Hamazkayin short for Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, is a major cultural organization of the Armenian Diaspora

Armenian diaspora

The Armenian diaspora refers to the Armenian communities outside the Republic of Armenia and self proclaimed de facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...

, with a presence in every significant Armenian community worldwide. In addition to organizing cultural events in local Armenian communities, the Hamazkayin runs three schools, publishes books through its printing press, maintains bookstores, publishes a monthly literary magazine, Pakin , and organizes the Hamazkayin Forum. Hamazkayin enjoys the support of a wide segment of the Armenian

Armenians

Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....

 community and encourages active participation to the events sponsored by the community. Hamazkayin sponsors and organizes many cultural events, such as concerts by renowned artists, scientific seminars, film festivals, literary lectures and book reviews. In the United States, the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society was established as a non profit organization in 1970.

History

The Hamazkayin Publishing and Cultural Society was founded on May 28, 1928, in Cairo

Cairo

Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...

, Egypt

Egypt

Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...

, by a group of nine Armenian intellectuals, including the writer and educator Levon Shant

Levon Shant

Levon Shant , was an Armenian playwright, novelist, poet, and founder of the Hamazkayin National Cultural Foundation.- Biography :He was a life-long member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and is the namesake of the ARF's Shant Student Association.Attended Armenian school at Scutari until...

; historian, critic, and first Education Minister of Armenia, Nigol Aghbalian

Nikol Aghbalian

Nikol Poghosi Aghbalian was an Armenian public figure and historian of literature, the editor of "Horizon" paper....

; former foreign minister of the Republic of Armenia Dr. Hamo Ohanchanian

Hamo Ohanjanyan

Hamo Ohanjanyan was an Armenian politician of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. He served as the third Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Armenia from May 5 to November 25, 1920.-References:...

; and stage director and art critic Kaspar Ipekian.

Central Executive Board (April 2006-April 2010)
Megerdich Megerdichian, chairperson, Lebanon
Vatche Papazian, vice-chairperson, Lebanon
Megerdich Yapoudjian, secretary, Lebanon
Antranig Messerlian, treasurer, Lebanon
Sarkis Armenian, accountant, Lebanon
Edward Messerlian, advisor, United States
Mardiros Demirjian, advisor, Lebanon
Massis Baghdassarian, advisor, Armenia
Vahe Jamakordzian, advisor, Syria
Simon Hasserjian, advisor, Canada
Souren Sarkissian, advisor, Lebanon

Central Executive Board (March 2002-April 2006)
Megerdich Megerdichian, chairperson, Lebanon
Varant Alexandrian, vice-chairperson, Lebanon
Keghani Etiemezian, secretary, Lebanon
Antranig Messerlian, treasurer, Lebanon
Sarkis Armenian, accountant, Lebanon
Setrak Balian, advisor, Lebanon
Sella Tnjoukian, advisor, London
Vrej-Armen Artinian, advisor, Canada
Edward Messerlian, advisor, United States
Roupen Hovsepian, advisor, Armenia
Hagop Balian, advisor, France

Central Executive Board (September 1998-March 2002)
Hagop Yapoudjian, chairperson, Lebanon
Nazo Karakashian, vice-chairperson, Lebanon, United States
Manoushag Boyadjian, secretary, Lebanon
Dr. Hovhannes Taslakian, treasurer, Lebanon
Dr. Garbis Harboyan, advisor, Lebanon
Dr. Hratch Hajetian, advisor, Lebanon
Sella Tnjoukian, advisor, London
Vrej-Armen Artinian, advisor, Canada
Hratch Simonian, advisor, United States
Assadour Boghossian, advisor, Syria
Roupen Hovsepian, advisor, Armenia

