Florence Avakian



Author's articles

Dr. Avdoyan (center) with board members of the Columbia University's Armenia Center.

500 years of Armenian printing heritage presented at Columbia University

Jan 18, 2012: Florence Avakian writes about Dr. Levon Avdoyan’s presentation of the Library of Congress Armenian exhibit opening April 19.  more...



Toufayans with Zangakatun villagers.

Toufayans of New Jersey help upgrade Zangakatun village school

Dec 04, 2011: Birthplace of Paruyr Sevak, Zangakatun in Armenia’s Ararat province benefitting from philanthropy of Harry Toufayan, America’s “Pita King” who has worked through the Fund for Armenian Relief on other Armenia projects since the 1990s, writes Florence Avakian.  more...



Art exhibition curator Vicki Hovanessian (third from left) with members of the Women's Guild.

Women's guild holds fall symposium, art exhibit in New York

Nov 07, 2011: The Women's Guild, the "backbone of the church," organized a 25th anniversary gathering and concurrent exhibit by four Yerevan artists on the theme of spirituality, Florence Avakian reports.  more...



Recent graduate Dn. Benjamin Rith-Najarian with Danielle Der Asadourian and Megan Jendian. Photo by Dn. Ryan Tellalian

At 50, St. Nersess Armenian Seminary announced auspicious plans for future

Oct 31, 2011: Florence Avakian reports from fourth annual Evening Under the Stars at Seminary's New Rochelle campus.  more...



Deacon Mkrtich Ksachikyan is flanked by Abp. Yeghishé Gizirian, St. Nersess faculty members, his parents and brother.

Mkrtich Ksachikyan graduates from St. Nersess seminary

Jun 16, 2011: Florence Avakian reports on new deacon’s path to graduation and its celebration.  more...



Charles Aznavour at FAR office in Yerevan in 2003.

Fund for Armenian Relief to honor Charles Aznavour

Mar 30, 2011: Mark Friday evening, May 20 in New York City on your calendars. It marks an extraordinary event, sponsored by the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) that celebrates both the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence, as well as one of the world’s greatest singers, showmen, songwriters and philanthropists, Charles Aznavour.  more...



Ambassador John Evans.

Ambassador Evans: I have no regrets for calling Genocide by its name

Nov 02, 2010: Former American Ambassador to Armenia John Evans talked to Florence Avakian ahead of the November 19 Armenian Professional Society of Los Angeles gala, where he will be honored.  more...



Jerusalem students with Archbishop Khajag Barsamanian.

St. Nersess program, a “singular experience” for Jerusalem Armenian students

Oct 09, 2010: Jerusalem natives Vasken Panossian, and Karin Hagopian study at the city’s Sts. Tarkmanchatz School  more...



Some of the FAR center children .

Armenia’s "other" children

Sep 24, 2010: Florence Avakian reports on children's care center in Yerevan that is supported by the Fund for Armenian Relief.  more...



Students at Gyumri's IT Center, supported by the Fund for Armenian Relief . Florence Avakian

Gyumri’s resurgence aided by Fund for Armenian Relief

Sep 17, 2010: Florence Avakian visits a soup kitchen, a music school and an IT training center, all supported by the Fund in Armenia's second-largest city.  more...



Sira Melikian and Carlos Fittante . Jeremy Haik

Anahid Sofian’s dance-drama performance, ten years in making

Jun 01, 2010: “It’s my artistic vision of being Armenian. I’m expressing my deep love towards my culture, and honoring my parents,” dancer and choreographer Anahid Sofian told Florence Avakian.  more...



Archbishop Oshagan with members of the Prelacy Ladies Guild.

Prelacy's Ladies Guild celebrate Mother's Day

May 27, 2010: The annual Mother's Day luncheon sponsored by the Prelacy Ladies' Guild is always an event not to be missed. On May 10, close to 170 attended this much-awaited and festive event at the elegant Palace Hotel, located in midtown Manhattan.  more...



V.Ohanyan and the winner of AYT 2010 Eugenia Sarian .

Armenian youth talent shines at Carnegie Hall

Apr 19, 2010: Twenty young Armenians, ages 10 to 18, from around U.S. demonstrated their impressive musical talents to a full house at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall on April 5 in the 2010 Armenian Youth Talent Finalists' Concert.  more...



"Arlequin" 33x24 inch Ink on paper. People's Award 2010 Silver Lake, CA .

Knar Gevorkyan's exhibit is first solo show in 25 years

Apr 14, 2010: The drawing of "Arlequin" brought Yerevan-born Knar Gevorkyan the 2010 People's Choice Award in Los Angeles. And on May 7, Gevorkyan will launch her exhibit at Stephanies Gallery in La Canada.  more...



with Mr. and Mrs. Nazar Nazarians .

