Talk by Dr. Roberta Ervine \”The Queen of Hearts: When Armenian Women Ruled the Middle East\”

MISSION HILLS, CA –. Ararat-Eskijian Museum, presents an illustrated talk by Dr. Roberta Ervine from St. Nersess Seminary, Armonk, New York, Friday April 15th, at 7:30 PM. “Queen of Hearts: When Armenian Women Ruled the Middle East” at Ararat-Eskijian Museum/Sheen Chapel 15105 Mission Hills Road, Mission Hills, Calif., 91345.

The 12th century cloak-and-dagger world of power and piety in the Holy Land was a world run by European men. But the East’s most powerful men married Armenian noblewomen from the Cilician princedoms, and soon the daughters of those marriages found themselves at the highest levels of the Crusading states. How did these Armenian queens, princesses and countesses deal with their position in a male-dominated, militarized society? This presentation will look at their successes and their failures, their very public private lives, and the price they paid for power.

Roberta Ervine has taught Armenian Church History, Armenian Theology and Patristics and Modern and Classical Armenian at St. Nersess Seminary for more than 15 years. Prior to that she lived, studied and taught in the Armenian Patriarchate of Saints James in Jerusalem for more than 20 years. There she was a disciple of the great Abp. Norayr Bogharian. She is the author of numerous books and scholarly articles on aspects of Armenian Church History and Thought. She recently translated St. Gregory of Narek’s Commentary on the Song of Songs.

Admission is free and open to the public for additional information please contact ararat-eskijian-museum@netzero.net tell # (747)500 7585