GLENDALE, Calif.- Educator, ethnographer, historian, award-winning author of Armenian
Women’s history, ARS member and Armenian women’s studies trailblazer, and distinguished
author of the history of the Armenians in Egypt, Sona Zeitlian (nee Simonian) was honored for
her 70 years of service jubilee by both Central Executive Boards (CEB) of the Armenian Relief
Society (ARS) and the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society during a
program organized by the ARS of Western USA on April 7, 2024, at the Krikor and Mariam
Karamanoukian Glendale Youth Center hall.
Hundreds of attendees came to celebrate Zeitlian’s life-long achievements, flocking from Egypt,
Lebanon, Canada, Eastern USA, and closer places like Davis, San Diego, and Los
Angeles/Orange County basin. The event not only brought over the ARS and Hamazkayin
families together but also honoree’s family members who provided their perspectives and
recollections of what it was to be associated with someone who was an extraordinarily bright
thinker, who single-handedly preserved oral Armenian women’s history, pioneered the
contributions of Armenian women throughout history, and became herself a role-model heroine.
Opening remarks were made by ARS of Western USA Regional Executive chairperson Vicky
Marashlian, who exemplified Sona Zeitlian’s 70 years of service to the Armenian people as a
role model with her wisdom, patience, and dedication. Marashlian read a congratulatory letter
from Author Krikor Beledian of Paris, France. Later she was joined by Arousyak Melkonian,
ARS CEB Chairperson, to present commendations from the newly elected Mayor of the City of
Glendale (Calif.) Elen Asatryan and a certificate of recognition from Congressman Adam Schiff,
who represents California’s 30th Congressional District.
Western Diocese of the Armenian Church Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian’s
representative, Rev. Fr. Njdeh Keshishian, read his eminence’s congratulatory remarks,
reminding those present that HH Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II awarded Zeitlian with a
Pontifical Encyclical in 2015.
Sona Madarian, who serves on the Board of Regents of ARS School, presented the awardee as
a teacher, researcher, author, and historian who documented the oral history of the elderly
Musa Ler survivors who were living in Ainjar, Lebanon and published the first book on the role of
the Armenian women in the revolutionary movement. She noted that Zeitlian was a trailblazer
for Armenian women’s studies, unearthing their historical roles and influence in the political and
health realms. Madarian emphasized Zeitlian’s role as a faithful widow, mother, and
grandmother who persevered almost five decades ago after the loss of her husband, Sarkis,
who was an ARS Bureau member.
Award-winning architect, poet, and political observer Hraztan Zeitlian presented his mother’s
unique qualities: her writings pursued a progressive feminist agenda to persuade others to
follow her lead; her 1968 book about Armenian revolutionary women paved the way for the
establishment of Armenian women’s studies field; her research on Armenian women was a
trailblazer pioneering work; her work presented Armenian women as agents of change,
empowering women’s equity and equality; her work evolved into the intersection of women’s
issues, community and civil society; her cultural ethnology studies were accessible and
purposeful with social/political aims, while she advocated self-organization for the Diaspora
communities for the development of the Armenian character (Սոնա Զէյթլեան. Հայ կնոջ աւանդական
կերպարը (horizonweekly.ca).
The program was MC-ed by Susanna Davtyan and included soloist Haykuhi Babakhanian’s
performance of two folk songs and a dozen of the ARS Sepan (Glendale) Chapter’s Salpe
Hatzbanian Saturday School students’ performance of the “Grateful Animals,” a children’s story
written by Zeitlian based on the oral traditions of the women of Musa Ler (Musa Dagh). A video
message from Prof. Talar Chahinian of the University of California Irvine (UCI) Center for
Armenian Studies explained how Zeitlan’s pivotal books and papers on Armenian women were
the forerunners of Armenian women’s studies programs. She added that her public
presentations and workshops have pioneered a model for advocacy for women’s rights and
inclusion. Prof. Chahinian congratulated Zeitlian on her resourcefulness and tenacity in
navigating institutional restrictions to accomplish her research advocating for women’s rights.
