“WHY ARE STORIES SO VITAL?” FR. NALBANDIAN’S
REFLECTIONS ON “AZEZEN AMERICA”
·
May 4, 2022
At the
tribute for Zarminé Boghosian on April
27, 2022, Fr. Untzag Nalbandian delivered the following remarks on her
memoir,
From Azez
to America.
* * *
Three days after the 107th anniversary
commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, we gather here under the dome of St.
Vartan Cathedral and auspices of our Primate, Bishop Daniel. Once again, this
testifies we not only survived but we continue to thrive. And we are a creative
people, in this case, also in literary endeavors.
Mrs. Zarminé Boghosian’s newly published
434 page memoir, From Azez to America is beautifully written in Western
Armenian. Although not strictly autobiographical, she has organized the book
under different categories, such as: People Who Influenced My Life,
Unforgettable Meetings, Meeting with literary figures, and writers, from our
community life, to mention the few. The book was published in Armenia and I
understand that almost all copies are gone. After reading this book, you learn
that Zarminé is a keen observer, fine commentator and good storyteller.
We are gathered here to honor the author
for her literary work; however I feel she honors us and future generations by
sharing her stories and honest thoughts in writing. As she told me, “I wrote
this book so that my writings will not be lost.” And of course and also, to
educate the new generation.
Our people and especially intellectuals
have always appreciated its writers. They knew well the “recited words fly by
and it is the writing that stays «խօսքը կը թռչի, գիրը՝ կը մնայ» as we say in
Armenian.
Zarminé Boghosian is familiar to us–as an educator and
school principal of Holy
Martyrs Day
School, contributor to Armenian newspapers, and
now memoirist. Anyone can read her book with great pleasure or as we say in
Armenian, Համով հոտով։ She has taught Armenian language and culture in this
very St. Vartan Cathedral for 10 or more years.
Zarminé is also a member of the Armenian
Church, to which she refers many times in her book. As she describes, “In Azez,
on the day of the Feast of Dyarnuntarach (the Presentation of
the Lord to the Temple),
we had to make sure we could take the light to our homes without extinguishing
it.’’
For sure, all these years she has not
only brought that light, Zarminé has radiated it wherever she went, including
into the minds and hearts of all her students.
The author’s life spans two countries, Syria and the United States. Instead of writing
solely her own autobiography, she wrote about her meetings with important and
well-known intellectuals, writers, musicians, inventors, educators and those
who are concerned with Armenian life and issues. In this book you also will
find essays on different events and anniversaries.
Why are stories so vital? Because
through our stories, we can educate the new generation about our faith and
Christ-centered culture! Yes, by telling her stories, she educates the reader.
She expresses her thoughts freely, without hesitation. She knows well as an
educator, she must say the things that others may not say, not to criticize,
but to correct, to teach, to make readers aware and think about those things
that need to change.
The first part of her book is about Azez
and Aleppo. She
describes her family and friends, childhood Armenian school years, very much
connected to the Syrian Armenian community. She speaks about the local Soorp
Takavor Armenian Church in Azez. She also mentions her Jerusalem Odyssey with
her brother, Fr. Vrtanes and how they somehow had to leave under not pleasant
circumstances.
She mentions important and well-known
individuals, to name the few, Silva Gaboudikian, Antranig Poladian,
Raymond Damadian, Aris Sevag, Lousine Zakarian, Sahan Arzruni, Sero Khanzadian,
Maro Markarian, Arshille Gorky, Dr. Hrand Markarian, Zareh Melkonian and many
more.
She also writes about events she has
attended and reflected upon, such as the 100 year old Armenian Students
Association, AGBU, A century old life of Armenians in America, or the 100 year old Grtasirats Armenian school
in Aleppo and her first job as a teacher in that school after her graduation
from Najarian-Gulbenkian High School.
Her book is also didactic. She at times
tries to educate her readers or at least make them stop and reflect. For
example, while describing Dr. Pergrouhi Najarian Svajian’s hospitalization, she
writes that one of the nurses spoke highly of Dr. Svajian saying, “What an
extraordinary woman she is.” When Zarmine told Dr. Svajian, who was on a
stretcher going to surgery, Dr. Svajian responded, “Even though she just met
me, she knew me better than some who worked with me for years.” I think there
is a lesson for us to learn from Dr. Svajian’s short message. First, we must
appreciate what we have.
Unfortunately, often others, foreigners
and strangers admire what we Armenians have more than we do.
She also relates the story of the Holy Martyrs
Armenian Day
school sign. She, as the principal of the daily
school was given permission to order and place the sign in front of the school.
Disappointment came when the church leadership told her hold on, we must still
discuss this in our PC meeting. We must agree on the color and the size
of the sign and the exact location where it should be placed. The lesson?
Sometimes, we waste our time on secondary matters instead of focusing on more
important issues. Maybe this story caught my attention because I am a parish
priest.
She describes how she and others from
abroad attended an Armenian language teachers’ training conference in Armenia. She
and other participants noticed it was not well organized. But they agreed not
to criticize. They decided to speak and write positively about it. This too –
refraining from being overly critical — is an important virtue, sometimes
lacking in our people, including our community leaders.
Zarminé also mentions the advice
Diramayr Siranoush Baljian the mother of the late Vazken Catholicos, gave to
Armenian mothers: “I want each of you to be an educator in your home. I
too have lived on foreign soil, however I was dedicated to my son’s education.
Dear Armenian mothers, love and teach your children to love the Armenian
Church, Armenia
and the Armenian language. We have so much literary wealth, do not deprive your
children from that wealth.”
What a simple, but
powerful and timeless message and another brief sermon from Diramyr.
At the end of the
book the author has Բանաստեղծական ներշնչումներ a “Poetic Inspirations” section.
Here, she has included many of her Armenian poems on anniversaries such as the
1600th anniversary of the
invention of the Armenian alphabet, the 50th anniversary of her brother, Fr. Vrtanes’s
ordination, or the 70th anniversary of Arshile Gorky’s death and
others.
In her last two
pages titled Յաւէտ երախտապարտ “Forever grateful,” she mentions the names of her
elementary and high school teachers who encouraged her to write, as did her
brother Fr. Vertanes. He placed the books of well-known Armenian writers in her
hands saying, “Read them and write, I know you can!” What
short, but very effective advice. This book is the result of the advice of
those teachers and her brother. May God bless their souls.
Zarminé acknowledges
this book is not even 10% of her thoughts and feelings of her 70 years of life.
She praises Missak, her husband of 55 years, who has been the pillar and the
true supporter of her life.
In conclusion, I
note in 2014, Zarminé received the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob medal, given by His
Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
Today, we too can
only congratulate and appreciate Zarminé, not just for publishing her memoirs,
but also for serving the Armenian community as an educator for the past 50
years. God bless you, your husband Missak and all your loved ones!
You can proudly
repeat the words of the great Armenian poet, Vahan Tekeyan who some 90 years
ago wrote, (which you also included in your book):
«Յաշուեյարդար ի՞նչ
մնաց, կեանքէն ինծի ի՞նչ մնաց,
ինչ որ տուի ուրիշին, տարօրինակ, ա՛յն միայն»։
“In the final
accounting what did I get out of life?
Amazingly, only what I gave to others.”
By Fr. Untzag
Nalbandian
* * *
Pictured: Fr. Untzag Nalbandian at
the Diocesan Center in New York,
during the tribute in honor of Zarminé Boghosian on April 27, 2022. (Photo by Diran Jebejian)
