Episode 28 features a conversation with Sbarabed Tigran Sahakyan of Mamigonian Lodge in Brooklyn, New York, who has just returned from Armenia. Sbarabed Tigran describes his observations while in Armenia, along with the many humanitarian and education projects that he is involved in. Sbarabed Tigran will also talk about this September's Veratarts Hayrenik trip to Armenia for the Knights and Daughters of Vartan. Produced and Hosted by Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge No. 1 in Boston.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast: Episode 28 - Update From Armenia

In an expanded edition of the Talking Vartan podcast, we commemorate the 106th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in words and music. We will hear remarks by Knights of Vartan Grand Commander Steven Adams and Daughters of Vartan Grand Matron Alice Kalustian. Host and Producer Asbed David Medzorian will talk to author and historian Professor Taner Akcam of Clark University, who will discuss Turkey's continuing denial of the genocide and the reasons for it. We will focus on the life and music of Komitas, including selections of his music and rare recordings of Komitas himself, made in Paris in 1912. We will say farewell to educator, scholar, and humanitarian Dr. Vartan Gregorian, who died on April 15th. We'll recall his November 2019 visit to Boston with Sarah Ignatius, Executive Director of the National Association For Armenian Studies and Research. The new NAASR headquarters in Belmont, Massachusetts is named in honor of Vartan Gregorian. Our program will conclude with a prayer for the souls of the Genocide victims offered by Father Aram Mirzoyan of St. Hovhaness Armenian Church in the Armenian Tavush Province City of Berd.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast: Episode 29 - We Remember

A preview of the upcoming Grand Convocation of the Knights and Daughters of Vartan to be held in Glendale, California from July 13th through the 16th. Our guests are Grand Convocation Committee Chairman NS Gary Kaloostian and Co-Chair ND and Former Southwest GDR Sonia Serpekian. They are both joining us from California. Hosted and Produced by Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge No. 1 in Boston.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Episode 35

Episode 43 of the Talking Vartan Podcast looks back at the recent Grand Convocation of the Knights and Daughters of Vartan held in Boston, Massachusetts. Also, it looks ahead to this September's Veratarts Hayrenik pilgrimage to Armenia. It is hosted and Produced by Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge No. 1  in Boston.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Ep. 43 Grand Convocation 2023

Part 2 of "They Came From Artsakh" features an interview with the Balayan Family from Askeran Province in Artsakh. They had to flee their homes and relocate to the Tavush Province village of Chinari in Armenia following the Azeri military action on September 19th. Also included are Father Aram Mirzoyan from Berd and the Village leader in Chinari, Samvel Saghoyan. The English translation is provided by Anahit Badalian, Founder and Director of the Berd Women's Resource Center in Berd City. Hosted and Produced by Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge No. 1 in Boston.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Ep. 45 They Came From Artsakh Pt. 2

In this special episode of Talking Vartan, Asbed David Medzorian remembers "Four Dark Days" as the world marks the 60th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Recollections of that tragic weekend come from Former Grand Commander Steven Adams and Former Grand Chairwoman Gloria Korkoian. Also included are rare recordings, including announcing the president's death to a Boston Symphony Orchestra audience and original radio news coverage from Dallas and Fort Worth. Finally, Asbed David Medzorian includes segments from broadcast interviews he conducted in 1988 and 1993 with President Kennedy's best friend and aide, Dave Powers. Mr. Powers was also an eyewitness to the assassination in Dallas.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Ep. 46 Four Dark Days

This special Christmas edition of the Talking Vartan Podcast features holiday greetings and messages from Avak Sbarabed Hunan Arshakian and Avak Dirouhie Nancy Berberian Thompson. Christmas prayers are offered in English by NS Der Antranig Baljian of Saint Stephen's Armenian Church in Watertown, Massachusetts, and in Armenian by Der Aram Mirzoyan of Saint Hovhaness Armenian Church in Berd, Armenia. The program concludes with a special Christmas musical offering. Hosted and Produced by Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge No. 1 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast: Episode 47 - A Christmas Wish

