What a contradiction it is to commemorate one of the important days of Armenian society, the Celebration of the Holy Translators, by recalling the centenary of an educational institution that has been closed. The post-genocide period’s campaign to build schools was also driven by a desire to preserve the nation. Its aim was to educate future generations of a people uprooted from their homeland and torn away from their roots in foreign countries. This was a task that, in itself, required an exceptionally elevated sense of purpose and enormous sacrifice.
Thus, as new schools were established in every immigrant settlement, there was also a need for other institutions that could provide graduates of those schools with access to higher levels of education. One such institution was the Melkonian Educational Institute in Cyprus, founded by the brothers Krikor and Garabed Melkonian, originally from Kayseri.
For decades, the school served as a center of attraction for young people throughout the various communities of the diaspora who were eager for education. The Antakya Vakıflıköy Elementary School, located in a distant region, is an interesting example in this regard. The village's community council had made it a tradition to send the most successful student of each academic year to Melkonian, covering all the necessary expenses.
Unfortunately, in June 2005, the central administration of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), which had assumed responsibility for the school, closed the Melkonian Educational Institute. Moreover, it did so solely to obtain the value of its land.
Regardless of all this, former Melkonian students from Istanbul wanted to draw attention to the founding of their school. They decided to commemorate the Melkonian brothers with a concert, followed by a religious service. To bring this undertaking to fruition, they approached conductor Hagop Mamigonyan, himself a Melkonian alumnus. Mamigonyan, in turn, mobilized the Lusavorich Choir.
Indeed, on the evening of October 30, the Holy Trinity (Surp Yerortutyun) Armenian Church in Beyoğlu was completely filled with music lovers who had flocked there to enjoy this extraordinary concert.
An impressive concert
The program prepared by the choir deserves special mention. The works of the great composer Khachatur Avetisyan, whose 100th birth anniversary is being commemorated this year, featured prominently in the program.
In addition to the songs Tarergutyun, Oror, and Im Yeghek, the choir performed Chinar Es, Hoy Nazan, and Antsrevn Egav by Gomidas Vartabed.
The program also included Ara Bartevyan's Der Voghormya; Tatul Altunyan's Almasdı Shoghum E; Parseğ Ganaçyan's Nanor; Henrik Anasyan's Ap Mı Hogh (A Handful of Earth); Smbatyan's Hayasdan; Edgar Hovhannisyan's Arpa Sevan; Ardashes Khachaturyan's Im Anush Hayrenik; and Vahan Bedelyan's Melkonian Educational Institute Anthem.
The opening moment of the concert was particularly moving. The female and male members of the choir were positioned along the church's right and left side walls. They performed Surp, Surp in an arrangement by Magar Yegmalyan.
Throughout the concert, accompanied on piano by Rober Doğanay, the solo sections of several songs were performed with great success by Maral Çağlıçubukçu, Şant Çakmakçıyan, and Sercan Gazeroğlu. Karolin Mamigonyan served as the announcer of ceremonies.
At the end of the event, commemorative gifts were presented by Patriarch Maşalyan to those who had contributed to the occasion.
The commemoration that began with Friday's concert concluded with a Surp Badarak (Divine Liturgy), held on Sunday, November 1, once again at the Holy Trinity Church.
