Tag: Armenian Church History

A Reflection on the Symbolism and Meaning of the Two New Icons of St. Vartan and St. Shushanik

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Recently, two new icons have been added to the sanctuary of St. Vartan Cathedral, depicting the cathedral’s namesake and his martyred daughter, consecrated by Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan on the occasion of the Feast of Sts. Vartanantz on February 27th.

Armenian artist M. Hovanessian painted his subjects, Saints Vartan and Shushanik, with great skill, and in heroic scale: each canvass measures over eight feet in height.

But they were also painted in accordance with age-old Christian traditions governing how to portray saintly subjects, to make them suitable for veneration.

Below, Zohrab Center Director Dr. Jesse Arlen offers reflections on the two icons.

Unlike realist paintings or photographs, holy icons do not attempt to depict events as they happened in a single moment of historical time. Rather, icons invite those who behold them to contemplate the meaning of events from a heavenly, divine perspective.

One encounters little historical detail in the two new icons of St. Vartan and St. Shushanik that adorn the entrance of St. Vartan Cathedral in New York City. Absent from the icon of St. Vartan are scenes of battle and bloodshed, like we find in various medieval manuscript illuminations, or modern paintings depicting St. Vartan and the Battle of Avarayr.

Absent from the icon of St. Shushanik are the gruesome tortures inflicted on the holy woman’s saintly body, which fill the pages of the Armenian and Georgian martyrologies of the saint.

What are we beholding, then, when we gaze at the icons of these two saints? Icons are famously described as “windows into heaven” or “sacred windows.” But what does that mean?

Heaven signifies the meaning of things: it is the invisible realm of reality, and we gain access to that realm through symbols. The icon is a kind of tutor, telling us of the reality behind and beyond what our physical eye can see. Icons reveal the truth—but not historical truth. It is truth of another dimension: invisible, spiritual reality, not perceivable to our physical eyes. Hence, the need for the icon, which gives us a view into heavenly reality.

In earthly, historical time, Vartan Mamikonian died in battle with other Armenian nobles. In the icon, he stands victorious, holding not a spear but a processional cross, standing at the front of what one may imagine to be a long line of heroic saints behind him.

The icon of St. Vartan by artist M. Hovanessian

Sheathed is his sword; removed his helmet. For we see Vartan not as he stood on earth, but as he stands in Heaven—where, the prophet says, “Swords are beaten into plowshares, spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not take up sword against nation, and no more shall they learn to wage war” (Isaiah 2:4).

The saint stands atop a high place, with more of the heavens visible behind him than the earth below his feet. His cloak and the plume of his helmet are red: the color associated, in memory and symbol, with the blood he shed as a witness to His Lord, in defense of the Christian faith.

Denying himself, Vartan took up the cross he holds high with his right hand, and followed after Christ. In so doing, for the sake of Christ, he lost his life and lost the world—but gained his soul and was rewarded with eternal life (Matthew 16:24–25).

In a similar place stands St. Shushanik, daughter of St. Vartan and descendant of St. Gregory the Illuminator. Around her are white lilies, the flower after which she is named: “I am a lily (shushan) of the valleys” (Song of Songs 2:1). Like the Illuminator before her, in historical time she endured years of physical torture, beatings, and imprisonment—not at the hands of enemies but by the hand and command of her own husband, Vazgen, the apostate margrave of Georgia.

The icon of St. Shushanik by artist M. Hovanessian

Yet in the icon, we behold not a disfigured, broken body, but the immaculate body of a saintly woman. We see Shushanik as she is in heaven, where God has healed her broken heart and bound up all her wounds (Psalm 146/147:3). Lying at her feet are the unbound iron shackles with which she was once fettered in an earthly prison. But God saved her from darkness and the shadow of death, and broke away her chains (Psalm 106/107:14).

In her hand, she holds a sacred book. As we read in the historian Ukhtanes, during her tortures, “she had with her a small book, with which she performed her devotions and psalmody.” Now she stands in heaven, holding in one hand the cross and in her other the sacred Gospel, for which she endured torture, after the pattern of her ancestor St. Gregory and her Lord Jesus Christ.

She stands regally in noble raiment, crowned with the imperishable crown (1 Cor. 9:25). Behind her silent visage, it is as if we can hear her speaking the words of the prophet silently to herself, that she “has been clothed in a garment of salvation and a cloak of joy. Like a bridegroom he put a crown on my head and like a bride he adorned me with jewels” (Isaiah 61:10).