Talking Vartan's 50th Podcast Episode, "A Helping Hand," features a conversation with Der Vasken Kouzouian, an Asbed of Ararat Lodge in Boston and Pastor of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Cambridge, MA. His wife, Yeretzgin Arpi Kouzouian, joins Der Vasken for the interview recorded at the Talking Vartan Studio. The pair have just returned from Armenia, where they helped deliver and distribute clothing and boots to refugees from Artsakh. In an interview that will warm your heart, Der Vasken and Yeretzgin Arpi talk to the host and Asbed David Medzorian about the inspiration for the clothing drive and the challenges and rewards of their effort in bringing needed clothing and boots to the Artsakh refugees.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Episode 50: A Helping Hand

Episode 51 of the Talking Vartan Podcast looks ahead to this summer's Grand Convocation in Fresno, California. Host and Producer Asbed David Medzorian speaks with Grand Convocation Co-Chairs NS Alan Farsakian, Avak Tbrouhie ND Yeretzgin Roberta Hairabedian, and NAS Steven Adams, who serves as Registration Chairman and Convocation Advisor. The trio will update us on plans for the Grand Convocation and how you can join your fellow Knights and Daughters in Fresno this summer.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Episode 51: California, Here We Come

Episode 52 of "Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast profiles award-winning actress Nora Armani, whose one-woman play is about an Armenian woman who, in 1948, repatriates to what was then Soviet Armenia. It is also a play about family and the passage of time. Nora Armani, who Asbed David Medzorian interviewed, will perform the play in Providence, Rhode Island, on Friday, April 26th, and in Arlington, Massachusetts, on Sunday, April 28th. Details are below.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Episode 52: On Stage with Nora Armani

Armenians in America focuses on the birth of the Armenian community in the United States beginning in the 19th century. The program looks at who we were as Armenians and how we became who we are. Guests are Dr. Robert Mirak, author of "Torn Between Two Lands," and Marc Mamigonian, Director of Academic Affairs for the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research and editor of "The Armenian of New England".

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Episode 53: Armenians in America

Armenians in America focuses on the birth of the Armenian community in the United States beginning in the mid-19th century. Guests include Dr. Robert Mirak, author of "Torn Between Two Lands: Armenians in America 1980 to World War One," and Marc Mamigonian, Director of Academic Affairs for the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) and Editor of "The Armenians of New England." Your host and producer is Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge No. 1 in Boston.

Talking Vartan:The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Episode 53: Armenians in America

Here is Part 1 of a special two-part Talking Vartan Christmas podcast called "A Season of Giving." In this first episode, Host and Producer David Medzorian looks back at 2024 and ahead to 2025 with the Grand Chairwoman of the Daughters of Vartan, Avak Dirouhie Nancy Berberian Thompson. We also receive words of inspiration from Ararat Lodge NS Der Antranig Baljian, Pastor Emeritus of St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown, Massachusetts. The program concludes with a Christmas musical offering. Part 2 of "A Season of Giving" will be available on December 26th.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Ep. 54 A Season of Giving Pt. 1

Part 2 of our special Christmas Podcast includes reflections on 2024 and a look ahead to 2025 by Knights of Vartan Grand Commander Hunan Arshakian. Asbed Dro Kanayan of Ararat Lodge discusses the KOV Economic Sustainability Program, which he serves as Chairman. Rev. Fr. Aram Mirzoyan recalls the visit of the Knights and Daughters of Vartan to Tavush Province this September and offers a Christmas prayer in Armenian. Host and Producer David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge is joined by his son Alexander to perform two well-known Christmas Carols in English and Armenian.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast Ep. 55 - A Season of Giving Pt. 2

The Knights of Vartan Archive is the focus of Episode 56 of the Talking Vartan Podcast. Host and Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge talks with Avaktivanabar and NS Arto Kurkjian, also of Ararat Lodge, about the archive and how he and others are preserving nearly 110 years of our fraternal organization's history. Avaktivanabar Arto will share some of the treasures to be found in the archive and also how you and your Talij can contribute to it. 

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Episode 56: Preserving Our Past

Episode 57 of the Talking Vartan Podcast focuses on the upcoming Armenian Genocide Commemoration to be held in New York's Times Square on Sunday, April 27th. Host and Producer David Medzorian, Asbed of Ararat Lodge No. 1 in Boston, talks with Sbarabed Haig Gulian of Mamigonian Lodge No. 12 in Brooklyn, NY. Sbarabed Haig is Co-Chair of the Times Square Commemoration Committee. He describes how the Times Square Genocide Commemoration came to be forty years, and why it is more important than ever for people to attend and to remember the tragic events of 1915. 

