#armenian

ISTANBUL — Inspectors from Turkey’s Ministry of Education have begun conducting inspections at Armenian schools in Istanbul, with similar inspections expected to take place at Greek and Jewish minority schools. According to reports, inspectors have informed Armenian school administrators that they will no longer be permitted to enroll students who are citizens of Armenia and have reportedly advised that such students be transferred to Turkish public schools, Ermenihaber reported. Under regulations adopted in 2012, foreign-national children were permitted to attend national minority schools as “guest students,” although they were not entitled to receive graduation certificates. The reported attempt to abruptly…

YEREVAN  — Interest in obtaining Armenian citizenship has increased significantly among Russian citizens of Armenian descent, according to Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. “Armenia has transformed from a country of emigration into one that is also both a transit country and a destination for migrants. This trend is continuing and even gaining momentum,” Acting Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Armen Ghazaryan said during a press conference. According to Ghazaryan, the number of applications for Armenian citizenship has risen sharply in recent years. “In 2025, the number of citizenship applications exceeded 32,000. This is the highest figure recorded in Armenia’s history.…

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PARAMUS, NJ – On July 2, 2026, a team of 32 volunteers departed for a 10-day Armenia Medical Mission. For the past 17 years, Dr. Albert and Susan Phillips, together with Dr. Chris Tashjian, have organized and led these annual medical missions, bringing compassionate healthcare and the love of Christ to communities throughout Armenia. Due to the unprecedented number of volunteers who wished to participate this year, the mission was divided into two teams, allowing the outreach to expand to additional regions of the country. Dr. Albert and Susan Phillips led the northern team, returning to the Lori region to…

ISKENDERUN  — The Armenian Church of the Forty Martyrs in the Iskenderun district of Turkey’s southern Hatay province is undergoing restoration. The church sustained significant damage during the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey on February 6, 2023. Built in 1876, the church has a history spanning approximately 150 years. Yusuf Tabash, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Armenian Church of the Forty Martyrs Foundation, said the restoration work will be carried out with 5 million Turkish lira, approximately $105,000, in financial support provided by the state. The altar area was among the sections damaged and partially destroyed by…

By GOHAR PALYAN PHILADELPHIA — The 108th Annual Grand Convocation of the Knights and Daughters of Vartan was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from July 29 to August 2, bringing together nearly 200 delegates, members, and guests from across the United States. The five-day gathering served as the organization’s premier annual business meeting, featuring strategic planning sessions, leadership workshops, annual reports, elections, and special recognitions honoring individuals for their outstanding service, leadership, and dedication. The Ardashad Tahlij (Lodge) and Shooshanig Otyag (Chapter) of Philadelphia hosted the Grand Convocation. Their leadership, together with dedicated members and volunteers, organized the weeklong event with…

NAASR’s Mardigian Library was enriched in 2025 by the donation of 11 titles from the series “Armenians in the Modern and Early Modern World,” published by Bloomsbury, which were donated by the series editor, Prof. Bedross Der Matossian (University of Nebraska, Lincoln), in memory of his late father, Vartan Der Matossian (1933-2017). In recognition of the donation, and in keeping with NAASR’s policy, each book has been given a bookplate recognizing the gift and honoring Vartan Der Matossian. Donations to NAASR’s Mardigian Library are vital to its growth to nearly 40,000 volumes. Whether the titles are old or new, any…