Board for Syria, Kantsasar reports. The event was organized by the Hamazkayin Damascus L. Shant Chapter Executive Board.
In attendance were Aharonian Center Executive Board representative Armen Urfalian; member of the Syrian parliament Jireyer Raasiyan; Hamazkayin Regional Executive Board for Syria chairperson Raffi Sulahian and member Sako Arslanian; Damascus representative Vazken Belian; the editor of Kantsasar, representatives of Armenian benevolent, athletic, youth, and children’s organizations on a regional and local level; trustees of the Armenian school; members of Hamazkayin; and supporters.
Near the entrance, Armenian young women in traditional costumes, Nayiri Misirian, Maria Harutiunian, and Maral Severeglian greeted guests. They were wearing special Hamazkayin anniversary brooches.
At the beginning of the event, a moment of silence was observed in the memory of our martyrs; it was followed by the national anthems of Syria and Armenia.
Emcee Talar Tovmasian, speaking on behalf of the executive board, welcomed everyone and said anniversary celebrations are a way to encourage us to continue the sacred task initiated by the founders.
Executive board chairperson Sona Andrian spoke about the essential role Hamazkayin plays in maintaining Armenian identity. She said, “Culture is what creates a person’s identity, defining national identity. Our people’s lifeblood and breath is Armenian culture. When there is no Armenian culture, there is no Armenian life, there are no Armenians.”
The 95-year-old organization is a thick oak tree with a dense canopy, she said. It will continue its journey without retreating to maintain, develop, and disseminate Armenian culture. It is a sacred mission and will be celebrated over many more anniversaries.
An artistic program followed. Ruzan Severeglian recited Vahagn Davtian’s “Havatum em kez” with unique and impressive emphases. Aren Setigian played Arno Babajanian’s Elegy on the violin. Serj Boyajian, also on violin, played Kedashen. With their proficient performances they made the beauty of Armenian music shine. Levon Abajian, with his alluring voice, interpreted Sayat Nova’s “Kamancha,” “Yis ku gheimatn,” and Gomidas’s “Hoy nazan im” and “Sari sirun yar.”
Zarmig Chilaposhian Boghikian, editor of Kandzasar, was the keynote speaker.
She began with the thought, “If you are capable of maintaining, implementing, and developing your cultural legacy, you are immortal as a nation.
“Wars can bring down stone edifices, the enemy can deliberately destroy the cultural artifacts in occupied territories—as Azerbaijan is doing in occupied Artsakh—to eliminate even the memory of the native population, but the spiritual wealth of the nation’s children, their cultural values, if preserved, will not let the nation disappear; maintaining its identity, it’ll once more create, enrich its culture, and flower. This thought is embodied in the 95-year journey of Hamakzayin across the world.”
Boghikian recalled the difficulties Armenians faced at the time Hamazkayin was founded in 1928. As a result of the Armenian Genocide planned and implemented by the Ottoman Empire, the cultural wealth of Western Armenia was ransacked, starting with the massacre of Armenian intellectuals. She spoke about the vision of the founders, and their willpower, to save our nation and reorganize it in the wake of genocide and worldwide dispersal; to maintain our identity and cultural heritage; to educate the generations and plant the seeds of Armenian knowledge in them; and to bring diaspora Armenians together around cultural activities.
The keynote speaker discussed each phase in the history of Hamazkayin, starting from the educational program to the expanding portfolio of cultural activities across more than 50 chapters around the world.
She then touched on the accomplishments of Hamazkayin in Syria as well as the challenges it faces. The ever-changing conditions of Armenian communities around the world are bringing the interest of Armenian generations in Armenian language and culture to a low ebb and causing the assimilation of Armenians into other nations. We must redouble our efforts to bring young generations into communion with Armenian letters and culture, using contemporary methods and using online platforms.
After the keynote, Ms. Tovmasian read a letter of congratulations from the regional executive board to the chapter executive board. Acting for the regional board, chairperson Raffi Sulahian handed memorial prizes to the keynote speaker, to Mr. Belian, and to the chapter executive board. He praised the chapter board for the event and called on members of the audience to entrust their children to Hamazkayin’s care.
An anniversary cake was cut and a reception was held.
