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Varoujan Koundakjian Awarded 'Knight Of Cilicia' Medal
http://asbarez.com/123452/varoujan-koundakjian-awarded-%E2%80%98knight-of-cilicia%E2%80%99-medal/
Friday, May 23rd, 2014
>From left: Asbarez Daily Armenian Newspaper Editor Apo Boghigian,
Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Varoujan Koundakjian
and wife Armine, and ARF Western US Central Committee Chairman Dr.
Viken Hovsepian
GLENDALE-By the initiative of Asbarez Daily Armenian Newspaper and the
Armenian Cultural Foundaion, on the evening of Friday, May 16, a
reception was held at Phoenicia Restaurant in Glendale in celebration
of community activist, leader and philanthropist Varoujan
Koundakjian's 80th birthday. The event also served as an opportunity
to honor Koundakjian's decades-long service to the community.
On behalf of His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia, the Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian awarded
Koundakjian the "Knight of Cilicia" insignia and Pontifical
Encyclical.
In the Encyclical, His Holiness commended Koundakijan's lifetime of
service and dedication to the Armenian Church and people, spanning
from the Western United States to Armenia, his moral and financial
support, and valuable input and contributions to the advancement of
our religious, cultural, and social institutions.
In his remarks, the Prelate expressed his commendation to Koundakjian,
with whom he has enjoyed over 30 years of friendship. Arch.
Mardirossian extolled Koundakjian's kindheartedness and benevolence
and conveyed his best wishes on his 80th birthday.
The special event brought together Koundakjian's old friends and
colleagues who had gathered to honor a man, whose character and
generosity has propelled many a project in this community and in
Armenia.
As Koundakjian himself explained, he was born on April 24 and thus has
not celebrated his birthday, or if he has it has been in intimate
setting always not on his birth date.
The organizers, as well, taking note of this realities opted to host
the event after Koundakjian's actual birthday, but were convinced that
honoring him was fitting to his vast involvement, leadership and
generosity in the community and in Armenia.
Varoujan Koundakjian receives his medal from Prelate Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian
Taking turns to extol Koundakjian's virtues were his old friends, with
whom he spend the early days of his life in the United States. Vahag
Savoulian, Jano Titizian, Garbis Titizian and Armen Deirmenjian each
recounted fond memories and the experiences that shaped their life
here with Koundakjian at the center of it.
Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee
Chairman Dr. Viken Hovsepian spoke, on behalf of the organization,
expressing his gratitude for Koundakjian's leadership in the ARF and
his generosity toward the organization. Also speaking was Asbarez
Armenian Editor Apo Boghigian who outlined that Koundakjian truly
embodied the ARF's call of "Tebi Yergir"--toward the homeland, since
Armenia's independence Koundakjian relocated to Armenia, where he
established businesses that employ locals and continue his
philanthropy in Armenia.
Koundakjian's wife, Armine, who shares his husband's love of Armenia
and Artsakh also addressed the gathering recounting the time she and
Koundakjian met and became a family and together working for the
Armenian Cause.
The event served a humanitarian purpose, as more than $75,000 was
raised for the Armenians of Kessab, who in March were forced to
evacuate their town and are currently in Latakia and elsewhere as
refugees. The donations were made to the Syrian-Armenian Relief Fund.
From: A. Papazian
http://asbarez.com/123452/varoujan-koundakjian-awarded-%E2%80%98knight-of-cilicia%E2%80%99-medal/
Friday, May 23rd, 2014
>From left: Asbarez Daily Armenian Newspaper Editor Apo Boghigian,
Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Varoujan Koundakjian
and wife Armine, and ARF Western US Central Committee Chairman Dr.
Viken Hovsepian
GLENDALE-By the initiative of Asbarez Daily Armenian Newspaper and the
Armenian Cultural Foundaion, on the evening of Friday, May 16, a
reception was held at Phoenicia Restaurant in Glendale in celebration
of community activist, leader and philanthropist Varoujan
Koundakjian's 80th birthday. The event also served as an opportunity
to honor Koundakjian's decades-long service to the community.
On behalf of His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia, the Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian awarded
Koundakjian the "Knight of Cilicia" insignia and Pontifical
Encyclical.
In the Encyclical, His Holiness commended Koundakijan's lifetime of
service and dedication to the Armenian Church and people, spanning
from the Western United States to Armenia, his moral and financial
support, and valuable input and contributions to the advancement of
our religious, cultural, and social institutions.
In his remarks, the Prelate expressed his commendation to Koundakjian,
with whom he has enjoyed over 30 years of friendship. Arch.
Mardirossian extolled Koundakjian's kindheartedness and benevolence
and conveyed his best wishes on his 80th birthday.
The special event brought together Koundakjian's old friends and
colleagues who had gathered to honor a man, whose character and
generosity has propelled many a project in this community and in
Armenia.
As Koundakjian himself explained, he was born on April 24 and thus has
not celebrated his birthday, or if he has it has been in intimate
setting always not on his birth date.
The organizers, as well, taking note of this realities opted to host
the event after Koundakjian's actual birthday, but were convinced that
honoring him was fitting to his vast involvement, leadership and
generosity in the community and in Armenia.
Varoujan Koundakjian receives his medal from Prelate Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian
Taking turns to extol Koundakjian's virtues were his old friends, with
whom he spend the early days of his life in the United States. Vahag
Savoulian, Jano Titizian, Garbis Titizian and Armen Deirmenjian each
recounted fond memories and the experiences that shaped their life
here with Koundakjian at the center of it.
Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee
Chairman Dr. Viken Hovsepian spoke, on behalf of the organization,
expressing his gratitude for Koundakjian's leadership in the ARF and
his generosity toward the organization. Also speaking was Asbarez
Armenian Editor Apo Boghigian who outlined that Koundakjian truly
embodied the ARF's call of "Tebi Yergir"--toward the homeland, since
Armenia's independence Koundakjian relocated to Armenia, where he
established businesses that employ locals and continue his
philanthropy in Armenia.
Koundakjian's wife, Armine, who shares his husband's love of Armenia
and Artsakh also addressed the gathering recounting the time she and
Koundakjian met and became a family and together working for the
Armenian Cause.
The event served a humanitarian purpose, as more than $75,000 was
raised for the Armenians of Kessab, who in March were forced to
evacuate their town and are currently in Latakia and elsewhere as
refugees. The donations were made to the Syrian-Armenian Relief Fund.
From: A. Papazian