National, International, Armenia, and Community News and Opinion

8 The Armenian Reporter | October 4, 2008
Community
Thousands attend Fresno’s prpoor festival
by Alik Hovsepian
FRESNO, Calif. – Thousands
discovered one of the Fresno Armenian
community’s best-kept secrets
last weekend, namely the Armenian
Cultural Foundation’s second
annual Grand Armenian Festival,
which took place on the grounds
of the California Armenian Home
in Fresno.
The three-day event featured
a full lineup of activities and performances
as well as prpoor, an
800-year-old harvest celebration
that Armenians of California’s
Central Valley have observed since
the 1950s. Prpoor celebrates food,
music, art, and community. “It’s
a combination of festivals,” said
Raffy Chekerdemian, one of the
organizers of the event.
The heat didn’t stop the revelers,
who had gathered from all over California,
including San Francisco, Los
Angeles, and San Diego. “We found
out about prpoor last year and that it
was taking place in Fresno,” said Talar
Aintablian of San Mateo. “We
enjoyed ourselves last year, so we
made it a point to come out again
this year. It was a good way for our
families from San Francisco and Los
Angeles to meet here in Fresno for
this Armenian tradition. I feel like
Los Angeles has the Navasartian
Games, San Francisco has the Food
Bazaar, and this could be the good
yearly tradition that people can congregate
to Fresno for.”
As part of the William Saroyan
Centennial Celebration taking
place worldwide this year, the festival
kicked off on the night of September
26 with a Saroyan theatrical
performance by the California
State University, Fresno Theatre
Arts Department. The performance
was followed by a dance party with
the ayf Armenian All Stars Band.
At dawn on September 27, organizers
were hard at work picking
grapes and then crushing the fruits
by stomping on them, until all that
was left was the juice. The liquid was
boiled to purify it and subsequently
cooked until 8 that night, when the
bubbling grape molasses became
foamy on top – hence the prpoor. Officiating
the harvest were the Very
Reverend Father Barthev Gulumian,
Reverend Father Vahan Gosdanian,
Reverend Father Hrant Serabian,
and Reverend Father Gomidas
Torosian, who together blessed
the four corners of the world.
The prpoor was then eaten in celebration
of the harvest. “I never
knew what it was, it’s fantastic,”
said Azad Deeb. “It’s like cotton
candy, very sweet.” Sebouh Serabian,
who had traveled from Los
Angeles, also enjoyed it. “It was
good, it kind of tasted like fuzz,”
he said. Prpoor isn’t for everyone,
however. “I don’t care for the prpoor
the first day,” said Pierre Pilavian.
“But once it sits and it gets cooler, I
like it, especially on pancakes.” After
settling, prpoor turns into a rich,
sweet syrup which can be eaten
with bread. It can also be used to
treat sore throats and coughs.
Other acts performing at the
festival included the San Fernando
Valley’s Hamazkayin Nairi Dance
Ensemble, which captivated the
audience with its performance of
traditional Armenian dances. Children’s
entertainment was provided
by Maggie while Tom Bozigian
gave Armenian-dance lessons. The
evening concluded with a dance
party by Khatchig Jingirian and
his band.
“I feel great today because of all
these Armenians from all over California
who came here to support
Fresno and the prpoor… all these
kids helping and learning about
Armenian culture and the tradition
of prpoor,” Pilavian said.
connect:
grandarmenianfestival.com
Above:
Officiating the
harvest were
from left to
right Reverend
Father Gomidas
Torosian,
Reverend Father
Hrant Serabian,
Very Reverend
Father Barthev
Gulumian,
Reverend Father
Vahan Gosdanian
Right: From Left
to Right Hratch
Abdulian, Hratch
Hovsepian and
Raffi Pilavian
serving up
prpoor.
Prelacy continues series of lectures on Christian education
GLENDALE, Calif. – On September
23, Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian,
co-director of the Prelacy’s
Christian Education Department,
presented the first lecture in a
three-part series titled “Christian
Education in Family, School,
Social, and Community Life” at
St. Mary’s Church in Glendale.
The second lecture in this series
(which is part of the larger, ongoing
“Year of Christian Education”
series) took place on October
1 and the third is planned to be
held on October 8.
Following the opening prayer by
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, and clergy members,
Master of Ceremonies Mrs.
Tamar Tufenkian-Seraydarian
reflected on the message of H.H.
Aram I, Catholicos of the Great
House of Cilicia, in declaring 2008
to be the “Year of Christian Education,”
and emphasized her belief
that the Armenian church, school,
and family are all vital to the proper
development of the Armenian
youth.
Fr. Muron began his lecture by
speaking of the overall mission of
the church and said Christian education
is at the heart of that mission.
Fr. Muron went on to speak of
the different stages in the development
and rearing of children, and
of the responsibility of parents to
provide the right instruction, starting
at a young age.
Stressing that spiritual nourishment
is just as vital as physical
growth and nourishment, Fr. Muron
presented a number of prayers
Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian, co-director
of the Prelacy’s Christian Education
Department, at the lectern.
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate.
Community members gathered at St. Mary’s Church in Glendale.
which he said can be recited at different
times of the day and in different
circumstances to assist parents
in the religious instruction of
their children.
The program also included an
artistic portion in which highschool
students from Rose and
Alex Pilibos School participated
with songs and recitations.
In his closing remarks, the Prelate
spoke of the family-churchschool
connection and concluded
by noting the importance of the
respective and collaborative contributions
of clergy, parents, educators,
and community leaders in the
instruction of Armenian youths.
The event was followed by a reception
in the hall by the Board of
Trustees and Ladies’ Auxiliary.
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