The Zohrab Center welcomes you to attend our first in-person event of 2025 this Monday, February 3rd at the Diocesan Center in NYC. Hope to see you there!
Dr. Nora Lessersohn is the Nikit and Eleanora Ordjanian Visiting Professor of Armenian Studies in the Department of MESAAS at Columbia University. She is a historian of the Armenian-American diaspora and U.S.-Middle East relations, broadly conceived. She earned her PhD in History from University College London in 2023, supported by a Calouste Gulbenkian Armenian Studies Scholarship. In 2021-22, she was a Predoctoral Fellow at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Museum of American History. She earned her AB in the Study of Religion at Harvard College and her AM in Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University, where she was also a Visiting Fellow in 2023-2024. Dr. Lessersohn has published articles on the memoir of her great-grandfather, Hovhannes Cherishian, and is now preparing a manuscript on Chistopher Oscanyan and Ottoman-American cultural diplomacy across the 19th century (and especially in Civil War era New York City).
The International Armenian Literary Alliance, the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research, and the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center will host Literary Lights 2025, our third annual reading series showcasing new works of literature by Armenian authors. Each event—held online or in-person—will feature a writer reading from their work, followed by a discussion with an interviewer and audience members.
Our launch event—featuring contributors and the editors of the recent Wasafiri issueArmenia(n)s—will take place on February 15th! Keep an eye the IALA website and socials for the exact dates of each event and Zoom links. Read along with the series by purchasing titles at IALA’s Bookshop storefront.
“Wasafiri: Armenia(n)s – Elevation” by Tatevik Ayvazyan and Naneh V Hovhannisyan
From poetry and fiction to thought-provoking book reviews, art, life writing and in-depth interviews, this landmark edition is a rich tapestry of modern Armenian voices. It offers readers a profound and eloquent exploration of the human condition through meditations on the Armenian language, culture, and identity. Featured contributors include award-winners such as Chris Bohjalian, Nancy Kricorian, and many more.
Returning to the fabular tone of Zabelle, her popular first novel, Kricorian conjures up the lost worlds and intergenerational traumas that haunt a family in permanent exile. Leavened with humor and imbued with the timelessness of a folktale, The Burning Heart of the World is a sweeping saga that takes readers on an epic journey from the mountains of Cilicia to contemporary New York City.
A thrilling collection of essays converging on themes of natural history, deep/queer ecology, philosophy of science, climate grief, and more-than-human belonging. Wide-ranging, richly observant, and full of surprise, Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature will open your eyes and change how you look at the world around you.
In this deeply moving debut, a close-knit Armenian American family grapples with the aftermath of losing one of their own. Aram Mrjoian’s Waterline: A Novel explores the complex beauty of diaspora, the weight of inherited trauma, and the echoes of the Genocide on contemporary Armenian life.
With Nostalgia for the Future: New and Selected Poems, 1984-2023, award-winning poet Gregory Djanikian returns to the literary scene with a collection that spans and celebrates his prolific career.
To Say With Passion: Why Am I Here? by Tenny Arlen
Tenny Arlen’s book of posthumous Armenian poetry, Կիրքով ըսելու՝ ինչո՞ւ հոս եմ (ARI Literature Foundation, 2021) is among the first books of creative literature written in Armenian by an American-born author. For the most part written during the author’s years at UCLA (2011-2013), the poetry of Tenny Arlen represents not only a new phenomenon but a new voice in Modern Armenian literature. At the request of many, a bilingual edition of the book, featuring the author’s own English-language translations of her poetry, lightly edited by the poet’s brother, Dr. Jesse Arlen.
Please mark your calendars for the following in-person events hosted by the Zohrab Center at the Diocesan Center in New York. We hope to see you at one or all!
On Monday, February 3rd, at 7:00pm, Dr. Nora Lessersohn will deliver an illustrated lecture entitled, “The Twain Shall Meet: Armenian-American Images from the Civil War Era.”
All are welcome to attend this public event, featuring the life and work of Christopher Oscanyan, the first Armenian New Yorker.
Dr. Nora Lessersohn is the Nikit and Eleanora Ordjanian Visiting Professor of Armenian Studies in the Department of MESAAS at Columbia University. She is a historian of the Armenian-American diaspora and U.S.-Middle East relations, broadly conceived. She earned her PhD in History from University College London in 2023, supported by a Calouste Gulbenkian Armenian Studies Scholarship. In 2021-22, she was a Predoctoral Fellow at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Museum of American History. She earned her AB in the Study of Religion at Harvard College and her AM in Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University, where she was also a Visiting Fellow in 2023-2024. Dr. Lessersohn has published articles on the memoir of her great-grandfather, Hovhannes Cherishian, and is now preparing a manuscript on Chistopher Oscanyan and Ottoman-American cultural diplomacy across the 19th century (and especially in Civil War era New York City).
