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NOVEL BY KOSTAN ZARIAN “THE SHIP ON THE MOUNTAIN” – 2015-3

Summary

Yervand G. Ter-Khachatryan

Key words – Ara Heryan, Batum, ship, mountain, Yerevan, Sevan, “Albatross”, Zvart, Tumanyan, Miranyan, Kanaker.

The article is devoted to the novel “The ship on the mountain” by Kostan Zarian – one of the major figures of Armenian literature of the twentieth century.

The novel was written just before the Second World War and was published in 1943, in Boston. The novel shows the difficult situation in Armenia and the Armenian reality in 1918-1920. The novel is the most significant work of the author, because it sums up the artistic expression of the sacred and revered idea of a thinker, artist and philosopher, an idea that was developed over decades, the idea concerning the fate and suffering of the Armenian people. His philosophy, his approach to the complex and unresolved issues of the Armenian reality are shown with the help of the main character of the novel – Ara Heryan. For this purpose, the article provides a detailed image of Ara Heryan. This image is the legacy of the writer, his testament for future generations.

The other characters of the novel are also quite significant – i. e. Petros Mark, Peronyan and others. It is extremely important that the readers may feel and see the image of life of Armenians at a concrete historical time – in 1918-1920.

As for the literary and artistic integrity of the novel, we would like to note the author’s artistic thinking, his poetics.

In this article, we took into account almost all the literary material relating to the novel, also some incomplete and one-sided interpretations. The author of the article made an attempt to read correctly the novel by Konstan Zarian and tried to interprete the idea and the implementation of the writer in a right way.

LATTER-DAY MEMORIES OF MAR – 2015-3

Part one. The early years of working in ARF Dashnaktsutyun

Summary

Prepared by Ruben H. Gasparian and Ruben O. Sahakyan

Key words -Mar, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, Simon Zavaryan, Yerevan, Gandzak, dynamite, Jalal-ogli, Cyprus, Armen Garo, Hnchaks, Constantinople, Onnik Derdzakyan, Babken Syuni.

Memoirs of a famous activist of ARF Dashnaktsutyun Michael Ter-Martirosyan (Mar), which will be published in this and subsequent issues of the magazine VEM, begin with a description of the Armenian revival of 1880 and are terminated in 1913, by the events of the First Balkan War. The first part presents the membership of Mar to the party, who was then a teacher in Ganzak and his first steps on the instructions of Simon Zavaryan – acquisition of dynamite from mines of Getabek, then teachers’ and party activities in Jalaloglu. He describes pretty in details the events of the Council and the decisions taken during the meeting in Tbilisi at the beginning of 1896, for the execution of which Michael Ter-Martirosyan visited Geneva. After that, having received an additional assignment from the editor of the magazine “Droshak” – Hovnan Davtyan, he left for Egypt, then – to Cyprus, where he met Armen Garo (Garegin Pastrmadzhyan). After spending some time in Larnaca and visiting the Monastery of St. Makar whose surrounding forests and mountains were regarded by party members as a suitable place to hide weapons and people, Mar sailed to Constantinople, where, after many adventures, he found his party fellows – Onnik Derdzakyan (Vramyan) and Babken Syuni, who were already preparing the operation Bank Ottoman.

FORMATION OF NOMENCLATURE IN SOVIET ARMENIA IN THE 1920S – 2015-3

Summary

Ararat M. Hakobyan

Key words – category, electorate, Central Committee, Party apparatus, J. Stalin, Ashot Hovhannisyan, revolutionary committee, Council of People’s Commissars, commissariat, heating part, responsible worker, drawing up a list of posts, branch structure, personal data, one-party system.

In the mid-1920s, on the example of the Soviet Union’s system of one-party Bolshevik nomenclature, the same emerged also in Soviet Armenia. It is known that in Soviet literature, one were not usually speaking about usually political nomenclature for political reasons, it was also prohibited to engage in such matters. The emergence of the bureaucratic nomenclature system is due to historical and political past of the Russia and monopoly political and economic regime established by the Bolsheviks. A unified procedure for registration of party workers and their appointment was developed. Special rations and privileges were established for responsible workers. By the degree of control all the posts were divided into three classes. Throughout the country there were at least four levels of nomenclatures, each consisting of three classes: 1st, 2nd and 3rd nomenclature i. e. there were 12 classes all in all. At the same time the nomenclatures had branch structures, the number of which has reached a dozen in Armenia. For persons included in nomenclatures, some personal cards were drawn up. County, and from 1930 regional nomenclatures became lower-level nomenclatures. According to archival materials it can be concluded that in that period the total number of employees who hold positions in nomenclatures of the Armenian SSR, was about 4,200 people. This system expanded and improved in future. She remained until the collapse of the Soviet Union and communist totalitarianism

GREGORY APIRAT MAGISTROS – 2015-3

The Forgotten “Great Prince” of 11th Century

Summary

Karen A. Matevossian

Key words – Gregory VI Apirat, Grigor Magistros Pahlavuni, Hovhannes-Smbat, Kecharis, a double name, Grand Duke, protocol, emperor, Catholicos, son, daughter.