Armenian army celebrated at Tekeyan Cultural Association event

Jan 27, 2010: On Friday, January 22 close to 200 people celebrated the 18th anniversary of Armenia's Armed Forces Day and honored the recently appointed Ambassador of Armenia to the United Nations. The special event, held at The Palisadium in New Jersey, was sponsored and hosted by the New York, New Jersey branch of the Tekeyan Cultural Association (TCA).  more...



A panel of physicians organized by AAHPO discusses diabetes. The event took place at the Hovnanian School.

Armenian-American health professionals hold diabetes forum

Dec 16, 2009: "Medical care is the right of every individual", AAHPO president Larry Najarian said. "The AAHPO's mission is to improve healthcare awareness, increase disease prevention and early detection, and provide medical support and education to Armenians in the tri-state area as well as those in our homeland."  more...



From left, Dr. Aram Cazazian, Dr. Roger Ohanesian, Dr. Larry Najarian, and Dr. Arthur Kubikian at the New York Stock Exchange, Nov. 6, 2009.

NY Stock Exchange is venue for AAHPO fundraiser

Dec 02, 2009: It was at a world famous location, the New York Stock Exchange, that the Armenian American Health Professionals Organization (AAHPO) of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut held a well-attended, successful fundraiser on November 6, Florence Avakian reports.  more...



Dr. Edgar Hovsepian and Archbishop Torkom Manoogian in Armenia 1989. Private archive of Dr. Hovsepian

A doctor's doctor to be honored by Fund for Armenian Relief

Nov 12, 2009: Dr. Edgar M. Housepian will be honored by FAR on January 15. Florence Avakian tells the engaging story of the distinguished neurosurgeon who co-founded FAR.  more...



 

St. Nersess Seminary holds "Evening Under the Stars"

Nov 03, 2009: Under a star-studded sky, St. Nersess Seminary held its second Evening under the Stars benefit reception on September 26. It was attended by more than 110 supporters, Florence Avakian reports.  more...



Vastales by Jean Carzou .

Stephanie’s Art Gallery in La Canada prepares to exhibit works of renowned artists

Oct 23, 2009: Jean Carzou, Edgar Chahine, Jean Jansem, and Leon Tutundjian are household names in the European and Armenian art worlds. On Friday, November 13, at a special reception at Stephanie's Art Gallery in La Canada, Calif., which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, their legendary artworks - oil paintings, watercolors, and drawings - will be on display. The exhibition will continue on Saturday, November 14, and Sunday, November 15.  more...



Dr. Vartan Gregorian in 2001. Carnegie Corporation of New York

An interview with Vartan Gregorian, who is to be honored by Armenian Professional Society

Oct 21, 2009: "We cannot consider Armenia a charitable case, but rather an investment case, a place of opportunity," Vartan Gregorian tells Florence Avakian in an interview. Dr. Gregorian will be honored on November 7 by the Armenian Professional Society in Universal City, Calif.  more...



Members of the St. Vartan Cathedral Avaks group listen during a cultural presentation last season .

Avaks begin fall season with trip to Ararat Center

Sep 29, 2009: The fall season has ushered in a new schedule of events for the St. Vartan Cathedral Avak group gatherings.  more...



Bishop Anouchavan with Ambassador Evans and his wife .

The Near East Foundation invests in memory

Sep 29, 2009: On Saturday, September 12, the Near East Foundation hosted a gala reception at the Rockefeller Archive Center in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., to raise funds for its large collection of archival material spanning 94 years of philanthropic history.  more...



Dr. Garabed Fattal.

Dr. Fattal's free clinic logs 40,000 patient visits in 12 years

Sep 10, 2009: It was in 1997 that Dr. Garabed Fattal established a free clinic, subsequently named after him, in Binghamton, N.Y. In the last 12-plus years, 400 to 500 volunteer physicians, nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians, and office personnel have devoted their free time every Monday and Thursday evening from 5 P.M. to as long as it takes, to serve indigent people and those without health insurance, Florence Avakian reports.  more...



Levon Nazarian, Nazar Nazarian, Lord Darzi, Haig Didizian, Vicki Shoghag Hovanessian, and Raffi Hovanessian at the Armenian Medical World Congress, New York, July 4, 2009. Karineh Gurjian-Angelo

Gala banquet closes Armenian Medical World Congress, a four-day gathering

Jul 23, 2009: Close to 600 people attended the gala banquet of the Armenian Medical World Congress in New York's Hilton Hotel Grand Ballroom on July 4, hosted by the Armenian American Health Professionals Organization (AAHPO), the 10th such congress in 36 years. Florence Avakian has the story.  more...



 

Armenian Medical World Congress convenes in New York

Jul 13, 2009: More than 350 Armenian health professionals from 10 countries on five continents assembled at the New York Hilton from July 1 to 4 for the Tenth Armenian Medical World Congress. Florence Avakian has a report.  more...



Dr. Raffy Hovanessian .