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Episode 57: We Remember in Times Square

In Episode 58 of Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast, we talk with Former Grand Commander of the Knights of Vartan Hunan Arshakian and Former Grand Chairwoman of the Daughters of Vartan Nancy Berberian Thompson. In a conversation with Host and Producer David Medzorian, they discuss their time as leaders of their respective fraternal organizations, their accomplishments, regrets, and their hopes for the future of the Knights and Daughters of Vartan. The Conversations were recorded just before the Knights and Daughters of Vartan Grand Convocation in Washington, DC.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Episode 58 The Passing of the Torch

In Episode 59 of Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast, Host and Producer David Medzorian introduces us to the new Grand Commander of The Knights of Vartan, Avak Sbarabed Bob Avakian of Ararat Lodge in Boston. In this conversation, recorded in Bedford, Massachusetts, Avak Sbarabed describes his goals and hopes for The Knights of Vartan during the next two years, and also why the mission of the Knights of Vartan is more important now than ever before. Our Grand Commander also discusses our Economic Sustainability Program and other projects that he feels are important to our brotherhood and those whom we serve.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Episode 59: The Torch Is Passed Part 1

Host and Producer David Medzorian introduces us to the new Grand Chairwoman of The Daughters of Vartan, Avak Dirouhie Lily Sarkissian in Episode 60 of the Talking Vartan Podcast. In Part two of "The Torch Has Been Passed", Avak Dirouhie Lily Sarkissian describes what she wants to accomplish as Grand Chairwoman and why the mission of The Daughters of Vartan has been so dear to her heart for nearly four decades.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Episode 60 The Torch is Passed Part 2

In Episode 61 - "Through an Armenian Lens", The Talking Vartan Podcast profiles Asbed Jean Mazmanian of the Knights of Vartan's Hayasdan Lodge in Boca Raton, Florida. As a filmmaker, composer, performer, and activist, Jean Mazmanian has used his skills to tell the story of the Armenian people through video and music, and also to focus on the work of The Knights of Vartan in helping our fellow Armenians who left their homes in Artsakh two years ago. He spoke with the host of the Talking Vartan Podcast, Asbed David Medzorian, from his home in Boca Raton, Florida.

Here is a link to Jean Mazmanian's film, "People of the Ark."

https://vimeo.com/163354075

Here is a link to the video profiling our Economic Sustainability Program families:

https://youtu.be/0fPtA_DTz3k?si=mQhFL4eObIipSDXj

Here is a link to Jean Mazmanian's "One World" album:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kMfrGKNpFetsA8WRb-ZNOFEKh8BbknU8Q&si=3NDDWM8F0nyN6a6X

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Ep. 61 Through an Armenian Lens

The Talking Vartan Podcast Christmas Edition features conversations with Grand Commander Bob Avakian and Grand Chairwoman Lily Sarkissian. Both leaders look back at 2025 and the humanitarian efforts of the Knights and Daughters of Vartan in the year ahead. Father Aram Mirzoyan from Saint Hovhaness Armenian Church in Berd recalls the visit of the Knights and Daughters of Vartan to Tavush, Armenia in September of 2025 and also offers a Christmas prayer in Armenian. The program also includes two musical Christmas offerings by the Medzorian family.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Episode 63: A Holiday Greeting

Episode 1 profiles Ararat Lodge No. 1 and Arpie Otyag No. 9, both in Boston. Sparabed Argishti Chaparian and Nagheen Sparabed Jack Medzorian discuss the Ararat Lodge's many humanitarian projects underway in Armenia. Lodge Secretary Nerses Zurabyan talks about the Diaspora for Frontline Family Fund, which provides money to the children of Armenian soldiers who died in battle. Dihouri Dr. Knarik Arkun of Arpie Otyag no. 9 discusses the resurgence in the Daughters of Vartan membership and activities in Boston and promotes the upcoming City of Smile Fundraising Gala to be held in Waltham, Massachusetts on April 5th. Produced and Hosted by Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge No. 1.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast: Episode 1

Episode 3 profiles Gayane Otyag No. 22 in San Fernando Valley in California. Guests are Dirouhie Marie Jamgotchian and Nakgheen Dirouhie Nancy Hammoudian. topics include recruiting new members, the role and mission of the Daughters of Vartan, charitable projects involving the Gayane Otyag, visits to Armenia and collaboration and support by and for the Knights of Vartan. Hosted and Produced by Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Tahlij No. 1 in Boston.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast: Episode 3

