Everyone is welcome to join our “Things Armenian” Series!
Come explore the rich history, culture, and current topics of the Armenian people in a welcoming and engaging environment. No registration required—just come as you are and join the conversation! We look forward to seeing you there.
Diocese and Zohrab Center archivist Linda Page will give a virtual presentation on the archival collections of Vava Sarkis Khachaturian and Arshile Gorky on Monday, October 26, 2026 at 11 a.m. EST. The unique records housed in the Armenian diocese and the Zohrab Information Center cover Armenian and Armenian-American life beyond the church, including the materials of several writers, singers, and artists. The archival collections of Vava Sarkis Khachaturian (born Vardanoush Sarian) and Arshile Gorky (born Vostanik Manoug Adoian) represent two comprehensive records into Armenians who not only made it to America, but were well-known citizens of New York and painters who represented their work across the globe.
This presentation is part of the proceedings of New York Archives Week, which runs from October 21-28, 2026, presented by the Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York (A.R.T.); Page is the group’s Director of Outreach and the Editor-in-Chief of their quarterly newsletter, The Paper of Records. Over 30 unique archives in New York City and Jersey City are hosting in-person, hybrid, and virtual tours, presentations, screenings, and events that are free and open to the public. This presentation is also part of the Archives Education Institute (AEI), a NYAW initiative that hopes to bring educators together with archivists to show the power and potential in using primary sources at any age. Registration through Zoom is is mandatory, and will be capped at 100 registrants. Feel free to share this information, and tune into the presentation!
Join the Zohrab Center and Next Gen Leaders of the Eastern Diocese (@nextgeneasterndiocese) for an evening of cocktails, conversation, and poetry as we explore the powerful words and legacy of Tenny Arlen (1991–2015) and her groundbreaking collection, To Say with Passion: Why Am I Here?
This will also be a great opportunity to bid farewell to Dr. Jesse Arlen, whose tenure at the Zohrab Center ends this month, since he will begin a new position this Fall at Harvard.
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
Join the Zohrab Center and Next Gen Leaders of the Eastern Diocese (@nextgeneasterndiocese) for an evening of cocktails, conversation, and poetry as we explore the powerful words and legacy of Tenny Arlen (1991–2015) and her groundbreaking collection, To Say with Passion: Why Am I Here?
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
On Tuesday, March 24th, at 6:30pm, in collaboration with the NextGen Leaders of the Eastern Diocese, the Zohrab Center will open its doors for an in-person viewing of manuscripts, scrolls, photographs, and other treasures from the Zohrab Center special collections.
Guests will have the opportunity to view the Center’s collections throughout the evening while enjoying drinks, small bites, and conversation upstairs in Srpazan’s Tahlidj (Grand Hall).
Note: This is a ticketed event.
Reserve your spot here.
Tonight the Zohrab Center is hosting a poetry workshop with Quarter Tone Poets, an initiative directed by poet Raffi Wartanian dedicated to innovative literary expression in Western Armenian and exploring the musicality of language and the linguistic possibilities discovered through music.
On Tuesday, March 3rd, at 7:00pm in the newly renovated Park View Room at the Diocesan Center, New York poet Lola Koundakjian will engage in a conversation on the craft of writing poetry with Zohrab Center director Dr. Jesse Arlen and then participants will have a chance to write their own original poetry, guided by prompts while live music is being performed by Raffi Wartanian (oud) and Alexander Sasha Hakobyan (guitar).
Don’t miss this one-of-a kind event!
For more info on this initiative, visit https://www.quartertonepoets.org/workshops
We are looking forward to hosting a poetry workshop with Quarter Tone Poets, an initiative directed by poet Raffi Wartanian dedicated to innovative literary expression in Western Armenian and exploring the musicality of language and the linguistic possibilities discovered through music.
On Tuesday, March 3rd, at 7:00pm in the newly renovated Park View Room at the Diocesan Center, New York poet Lola Koundakjian will engage in a conversation on the craft of writing poetry with Zohrab Center director Dr. Jesse Arlen and then participants will have a chance to write their own original poetry, guided by prompts while live music is being performed.
Whether you are an experienced poet or interested in experimenting with writing and creative expression, you won’t want to miss this one of a kind event.
Mark your calendars and save the date!
For more info on this initiative, visit https://www.quartertonepoets.org/workshops
St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral and the Zohrab Center are teaming up to offer Armenian language classes for adults this Spring, Thursday evenings 6:30–8:00pm from February 5–May 14 in person at the Diocesan Center.
Two levels are being offered: one, for complete beginners including those needing to learn the alphabet; the second for intermediate students.
We will be following Charry Karamanoukian’s Beginning Armenian: A Communicative Textbook (Routledge, 2023), which presents Western and Eastern Armenian standards in parallel lessons. The cost of the textbook is included in the registration fee.
The course will also make use of additional materials and readings.
The teachers for the beginning course will be Jesse Arlen and Hovannes Khosdeghian, while the intermediate course will be taught by Arthur Ipek and Nareg Seferian.
To register, visit: https://givebutter.com/round-2-language-course
The Zohrab Center warmly invites you to sign up for “Խորհուրդ Խորին / Mystery Profound,” the second half of a Գրաբար reading course to take place on Mondays 2:00–4:00pm ET from February 2nd to May 25th via Zoom.
The course will be led by Zohrab Center director Dr. Jesse Arlen and will focus on the hymns, chants, and prayers of the Divine Liturgy of the Armenian Church (Ս. Պատարագ), including hymn verses not commonly sung in contemporary practice as well as prayers of the service said silently by the celebrant.
The first part of this course covered the rite of vesting and preparation as well as the Liturgy of the Word, while the second half of the course will focus upon the Eucharistic Liturgy proper.
In order to benefit from the course, participants should be able to comfortably read the Armenian alphabet and have some prior experience with classical or modern Armenian.
Register for the course at this Zoom registration link.
For questions about the course, email zohrabcenter@armeniandiocese.org
In partnership with Dumbarton Oaks and the Zohrab Center, HMML will host an intensive three-week course on Classical Armenian for the intermediate level from July 5-July 25, 2026, at HMML in Collegeville, Minnesota.
This course, to be taught by Dr. Jesse Arlen and Dr. Julia Hintlian, is intended for graduate students or recent PhDs, who can demonstrate a need for Classical Armenian in their research. Priority is given to students who lack opportunities to study Armenian at their own institutions. The program welcomes international applicants but does not sponsor J visas.
Tuition, room, & board are free for admitted students, thanks to support from Dumbarton Oaks.
Applications are now being accepted.
To apply or for more info, visit: https://hmml.org/programs/