The Zohrab Information Center is hosting a Գրաբար reading course, “Medieval Armenian Poetry,” on Mondays 2:00–4:00pm ET via Zoom from January 13th to March 31st. Those unable to attend live can have access to the course materials and recordings of the sessions by registering via the Zoom registration linked below.
The course will be taught by Dr. Jesse Arlen with poetic texts chosen from the rich treasury of medieval Armenian literature. Writers include the 8th-century female hymn composers Khosrovidukht Goghtnatsi and Sahakdukht Siwnetsi, as well as Anania of Narek and St. Gregory of Narek, Gregory Magistros, St. Nersess Shnorhali, and others.
It is recommended that participants already be familiar with the basics of Classical Armenian grammar or have reading and writing knowledge of Modern Armenian in order to benefit from the course.
To register for the course, click here. For questions about the course, send an email to: zohrabcenter@armeniandiocese.org.
On Thursday, January 16th at 7:00pm PT / 10:00pm ET, Dr. Jesse Arlen will give a presentation hosted by the Hamazkayin Western Region Literary Unit on St. Nersess Shnorhali and the recently published book by co-authors Jesse Arlen and Matthew Sarkisian Odes of St. Nersess the Graceful: Annotated Translation (New York: Tarkmaneal Press, 2024).
Please register for this online event, whose proceedings will take place primarily in Armenian, at this link.
The Zohrab Center warmly invites you to our next in-person event and our last event of 2024, a public lecture by Tamar Purut, entitled, “Frik’s Relatable Freakshow: Echoes of Faith and Endurance for Confronting Today’s Geopolitical Turmoil.”
This interactive lecture will take place in Yerevan Room of the Diocesan Center on Thursday, December 12th at 7:00pm. Enter on 2nd Ave.
All are welcome to attend!
Tamar Purut is a first-generation Armenian-American born and raised in New Jersey. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Political Science from Seton Hall University, a Master’s Degree in International Security from University College London, and, most recently, a postgraduate degree in Classical Armenian Studies from the University of Oxford. She is seasoned in operating anti-money laundering and compliance programs at first-tier global financial institutions and is presently an Assistant Vice President at BHI Bank. Tamar wishes to continue serving her compatriots while inspiring further discourse on what it means to be an Armenian in the diaspora while remembering and honoring her roots.
Description of Lecture: This talk will explore the life and legacy of Frik, one of Armenia’s most influential medieval poets. Through his eloquent verse, Frik captured the struggles of his time, blending profound theological reflection with poignant political commentary. His work delves into the complex relationship between faith, identity, and the ever-shifting contours of power. The presentation will examine how Frik’s writings, though rooted in the medieval Armenian experience, continue to resonate with contemporary geopolitical conflicts and questions of faith. Tamar will discuss how his reflections on the human condition and the search for divine justice offer timeless insights into the challenges we face today. This will be an opportunity to (re)discover how Frik’s poetic vision still echoes in modern debates about religion, conflict, and the pursuit of meaning in an increasingly fragmented world.
In partnership with Dumbarton Oaks and the Zohrab Center of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, HMML will host an intensive four-week course as an introduction to the Armenian language and paleography in the summer of 2025. This course is intended for doctoral 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.
Funder
Dumbarton Oaks
Location
The 2025 summer course will be taught on the beautiful campus of Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, USA.
Course level
Introduction to Classical Armenian
Course length
Four weeks
Dates
July 7, 2025 to August 1, 2025
Course size
Up to 14 students
Costs
All course costs are covered by Dumbarton Oaks for the 2025 course. Participants must pay their own travel costs to and from Collegeville, Minnesota, USA.
Accommodations
Students will be housed in dormitory apartments on the Saint John’s University campus. Each participant will have an air-conditioned, private bedroom and bathroom, with shared kitchen and laundry facilities.
A meal contract at the college Refectory will be provided.
Course overview
Sessions are held Monday–Friday in the morning and afternoon.
Total instruction time equals 110 hours.
The Dumbarton Oaks/HMML 2025 summer course “Introduction to Classical Armenian” will introduce students to the fundamentals of Classical Armenian grammar at the introductory level.
The goal of the course is to give students an active command of the language through grammar instruction and reading texts.
The textbook for the course will be: An Introduction to Classical Armenian, Robert W. Thomson (Delmar, NY: Caravan Books, 1989, 2nd. ed.), now out of print. Students will be provided in advance with a PDF copy of this book — which they are encouraged to print physical copies of — and any other materials needed for the course. Other supplemental materials prepared by the instructors will also be distributed to the students.
Once a sufficient basis of grammar has been covered, a portion of the daily work will be devoted to reading and translating Classical Armenian texts, which may be chosen based on student interest and will include both published texts as well as manuscript images.
During the course, students will also be introduced to the primary lexica, manuscript repositories, and print and online resources available to aid them in their subsequent research on pre-modern Armenian texts.
By the end of the course, students will be able to independently approach Classical Armenian texts with a comprehensive grasp of grammar and syntax and translate from Armenian into English with confidence.
