What We Do

The Knights of Vartan, individual lodges, and the Grand Council have made substantial financial contributions to other charitable organizations, to churches and church projects, to the Armenian community and to the community in general and to our Ancestral Homeland of Armenia.

What are the Activities of The Knights of Vartan?

The Knights of Vartan is a service organization to inspire and to encourage its members to support cultural, educational , religious and charitable organizations and activities on a local, national and international level.  The Knights of Vartan is not a welfare organization or a benefit society and therefore does not usually engage directly in fund raising activities.  On the local level, lodges present educational and cultural programs, give scholarships and participate and serve in various social, philanthropic, compatriotic, religious and educational organizations and activities.  One such undertaking was to establish a permanent endowment for the Armenian Research Center at the University of Michigan, Dearborn.  Lodge members are actively involved in all phases of assistance to the Republic of Armenia.  Most activities in Armenian communities throughout the United States and Canada have benefited from service of members of the Knights of Vartan.

Large projects were undertaken such as school support for Armenia and a seminary support project together with helping our brothers in need and participating in the April 24 Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

In addition, members of the Knights of Vartan were major participants and leaders in many important  community and organizational projects, thus fulfilling our obligations and our vow of service to others.  Some of these are:

• Establishment of the Armenian Research Center at the University of Michigan

• Financial Support to over ninety (90) schools in Armenia (including the Knights and Daughters of Vartan Educational Center)

• Participation and Financial Support to Armenian projects

• Participate and serve in Armenian Churches

• Sponsor the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 in Times Square, New York City, as well as other cities

The Organizational structure of the Knights of Vartan

At the local level is the individual lodge, called a "Tahlij," each of which has a name, a number and location. For example, "Daron Tahlij #16-San Francisco, CA."  The individual lodge has a governing council, known as the "Tivan" which is elected each year by its local members and is officially installed.

Each year all Tahlijes send certain officers and elected representatives to a convocation of the Grand Lodge, known as the "Avak Tahlij."  It is the supreme executive, legislative and judicial authority of the Fraternity.

The executive and judicial functions are in the hands of the Grand Council known as the "Avak Tivan" elected at the annual Convocation.  The Grand Council consists of seven elected officers who preside at the Avak Tahlij.

The head of the Grand Council is known as the "Grand Commander".  The Grand Commander, with the consent of the Grand Council, may appoint District Representatives who hold office at his pleasure and who act for the Grand Commander in liaison with the Tahlijes in his district.  Presently there are five districts as follows:  New England District, Mid-Atlantic District, Southeastern District, Midwest District and Western District.

Each District has an informal organization of lodges in the District called an Interlodge District.  Each Interlodge District has an executive committee usually from each lodge on a rotating basis among the lodges in the District.  Each District usually holds at least one meeting a year to discuss lodge business at the local, interlodge and Grand Lodge levels.  There is no formal lodge or Tahlij at the Interlodge level.

Knights of Vartan Inc.