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Armenian, Greek and Jewish Community Week Long Event

Sunday, September 11, 2022 - Sunday, September 18, 2022

 “Agape and Hope Resurrected in Hripsime’s Agony, Athena’s Mourning, and Rachel’s Heartbreak”

 

“Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”, roared Hitler in his speech to his chief commanders in 1939 just one week before the Nazi invasion of Poland and the planned extermination of Jews.

2022 represents the 100th year from one of humanity’s darkest periods, a time point that inspired and ignited what eventually resulted in one of humankind’s bleakest moments. 1922 was the peak of the period between 1915-1923, when Christians and Jews were systematically targeted for their faith and culture. The western world’s general indifference to the genocide of Christians and Jews in Anatolia, the Pontus, and Asia Minor would soon be used by the Nazis as the basis of their plan to exterminate the Jewish people. 

The Greek, Armenian, and Jewish Communities of Western Pennsylvania, on account of this sad moment in our histories, and on occasion of this marker in time, 100 years from 1922, are coming together in the month of September 2022 in a broad educational outreach to all of Western Pennsylvania, in art, music, literature, and history, to first commemorate those who perished brutally and inhumanely at the hands of perpetrators, but second, to use this milestone in our histories to show that in the face of despair and death, creation and inspiration for a more tolerant world was fostered and nurtured. 

Our three communities will dedicate the month of September to the music, literature, and artwork that was created by those who either perished in, or survived the genocide of Christians and Jews in Anatolia, the Pontus, and Asia Minor between 1915-1923 and by those who perished in, or survived the brutal concentration camps of the Holocaust during World War II.

Additionally, the month of September will be dedicated to the music, literature, and artwork that was inspired by these sad moments in humankind’s history, in the post-World War II Armenian, Greek, and Jewish cultures.

Among the planned activities are: More details and registration to come! 

  1. Exhibits of artworks of, and inspired by the period, by Armenians, Greeks, and Jews – those who perished in the genocide or the Holocaust as well as by those who were inspired by their lives and sacrifice. These artworks will be on display in a number of art galleries in Pittsburgh for the entire month of September 2022, and accessible by the public. Webpage With Links: HERE
  2. Soirees of literature and poetry that will bring together members of the Armenian, Jewish, and Greek community of Western Pennsylvania, especially those of the younger generation (high school and college students) who will present excerpts from literary works as well as complete poems written by those who perished and/or survived those dark periods as well as excerpts of literary works and poems inspired by their lives and sacrifice. These soirees are planned for every evening of the week between the 11th – 18th of September Webpage With Links: HERE
  3. A series of lectures by scholars and historians as well as by living witnesses and/or their descendants, who will describe those dark times together with inspired commentary by community members in outreach to people of Western Pennsylvania to sensitize them that history does repeat and it is critical that those lessons direct our region and country to prevent that darkness from ever falling over the world again. Additionally, to present how these terrible moments in time and experience shaped the cultures of the Armenian, Greek and Jewish peoples. These events will be mostly virtual during the week of the 11th – 18th of September. Webpage With Links: HERE

A concert that will bring together Armenian, Jewish, and Greek musicians who will present music written by those who perished and/or survived those dark periods as well as music that was inspired by their lives and sacrifice. The concert is planned for the early evening of Sunday the 18th of September and, depending on the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, may be an in-person event, or virtual.

Webpage With Links: HERE

Details

Start:
Sunday, September 11, 2022
End:
Sunday, September 18, 2022
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