12 The <strong>Armenia</strong>n Reporter | December 13, 2008<strong>Community</strong>Time traveler of a different sortArmen Aroyan’scustom tours toWestern <strong>Armenia</strong>help bring the pastaliveby Alex<strong>and</strong>ra BezdikianOAKLAND, Calif. – In a timewhen historic <strong>Armenia</strong> has all butvanished into the distant l<strong>and</strong>scapeof a modern world, <strong>Armenia</strong>ns livingin the diaspora are left to puttogether the pieces of a fragmentedpast. Armen Aroyan is one of thoserare historians who not only studiesbut shares his education byleading tours to historic <strong>Armenia</strong>.Aroyan is a time traveler who deconstructsthe fine str<strong>and</strong>s of ourscarred history to weave new memoriesfor new generations. Sittingat the loom, he helps to rekindlethose memories of “back home”that most of today’s young <strong>Armenia</strong>nshave come to know <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong>through the eyes of theirgr<strong>and</strong>parents <strong>and</strong> the distortion ofmodernity.The tour leader, organizer, educator,<strong>and</strong> scholar of history is theone following the shadowy fragmentsof our past, taking thosewho seek him out on a journey ofhealing <strong>and</strong> discovery to the placeswe all once called home. He is thememory maker taking vague imagesof a once-beautiful place passeddown almost by birthright <strong>and</strong>making them part of this enigmatictapestry we all struggle to unravelas <strong>Armenia</strong>ns.The first sojournArmen Aroyan first began givingtours into the l<strong>and</strong>s of historical<strong>Armenia</strong> in the early 1990s, afterhaving completed in the 1980s abusiness trip-turned-pilgrimagethat uncovered his own roots.“My gr<strong>and</strong>mother always talkedabout what it was like living inAintab,” he shared fondly. “Shewould say that life was so goodover there <strong>and</strong> she would say how[Aintab] had the best fruits <strong>and</strong>food, <strong>and</strong> was so beautiful. So thisplace was inbred in me <strong>and</strong> I alwayshad a curiosity to see it, a kind ofdraw to Aintab. And so, when I hadthe chance when I got older, I wentto visit it.”After fulfilling what can be describedas an emotional expeditionto the villages of his own past, Aroy<strong>and</strong>edicated the next decade <strong>and</strong>a half to taking willing participantson similar journeys of their own.With first-class treatment servedwith a side of exciting <strong>and</strong> uniqueexperiences, Aroyan soon hadpeople seeking him out with vigor.After his first official trip as a tourguide, back in October 1991, 20people were waiting <strong>and</strong> ready togo on his return trip. Since then hehas organized some 60 trips.At the monastery of Abrank near Erznga (Erzincan) June 2007“There was no problem findingpeople [who wished to] go,” Aroyanexplained. “They were very happyto go. They had the desire <strong>and</strong> it becamea fulfillment of a dream theydidn’t think was possible. It was apassing of heritage between gr<strong>and</strong>parentsto their gr<strong>and</strong>children.”Because Aroyan caters each tripto the specific wishes of those whoaccompany him, participants ofhis <strong>Armenia</strong>n Heritage Tours walkaway feeling a sense of exclusivity<strong>and</strong> personal attention that is virtuallyunmatched by any other tourof its kind.“It’s all custom-planned,” Aroyansaid. “You tell me where yourgr<strong>and</strong>mother is from <strong>and</strong> I’ll incorporateall these villages on topof the major attractions like Ani<strong>and</strong> Lake Van <strong>and</strong> Mount Ararat.So every trip has been different. Itcompletely depends on the participants.”Tour takers can attest to his fiercecommitment to providing a meaningfulexperience for all, as well asto the dedication Aroyan possessesto helping preserve an importantlegacy for the future.“He is driven by a mission,” saidPerouz Seferian of Ontario, Canada,one of Aroyan’s most recenttour participants. “I think Armenwould try to move Mount Ararat ifthat was the only way he could getyou to your village. I have for manyyears had a profound need to seeKalan, the village where my father<strong>and</strong> gr<strong>and</strong>father were born. It’s noton the map, but Armen somehowtook me there.”