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Prelacy Hosts 'Year Of The Armenian Mother' Lecture Luncheon

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  • Prelacy Hosts 'Year Of The Armenian Mother' Lecture Luncheon

    PRELACY HOSTS 'YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN MOTHER' LECTURE LUNCHEON

    http://asbarez.com/115702/prelacy-hosts-year-of-the-armenian-mother-lecture-luncheon/
    Thursday, October 31st, 2013

    Western Prelacy Ladies Auxiliary members and Western Prelate Archbishop
    Moushegh Mardirossian

    LA CRESCENTA-On Thursday, October 24, the Western Prelacy Ladies
    Auxiliary hosted a lecture luncheon at the "Dikran and Zarouhie Der
    Ghazarian" Hall in celebration of the "Year of the Armenian Mother."

    The event, held under the auspices of Western Prelate Archbishop
    Moushegh Mardirossian, was one in a series held throughout the year
    in honor of this proclamation by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of
    the Great House of Cilicia.

    By the invitation of the Prelate, Lieutenant General Artur Aghabekyan,
    Deputy Prime Minister of Artsakh, Antranik Baghdassarian, Chair of
    Armenia Fund, and Sarkis Kotanjian, Executive Director of Armenia Fund,
    participated in the luncheon. Executive Council Chair Rima Boghossian
    and member Dr. Dikran Babikian were also in attendance.

    The event began with opening remarks by Master of Ceremonies and Ladies
    Auxiliary member Alisa Konanyan who welcomed the guests and the day's
    keynote speaker Nora Hovsepian, Esq., who would be speaking on "The
    Role of Armenian Mothers in Society." She then invited the Prelate
    to bless the tables. Following the Lord's Prayer and the invocation,
    His Eminence invited Deputy Prime Minister Aghabekyan to address
    the gathering.

    The Deputy Prime Minister greeted the guests, noting that it was his
    first time participating in such an event. In his address, Aghabekyan
    praised the extreme sacrifices of mothers by recounting a conversation
    he had with his mother when she visited him in the days of the Karabakh
    conflict. His mother was in distress at all the young lives being
    lost in the war, leaving entire villages in mourning, to which he
    answered that each one of those soldiers was fighting for the sake
    of his fatherland and the defense of his home and lands, and that at
    any given day he could be among the fallen, too. So when an Armenian
    mother bears a child, said Aghabekyan, she does so with the awareness
    that one day her child may go off to defend their land and not return.

    That, he said, is one of a mother's many virtues. The Deputy Prime
    Minister then stressed the importance of this year's Armenia Fund
    Telethon project, the construction of the Vardenis-Martakert Highway,
    and spoke of ongoing challenges faced by Artsakh, noting that its
    140,000 citizens are not alone in their struggle against the 10
    millions Azeris; they have the support of Armenians worldwide who,
    in the face of danger, will come to the aid and defense of Artsakh.

    A cultural program of songs presented by opera singer Taline Nalbandian
    followed, after which Nora Hovsepian was invited for her lecture.

    The keynote speaker presented the unique role of mothers, specifically
    Armenian mothers, as daughters, mothers, and activists for the
    nation and community, stressing that they are entrusted with a
    great responsibility and mission. Hovsepian reflected on the role
    of Armenian women throughout our history, from ancient times to the
    Armenian national movement, Genocide, Artsakh liberation movement,
    to today. Recalling her own experiences growing up, she spoke of
    the crucial role and influence of her mother, grandmother, and
    mother-in-law in her spiritual and nationalistic development, women
    she regards as her role models and by whose example she raises her own
    daughter. Armenian mothers have a vital role in the growth of their
    children, and with the complexities of modern times, alongside being
    homemaker and nurturers, mothers also have to work outside the home to
    contribute to the family finances, said Hovsepian. Armenian mothers are
    furthermore distinguished by their unique mission of providing Armenian
    education and rousing in their children the spirit of nationalism,
    of the Armenian Cause and the defense of our rights, recalling that
    during the Genocide and in following years, Armenian mothers were
    staunch defenders in this regard and had an unparalleled role in
    preserving and perpetuating our Armenian identity. Thus, said the
    speaker, today's mothers owe a debt to the Genocide and post-Genocide
    generation of mothers, and must continue in their example, must
    participate in Armenian organizations and prevent assimilation by
    firmly planting the Armenian identity in their children.

    The luncheon concluded with the Prelate's message. His Eminence
    commended the Ladies Auxiliary for organizing such events, which offer
    spiritual and intellectual nourishment, and commended the program
    participants for their part in highlighting the important obligations
    and valuable mission of Armenian mothers. The Prelate stated that the
    virtues and mission of mothers has been written about extensively by
    our poets. However, long before, it was the Holy Bible which taught
    us to revere mothers and the Holy Mother of God who exemplified
    what it means to be a mother. He conveyed his blessings to all the
    mothers and sisters, and blessed the memory of all departed mothers,
    and expressed his wish that today's mothers faithfully carry out the
    mission entrusted to them with pure hearts, good conscience, and faith.

    Continuing, the Prelate said that one of the most important
    responsibilities of a mother is the religious instruction of
    her children; to take her children to church and cultivate our
    faith and Armenian identity and belongingness in their hearts and
    souls. "The future of our nation lies in your hands," stressed
    the Prelate, and concluded by reminding the guests that the "Year
    of the Armenian Mother" celebrations will culminate with the main
    event on Tuesday, October 29, with a lecture organized by the Prelacy
    Cultural-Educational Committee to be held in the same hall. The event
    features Principal of Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School, Dr. Alina
    Dorian, as the keynote speaker. Pilibos students will contribute to
    the cultural program.

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