Podmootiun: The Armenian History Podcast

Episode 19 - St. Gregory of Narek. A saint in both the Armenian Apostolic and the Armenian Catholic churches, St. Gregory of Narek’s Book of Lamentations has been an inspiration for the past thousand years. In this episode we talk about his life, his work, and what his connection is with the American actor John Malkovich. Leave a comment on our Facebook page. Get updates and more on www.facebook.c...

Episode 18 - Ashot II Yerkat. In this episode we get to know the Armenian Iron Man. Find out how this Bagratuni king had to defend the throne from threats inside and outside his borders, and why he’s still revered today. Leave a comment on our Facebook page. Get updates and more on www.facebook.com/podmootiun/, and don’t forget to like, subscribe and leave a review.

Episode 17 - King Abgar And Iconography. Armenians have invented a lot of things, and according to Moses Khorenatsi, they may have had a hand in the invention of iconography. Our story starts with leprosy and a letter to Jesus. Find out what happened and why King Abgar became a saint in this episode. Do you have a favorite icon? Leave a comment on our Facebook page. Get updates and more on www.fac...

Episode 16 - Martin the Armenian. Armenians are proud of our many firsts, and being one of the first settlers at Jamestown is no exception. Meet Martin the Armenian, a man born in New Julfa in Persia who finds fame as a tobacco grower in the British colony of Virginia. What happens after that? You’ll have to listen to find out. What have you heard about Martin the Armenian? Leave a comment on our...

Episode 15 - Armenian Monasteries & Churches of Artsakh. In this special episode of Podmootiun, we’re sharing a Father Tad Talk about the Armenian Monasteries & Churches of Artsakh. Have you been to one of these churches or monasteries? Tell us about it on our Facebook page. Get updates and more on www.facebook.com/podmootiun/.   Fr. Tad Talks Here’s where you can watch the Father Tad Talk on Arme...

Episode 14 - Armenian Musical Instruments. Duduk, dhol, zurna and more. We can’t play any of them, but we can talk about them. How many have you heard of? How many do you play? Post it on our Facebook page. Get updates and more on www.facebook.com/podmootiun/.

Episode 13 - Mount Ararat. Not only is it an impressive and majestic mountain, it’s a symbol of Armenia! We discuss the various names of Mount Ararat, the legends about the mountain, and Noah’s Ark. Plus, places you might run into a picture of Mount Ararat. Ever take a selfie with the holy mountain? Post it on our Facebook page. Get updates and more on www.facebook.com/podmootiun/.

Episode 12 - Armenian Last Names. Where did they come from? What do they mean? What’s the difference between names that end in “yan” and “ian”? So many questions! We try to answer them all in this episode, as well as talk about some interesting names that have (possibly) surprising translations. What does your last name mean? Leave a comment, get updates and more on www.facebook.com/podmootiun/.

Episode 11 - The Mekhitarist Monastery of San Lazzaro. Venice, the city of canals, gondolas, and Armenian antiquities. You read that right: one of the most important repositories of Armenian manuscripts and historical items is on the island of San Lazzaro. Find out how it was founded and what’s there. Have you been? Leave a comment, get updates and more on www.facebook.com/podmootiun/.

Episode 10 - Gomidas / Komitas. We talk about the life, schooling, musical career, and his tragic end of the priest who was born Soghomon Soghomanian and became famous as Gomidas/Komitas. Plus, we discuss our favorite Gomidas songs. What’s yours? Leave a comment, get updates and more on www.facebook.com/podmootiun/.

Episode 9 - Mythology. Just like most ancient cultures, Armenia has a unique and rich mythology. From the gods of Urartu to the legend of Ara the Beautiful, we talk about the myths of the Armenians. Some of these you might have heard, some of these might be new. Which one is your favorite? Get updates and more on www.facebook.com/podmootiun/.

In this episode, we talk about the unique Armenian work of art that is khatchkars, or cross stones. Find out their history, the symbolism, and how you can get one made. Also, we try to get to the bottom of the 50 uses for khatchkars. Get updates and more on www.facebook.com/podmootiun/.

Episode 7 - Urartu. Also known as the Kingdom of Van, this Iron Age kingdom (860 BC to 590 BC) is known for founding Yerevan, harassing the great Assyrian Empire, and being named on the world’s oldest map. We talk about all of this, and more. Get updates and more on www.facebook.com/podmootiun/.

Episode 6 - The Armenian Alphabet. Created by Mesrob Mashdots by divine inspiration in 404 AD, the Armenian alphabet is unlike any other—it was especially created for the Armenian language. It started out as thirty-six letters, later to grow to thirty-nine, and over the centuries has become an important part of Armenian expression: in literature, in illuminated manuscripts, and as art itself. Do y...

Episode 5 - Women and the Conversion of Armenia. Santukhd, Gayane, Hripsime, Khosrovidukhd. Four women who played important roles in the spread of Christianity in Armenia and the conversion in 301 AD. In this episode, we share their stories. Get updates and more on www.facebook.com/podmootiun/.

Episode 4 - The Battle of Avarayr. Led by Vardan Mamigonian (or Vartan Mamikonian), the Armenian forces fought for the freedom of religion and identity against their Persian overlords in this battle in 451 AD. Find out why Shakespeare would have loved it, and why the battle had to be fought in the first place. Get updates and more on www.facebook.com/podmootiun/.

Episode 3 - Tigran the Great. The Greeks have Alexander the Great, the Russians have Peter the Great, the Armenians have Tigran the Great. Not only did he fight the Romans and Parthians, he built an empire that stretched from Iran to Israel (Caspian to the Mediterranean) and made Armenia a political and military force to be reckoned with in the last hundred years before Christ. Not bad for a princ...

Episode 2 - Moses Khorenatsi. The Father of Armenian History. A young man from a tiny village in Armenia is sent to the center of learning in the ancient world, Alexandria in Egypt, only to return to Armenia to find his sponsors gone and his country turned against him politically. But it’s what happens nearly a half century later that makes this an impressive story. Get updates and more on https:/...

Episode 1: Hayk Nahapet The story of Hayk and the beginning of the Armenian people. Father Tadeos Barseghyan and Peter Hajinian are two friends who found that every time they got together, they’d end up talking about Armenian history. There must be other people that also talk about Armenian history, they said. So they started this podcast. "Pod-mootiun" is a pun based on the Armenian word for “his...