Grace and Paul Shahinian Armenian Christian Art and Culture Lecture on March 27th in Washington DC

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The Zohrab Center is pleased to share that the third annual Grace and Paul Shahinian Armenian Christian Art and Culture Lecture, established through the generosity of Mr. Dean Shahinian, will take place on March 27th in Washington, D.C. Please find the details below:

Lecture Title: “When Things Fall Apart: Disentangling Christian-Muslim Relations in Medieval Armenia”
Speaker: Prof. Sergio La Porta
Place: Heritage Hall in O’Connell Hall at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
Date and Time: March 27 at 5 pm
Lecture open and free to the public. Reception to follow
For more information and to register, click here https://trs.catholic.edu/lectures-and-events/grace-and-paul/index.html

Dr. Sergio La Porta is currently the Acting Dean of the Kremen School of Education and Human Development at California State University, Fresno. Prior to assuming this role, he was the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities and the Haig and Isabel Berberian Professor of Armenian Studies. His most recent book publication, co-authored with Dr. Alison Vacca, is entitled, An Armenian Futūḥ Narrative: Łewond’s Eighth-Century History of the Caliphate (Chicago: Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, 2024). In addition, Dr. La Porta has published on the Armenian commentaries on the works attributed to Dionysius the Areopagite, and numerous articles on medieval Armenian intellectual history and cultural interactions with the Islamicate, Byzantine, and Latinate worlds.

The Byzantine annexation of Armenia in the eleventh century followed by the Seljuk invasions brought dramatic political and demographic changes to the region. Nonetheless, a modus vivendi between Christians and Muslims in Armenia was established by the end of that century. This condition of “rough tolerance,” to borrow a phrase used by MacEvitt in the context of the Crusades, lasted until the second half of the twelfth century. This talk will argue that contemporary Armenian stories of martyrdom both shed light on the previous state of affairs and document the disintegration of intercommunal relations during this period.

Past Lectures in the Grace and Paul Shahinian Armenian Christian Art and Culture Lecture Series:

(1) The inaugural lecture was on March 23, 2023 at 5 pm (Heritage Hall, The Catholic University of America). The speaker was Prof. Christina Maranci (Harvard University) who spoke on the topic “Armenia and the World in Art and Text.”  For a video of the lecture, see  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBccQFf1Tmg&t=15s 

(2) On March 21, 2024 we hosted the Second Annual “The Grace and Paul Shahinian Armenian Christian Art and Culture Lecture Series.” The speaker was Prof. Zara Pogossian (University of Florence) who spoke on the topic “Women and Power in Medieval Armenia: Beyond Local Dynasties and Eurasian Empires.”  For a video of the lecture, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-Uyg8VUfzc&t=212s 

Dr. Jesse Arlen to speak at Hamazkayin Western Region Literary Unit on January 16th over Zoom

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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.

Zoom meeting ID: 864 7185 3213
Passcode: 406800

The book is available for purchase from the Prelacy Bookstore, NAASR bookstore, Abril Books, AGBU Bookstore or on Amazon.

REMINDER: Thursday, Dec. 12 at 7:00pm — “Frik’s Relatable Freakshow: Echoes of Faith and Endurance for Confronting Today’s Geopolitical Turmoil” by Tamar Purut

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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.

Thursday, Dec. 12 at 7:00pm — “Frik’s Relatable Freakshow: Echoes of Faith and Endurance for Confronting Today’s Geopolitical Turmoil” by Tamar Purut

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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.

 

Odes of Saint Nersess the Graceful: A Conversation with Jesse S. Arlen and Matthew J. Sarkisian

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On Monday, April 15th at 4:00pm ET, authors Jesse S. Arlen and Matthew J. Sarkisian will discuss their new book, Odes of Saint Nersess the Graceful: Annotated Translation, in conversation with Prof. George Demacopoulos. The Zoom webinar is hosted by the Orthodox Christian Studies Center of Fordham University and co-sponsored by NAASR and the Zohrab Information Center.

Register for the Zoom webinar here.

The book is available to purchase from Armenian booksellers, including the NAASR bookstore, AGBU bookstore, Abril Books, and the Prelacy Bookstore as well as via Amazon.

“The Backbone of the Country” and “A Wedge Driven into the Turkic World”: Historical and Geographical Imaginations in Siunik after the Second Karabakh War by Dr. Nareg Seferian on Wed., April 3rd at 7:00pm

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The Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center cordially invites you to a public lecture by Dr. Nareg Seferian, entitled “”The Backbone of the Country” and “A Wedge Driven into the Turkic World”: Historical and Geographical Imaginations in Siunik after the Second Karabakh War.” The lecture will take place on Wednesday, April 3rd at 7:00pm in Guild Hall at the Diocesan Center.

Abstract: The Second Karabakh War of 2020 had far-reaching repurcusions in the South Caucasus. The province of Siunik (Syunik) in southern Armenia turned into a particularly sensitive area as a result. Almost overnight, the inhabitants of the province unexpecedly found themselves facing new borders with Azerbaijan. Spaces that had never been frontiers suddenly had to accommodate armed forces flying three flags while dealing with blocked transportation networks and disrupted economic activity. Those substantial material security challenges found their reflections in ideological discourses and narratives as well.

