HIS HOLINESS ARAM I INAUGURATES THE RENOVATED SANATORIUM OF THE CATHOLICOSATE THE RENOVATED SANATORIUM OF THE CATHOLICOSATE
On Friday 11 September 2009 in the evening, His Holiness Aram I inaugurated newly renovated section of the main Building of the Azounieh Sanatorium-Hospital, the community room and the library. It was dedicated to Zohrab Torikian. Zohrab Torikian was the Chairman of the Board until his death and he a strong supporter of the renovation project. He was also very well known for his dedication to the church, its spiritual life and humanitarian projects since he was a youth.
Azounieh Sanatorium was created when tuberculosis was taking many lives. It is located in the mountainous region of Chouf. Recently the sanatorium had also become a hospital and Old Peoples’ home. The representative of the Minister of Health was among the many guests at the inaugural ceremony. In his address he congratulated the church and its faithful donors for responding to a real need in Lebanon, and said: “You should be proud of your work. You built Azounieh when the need was great and there were not many sanatoriums. Today, you have renovated it to meet the new needs of the people.”
After blessing the place and the people, His Holiness said: “The Armenian Church does not talk; it expresses the greatest Christian command of love through its deeds. Despite the difficulties in Lebanon, Armenians stayed and will continue to stay and serve Lebanon.” He then thanked the donors and the staff for their devotion.