During the Bagratuni period the history of many of the princely houses in Armenia has not been studied in detail and are therefore artificially identified with better known Pahlavunis. Historians treated other noble houses of the 11th century Hasanyan the same way, identifying them with the Pahlavunis. The most well known representative of this family is mentioned in some sources as Gregory Magistros, in others, as Apirat.Comparative evidence shows that originally he was called by the dual name of Gregory Apirat. And the researchers often confused him with Gregory Magistros Pahlavuni.

Hassan’s son Gregory from the Bagratuni family was an eminent prince and was called by historians the “Great Prince”. The first time he is referred to as Magistros is in 1001 in Arzakan records. In 1003 he built St. Gregory Church of the Kecharis Monastery and also set up a canal in Yerevan. The prince’s brother, George who was the owner of the Keghi castle, built the church for the Havuts Tar Monastery in 1002. At a time Gregory Apirat saved the life of HovhannesSmbat, King of Ani, and afterwards was killed in Dvin in 1021. Despite the availability of this data, Gregory Apirat Magistros’s name is not mentioned in Armenian Academy’s 1976 and 2014 editions of history volumes, nor is it mentioned in the encyclopedias.

After his death, the prince’s children have gone under the care of the King Hovhannes-Smbat, who later married Gregory Apirat’s daughter to a famous prince named Vest Sargis. His sons, Apljahap and Vassak married the daughters of Gregory Magistros Pahlavuni. These families gave birth to prominent clans, such as Hasanyan-Pahlavuni, whose descendants have long used the name Gregory and Apirat separately and as a dual name, Gregory Apirat

LEGEND OF THE UNDERGROUND OF ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN – 2015-3

A remarkable document on the revolutionary activity of Avetis Gharibyan (Padvali Vagho)

Summary

Gevorg S. Khudinyan

Key words – Padvali Vagho, underground, Alexandropol, Police Department, Ministry of Justice, military weapons, ammunition, shells, search, sack, investigation.

The publication provides a detailed report on the unsuccessful attempt of investigation by imperial police department and the Ministry of Justice toward a resident of Alexandropol (Gyumri) – Avetis Gharibyan in 1891-1892, we’ve also attached data taken from the Russian State Archive, with interpretations of the notes and explanations.

At the beginning of February 1891 as a result of denunciation by his own neighbor – Greek Alexander Abramov, Avetis Gharibyan faced a prosecution, as his booth (basement) was searched and some evidences of guilt were found (combat arms and ammunition), so it seemed there was no way to avoid punishment. But with the ingenuity that is inherent to the inhabitants of Gyumri, Avetis could take all the necessary steps that changed the course of the investigation. First he appeared before the court as a victim, who was slandered, and the prosecutor was presented as offender, whose statements were false. The fact that the witnesses were directed against the informer himself and the strong evidences were presented as a result of his machinations, and finally, notes that were stored at the informer’s and the testimony of the authors were again turned against the Greek, say that behind the legendary the figure was standing not only the organization of the ARF in Alexandropol, but also the aspiring citizens of Gyumri, who were always ready to defend their fellow countryman who was persecuted for “Sacred Cause”.

Though “The Report” compiled by the Ministry of Justice on September 5, 1892 has passed through all the punitive jurisdictions of tsarist Russia it states that under the pressure of the arguments and evidences of his friends the administrative authorities have been forced to discontinue the investigation.

HISTORICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW OF WESTERN ARMENIA ON THE EVE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE – 2015-3

Part two: the southern and western districts of Van’s Vilayet and the town of Van

Summary

Gegham M. Badalyan

Key words – Vilayet of Van, the city of Van, Armenian semiindependent principalities, Akhtamar Catholicosate, Assyrian region, Gavash (Rshtunik), Kartchkan and Ketsan, Upper Karkar, Mox (district of Mox), Shatakh, Norduz, Aghbak, Monastery of the Holy Apostle Bartholomew, Gyavar and Dzhulamerik, Aram Manukyan.

We represent to the reader the second part of our research dedicated to the clarification of the demographic image of Western Armenia on the eve of the Armenian Genocide; the study includes rural and urban areas of south-western, southern and partly south-eastern provinces of Van’s vilayet.

In the series, representing rural and urban areas of south-western, southern and partly south-eastern districts of Van’s Vilayet populated by Armenians we can list the following districts and villages: in the district (sancak) Van – Gavash (Rshtunik), Kartchkan (with Ketsan), Mox, Upper Karkar, Shatakh, Norduz also from the province of Akkari – Aghbak, Gyavar and Dzhulamerik. The provinces of the first group (except Norduz) were mostly Armenian populated before the Genocide – 55-62%, and in the Upper Karkara more than 70% of the population were Armenians.

This phenomenon has 3 main reasons: 1) up to 60-ies of XIX century the abovementioned provinces were populated almost exclusively by Armenians, 2) Some semi-independent principalities called Melicatus still preserved in Mox and Shatakh, 3) separated provinces were part of the Diocese of the Catholicosate of Aghtamar Island and the church of the Holy Cross was mobilizing center for local Armenians.