“Armen is a laid-back individual<strong>and</strong> has to balance the desires <strong>and</strong>wishes of different people withdifferent expectations,” addedDon Barsumian of Los Angeles. “Ithought he did an excellent jobkeeping most everybody happy.All the accommodations were firstclass<strong>and</strong> enjoyable.”Having amassed an extensive collectionof archival material, such asphotos <strong>and</strong> videotapes, as well asfriends over the years, Aroyan hascreated a network of <strong>Armenia</strong>nsfrom all over the world, who cometogether to enjoy some of the mostbeautiful <strong>and</strong> historic <strong>Armenia</strong>nsites.EpiphaniesFrom Adana, Aghtamar, <strong>and</strong>Aintab to Marash, Talas, <strong>and</strong> Zeytun,<strong>Armenia</strong>ns are able to unveilthese places of the past withoutfear or hesitation. For many, thesetrips are vehicles of catharsis, waysfor many to reconcile events of thepast with a hopeful future.For Seferian, her experience wassimply life-changing. “I stood inthe village my father <strong>and</strong> gr<strong>and</strong>fatherhad yearned for all their exiledlives,” she said of her trip this pastSeptember. “And wished so muchthat they could have been therewith me. As a child, I would hearthem weep in the night for lostfamily members <strong>and</strong> for the simplefamiliar comforts of home in theirvillage.”Aroyan led Seferian along thecaravan route that her family hadtaken, along the road where, asher father had written, he saw hisgr<strong>and</strong>mother murdered.“In Oghnout, where the caravanhad stopped for four days, I meta man whose great gr<strong>and</strong>fatherhad been left behind as a child,in hopes that he would somehowsurvive,” Seferian said. “I wasflooded with emotion as I realizedthat his ancestors <strong>and</strong> mine hadshared a common terror at thevery place we were both st<strong>and</strong>ing.I cast flower seeds in all these places,<strong>and</strong> around the cathedral atAni, in memory of all the 1.5 millionwho [have no graves bearingtheir names]. I cast root-vegetableseeds, in acknowledgment of theirterrible hunger, <strong>and</strong> I scattered fiberflax seeds, which linen is spunfrom, remembering that most ofthe victims first had their clothingremoved.”Seferian says she is going backnext spring.“I want to see if the pink <strong>and</strong> goldflowers of memory have grown, ifroot vegetables have taken hold,<strong>and</strong> if the fiber flax seed hassprouted,” she said. “I left c<strong>and</strong>lesburning at Ani. I don’t want anyoneto think that we have forgotten1915.”Aroyan has impacted <strong>and</strong>changed many lives for the better.Without his service <strong>and</strong> dedicationto the cause of giving his fellow <strong>Armenia</strong>nsthe missing pieces to theirown family puzzles, many wouldcontinue to live lives without peaceor closure.That is Armen Aroyan’s legacy. Hecontinues to give a sense of peaceto those who embrace it.“It is extremely gratifying to seepeople happy,” Aroyan said. “I geta lot of satisfaction from that. Itgives them a lot of closure <strong>and</strong> athird dimension. Now they areable to see their village <strong>and</strong> couldpicture the images of the past thatwas passed down to them throughparents <strong>and</strong> gr<strong>and</strong>parents.”
The <strong>Armenia</strong>n Reporter | December 13, 2008 13<strong>Community</strong>Let us know what’s onyour mind.Write to us atletters@reporter.amYou share the samecommunity. Discover whathappens when you sharethe same experience.For more information aboutRelay For Life or to join anevent near you, visitwww.cancer.org/RelayNYNJor call 1.800.ACS.2345.Paint the Town Purple incelebration of Relay For Life onMay 1, May Day For Relay.Calendar of Events1.800.ACS.2345www.cancer.org/relayNYNJNew YorkDECEMBER 31 – HMADS NEWYEAR’S EVE PARTY. Hosted bythe Friends of HMADS <strong>and</strong>PTO at The <strong>Armenia</strong>n Churchof the Martyrs Kalustyan Hall8:00 p.m. featuring VarujanVartanian <strong>and</strong> his b<strong>and</strong> withhors d’oeuvres, full dinner<strong>and</strong> Champagne. DJ <strong>and</strong> SantaClaus for the kids. Adults:$ 100, Children under 14: $60.For reservations please call:school office: (718) 225-4826,Nyda: (516) 603-2809, Shakay(516) 398- 0410, Hovsep: (718)225-2515.DECEMBER 31 - NEW YEAR’SEVE DINNER DANCE sponsoredby St. Thomas <strong>Armenia</strong>nChurch. Corner of East ClintonAve., & Rt. 9W, Tenafly, NJ. FullCourse Dinner with Filet Mignon/Chicken,hors d’oeuvresBuffet & “Lakerda” specialty,Viennese Table, Free Champagne,Noisemakers, SANTA;DJ ALAN; Children supervised<strong>and</strong> entertained in