Dr. Jesse Arlen, director of the Diocese’s Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center, will begin a new position at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA, as Lecturer in Armenian Studies, beginning with the fall term of the 2026-27 academic year.
“We are deeply grateful for Jesse’s dedicated service to the Diocese and to the Zohrab Center over these past five years,” said Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan. “Through his scholarship, leadership, and commitment to Armenian Studies, he has strengthened the mission of the Zohrab Center and helped expand its important work.”
He went on: “While we will certainly miss him here at the Diocese, we are also very happy for him as he begins this new chapter at Harvard. This is a meaningful opportunity for Jesse, and also a beautiful recognition of the importance of Armenian Studies in the academic world.”
“It has been my honor to be entrusted with the care of this important cultural center,” said Dr. Arlen, “with its magnificent library, full of rich literary, historical, and theological treasures that I have had the joy to discover, steward, and share with others. I am glad that our move does not take us out of the jurisdiction of the Eastern Diocese, and will allow me to continue to contribute to the flourishing of the Armenian Church and community of America in a new place, and in new ways.”
Dr. Arlen’s official start date at Harvard will be July 1, and his last day at the Diocese will be June 30, 2026. Please join his colleagues and friends in congratulating Jesse and his family as they begin this promising new chapter.
Mrs. Dolores Zohrab Liebmann was the daughter of the early twentieth-century Armenian intellectual, writer, and statesman Krikor Zohrab. During her lifetime, Mrs. Liebmann supported educational and charitable organizations, with a primary concern to attract and support students with outstanding character and ability, who would hold promise for achievement and distinction in their chosen fields of study.
Through a generous bequest at her death, Mrs. Liebmann created a perpetual charitable trust designated as The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund for the purpose of funding advanced education and graduate study grants, which must be carried out entirely in the United States of America.
The Eastern Diocese is among the select institutions eligible to nominate one candidate per year for the Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Graduate Fellowship. Fellowships are renewable for three years and cover the cost of tuition and provide a stipend for living expenses.
We are pleased to announce that Diocesan nominee Dn. Hovannes Khosdeghian, Director of Armenian Language Ministry at the Diocese and Instructor of Canon Law and Armenian Public Speaking at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, who is concurrently pursuing a Doctorate in Theology degree at Agora University (expected 2028), has been awarded the Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund Fellowship for academic year 2026–2027.
Dn. Hovannes Khosdeghian, Director of Armenian Language Ministry at the Eastern Diocese
Hovannes Khosdeghian studied philosophy at the Pontifical Gregorian University, specializing in Pedagogy, (Bachelor in Philosophy, 1976), and theology at St. Thomas Aquinas University (Bachelor in Theology, 1980), both in Rome, Italy. His graduate work was in Biblical studies and Systematic Theology.
Between 1980 and 1983, he served as editor of Hye Endanik, a magazine published by the Mekhitarist Fathers of Venice. During the same period he was Assistant Rector and Academic Dean of the Seminary of St. Lazarus, where he also taught Classical Armenian, Classical Greek, History of Philosophy and History of Religion. Concurrently he was Secretary of the Academia Armena Sancti Lazari. In 1982, he became Assistant Superior of the Novitiate of the Order until December 1983, when he left the Order and settled in the United States.
He was Assistant Pastor in St. Mark’s Armenian Catholic Church in Wynnewood, PA, until the appointment of Rev. Msgr. Sarkis Gabadian. Later, as Assistant Pastor at St. Ann’s Armenian Catholic Cathedral he served as Editor of The Eternal Flame, the periodical of the Armenian Catholic Exarchate.
Between 1988 and 1992, he taught Classical Armenian language and Canon Law at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary and was a Research Fellow at the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center at the Eastern Diocese.
In 2024, he was hired to be Director of Armenian Language Ministry at the Eastern Diocese. Dn. Hovannes oversees Armenian language education across the Diocese, working with parish Armenian Schools, teachers, and clergy to strengthen Armenian language instruction. He also translates important Church materials into Western and Eastern Armenian, ensuring that language remains a vital part of our faith and heritage. He also serves as the principal of the St. Vartan Cathedral Sunday School.
In 2024, he was also invited back to St. Nersess Armenian Seminary to teach courses in Armenian Canon Law and Armenian Public Speaking. There, during conversations with faculty at the seminary, he was advised to pursue a doctorate in Theology, so that the classes he teaches could be accredited at the university level. Prompted by this encouragement and his own reflection and motivation, it became clear to that this was the right time to pursue an advanced degree in theology, which life events thus far had precluded him from completing.
