Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Antelias: Armenian students greet His Holiness Aram I in Toronto

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Antelias: Armenian students greet His Holiness Aram I in Toronto

    PRESS RELEASE
    Catholicosate of Cilicia
    Communication and Information Department
    Contact: V.Rev.Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
    Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
    Fax: (04) 419724
    E- mail: [email protected]
    Web: http://www.cathcil.org/

    PO Box 70 317
    Antelias-Lebanon

    Armenian version: http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Armenian.htm


    HIS HOLINESS MEETS WITH ARMENIAN STUDENTS

    "THE LANGUAGE OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN
    ARMENIANS SHOULD BE ONLY ARMENIAN"

    SAYS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

    As part of His Pontifical visit to Canada, His Holiness Aram I met with the
    young Armenian students of Toronto on September 30. The students of the
    "Koloyan Elementary-Secondary School of the Armenian Relief Society (ARL)",
    as well as those of the "Babayan Kindergarten" prepared a special program to
    commemorate the 1600th anniversary of the Consecration of the Armenian
    Alphabet.

    His Holiness first visited the "Babayan Kindergarten" with Prelate
    Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, V Rev Fr Meghrig and the delegation accompanying
    him from Lebanon. The youngest representatives of the new Armenian
    generation put out a well-prepared performance in honor of the Catholicos.

    The ceremony in ARL's elementary and secondary school started with the
    welcoming remarks of teacher Moushegh Karakashian, followed by a speech by
    Haroutioun Shitilian, chairman of the educational committee.

    The latter drew out a connection between the 1600th anniversary of the
    consecration of the Armenian Alphabet, the 75th anniversary of the Seminary'
    s establishment and the 10th anniversary of His Holiness' enthronement.

    Shitilian pointed out that the prominent individuals who have contributed to
    the school's success in the past and do so in the present are all graduates
    of the Antelias Seminary.

    The students then took to the stage, with representatives from the eleventh
    and twelfth grades delivering speeches in Armenian and English about His
    Holiness' activeness and the achievements of his 10 year tenure.

    "Nightingales of Kantsasar", a children's choir composed of students from
    the second and third classes, entertained the audience with enthusiastic
    songs.

    Prelate Archbishop Hagopian delivered a speech outlining His Holiness'
    international efficacy, particularly in the international ecumenical,
    inter-faith and political fields.

    His Holiness then delivered a lecture on the 1600th anniversary of the
    Consecration of the Armenian Alphabet. He highly praised the students, the
    administration, teachers and the board of trustees, emphasizing the
    importance of remaining loyal towards Mesrob Mashdots and his work.

    "Being an Armenian first and foremost means speaking in Armenian, reading
    Armenian, writing in Armenian, singing in Armenian and opening to our
    cultural values. Our nation receives its spiritual and national nourishment
    from the Armenian language and culture," said His Holiness.

    "Therefore, the only language of conversation between us, Armenians, should
    be Armenian. We will speak in various languages with foreigners, but we will
    speak in Armenian with one another. Otherwise what value does this building,
    which has been erected for you with such huge sacrifices, have? You give
    life to this building with your pure Armenian language. Mesrob Mashdots
    lives in this building when you speak with each other in Armenian," he
    continued.

    His Holiness then blessed over 350 students with "Bahbanitch".

    His Holiness gave a press conference to the local Armenian and Canadian
    media on the morning of September 30. The Catholicos focused on the role of
    the church and the importance of finding better means of attracting the
    youth.

    Answering the questions of reporters, His Holiness also spoke about
    advancing cooperation in the meeting places of religions and cultures in
    multi-religious societies, in order to fight against globalization and its
    threat to identities with united efforts.

    ##
    The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
    the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the dioceses of
    the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
    Catholicosate, http://www.cathcil.org/ The Cilician Catholicosate, the
    administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
Working...
X