Following this intensive course, students will be able to continue reading on their own or to enter reading courses at other institutions.
Prerequisites
Students will be required to learn the Armenian alphabet and practice reading and pronunciation before the course begins.
Students will be introduced to both Eastern and Western pronunciation and will be encouraged to pick one pronunciation to make their own.
Materials will be provided to aid in mastering the alphabet and for practicing reading and pronunciation.
Those with significant prior study of Armenian (e.g., a semester-long class) will not be considered.
Faculty for 2025
Guest faculty:Dr. Jesse Siragan Arlen, director, Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America; postdoctoral research fellow, Orthodox Christian Studies Center, Fordham University; and Dr. Christopher Sprecher, postdoctoral researcher, Austrian Academy of Sciences/Institute for Medieval Research, Cluster of Excellence “EurAsian Transformations”
Letter of no more than two single-spaced pages describing the applicant’s academic background, including language skills, and an explanation for why learning Armenian is important for future research and teaching. Address letter to HMML Executive Director Columba Stewart, Ph.D.
Updated curriculum vitae
A transcript of graduate school coursework for those who are currently doing graduate study. This is not required for those who completed a PhD
Add “Armenian 2025 Summer School” in the subject line.
Letter of recommendation authors
Letters of recommendation should be sent directly from the author of the letter to HMML. Please send the letter as email attachment to scholarlyprograms@hmml.org.
Add “Armenian 2025 Summer School and the applicant’s name” in the subject line.
Selection criteria
Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of previous academic achievement, demonstrated need for intensive study of Classical Armenian, and research promise.
Notification of acceptance
All awards will be announced by March 14, 2025.
Students accepting a place in the course will need to notify HMML by March 28, 2025.
Alternates, if space becomes available, will be announced March 31, 2025.
About Dumbarton Oaks:Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection is an institute in Washington, D.C., administered by the Trustees for Harvard University. It supports research and learning internationally in Byzantine, Garden and Landscape, and Pre-Columbian studies through fellowships and internships, meetings, and exhibitions. Located in residential Georgetown, Dumbarton Oaks welcomes researchers at all career stages who come to study its books, objects, images, and documents.
About the Zohrab Center of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America:The Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center at the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America was founded in 1987 through a perpetual endowment by Dolores Zohrab Liebmann, in memory of her parents. Her father, Krikor Zohrab, was a renowned Ottoman-Armenian community leader, parliamentarian, lawyer, and writer, who was murdered in the early days of the genocide of 1915. Today the Zohrab Center functions as a research library and community center that promotes the full range of Armenian studies and assists students, scholars, the Armenian community, and general public in deepening their appreciation for Armenian history, civilization, and culture, especially within their overwhelmingly Christian ambit.
The Zohrab Information Center is hosting a Գրաբար reading course, “Medieval Armenian Poetry,” on Mondays 2:00–4:00pm ET via Zoom from January 13th to March 31st. The course will be taught by Dr. Jesse Arlen with poetic texts chosen from the rich treasury of medieval Armenian literature.
It is recommended that participants already be familiar with the basics of Classical Armenian grammar or have reading and writing knowledge of Modern Armenian in order to benefit from the course.
To register for the course, click here. For questions about the course, send an email to: zohrabcenter@armeniandiocese.org.
The Zohrab Center warmly invites you to our next in-person event, a public lecture by Tamar Purut, entitled, “Frik’s Relatable Freakshow: Echoes of Faith and Endurance for Confronting Today’s Geopolitical Turmoil.” This interactive lecture will take place in Yerevan Room of the Diocesan Center on Thursday, December 12th at 7:00pm. All are welcome to attend.
Tamar Purut is a first-generation Armenian-American born and raised in New Jersey. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Political Science from Seton Hall University, a Master’s Degree in International Security from University College London, and, most recently, a postgraduate degree in Classical Armenian Studies from the University of Oxford. She is seasoned in operating anti-money laundering and compliance programs at first-tier global financial institutions and is presently an Assistant Vice President at BHI Bank. Tamar wishes to continue serving her compatriots while inspiring further discourse on what it means to be an Armenian in the diaspora while remembering and honoring her roots.
Description of Lecture: This talk will explore the life and legacy of Frik, one of Armenia’s most influential medieval poets. Through his eloquent verse, Frik captured the struggles of his time, blending profound theological reflection with poignant political commentary. His work delves into the complex relationship between faith, identity, and the ever-shifting contours of power. The presentation will examine how Frik’s writings, though rooted in the medieval Armenian experience, continue to resonate with contemporary geopolitical conflicts and questions of faith. Tamar will discuss how his reflections on the human condition and the search for divine justice offer timeless insights into the challenges we face today. This will be an opportunity to (re)discover how Frik’s poetic vision still echoes in modern debates about religion, conflict, and the pursuit of meaning in an increasingly fragmented world.
