Khatchik Babikian Foundation 2014 Graduation in Armenian Studies and Distribution of Inter-School Competition Awards

15/7/14

On Sunday 06 July 2014, following the Holy Liturgy, His Holiness Aram I presided over the ceremony held at the Main Hall of the Catholicosate. The ceremony recognized the winners of the inter-school competition in Armenian language and culture and the successful graduates of the two-year intensive course in Western Armenian language and culture.

The Director of the Department of Armenian Studies of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, Sarkis Guiragossian, welcomed the founders, the jury, the parents and friends and spoke of the unique contribution of these two activities of the Khatchik Babikian Foundation for the Armenian Community in Lebanon and the diaspora. Ms. Silva Bakarian-Karaoghlanian then thanked His Holiness Aram I on behalf of the graduating students and award winners for these important initiatives.

After the distribution of diplomas and awards, His Holiness Aram I addressed the audience. He congratulated the students and thanked the families, directors and teachers for their commitment to safeguarding the western Armenian language and culture, and then said, “The message of this gathering today is clear: the Armenian School is alive and will continue its difficult task of sustaining the western Armenian language, while responding to its linguistic changes. In this way it remains the relevant means of transmitting our spiritual, cultural and historical heritage and documenting our new experiences.”

The ceremony ended with the blessing prayers of His Holiness Aram I.

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