Pursuing his doctorate in theology at Agora University will provide him a robust academic structure in which to grow intellectually and develop his professional research skills in areas such as hermeneutical paths to the understanding of church, sign and seal of salvation, ecclesiology, and Armenian Patristic thought.
Dn. Hovannes said, “I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Trustees of the Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund. It is a great honor to receive this Fellowship, which will make a significant difference in supporting my advancement toward my doctoral degree in Theology, as I balance my responsibilities in graduate school with my current positions at the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church and St. Nersess Armenian Seminary. It is especially meaningful to me because I knew Mrs. Liebmann personally in the final years of her life through my involvement with the newly established Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center, which she founded in honor of her parents. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Dr. Jesse Arlen for your guidance and support in the application process.”
Zohrab Center director Dr. Jesse Arlen with Dn. Hovannes Khosdeghian
Dn. Hovannes dedicates his free time to community service and three projects: a historical atlas of the Armenian Highlands, an English-Armenian dictionary, and developing a farm in Zoravan, Armenia. He is married to Arpi Lajinian and they have two children, Talar and Kegham.
Dn. Hovannes Khosdeghian chanting the Gospel at St. Vartan Cathedral
We congratulate Dn. Hovannes on this award!
Applications for the next cycle of funding will be announced in the Fall.
Dedicated to the 150th Anniversary of the birth of the eminent linguist and polymath Hrachia Acharian (Հրաչեայ Աճառեան, 1876–1953), Prof. Peter Cowe (UCLA) and Dr. Hrach Martirosyan (Leiden University) organized a workshop at UCLA entitled “At the Intersection of Language and Culture: The 4th Armenian Language Workshop at UCLA” on May 22nd–23rd.
The workshop brought together an international group of scholars, teachers, and writers who presented in both Armenian and English on a diverse array of topics related to Armenian language, literature, and culture. Among the speakers was Zohrab Center director Dr. Jesse Arlen who presented on the topic “Translating One’s Own Text: An Apologia for Bilingual Writing,” during the first panel of the first day.
The recording of all sessions of the workshop from the two days is now available to view on YouTube.
The Padus-Araxes Association has opened the application for their renowned Summer Intensive Course of Armenian Language and Culture, which will take place August 3rd–August 19th, 2026 for the 41st time in Venice, Italy. Zohrab director Dr. Jesse Arlen will be among the faculty of teachers this summer.
The course offers four levels, from complete beginners to advanced courses in Armenian linguistics, literature, performing arts, history, and other special topics. Alongside the courses are offered optional lessons in Armenian dance and duduk, in addition to presentations on special topics of interest, evening concerts, and sightseeing tours in Venice.
Classes are held on the beautiful grounds of the seminary of the Patriarchate of Venice, in collaboration with the Patriarchate’s “Studium Generale Marcianum” Foundation.
The halls of the Seminario Patriarcale di Venezia, where classes are held.
The Seminario Patriarcale di Venezia, where classes are held.
The staircase of the Seminario Patriarcale di Venezia, where classes are held.
Participants will also have the opportunity to participate in the Armenian Divine Liturgy at the Armenian Church of the Holy Cross in Venice and participate in the liturgy and receive a private tour of the Mekhitarist Congregation at the monastery of San Lazzaro.
The Divine Liturgy at the Armenian Church of the Holy Cross
The Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of San Lazzaro
Don’t miss the unforgettable experience of studying Armenian in the beautiful and historic city of Venice!
An international conference on Evagrius of Pontus—a philosopher, theologian, desert ascetic, spiritual writer, and intellectual of the fourth century, who had a significant impact on the curriculum, spirituality, and intellectual culture of medieval Armenian monasteries—is to be held at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary from June 4th–6th.
The conference, organized by SNAS professors Dr. Roberta Ervine and Dr. Ani Shahinian, is co-sponsored by St. Vladimir’s Seminary, and brings together most of the leading scholars working on Evagrius and his reception in the various languages of the medieval Christian world (Greek, Coptic, Latin, Syriac, Armenian, Arabic, etc.)
The Armenian reception of Evagrius is notable because Armenian manuscripts, along with Syriac, preserve works of Evagrius that were otherwise suppressed and lost in the original Greek, due to Evagrius’ embroilment in the “Origenist” theological controversies of the sixth century AD.
