HOW WORDS CAME TO LIFE FOR A PEOPLE EXHIBIT TO DETAIL CREATION OF THE ARMENIAN ALPHABET.Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer GLENDALE - The Armenian alphabet Noun 1. Armenian alphabet - a writing system having an alphabet of 38 letters in which the Armenian language is written Armenian alphabet - a character set that includes letters and is used to write a language was created 1,600 years ago by Mesrop Mashtots, a monk, theologian and linguist who was interested in translating the Bible into his native tongue. The alphabet strengthened Armenia's church and its kingdom and started a national literature that continues today. The Glendale Central Library opened Saturday a month-long display on the development of the Armenian alphabet, one of several planned for this month in the Glendale area. ``What it's made me realize is the significance of the book and the significance of writing to the Armenian culture,'' said Nancy Hunt-Coffey, Glendale's director of libraries. ``Writing and the manuscripts are valued in the same way that we value priceless works of art. The writing is sort of inextricably in·ex·tri·ca·ble adj. 1. a. So intricate or entangled as to make escape impossible: an inextricable maze; an inextricable web of deceit. b. tied to (Armenian) cultural development in the same way that the great artists are tied to western development.'' The display features dozens of books and more than 50 pieces of art, including prints, sculptures and pottery. Material for the display comes from the Matenadaran book depository in Armenia. Armenian alphabet expert Nona Manoukian from the Glendale Public Library The Glendale Public Library is located in Glendale, California, and serves a diverse community of over 200,000 people. GPL has a total of 6 branches (a 7th branch is slated to open in 2007) in addition to the large Central Library, including the unique Brand Library and Art Center. visited Matenadaran recently and brought back the material. The display, which runs through Oct. 31, also highlights the Glendale Public Library's acquisition nearly a year ago of 12,500 Armenian books donated by the now-defunct American Armenian International College in La Verne La Verne (lə vûrn), city (1990 pop. 30,897), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles; inc. 1906. La Verne, which began as a citrus-processing center, now has varied manufacturing, including electronic components, apparel, hand . Librarians are still going through the collection and have begun putting some of the books on shelves. Some of the more academic books will go to local universities. The library had 4,000 Armenian books before the donation. ``It's a tremendous infusion of resources that are in high demand,'' Hunt-Coffey said. Today, the Alex Theatre The Alex Theatre is a historic landmark located at 216 North Brand Boulevard in Glendale, California of the United States of America. It is currently owned by the City of Glendale and operated by the Alex Regional Theatre Board. will host a celebration of the 1,600th anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet. The free program is presented by the Hamazkayin Educational & Cultural Society, and it will feature keynote speakers from UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX and UC Berkeley and performances by dancers and musicians. On Oct. 6, His Holiness a title of the pope; - formerly given also to Greek bishops and Greek emperors. See also: Holiness Aram I His Holiness Aram I has been Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church since 1995. He resides in Antelias, Beirut. Born Pedros Keshishian in Beirut, Lebanon in 1947. He was ordained priest in 1968, and was consecrated bishop in Antelias on 22 August 1980. , the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church The Armenian Apostolic Church (Armenian: Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցի, Hay Arakelagan Yegeghetzi), sometimes called the Armenian Orthodox Church or the , will visit the Homenetmen Glendale Ararat Chapter for the opening of its exhibition on the Armenian alphabet. The exhibition will be open to the public Oct. 7-9. ``Since its creation, the letters were never changed or reformed, making the Armenian language one of the most extremely precise languages,'' said Armond Gorgorian, executive director of the Homenetmen chapter. Homenetmen is an an international Armenian youth organization. Alex Dobuzinskis, (818) 546-3304 alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com IF YOU GO: A display of Armentian arts and culture runs through Oct. 31 at the Glendale Central Library, 222 E. Harvard St. The Hamazkayin Educational & Cultural Society will present a Celebration of the 1,600th Anniversary of the Armenian Alphabet, 6 p.m. today at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Free. The Homenetmen art exhibition on the Armenian alphabet will open to the public Oct. 7-9 at Homenetmen's Ararat Chapter, 3347 N. San Fernando Road San Fernando Road is a major street in the city and county of Los Angeles. It starts off in Castaic as The Old Road, passing through Santa Clarita and the Newhall Pass, where upon its intersection with Sierra Highway near the junction of the Golden State (I-5) and the , Los Angeles. His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, will mark the opening of the exhibit at an invitation-only ceremony at 7 p.m. Oct. 6. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Librarian Nona Manoukian stands in front of a poster announcing an Armenian alphabet exhibit at the Glendale Central Library. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer Box: IF YOU GO (see text) |
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