WESTWOOD–The fifth in a series of academic conferences centering on historic Armenian cities took place Saturday at UCLA’s Dickson hall.
This conference focused on Pokr Hayk/Armenian Minor–Sepastia/Sivas and was organized by Prof. Richard Hovannisian and is sponsored by the Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History–in cooperation with the Grigor Narekatsi Chair in Armenian Studies.
The capacity crowd–including Armenia’s Consul General to Los Angeles Armen Melkonian– filled Dickson Auditorium in the early morning hours to hear 13 Armenian and non-Armenian academicians from throughout the world–present the various aspects of province spanning from antiquity to the early 20th century.
The conference was convened by Hovannisian who presented a brief outline emphasizing the important role Sepastia has played as a cross-roads in Armenian history. He also noted historical Armenian figures–important churches and institutions of higher learning which have emerged from Sepastia.
The morning sessions focused on the ancient and medieval history–culture–religion and art in Sebastia with presentations by Nona Manoukian–Robert Hewsen–James Russell–Suren Kolangian–Peter Cowe–Bernard Coulie and Christina Maranci.
The afternoon sessions included presentation on social–educational and political developmen’s in the late 19th century and up to the years following the Armenian Genocide in the 20th century. Papers were presented by Frank Stone–Barbara Merguerian–Hilmar Kaiser–Helen Sahagian–Simon Payaslian and Richard Hovannisian.
Asbarez Online will provide extensive coverage of this important conference in upcoming postings.