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Antelias: Ceremony dedicated to the Armenian School organized

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  • Antelias: Ceremony dedicated to the Armenian School organized

    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

    Watch the recorded video here:
    http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Videos/Armeni anSchoolevent.wmv

    CEREMONY DEDICATED TO THE ARMENIAN SCHOOL

    "THE ARMENIAN SCHOOL, THE SACRED TREASURE OF OUR LIFE,
    SHOULD BE KEPT STRONG AND ACTIVE"

    SAYS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

    The Educational Committee of the Armenian Executive Council of the Diocese
    of Lebanon organized a public ceremony dedicated to the Armenian schools in
    the "Emile Lahoud" Hall on May 24. Held under the patronage of His Holiness
    Aram I, the event was organized on the occasion of "The Year of the Armenian
    School" and formed part of the Catholicos' pontifical visit to the Diocese.

    Primate Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, priests, ministers and deputies, the
    mayor of Bourj Hammoud Mr. Antranig Meserlian, the Ambassador of Armenia to
    Lebanon Mr. Vahan Der Ghevontian, representatives of the Executive Council,
    Armenian political parties, organisations and unions, principals of schools,
    teachers and parents as well as a large number of people attended the event.

    After the Lebanese and Armenian anthems were played, a video about the
    Armenian schools of Lebanon was screened. Sebouh Mandjian then delivered the
    opening remarks, stressing that the ceremony was not just a regular event,
    but a conscious, yet humble contribution to the Armenian school.

    "The builder of Armenianness and the school of Mashdots will thrive with
    music and dance, which will prove once again that the Armenian school is not
    only an educational institution, but a source of life and the strong rock of
    our collective's existence," said Mandjian.

    A group of students from Armenian national colleges then took to the stage
    reciting the poem entitled "Mesrobadon" by Zareh Khrakhouni. The "Gargatch"
    Choir of Hamazkayine and conductor Zakar Keshihian then entertained the
    audience with performances of "My Teacher", "Orhnerk Yergrabahi" and
    "Haigagan Joghovertayin Yerkashar."

    The keynote speaker of the event, Mr. Garo Hovhannesian stated: "The school
    before everything else, the school above everything else and the school, the
    only indispensable institution."

    Hovhannesian pointed out that the Armenian school has an essential role to
    play in the revival of the Armenian community of Lebanon. He said issues
    related to the Armenian school should be discussed within the general
    context of the community's organization and strengthening and not considered
    from a solely educational perspective.

    Assessing the educational status of the Armenian school and focusing on the
    difficulties Armenian education faces, the speaker stated that all Armenian
    saints and heroes have been born from Armenian schools.

    "Armenia is not only located in Armenia. Armenia is also found wherever
    there are Armenians. It is the obligation of each Armenian to keep the flag
    of Armenia and Armenians raised in his own world," he said, adding that in
    the circumstances of the Diaspora "the Armenian motherland should be felt in
    Armenian schools."

    Talking about the difficulties Armenian schools face today, Hovhannisian
    assured that when the Armenian schools are in trouble, the Armenian
    community in general is in trouble.

    "If we don't have the atmosphere that lights fires in the spirits of the
    young generation and creates storms in their veins, we should urgently
    produce it if our intentions for the future of the Armenian school are real.
    No efforts should be spared for the creation of this atmosphere," concluded
    the speaker.

    The "Kayiane" dance ensemble of Hamazkayin then performed the dance entitled
    "Lernayin Aghtchigner".

    Primate Bishop Kegham Khatcherian defined the Armenian school: "The Armenian
    school means conscious teaching and a conscious generation." The Bishop
    assured that the role of the Lebanese-Armenian community as a leader
    community of the Armenian Diaspora would be fully realised if the Armenian
    schools continue in their mission.

    The Pontiff delivered his message at the end of the event. "There are values
    and sanctities in the lives of nations and they form the richness of these
    nations, guarantee their identities. In other words, those values guarantee
    the eternity of a nation," he said.

    "Those values have persisted in our life and have kept our nation through
    the storms of history. These values are the Motherland, the Church, Culture,
    national struggle and the School," His Holiness added.

    The Catholicos stated that the Armenian school is the institution that forms
    true Armenians. He pointed out, however, that the Armenian school faces
    difficulties today and has started to lose its comprehensiveness. The
    Pontiff stressed that the time has come to praise the Armenian school and
    remind of its values and importance.

    "The Armenian school is not only textbooks and a building; it's a spirit.
    That spirit should be reassessed not only with words, but by correct
    diagnosis of the problem and adequate solution to it," he concluded.

    ##
    View photos here: http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Pictures74.h tm

    *****

    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.
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