Stepan Piligian

Most functioning societies are built like a pyramid. The vast majority of people reside at the base, and as you move upward, fewer individuals hold increasingly concentrated power. This is essentially true, regardless of the governing model. The fundamental difference between an autocratic system and a representative democracy is that, in the former, power is …

Music stirs incredible emotions in most of us. One of its universal joys is that it can be interpreted — and therefore made relevant — to countless people. It evokes heartfelt memories and sad moments along our personal journeys. In the 1970s, a dear friend of mine, Manoog Kaprielian, who passed away recently, created music …

Life in the American Armenian diaspora is built on, and dependent upon, the concept of community. Communities are often described as social units in which common interests, values and culture create a sense of belonging and cohesion. They can be geographic, such as the Armenian community in Fresno, Racine and Worcester. They also form communities …

Growing up in the American diaspora, there were countless “baby boomer” Armenians who longed for an independent Armenia. They grew up when the Armenian flag was not listed at the United Nations, and there were blank faces among their American friends when asked if they knew of Armenians. It was a dream from our grandparents, …

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared, while speaking before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, that the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict “has ended with the agreement I signed yesterday.” He was referencing the agreement signed on TRIPP, the Trump Route for International Peace, as conclusive evidence that the focus has shifted from conflict to opportunity. This is …

An elderly man holds the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia. (Photo: Photolure)

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev (left) with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (right) at the White House (Photo: RA Prime Minister's office, August 8, 2025)

Before we engage with this important topic, let’s put one thing on the table: Sincere criticism of the policies of the State of Israel does not equate to antisemitism. I will grant that some individuals who criticize Israeli policy may be motivated by antisemitic beliefs, but it is not appropriate for Israel to declare any …

The survivor generation arrived on these shores to escape the ravages of genocide and reestablish their lives in this country. Many of that generation initially believed they would return to the homeland under the right circumstances. Most of the men who joined the Armenian Legionnaires did so to join in the cause of defeating the …

Do we envision a prosperous and thriving Christ-centered church that overcomes the obstacles of the diaspora, or are we embracing the status quo while waiting for assimilation and secularism to engulf us? There is very little that is static about being an Armenian Christian in the Western Hemisphere. Change is a constant, and the question …