The hybrid conference may be followed by registering at this Zoom link.
Dedicated to the 150th Anniversary of the birth of the eminent linguist and polymath Hrač‘eay Ačaṙian (1876-1953), Prof. Peter Cowe (UCLA) and Dr. Hrach Martirosyan (Leiden University) have organized “At the Intersection of Language and Culture: The 4th Armenian Language Workshop at UCLA” on May 22nd–23rd.
The workshop brings together an international group of scholars, teachers, and writers who will present in both Armenian and English on a diverse array of topics related to Armenian language, literature, and culture. The workshop will be hybrid, with some presenting in person at UCLA and others via Zoom. Among the speakers, will be Zohrab Center director Dr. Jesse Arlen who will present on the topic “Translating One’s Own Text: An Apologia for Bilingual Writing.”
The general public is able to follow the presentations and discussion of the workshop via Zoom.
To watch via the Zoom Webinar platform, click here. For a full schedule of the two days of panels, see below. For more information, see the event page.
At the Intersection of Language and Culture: 4th Armenian Language Workshop at UCLA
Dedicated to the 150th Anniversary of the birth of the eminent linguist and polymath Hrač‘eay Ačaṙian (1876-1953) Organizers: Peter Cowe (UCLA) Hrach Martirosyan (Leiden University)
Friday, May 22, 2026 to Saturday, May 23, 2026
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Pacific Time) Bunche Hall, Room 10383 (10th floor)
315 Portola Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095
To watch via the Zoom Webinar platform, click here.
May 22
10:00-10:30 Registration
10:30-10:45 Opening Remarks
Peter Cowe
Hrach Martirosyan
Panel 1
Moderator: Tereza Hovhannisyan
Hrach Martirosyan, University of Leiden
10:45-11:05 «Աչառյան-150. Մարդը և Գիտնականը»
(Ačaṙian-150: The Man and Scholar)
11:05-11:20 Discussion
Jesse S. Arlen, Zohrab Information Center and Fordham University
11:20-11:40 “Translating One’s Own Text: An Apologia for Bilingual Writing”
11:40-11:55 Discussion
Lori Pirinjian, UCLA
11:55-12:15 Ինչպե՞ս է հայերենում ասվում «գենդեր»
(How to say «Gender» in Armenian)
12:15-12:30 Discussion
Moderator: Hrach Martirosyan, University of Leiden
Tereza Hovhannisyan, UCLA
2:10-2:30 “Հայալեզու թվային ռեսուրսների ստեղծումը հայերենի դասավանդման ընթացքում”
(The Creation of Armenian Language Digital Resources in the Course of Teaching Armenian)
2:30-2:45 Discussion
2:45 walk to Schoenberg Hall
3:00-5:30 Participation in Day of Armenian Music
Schoenberg Hall
3:00-4:00 Concert celebrating the CD
“Stanzas in August Armenian Music, New and Rediscovered”
4:00-4:30 Q&A with the performers
4:30 Green Room Reception on the Retirement of Movses Pogossian, Professor of Strings, UCLA
May 23
11:00-11:10 Opening Remarks
Shushan Karapetian
Panel 3
Moderator: Alexia Khatun, UCLA
Anatolii Tokmantcev, Peter Pazmani Catholic University, Budapest (recorded)
11:10-11:30 “Հայոց քրիստոնեությունը որպես դիսկուրսային ավանդույթ”
(Armenian Christianity as a Discursive Tradition)
11:30-11:45 Discussion
Hakob Gulludjian, UCLA
11:45-12:05 «Լեզուական քաղաքականութիւն եւ լեզուի ուսուցում Սփիւռքի մէջ»
(Language Politics and Armenian Instruction in the Diaspora)
12:05-12:20 Discussion
Shushan Karapetian, USC
12:20-12:40 “Licensed to Spell: When Vanity Plates Speak Armenian”
12:40-12:55 Discussion
1:00-2:00 lunch break
Panel 4
Moderator: Nora Bairamian, UCLA
Peter Cowe, UCLA
2:00-2:20 «Հայերէնի միջնորդուած թարգմանությունների դասակարգման փորձ մը»
(Mediated Armenian Translations: An Attempt at Classification)
2:20-2:35 Discussion
Alexia Hatun, UCLA
2:35-2:55 “Բառամթերք սափոսական. Մտորումներ լեզուի կենսունակութեան եւ հայ տարօր իրականութիւններու շուրջ”
(Sapphic Lexicon: Reflections on Language Vitality and Queer Armenian Realities)
2:55-3:10 Discussion
Julianne Kapner, UC Berkeley
3:10-3:30 “From Constantinople to San Francisco: Persistence of Historical /Y/ Variation in Contemporary Bay Area Armenian”
3:30-3:45 Discussion
3:45-4:00 coffee break
Panel 5
Moderator: Peter Cowe, UCLA
Nora Bairamian, UCLA
4:00-4:20 Սովորենք/սորվինք հայերեն/հայերէն միասին։ Զուգահեռ բարբառներ մէկ դասարանի մէջ.