Central Executive Board (September 1994-September 1998)
Hagop Yapoudjian, chairperson, Lebanon
Garbis Harboyan, vice-chairperson, Lebanon
Keghani Etiemezian, secretary, Lebanon
Maitre Jacque Choukhadarian, treasurer, Lebanon
Varant Alexandrian, advisor, Lebanon
Dr. Vazken Der Kalousdian, advisor, Canada
Dr. Hratch Hajetian, advisor, Lebanon
Dr. Hrant Markarian, advisor, United States
Dr. Armenag Yeghiayan, advisor, Lebanon
Varoujan Demirdjian, advisor, United States
Noubar Melikian, advisor, Syria

Central Executive Board (October 1990-September 1994)
Dr. Yeghig Konialian, chairperson, United States
Garbis Harboyan, vice-chairperson, Lebanon
Dr. Hrant Markarian, secretary, United States
Keghani Etiemezian, vice-secretary, Lebanon
Maitre Jacque Choukhadarian, treasurer, Lebanon
Kourken Kassabian, treasurer, United States
Markar Sharabkhanian, advisor, Canada
Dr. Vazken Der Kalousdian, advisor, Canada
Dr. Armenag Yeghiayan, advisor, Lebanon
Varant Alexandrian, advisor, Lebanon
Noubar Melikian, advisor, Syria

Schools

• The M&H Aslanian secondary school (also known as Djemaran ) in the East Beirut suburb of Antelias
  Antelias
  Antelias is a town in Lebanon. It is located around 5 km to the north of Beirut. Its inhabitants are mainly Christians and include Armenians , Maronites, Greek Catholics and Greek Orthodox ....
  
   in Lebanon
  Lebanon
  Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
  
  .
• The Ecole Bilingue Hamazkayin school in Marseille
  Marseille
  Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
  
  , France
  France
  The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
  
  .
• The Arshag & Sophie Golstaun College in Sydney
  Sydney
  Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
  
  , Australia
  Australia
  Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
  
  .

Publishing

Hamazkayin runs the Vahe Setian Printing Press in the Bourj Hammoud

Bourj Hammoud

Bourj Hammoud is a suburb in North-East Beirut, Lebanon in the Metn district. The suburb is heavily populated by Armenians as it is where most survivors of the Armenian Genocide settled...

 neighborhood of Beirut, Lebanon, along with the Hamazkayin Bookstore below it. It also publishes the monthly literary magazine Pakine .

The Hamazkayin Forum

Started in 1995, the Hamazkayin Forum is a 2-week cultural and educational trip for Armenian youth (mainly college-age students). From 1995 to 2001, the program was held at the Hamazkayin Nshan Palanjian educational institute in West Beirut, Lebanon. The 2002 forum featured one week in Lebanon and one week in Armenia. After that, the forum has been held entirely in Armenia

Armenia

Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...

. Every year, participants include youth from all over the world, including Canada, Greece, Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia, Italy, and Syria, to name a few.

Lebanon

• Anjar - (B.SEVAG)
• Antelias - (N.Aghpalian)
• Ashrafieh (1953) - The Roupen Zartarian chapter
• Beirut - (GOMIDAS)
• Bourj Hammoud (Administrative Office)
• West Beirut

Canada

• Montreal
• Cambridge
• Toronto (1970)

Location: Armenian Community Centre and The Armenian Youth Center, 45 & 50 Hallcrown Place Toronto, Ontario

Website

• Vancouver (1970)

East Coast

• New York
• Boston
• New Jersey
• Philadelphia
• Detroit
• Washington, D.C.
• Chicago
• Providence

West Coast

• Los Angeles
• San Fernando Valley
• La Crescenta
• Pasadena
• Glendale
• Orange County
• San Francisco

The San Francisco chapter hosts the Hamazkayin Radio Hour every Saturday, 9am to 10am on KUSF 90.3 FM or listen live online at kusf.org.

• Fresno

External links

• Official Site (Worldwide)
• Official Site (Western United States Region)
• Official Site (Boston and Eastern United States Region)
• Hamazkayin Syria
• Hamazkayin Bookstore