His Holiness Aram I visits Birds’ Nest

www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org – July 2016

22 Jul 2016. On Friday morning, His Holiness Aram I visited the Birds’ Nest compound in Byblos, accompanied by Very Rev Housig Mardirossian, Ecumenical Officer and Director of Communications, and Rev Bedros Manuelian, the director of the Audio Visual Department. The visit combined His Holiness’ annual visit to the school-orphanage and the First anniversary of the creation and inauguration of the Armenian Genocide Orphans’ “Aram Bezikian” Museum.

After the Catholicos was welcomed by members of the Board, he met with the director of the school who briefed him on the activities and the future plans of the Orphanage. The Catholicos then visited the Armenian Genocide Orphans’ “Aram Bezikian” Museum where he was received by the staff and presented with the first annual activity report.

At the end of the visit and the meetings, His Holiness thanked everyone and said, “The Orphanage and the Orphans’ Museum at Birds’ Nest are two institutions that remind us of the history and journey of our church and people since the Genocide. Thousands of orphans who survived the atrocities were sheltered and educated at Birds’ Nest and they went on to build their lives all over the world. Today, the Birds’ Nest provides home to orphans, poor and children from broken families. The institution needs the support of all Armenians so that it may continue its vocation by responding to the changing needs of our deprived children.”

Referring to the Armenian Genocide Orphans’ “Aram Bezikian” Museum, His Holiness Aram I said, “The museum is one of the significant achievements of the 100^th Anniversary commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. Sponsored by the couple Alecco and Ani Bezikian, it is an existential and eloquent reminder of our history to the world and our future generations. The museum has already registered 7000 Armenian and non-Armenian visitors. In cooperation with the museum’s sponsors, The Catholicosate of Cilicia will continue to develop programmes and activities to make the museum a living message against denial.”

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