adjacentroom. Donation: Adults$65, Children 11 & under $20,Children under 3 FREE, Forreservations call Ani Capan at201-767-3846, Sirvart Demirjian201-265-5230, Rosine Hovsepianat 201-265-1275 or theChurch Office at 201-567-5446.Ample FREE parking on premises.MARCH 28, 2009 - SAVE THEDATE! ARS Centennial GalaBanquet at the prestigious YaleClub of NYC. Details to follow.718-961-9550.MAY 16, 2009- SAVE THEDATE! HMADS Gala DinnerDance at Russo’s on the Bay. tofollow, for information pleasecall: (718) 225 4826.New JerseyDECEMBER 31 – Sts. VartanantzAnnual New Year’s EveGala. At the Sheraton Meadowl<strong>and</strong>s,East Rutherford, NJ.Live Music, open bar, mezze,full dinner, desserts, prizes. Supervision<strong>and</strong> Santa Claus forthe kids. For tickets & info. callVartivar Keshishian, (201) 662-6200, or church office (201) 943-2950..NOVEMBER 15, 2009 - “ONENATION, ONE CULTURE” ACultural Festival organizedby Hamazkayin Eastern USARegional Executive, FeaturingAlla Levonian from <strong>Armenia</strong><strong>and</strong> Babin Boghosian & Ensemblefrom Los Angeles, Withthe participation of AntranigDance Ensemble of AGBU,Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble ofSt. Thomas <strong>Armenia</strong>n Church,Yeraz Dance Ensemble of St.Sarkis Church, NJ HamazkayinNayiri Dance Group &Arekag Children’s Choir & DholGroup. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER15, 2009. 4pm. Felician CollegeLodi, New Jersey. Donation:$75, $50, $35, $25. For moreinformation or tickets pleasecontact: Hamazkayin @ 201-945-8992 or Paradon2009@gmail.comDECEMBER 31 - “NEWYEAR’S EVE – 2009” GALADINNER DANCE sponsoredby the ARMENIAN SOCIETY,39-03 Little Neck Parkway, LittleNeck, New York. Wednesday,December 31, 2008 at 8PM Music by famed ‘MOSHE”<strong>and</strong> his “Continentals Orchestra”.. Excelsior Cocktail hour:8 PM to 9 PM, followed by aGOURMET dinner. Donation- Adults: One hundred <strong>and</strong>thirty-five dollars per person(all inclusive), Youth under 17years of age: Seventy-five dollars.RSVP - Avedian: (718)225-0286, Babaian: (516) 869-8249, Grigorian: (516) 359-8867, (516) 822-4819, Minassian:(516) 603-5889, Pabouban(1-800-431-0041, Tatevossian:(718) 268-3919 or the Society.DECEMBER 31- NEW YEAR’SEVE DINNER DANCE sponsoredby St. Thomas <strong>Armenia</strong>nChurch. Corner of East ClintonAve., & Rt. 9W, Tenafly, NJ. FullCourse Dinner with Filet Mignon/Chicken,Hors D’euvresBuffet & “Lakerda” specialty, VienneseTable, Free Champagne,Noisemakers, SANTA; DJALAN; Children supervised <strong>and</strong>entertained in adjacent room.Donation: Adults $65, Children11 & under $20, Children under 3FREE, For reservations call AniCapan at 201-767-3846, SirvartDemirjian 201-265-5230, RosineHovsepian at 201-265-1275or the Church Office at 201-567-5446. Ample FREE parking onpremises.MassachusettsDECEMBER 14 - ST. JAMESARMENIAN CHURCH’S77TH ANNIVERSARYNAME DAY BANQUET ANDCELEBRATION. HONORINGDR. NISHAN AND MARYGOUDSOUZIAN. St. James 465Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown,Massachusetts. 10:00 a.m. DivineLiturgy, Name Day Banquetto follow in Keljik Hall, $30 perperson 15 for children 12 <strong>and</strong>under. R.S.V.P. by December 8,2007. Advanced ReservationsRequired, tickets will not beavailable at the door. For moreinformation please call the St.James church office at (617) 923-8860 or email info@sthagop.comAnn Arbor, MichiganSubscription Couponthe armenianreporterannual ratesU.S.A.: First Class Mail, $125; Periodicals Mail, $75Canada: $125 (u.s.); Overseas: $250 (u.s.)namestreetcity/state/zipJANUARY 2, 2009 - <strong>Armenia</strong>nMusic of Grikor Mirzaian Suni(1876-1939): our FREE concert.7pm Friday, Janaury 2, 2009invited by the Ann Arbor DistrictLibrary, 343 S. Fifth Ave,Ann Arbor, Michigan will bepresented by a chamber ensembleof musicians includingGrikor Suni’s great gr<strong>and</strong>daughtersviolinists SevanSuni (26), <strong>and</strong> Anoush Suni(21, who will also play oud),their mother pianist ArmenaMarderosian, (wife of ProfessorRonald Grigor Suny), tenorRubik Mailian, <strong>and</strong> sopranoAnahit Toumajan. Grikor Sunicollected <strong>Armenia</strong>n folk music, thru all <strong>Armenia</strong>n areasof the Caucasus + Middle East,from which he created beautfulconcert works.Contact infoArmena Marderosian 734.996-1949, armena1949@gmail.com,www.suniproject.orgCheck Enclosed OR Charge My:Mastercard Visa Amex DiscoverExp.mail coupon to: armenian reporterp.o. box 129, paramus, nj 07652orfax coupon to (201) 226-1660(credit card orders only)