(Let’s Learn About Armenian: Parallel Dialects in One Classroom)
4:20-4:35 Discussion
Anushik Melikian, University of Leiden
4:35-4:55 TBA
4:55-5:10 Discussion
Gohar Melikyan, UCLA
5:10-5:30 “Armenian Folktales in the “Collection of Materials for Describing Places and Tribes of the Caucasus”
5:30-5:45Discussion
Born in California, Tenny Arlen began learning Western Armenian at UCLA at the age of 20 and went on to become the first American-born author to publish a full-length creative literary work in the language. Though her life was tragically cut short in 2015 in a car accident, her voice continues to inspire readers through her posthumously published work, celebrated by Armenian literary circles around the world.
Now in a facing-page bilingual (Armenian and English) edition with a foreword by Jesse Arlen and afterwords by Arthur Ipek (NYU / Zohrab Center) and Hagop Gulludjian (UCLA), this profound poetry is now accessible to all readers, regardless of the level of their Armenian knowledge.
Come experience an intimate night centered on language, identity, creativity, and the enduring impact of Armenian literature. Books will be available for purchase at the event.
Location: Park View Lounge (Youth Center at St. Vartan Cathedral) Day: Thursday, June 11 Time: 7:00 PM Advance Registration Required ($10): REGISTER AT THIS LINK
An international conference on Evagrius of Pontus—a philosopher, theologian, desert ascetic, spiritual writer, and intellectual of the fourth century, who had a significant impact on the curriculum, spirituality, and intellectual culture of medieval Armenian monasteries—is to be held at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary from June 4th–6th.
The conference, organized by SNAS professors Dr. Roberta Ervine and Dr. Ani Shahinian, is co-sponsored by St. Vladimir’s Seminary, and brings together most of the leading scholars working on Evagrius and his reception in the various languages of the medieval Christian world (Greek, Coptic, Latin, Syriac, Armenian, Arabic, etc.)
The Armenian reception of Evagrius is notable because Armenian manuscripts, along with Syriac, preserve works of Evagrius that were otherwise suppressed and lost in the original Greek, due to Evagrius’ embroilment in the “Origenist” theological controversies of the sixth century AD.
The hybrid conference may be followed by registering at this Zoom link.
Two recordings of recent public talks by Dr. Jesse Arlen are now available to view along with a gallery of photos.
On Sunday, April 26th Dr. Arlen delivered remarks at the annual commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in Times Square on the theme “Creating Culture in Diaspora,” where he reflected on the past and present of the Armenian American community and imagined a new future, with allusions to diasporas from Armenia’s medieval past. A recording of his remarks are below and a recording of the full event is available here.
On April 9th, Dr. Arlen spoke at the NAASR headquarters in Belmont, MA on the life and significance of his late sister Tenny Arlen’s poetry, whose posthumous volume, To Say with Passion: Why Am I Here? (Կիրքով ըսելու՝ ինչո՞ւ հոս եմ) is the first full-length volume of creative literature published in the Armenian language by an American-born author.
On April 12th, Dr. Arlen gave a similar presentation at St. Mary Armenian Church in Washington, DC. A gallery of select photos from the event is available to view below while the full collection of photos is accessible here.
“This poem is from my forthcoming bilingual book of poetry, entitled Մեհենագիրք / Book of Hieroglyphs, which narrates the birth and maturation of a poet from an all-but-extinct civilization and literary tradition. Each poem in the book follows a letter of the Armenian alphabet and an Egyptian hieroglyph, whose symbolic meaning generates the poem. This poem, after the hieroglyph 𓆭, ‘Ծառ / Tree’ is the first in the fourth and final cycle of the book, entitled ‘Անհատը զարմէն / The Individual from the Clan,’ where the subject matter turns to the ancestors of the poet in the land from which they were exiled.” – Jesse Arlen