Dr. Raffy Hovanessian to emcee Armenian World Medical Congress gala banquet July 4

Jun 26, 2009: Dr. Raffy Hovanessian will be the emcee at the Armenian World Medical Congress gala banquet on July 4 at the New York Hilton. In a story by Florence Avakian, Dr. Hovanessian discusses the agenda of the congress.  more...



Nazar Nazarian and Levon Nazarian, M.D.  .

Three outstanding leaders to be honored at Armenian Medical World Congress banquet July 4

Jun 18, 2009: On July 4, at the gala banquet of the Armenian Medical World Congress in New York, the father-and-son humanitarian and medical outreach team of Nazar Nazarian and Dr. Levon Nazarian will be honored,as will Lord Darzi, a preeminent surgeon and health minister in Great Britain.  more...



Ara Darzi, Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham KBE .

Distinguished Armenian-American health professionals to convene in NY

Jun 10, 2009: Lord Ara Darzi, minister of health of Great Britain, will attend, speak, and be honored at the World Armenian Medical Congress in New York July 1–4.  more...



Youth Bible Study students of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church of Providence, with Abp. Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy .

Armenian clergymen lost during the Genocide remembered at Prelacy forum

May 21, 2009: "Remembering the Forgotten: The Untold Story of Clergymen Lost to the Genocide," featured a powerful presentation by Joanna Baghsarian and the Youth Bible Study students of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church in Providence.  more...



The Avaks pose for a group photo during a recent out-of-town excursion.   .

New York Avaks plan trip to Washington

Apr 16, 2009: The Avaks, "the hardy senior ladies and gents" of St. Vartan Cathedral in New York, are headed for the nation's capital in style, Florence Avakian reports.  more...



Archbishop Oshagan enters Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey, where the Divine Liturgy took place with the participation of the guest Prelates and other clergy.

Eastern Prelacy celebrates 110th anniversary

Dec 09, 2008: The 110th anniversary of the official establishment of the Armenian Prelacy in America by Catholicos of All Armenians Khrimian Hairig, and the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy's affiliation with the Great House of Cilicia were marked on October 25, Florence Avakian reports.  more...



From left: Ambassador Evans, Nicholas Kristof and Garo Armen. COAF

COAF raises $1.25 million for rural Armenia in New York gala

Oct 29, 2008: The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), which held its 2008 Save a Generation Awards Dinner on Friday, October 24, announced that it had raised $1.25 million for its programs focused on children in rural Armenia, bringing the total raised over its five-year existence to over $9 million. Speaking at the dinner, held at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York, was New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof.  more...



Abp. Khajag Barsamian blesses the faithful in a procession through St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral at the start of the Divine Liturgy, celebrated on Oct. 12 on the occasion of the cathedral’s 40th anniversary.

Faithful celebrate 40th anniversary of St. Vartan Cathedral in New York

Oct 18, 2008: It was more than 80 years ago that dedicated survivors of the Armenian Genocide conceived the idea of having an Armenian cathedral in New York City. The visionary and far-sighted idea came to fruition 40 years ago, in 1968.  more...



Ali Babacan. Wikipedia.

In New York, Turkey’s foreign minister sees expanded role for his country

Sep 27, 2008: Invited by the prestigious Council of Foreign Relations (CFR), Ali Babacan, the foreign minister of Turkey, spoke to approximately 50 members and mainly Turkish media on Monday evening, September 22. In an effort to portray Turkey as a partner and friend of the United States, he stated, on "the top foreign policy issues of Turkey and the top foreign policy issues of the United States, you would find that out of 10, at least seven or eight are identical issues."  more...



Dr. Samantha Power, recipient of the ANCA Eastern Region Freedom Award on September 13, 2008 in New York. Arsineh Khachikian

ANCA honors Samantha Power with its Freedom Award

Sep 24, 2008: Pulitzer Prize-winning author and genocide scholar Samantha Power received the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Eastern Region's Freedom Award on September 13 in New York City. More than 350 people gathered for the second annual banquet of the ANCA-ER at the New York Marriott Hotel's Grand Ballroom, where the organization also honored Martha Aramian with its Vahan Cardashian Award.  more...



Isabel Bayrakdarian, with husband Serouj Kradjian at the keyboard, during her captivated Carnegie Hall concert on March 8. Steve Sherman

Sensitive and gentle, romantic and pleading, Bayrakdarian captivates

Mar 22, 2008: Metropolitan Opera soprano soloist Isabel Bayrakdarian with pianist husband Serouj Kradjian captivated an enthusiastic audience at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall on the evening of Saturday, March 8, with a group of classical, romantic, and Armenian selections.  more...



Narek Hakhnazaryan .

A young man’s wisdom on the “most human” of all instruments

Mar 08, 2008: "The voice of the cello is the most human voice of all instruments, except, maybe for the duduk," says Narek Hakhnazaryan. "But that's because I am Armenian." The gifted 19-year old cellist has just become one of the two First Prize winners of the January 2008 prestigious Young Concert Artists International Auditions.  more...