“Teacher of the Year” Awards Ceremony in the Mother See

On November 25, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the awards ceremony of the 2014 winners of the “Teacher of the Year” national competition was held in the events Auditorium of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

The “Teacher of the Year” competition has been held under the auspices of the Mother See, and is implemented by the joint efforts of the Ministry of Education and Christian Education Center of Mother See.

The ceremony was opened with the Lord’s Prayer followed by opening remarks from His Grace Bishop Vardan Navasardyan, Director of the Christian Education Center of the Mother See. Greeting all those gathered in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Bishop Vardan reflected on the goal of the competition: “Receiving this award of our Church and accepting an honor from the hands of the Armenian Pontiff, the Catholicos of All Armenians; and being certified as the best of the year, has great spiritual significance, as evidenced by these award-winning teachers. For us, the root goes back to the fifth century: the period of the Holy Tranlators, where the Armenian national school began, expanded and developed, and today You dear teachers are the descendants of this enourmous spiritual heritage. And today we are here, we are gathered alongside the Catholicos of All Armenians, to renew our consciousness that is directed towards mankind, the noble and always appreciated mission of upbringing and educating individuals”, noted the Director of the CEC.

Bishop Vardan expressed his gratitude to His Holiness Karekin II, for the benevolent and kind outook toward Armenian teachers; and also offered his appreciation to Mr. Armen Ashotian: Republic of Armenia Minister of Science and Education; and the Ministry staff for the close and productive cooperation.

Ms. Karine Harutyunyan, Republic of Armenia Deputy Minister of Education and Science gave a summary of the results of the competition. Mrs. Karine Achemyan, Member of National Assembly Standing Committee, offered congratulations to the teachers, emphasizing the significance of Church-State cooperation in the educational sphere.

The teachers were then presented with certificates, religious publications and a cash prize.
First place was awarded to Mrs. Hermine Simonyan, teacher of History of Armenia at High School No 3 in Gyumri, Shirak region; Mrs. Marine Morikyan, teacher of Armenian Language and Literature at Secondary School in Ujan, Aragatsotn region; and
Khajak Navasardyan, teacher of Physics at Special School No 3 in Sevan, Gegharkunik region.

Second place was awarded to Mrs. Nadya Simonyan, teacher of History of Armenia at the High School in Vayq, Vayots Dzor region; Mrs. Susanna Nikoghosyan, teacher of Armenian Church History, Secondary School in Lernanist, Kotayk region; Narine Gogchyan, teacher of Armenian Language and Literature at Secondary School in Shahumyan, Lori region; Manan Margaryan, teacher of Armenian Language and Literature at the High School in Yeghegnadzor, Vayots Dzor region; Mariam Demirchyan, teacher of Chemistry at Special School No 56, Yerevan; Vanuhi Nikoghosyan, teacher of Biology at the High School in Jermuk, Vayots Dzor region; Gayane Danielyan, Head of Class at Secondary School No 7 in Hrazdan, Kotayk region; Manushak Melkumyan, Head of Class at Secondary School in Norabac, Ararat region.

Third place was awarded to Naira Gharibyan, teacher of History of Armenia at Special School No 2 in Hrazdan, Kotayk region; Hripsime Movsisyan, teacher of History of Armenia at Special School No 5 in Gavar, Gegharkunik region; Parik Naghdalyan, teacher of History of Armenia at Secondary School No 1 in Vedi, Ararat region; Lusine Gevorkian, teacher of Armenian Church History at Special School No 5 in Gyumri, Shirak region; Heghine Arshaviryan, teacher of Armenian Church History at Secondary School in Zaritap, Vayots Dzor region; Lena Shahverdyan, teacher of Armenian Church History at Secondary School in Tumanyan, Lori region; Anjela Simonyan, teacher of Armenian Language and Literature at Special School No 4 in Gavar, Gegharkunik region; Gohar Muradyan, teacher of Armenian Language and Literature at Secondary School in Berdavan, Tavush region; Lusine Grigoryan, teacher of Armenian Language and Literature at High School No 2 in Kapan, Syunik region; Narine Khachatryan, teacher of Physics at Special School No 1 in Akhuryan, Shirak region; Zoya Grigoryan, teacher of Biology at High School No 5 in Masis, Ararat region; Tsovinar Mkhitaryan, teacher of Physics at Secondary School in Sevkar, Tavush region; Arev Balayan, Head of Class in Special School No 162 in Yerevan and Lilit Kharatyan, Head of Class in Secondary School in Aznvadzor, Lori region.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, extended his message and blessings. His Holiness noted the symbolically the Award ceremony is held in the Mother See, where the first educational institution was established and operated, the first school where Patriarch Sahak Partev and Mesrop Mashtots implemented the honorable work of a teacher. “They have educated and managed an enlightened generation. We call that generation the Holy Translators generation; bright, glorious, pride-inspiring names for the sons of our nation. And the Evangelist, referring to the activities of our Lord, identifies him as follows: Everyone was amazed by the Power of the Lord’s word because He taught by authority. This case is important that we want to bring to your attention: to teach by authority” said His Holiness, stressing the importance of an exemplary character of the teacher.

“We all sitting here, were students. We had our teachers and are grateful to them for the degree, position and skills we have received, who have educated and nurtured us. But all of us in our life have been inspired by that teacher who has put his words to work. We were inspired by him, loved him and imitated him. I want you to be such teachers for your students, loved, respected and exemplary. Be an example with your words and your actions. In that way we can have abpowerful state, strong families and society. Our national life will be blessed”, said His Holiness.

Congratulating the teachers for their noble and pious act, His Holiness stressed that a child’s education is a God-given and wished for them to continue their mission with the blessings of the Lord.

His Holiness expressed his appreciation to the CEC Director Bishop Vardan and the staff, as well as the RA Ministry of Science and Education: urging them to carry out their important service in the national life with joy and a sense of pride.

Following the ceremony the The Psalmist Male Choir of Spiritual Music offered a musical program, led by conductor Vahe Begoyan.

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