LA CRESCENTA—Sarkis Mahserejian will be the guest speaker on “Concerns Regarding the Armenian Language Today” at Armenian Apostolic Church of Crescenta Valley, located at Western Prelacy’s ” Dikran and Zarouhi Der Ghazarian ” Hall, at 6252 Honolulu Ave., in La Crescenta, California on Sunday, August 19 at 1 p.m., following the Divine liturgy which starts at 11am.
This lecture is Dedicated to His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, declaring the year 2012 as “The Year of the Armenian Book.”
The Armenian language, especially our Western Dialect, is in the path of tarnishing. The situation in our Western communities is quite alarming, because communication in Armenian (speaking, reading, writing…) has given way to non-Armenian languages. This is the case in Armenian families, and even schools and other larger circles. The struggles that have characterized our previous generations has diminished today.
The younger generation is not interested in Armenian; the students declare that they don’t want to learn Armenian, parents and teachers make retreats somehow, some elders deceive themselves and the newcomers, declaring that to be a good Armenian, it is not necessary to learn, read and speak Armenian, ignoring the fact that the key to the survival of Armenia and the Armenian nation is the Armenian language, through which one will be in touch with our history and centuries-old culture.
The remedy is not farfetched and has several basic preconditions:
- The Armenian family has to embed the necessity of the mother language into the minds and souls of the new generations
- The Armenian school should compliment this mission and develop this consciousness further more
- The Armenian Environment (church, organizations and so on) should join hands with the aforementioned institutions
Conclusion: If we have decided to survive as a nation with our Homeland, it is inevitable to save, keep and improve our language and our heritage which is transferred only through the Armenian Language. We have declared our belief that the Armenian Diaspora has two basic missions: 1. Self preservation and 2. Striving for our Homeland. It is important to educate the new generation to acquire the feeling that they bear the responsibility of the survival of our nation and our motherland; Armenia. If the new generation does not communicate with our rich heritage fully, that heritage will not have bearers in the future.
The people present will have an opportunity to participate in an open discussion and the exchange of opinions following the lecture.
Mahserejian is currently the Chancellor of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America. He has graduated from Haigazian University majoring in Armenian History and Literature. He had served as school teacher and editor of Aztag newspaper in Beirut. He has published books for children and youth.
This event which is organized by Crescenta Valley Church Education Committee is free and open to the public. There will be a reception before the start of the program at the completion of the Divine Liturgy. The event is being sponsored by Mesrob Tashjian.
