December 18 , 2011 at 1:30 PM 

Hamazkayin Chicago

   FILM PRESENTATION:  

  Raffi's   THE CROSS THIEF's MEMOIR    

       September 18, 2011                          1:30 p.m.  

~details below~ 

 Hamazkayin 30th Anniversary Celebration 

 featuring Vatche Zakarian 

  7:00 p.m.    Saturday October 8, 2011  

~details below~ 

The cross-thief's memoir (Khachakoghi hishadagaran@)                  Director: Hrach Qeshishyan

Based on the book by renowned Armenian Author Raffi (1835-1888). The story of a young man 

who lives in the obscure village of Sahnand in the late 1800's. The village was known for its dark 

side as the home of thieves and con artists. Our young hero tries to avoid becoming a con artist 

by becoming a metalsmith. His career would be cut short when he was tricked into forging a key 

which was eventually used in a robbery. He becomes a fugitive and joins the master con artist 

who was also the one who tricked him, unknowingly becoming his apprentice. The con artists 

from the village were smart, brave, daring people who had deep knowledge of culture, religion 

and languages of whole continent. One day they would pretend being a Muslim monk and next 

day Jewelry traders. Frequently they would collect donations in such artistic ways that the victims 

ware glad to "help" them. They were incredibly strong and resilient. Most of their cons were high 

profile and they would readily get financing from rich individuals and banks. They had their code 

of honor and would follow it fanatically. They were territorial and deadly individuals usually 

working in pairs. This was the phenomena local to this region and while there were legends in 

many cultures about "Khachagogh" AKA: Cross-thiefs this is one of the few stories that has 

survived about them.

~ past activities ~

SKOKIE FESTIVAL OF CULTURES or

 "SKOKIE FEST" is this weekend:

MAY 21-22, 2011.

Armenian SARDARABAD DANCE GROUP and

HAMAZKAYIN ARMENIAN CULTURAL ORGANIZATION CHOIR

perform at ~ 3:00 pm Sunday !

See official schedule of events here: www.skokieculturefest.org or in the

next box -- pdf file of Festival of Cultures (FOC) insert:

Sunday May 15, 2011          SAYAT NOVA        Lecture begins at 1:30 pm

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY CENTER

1701 N. Greenwood Road, Glenview, IL

Learn Armenian: download now

Aghet movie in Chicago area. Armenian Genocide movie from Germany.