Viggo Zeitlian, a high school senior and talented varsity football player, presented how his
opinion of his doting grandmother has evolved as his older brother Kyle and then himself
became old enough to participate in discussions with their grandmother. He explained that her
passion for learning and discussing is tangible and exciting, and he is inspired as the recipient
of her tenacity, wisdom, and guidance.
Prof. Heghnar Zeitlian Waternpaugh, an award-winning author who teaches art history at the
University of California, Davis, recalled that as a child, she had little idea of her mother’s second
life as a scholar. She saw her mother working on her papers in the kitchen or at a desk; at the
time, the honoree was writing a series of books for teenage readers on Armenian legends, such
as Haig Nahabed and Ara Keghetsig. When Hegnar was old enough to read those stories, her
mother wanted to know how her writing could connect with someone like her; Heghnar asked
questions about the stories and felt very important. The Role of Armenian Women during the
Revolutionary Movement had been published in 1968 before Heghnar was born; it was much
later that she realized the importance of that book. She explained that when her mother first
tried researching Armenian women, even the Armenian men in leadership roles discouraged her
from pursuing her subject. While there were no readily available records about women’s role in
history, her mother invented her research methods and writing style.
Zakar Keshishian, CEB Chair of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society,
explained that heroes are not just those who die on the front; they are also those who are asked
to go to the front; they heed the call and spend their whole lives on their mission for their
community. He exemplified Sona Zeitlian as such a heroine. He asked the other Hamazkayin
CEB member, Dr. Dikran Babikian, to join him in awarding Zeitlian with Hamazkayin’s medal of
honor for her contributions to literature.
Arousyak Melkonian, ARS CEB Chairperson, remarked that as ARS volunteers, it is
undoubtedly a proud moment to recognize a particular person like Sona Zeitlian, a heroine in
every sense of the word, the likes of which will rarely come in the history of our nation.
Melkonian remarked that Zeitlian has been an exemplary and outstanding ARS-er with many
years of tireless service to the ARS. She added that her various literary, documentary and
research works immortalized the Armenian woman’s virtues, courage, endurance, and
patriotism and validated the Armenian mother and grandmother’s role in preserving and
disseminating our national traditions. She said that Zeitlian brought to life the unknown stories of
countless heroines so that they would sound like ringing bell towers and lighthouses lighting the
paths for future generations; she exemplified the embodiment of all those special virtues, which
she described in her own writings of the heroic women and inspired us to tackle our present and
future challenges.
ARS CEB members Annie Kechichian, Treasurer, and Zharmen Mirzakhanyan, Advisor, joined
Melkonian to award Zeitlian the CEB certificate and the Michael Aram commemorative plate
with the ARS logo.
Finally, it was time to hear the honoree herself, Sona Zeitlian. She thanked the ARS and
Hamazkayin executives, her family members who came from far away to attend the gathering,
the organizers, attendees, and all those who expressed their congratulations in writing, including
former students and sometimes their children from Egypt and Lebanon. She noted that
throughout her life, from Cairo to Ainjar, from Beirut to North and South America, as well as
Canada, she has tried to be helpful for the sake of the advancement of Armenian women and
the vital role in our new heroic history, from our revolutionary movement through the first
republic of Armenia. She recalled that when she was in Ainjar for the first time, she wrote down
the stories, which represented the values and beliefs of the people of Musa ler, who were
displaced from their homeland. She aimed to communicate their legacy to the generations living
away from the homeland, instilling pride in their identity. Zeitlian remarked that she got involved
with women’s organizations by delivering lectures related to social and domestic issues and the
protection of women’s rights in the homeland and diaspora. She remarked that her solitary work,
which began in the 60-ies, has expanded as programs and courses have been established in
women’s studies, and the role of women has expanded. Zeitlian reaffirmed her belief that
collectively, we can strive for the advancement of Armenian women and the common good.
Following the program’s end, the excitement continued as attendees got a chance to meet with
the honoree and congratulate her with their smiles and bouquets of flowers.