How do the Armenians of Siunik perceive their new geography? Based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in the province in the autumn of 2021, this talk presents local perceptions on the changing dynamics of Siunik and Armenia as they navigate through the trauma and shock of the Second Karabakh War, and the developments since.

Nareg Seferian received his PhD from the School of Public and International Affairs, Virginia Tech, in 2023. He served on the faculty of the American University of Armenia from 2013 to 2016 and also taught at Virginia Tech during and after his doctoral studies from 2019 to 2023. His published writings are available at naregseferian.com.

NEW BOOK RELEASED — Odes of Saint Nersess the Graceful: Annotated Translation by Matthew J. Sarkisian and Jesse S. Arlen

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The Zohrab Information Center is pleased to announce the release of Odes of Saint Nersess the Graceful: Annotated Translation by Matthew J. Sarkisian and Jesse S. Arlen. The volume is the second in the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center’s series Sources from the Armenian Christian Tradition and is available to purchase on Amazon.

St. Nersess the Graceful (Nersēs Shnorhali, 1102–1173 A.D.), catholicos from 1166 until his death in 1173, was one of the great figures of the medieval Armenian Church. His most popular work is the prayer of twenty-four stanzas commonly known as “With Faith I Confess” (Havadov Khosdovanim), which has been translated into more than thirty languages. He was also a prolific author and composer of hymns and other poetic works, many of which remain little known today. This volume presents the Armenian text and an English translation of sixty of St. Nersess’s liturgical odes (tagh), fifty-eight of which have never been previously translated into English. These profound songs of praise were composed to enhance the celebration and reflect on the mystery of the various feasts and commemorations that make up the Christian liturgical year. The translation is accompanied by an introduction and extensive annotation, which brings to light the Biblical, theological, and poetic features of these literary treasures, making them accessible to the general reader in the twenty-first century.

Tarkmaneal Press was founded in 2024 by Matthew J. Sarkisian and Jesse S. Arlen with the goal of bringing bilingual editions of classical Armenian texts with annotated English translations available to a wide audience. Sarkisian is a self-taught translator of Classical Armenian who lives in the Binghamton, New York area. He previously collaborated with Jesse Arlen on an annotated translation of an Armenian prayer scroll (hmayil), published in 2022 by the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center. Arlen is the director of the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center at the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, and a postdoctoral research fellow at the Orthodox Christian Studies Center of Fordham University. He has published a number of studies on late antique and medieval Christian spirituality and monastic literature.

Praise for the Volume

“St. Nersess Shnorhali, Nersess the Graceful, belongs to the rank of those Church Fathers and Doctors who rightfully can be declared “the lyre of the Holy Spirit.” One of the earliest European Armenologists, the Jesuit Fr. Jacques Villote, admiring the sublime touches of heavenly inspiration emanating from Shnorhali’s verses, called his poetic masterpiece — named in Armenian Յիսուս, Որդի (Jesus, Son) from its incipit — “The Divine Elegy.” Nersess Shnorhali is one of the most exceptional figures in the history of the universal Church for more than one reason, but above all for his passionate search for the unity of the Church, and for his deep understanding, in the wake of St. Gregory of Narek, of the fragility, the conventionality, the inadequacy of human language in speaking of Divine mystery. The Odes in this volume, masterfully translated and commented upon by Matthew J. Sarkisian and Jesse S. Arlen, are among the most vibrant, genuine, and touching expressions of Shnorhali’s spirituality.”

— Abp. Levon Zekiyan, Emeritus Professor of Armenian Studies, Ca’ Foscari, Venice, and the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome

“St. Nersess Shnorhali’s hymns are known for their literary beauty and spiritual sublimity. Sarkisian and Arlen convey both aspects in their mellifluous translation. The substantial annotation they provide further defines their mastery of the classical text.”

— Abraham Terian, Emeritus Professor of Armenian Patristics and Theology, St. Nersess Armenian Seminary

“Thanks to Jesse Arlen and Matthew Sarkisian for this carefully prepared labor of love and learning. They have curated for us a trove of lesser-known, spiritual gems from the vast storehouse of St. Nersess Shnorhali’s writings.”

— Roberta Ervine, Professor of Armenian Christian Studies, St. Nersess Armenian Seminary

Watch the Recording of the St. Nersess Shnorhali Conference in Rome on YouTube Now

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The international conference “Plenitude of Grace, Plenitude of Humanity: St Nerses Shnorhali at the Juncture of Millennia” took place Thursday and Friday (Nov 30–Dec 1) at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. The recordings of all sessions from both days are available to view online through the YouTube Channel of the Pontifical Oriental Institute or below.A conference flyer and schedule are also available to view below.