On Sunday, October 18, St. Sarkis Church welcomed Stephan H. Tchorbajian, P.E., for another fascinating and enlightening presentation entitled “Krapar: Modern Stories from 1,500 Years Ago.”
Through a delightful collection of anecdotes, humorous fables, and historical writings, Stephan brought to life the richness and timeless beauty of Krapar, the classical Armenian literary language. From entertaining tales filled with wit and wisdom to the remarkable correspondence between King Abgar and Jesus Christ, as recorded by the great Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi, the presentation demonstrated how stories written centuries ago remain surprisingly relatable and meaningful today.
Perhaps the most inspiring takeaway was Stephan's demonstration that Krapar is not nearly as inaccessible as many of us imagine. With a basic understanding of its structure and the key differences between Krapar and modern Western Armenian, we can begin to read, understand, and appreciate these literary treasures for ourselves.
The presentation was a wonderful reminder that our Armenian language is more than a means of communication—it is a living connection to our history, faith, culture, and identity.
This special gathering was also a beautiful and meaningful way to pay tribute to the late Mrs. Suzanne Hagopian, a cherished benefactor of St. Sarkis Church and its Saturday School, whose enduring legacy was her unwavering commitment to sustaining our Armenian faith, language, and culture. Through her generosity and devotion, she helped ensure that future generations of St. Sarkis parishioners would remain connected to their Armenian heritage through our beautiful language and faith. Stephan's presentation was a fitting reflection of the very values she held dear and worked so passionately to preserve.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Stephan Tchorbajian for sharing his knowledge and passion, and for inspiring us to rediscover the extraordinary literary heritage preserved in our beautiful Armenian language. May Mrs. Hagopian's legacy continue to inspire us to cherish, preserve, and pass on these priceless treasures to generations yet to come.