Hamazkayin

Hamazkayin Logo

Hamazkayin (Armenian: Համազգային), short for Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, is a major cultural organization of the Armenian Diaspora, with a presence in every significant Armenian community worldwide. In addition to organizing cultural events in local Armenian communities, the Hamazkayin runs three schools, publishes books through its printing press, maintains bookstores, publishes a monthly literary magazine, Pakin (Armenian: Բագին), and organizes the Hamazkayin Forum. Hamazkayin enjoys the support of a wide segment of the Armenian community and encourages active participation to the events sponsored by the community. Hamazkayin sponsors and organizes many cultural events, such as concerts by renowned artists, scientific seminars, film festivals, literary lectures and book reviews. In the United States, the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society was established as a non profit organization in 1970.

History

The Hamazkayin Publishing and Cultural Society was founded on May 28, 1928, in Cairo, Egypt, by a group of nine Armenian intellectuals, including the writer and educator Levon Shant; historian, critic, and first Education Minister of Armenia, Nigol Aghbalian; former foreign minister of the Republic of Armenia Dr. Hamo Ohanchanian; and stage director and art critic Kaspar Ipekian.

Central Executive Board (April 2006-April 2010) Megerdich Megerdichian, chairperson, Lebanon Vatche Papazian, vice-chairperson, Lebanon Megerdich Yapoudjian, secretary, Lebanon Antranig Messerlian, treasurer, Lebanon Sarkis Armenian, accountant, Lebanon Edward Messerlian, advisor, United States Mardiros Demirjian, advisor, Lebanon Massis Baghdassarian, advisor, Armenia Vahe Jamakordzian, advisor, Syria Simon Hasserjian, advisor, Canada Souren Sarkissian, advisor, Lebanon

Central Executive Board (March 2002-April 2006) Megerdich Megerdichian, chairperson, Lebanon Varant Alexandrian, vice-chairperson, Lebanon Keghani Etiemezian, secretary, Lebanon Antranig Messerlian, treasurer, Lebanon Sarkis Armenian, accountant, Lebanon Setrak Balian, advisor, Lebanon Sella Tnjoukian, advisor, London Vrej-Armen Artinian, advisor, Canada Edward Messerlian, advisor, United States Roupen Hovsepian, advisor, Armenia Hagop Balian, advisor, France

Central Executive Board (September 1998-March 2002) Hagop Yapoudjian, chairperson, Lebanon Nazo Karakashian, vice-chairperson, Lebanon, United States Manoushag Boyadjian, secretary, Lebanon Dr. Hovhannes Taslakian, treasurer, Lebanon Dr. Garbis Harboyan, advisor, Lebanon Dr. Hratch Hajetian, advisor, Lebanon Sella Tnjoukian, advisor, London Vrej-Armen Artinian, advisor, Canada Hratch Simonian, advisor, United States Assadour Boghossian, advisor, Syria Roupen Hovsepian, advisor, Armenia

Central Executive Board (September 1994-September 1998) Hagop Yapoudjian, chairperson, Lebanon Garbis Harboyan, vice-chairperson, Lebanon Keghani Etiemezian, secretary, Lebanon Maitre Jacque Choukhadarian, treasurer, Lebanon Varant Alexandrian, advisor, Lebanon Dr. Vazken Der Kalousdian, advisor, Canada Dr. Hratch Hajetian, advisor, Lebanon Dr. Hrant Markarian, advisor, United States Dr. Armenag Yeghiayan, advisor, Lebanon Varoujan Demirdjian, advisor, United States Noubar Melikian, advisor, Syria

Central Executive Board (October 1990-September 1994) Dr. Yeghig Konialian, chairperson, United States Garbis Harboyan, vice-chairperson, Lebanon Dr. Hrant Markarian, secretary, United States Keghani Etiemezian, vice-secretary, Lebanon Maitre Jacque Choukhadarian, treasurer, Lebanon Kourken Kassabian, treasurer, United States Markar Sharabkhanian, advisor, Canada Dr. Vazken Der Kalousdian, advisor, Canada Dr. Armenag Yeghiayan, advisor, Lebanon Varant Alexandrian, advisor, Lebanon Noubar Melikian, advisor, Syria

Schools

• The M&H Aslanian secondary school (also known as Djemaran (Armenian: Ճեմարան)) in the East Beirut suburb of Antelias in Lebanon.
• The Ecole Bilingue Hamazkayin school in Marseille, France.
• The Arshag & Sophie Golstaun College in Sydney, Australia.

Publishing

Hamazkayin runs the Vahe Setian Printing Press in the Bourj Hammoud neighborhood of Beirut, Lebanon, along with the Hamazkayin Bookstore below it. It also publishes the monthly literary magazine Pakine (Armenian: Բագին).

The Hamazkayin Forum

Started in 1995, the Hamazkayin Forum is a 2-week cultural and educational trip for Armenian youth (mainly college-age students). From 1995 to 2001, the program was held at the Hamazkayin Nshan Palanjian educational institute in West Beirut, Lebanon. The 2002 forum featured one week in Lebanon and one week in Armenia. After that, the forum has been held entirely in Armenia. Every year, participants include youth from all over the world, including Canada, Greece, Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia, Italy, and Syria, to name a few.

Chapters

Middle East

Lebanon

• Anjar - (B.SEVAG)
• Antelias - (N.Aghpalian)
• Ashrafieh (1953) - The Roupen Zartarian chapter
• Beirut - (GOMIDAS)
• Bourj Hammoud (Administrative Office)
• West Beirut

Syria

• Aleppo
• Damascus
• Kamishly
• Latakia
• Kessab

Europe

Armenia

• Yerevan (Office)

Bulgaria

• Sophia

Cyprus

• Nicosia

England

• London

France

• Paris
• Marseille
• Valance

Greece

• Athens
• Selanic

Americas

Canada

• Montreal
• Cambridge
• Toronto (1970)

Location

Armenian Community Centre and The Armenian Youth Center, 45 & 50 Hallcrown Place Toronto, Ontario

Website

• Vancouver (1970)

United States of America

East Coast

• New York
• Boston
• New Jersey
• Philadelphia
• Detroit
• Washington, D.C.
• Chicago
• Providence

West Coast

• Los Angeles
• San Fernando Valley
• La Crescenta
• Pasadena
• Glendale
• Orange County
• San Francisco

The San Francisco chapter hosts the Hamazkayin Radio Hour every Saturday, 9am to 10am on KUSF 90.3 FM or listen live online at kusf.org.

• Fresno

Argentina

• Buenos Aires

Brazil

• São Paulo

Uruguay

• Montevideo

Australia

• Melbourne
• Sydney

External links

• Official Site (Worldwide)
• Official Site (Western United States Region)
• Official Site (Boston and Eastern United States Region)
• Hamazkayin Syria
• Hamazkayin Bookstore