As for the second group of regions (nahiye) of Van vilayet, on the eve of the Genocide Armenians were a minority there due to the fact that the massacres and forced migration of Armenians almost did not stop there from the middle of the XIX century.

The article also includes the regional center – the city of Van. As in the first part here, too, the reader is provided by historical, demographic, and other data about the largest administrative units and major population centers. Armenian historical monuments are also well presented. At the end of the article the reader will find general geographical and statistical information on the entire district of Van.

NIKOGHOS SARAFYAN: the conquest of the epic barrier – 2015-1

Summary

Souren D.Danielian

Key words – Nikoghos Sarafian, Diaspora Armenian literature, French Armenian poet, epic artistic mention, existential thinking, procession, remembrance of blood, journey, creative reflux and tide, “paper helmet”.

Diasporan Armenian poet and novelist Nikoghos Sarafian just recently finds the way to native reader, though there have been made some experiences to appropriate him before (Gegham Sevan, Vazgen Gabrielian, Artհur Andranikian and others).

Forty and more years after death, Nikoghos Sarafian hardly, but entirely can conquer artistic barrier in the field of epic poetry, with his poetic books, competing with Yeghishe Charents, Harut Kostandian, Vahan Tekeyan and other Armenian giant poets.

In our research we have examined characteristic of Sarafian’s poetry, tried to give new interpretation to his artistic recognition. We tried to evaluate the deep attention of literary critics of Diaspora towards Nikoghos Sarafian, that is typical to Harutyun Kyurkjian, Grigor Pyltian and others.

POETICS OF HISTORY AND POSSIBILITY OF HISTORICAL WRITING – 2015-1

(Considerations on the Monograph of Albert A. Stepanyan “The Trace of History: Deeds, Writings, and Essence”)

Summary

Smbat Kh. Hovhannisyan

Key words – Civilization, civilization identity, discours, Synchrony and diachrony measurement, Lifeworld and System, Semiotics syntagma, poetics of history.

Summing up the considerations, it must be point out that the monograph represents a research space aimed at the interpretation of past in the light of poetics of history. It has been built up in accordance with the development principle (Aristotle), on one the hand, and on the concept of tripartite Soul (Plato), on the other hand. The both approaches make up the anthropomorphist mode of author’s narrative. As a result, the civilization identity (of eminent personalities) initiates various scenarios of past, present and visible future.

The space perspective (with its local and global dimensions) in harmony with the perspective of time (past, present and future) initiates a dialoguesymposium and an intellectual theatre. They are set up on the alteration and reversibility of ideas, concepts and axiological orientations giving opportunity to the author to build up his research activity according to contemporary historical theories.

Another problem is also in the focus of the author. It concerns the problem of relationship of historian’s personality with the guild of historians reaching in its highs the reversibility of the both poles. Metaphrasing Plato’s words, one could define that the crisis of history is insuperable unless it is a field of activity of men who act with profound knowledge, skills and devotion. This shapes a kind of researchers whose life and writing express the more profound layer of reality according to “necessity and probability”. The monograph under consideration meets all these demands of modern historiography and marks a new level of historical research.

SIMON ZAVARYAN ABOUT DEMOCRATIZATION ROUTES OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION – 2015-1

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary

Summary

Valeri A. Mirzoyan

Key words – Simon Zavaryan, diversity, minority, decentralization, democracy, self-government, power, liberty, participation, progress

In this article, theoretical heritage of Armenian prominent public figure Simon Zavaryan (1865–1913) is discussed in the frame of social-philosophical problems of democratization of public administration. Un particular, on the conditions of contemporary globalization, that reveals not only previously unprecedented opportunities for states of mutual enrichment by the experiences of public administration, but also could lead toward serious danger of loss cultural identities, in such conditions has exceptional importance the principle developed by Zavaryan on harmonious co-ordination of diversity and uniformity in the organization and management of public life. There are some other Zavaryan’s principles of socio-political characters – provision of real democracy by having regard to the opinion of the minority, creation of social institutions for deterrence of officials at different levels, amplification of local self-government bodies, deepening citizen motivation to participate on decision process of the widest possible problems of public administration.

LYCIA IN THE SYSTEM OF ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION OF ACHAEMENID PERSIA – 2015-1

Summary

Hovhannes G. Khorikyan

Key words – Herodotus, Lycia, Lycians, Xanthos, Satrapy, Politics, Data, Achaemenid Empire, Administrative and Political Changes, Administrative State, «Dynastyc Principate»

Administrative governance of Lycia, part of the First satrapy of the Achaemenid Persia, carried out on a different principle, which differed significantly from the policy that was carried out for other satrapies. In the study of primary sources, it becomes clear that in Lycia there was not any satrapy government. Persian court was establishing military or diplomatic relations with the Lycian cities, of which the most famous was Xanthos – administrativeterritorial center of Lycian dynastic system.