RAA presents volume on Gharadagh to Glendale Armenian Community

· May 5, 2026

Glendale, CA — On April 26, 2026, Armenian community members of Los Angeles attended an evening dedicated to those with roots in Gharadagh, a historical Armenian province located in modern-day northwestern Iran, primarily within the East Azerbaijan province. The event took place at the Armenian Society of Los Angeles and celebrated the launch of Research on Armenian Architecture’s (“RAA”) newly published sixth volume in its 36-volume History of Armenia series, titled Gharadagh.

The Research on Armenian Architecture (RAA) hosted a presentation of the newly published volume, taking a deep look into Gharadagh and its five regions—a historic district of the Paytakaran province of Greater Armenia (Մեծ Հայք).

Founded in 1982 in Germany by Professor Armen Hakhnazarian, RAA is dedicated to the research and documentation of Armenian cultural monuments across historical Armenia and diaspora communities. In 1996, the organization expanded into the United States, launching RAA-USA in order to reach the US diaspora community, and expanded further into Yerevan, Armenia in 1998, eventually forming the RAA Armenia Foundation in 2010.

Jora Manoucherian, President of RAA-USA, on behalf of the Board of Directors, welcomed the attendees. He noted that RAA has digitized and archived approximately 690,000 photographs and documents, forming a unique collection.

He further explained that the RAA office building, acquired and renovated in July 2023, includes a library named in honor of Samvel Karapetyan, housing more than 20,000 volumes, as well as an auditorium named after Armen Hakhnazarian. He also shared that the RAA Museum is currently under development and will feature letters of recognition, medals, artifacts collected during expedition trips, and other valuable materials.

RAA/USA Board Members

From Left to Right: Medick Haroutunian, Diana Alexandrian, Jora Manoucherian, Vano Haritunians

Razmick Haroutunian, Marina Guevrekian, Irene Arathoon, Linda Sarkissian

Also pictured: Janet Mirzayan, RAA patron (seated, 4th from the left)

and daughter Adrineh Mirzayan (standing, 5th from the left)

Gharadagh includes photographs, genealogical records, demographic data, a comprehensive catalog of monuments, and a detailed regional map. The work was initiated by the late historian and architectural expert Samvel Karapetyan and subsequently completed by his wife, Emma Abrahamyan.

During the program, the audience viewed a video presentation introducing the book, recorded by the author, Emma Abrahamyan

(Click here to watch the video).

Published under the patronage of Janet Mirzayan, the volume was sponsored by her and dedicated to the memory of her parents, Armenoohi Aparian and Hovhanes Melik Ghassemian.

Janet Mirzayan said, “I vividly remember my journey to Gharadagh at the age of 13. Those memories have left a lasting impression on me.” She added, “I will always treasure my father’s stories.”

The volume highlights the history and architectural heritage of Gharadagh’s villages, with the support of Armenian institutions and foundations. The evening also honored notable Armenians from Gharadagh—past and present—celebrating a legacy of resilience, culture, and achievement.