Episode 8 feature3s a conversation with Matron (Dirouhie) Linda Keighley Short of Aig Otyag No. 10 in Providence, Rhode Island. She talks about managing an Otyag in Rhode Island even while living in California. She also discusses the work of her Otyag and the steps taken to make it easier for those who wish to be involved to do so.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast: Episode 8

Episode 11 features a conversation with Daughters of Vartan Grand Matron Alice Kalustian, speaking from San Fernando Valley, California. The Avak Dirouhie discusses her nearly five decades as a member of the Daughters of Vartan, her family, visiting Armenia and her work with Mer Hooys, The House of Hope for Girls in Armenia.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Episode 11

Episode 14, entitled "We Remember" commemorates the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in both words and music. Among the participants are our leaders, Grand Commander Steven Adams and Grand Matron Alice Kalustian. We'll talk to Past Grand Commander Dr. Dennis Papazian, a scholar, and lecturer on Armenian affairs about how genocide affects us still, both historically and politically. Past Commander of Ararat Lodge, The Reverend Father Antranig Baljian will offer a special prayer for the victims of the genocide. We'll pay tribute to the victims in song with music from Charles Aznavour, George Garvarentz, and Alan Hovhaness. Finally, my mother and sister will join me in introducing you to my grandfather, a genocide survivor who wrote about his experiences in heart-wrenching detail. Hosted and Produced by Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge No. 1 in Boston.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - We Remember

In Episode 15, we visit with musician extraordinaire and fellow Knight Richard Hagopian at his farm in Selma, California. He talks about his life long love of music and how he learned to play the oud as a young boy and the musicians who inspired and encouraged him. Former Grand Vice-Commander Hagopian also discusses the changes in Armenian music over the years and his own efforts to use that music as a way to bring people together. Musical tracks used in the podcast are from the Richard Hagopian album, "Armenian Music Through The Ages" and are used with the artist's permission. Hosted and Produced by Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge No. 1 in Boston.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Episode 15

Episode 17 features an eyewitness account of the Azerbaijani offensive against the Armenian border province of Tavush and how its people are doing. Our guest is Father Aram Mirzoyan, Pastor of St. Hovhaness Armenian Church in Berd. Participating in the conversation with Father Aram as well as translating his words is Communications Liaison Gohar Palyan. Grand Commander Steven Adams recalls his visit to the Tavush Province, most recently in 2019.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Episode 17

Episode 21 of the Talking Vartan Podcast focuses on the Disapora for Frontline Family Fund and its effort to provide financial assistance to the families of Armenian soldiers who died defending their homeland. The work of the DFFF is all the more important given the current Azerbaijani military offensive in the Republic of Artsakh. Our guest is the Chairman of the DFFF, Nerses Zurabyan of Ararat Lodge No. 1 in Boston. Hosted and produced by Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge No. 1 in Boston.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Episode 21 "For The Children"

Episode 26 features a conversation with Former Knights of Vartan Grand Commander Steven Kradjian and Former Daughters of Vartan  Grand Matron Lisa Kradjian. They join me from San Diego, California. NAS Steve and NAD Lisa update us on various projects, scholarship funds, and fundraising efforts by the Knights and Daughters of Vartan and individual Lodges and Otyags. The pair also shares information on how Lodges and Otyags can participate in these various efforts, along with the ever-increasing importance of our Communications Office in Armenia. Hosted and Produced by Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge No. 1 in Boston.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Episode 26: Let's Get Involved

As we mark the 2nd anniversary of the Talking Vartan Podcast, we visit the Tavish Province city of Berd in Northern Armenia, where a group of dedicated women is improving the lives of women from the region who are in need. Our guest is Anahit Badalian, Founder and Director of the Berd Women's Resource Center Foundation. We'll also provide updates on scheduled Knights and Daughters of Vartan events later this year. Hosted and Produced by Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge No. 1 in Boston.

Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast - Episode 27 "For Our Women"

"Talking Vartan" focuses on the work of The Knights and Daughters of Vartan both in The United States and in Armenia and the humanitarian projects they are involved in on behalf of the Armenian community. Each episode will focus on a Tahlij or Otyag and feature conversations with the leadership and other members who are making a difference.

Talking Vartan: The KDOV Podcast

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