On Saturday, October 28, 2017, the annual seminar for Sunday School directors and teachers was held at the Prelacy “Dikran and Zarouhie Der Ghazarian” Hall under the auspices of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, and hosted by the Prelacy Sunday Schools’ Directorate. The seminar was dedicated to the Feast of the Holy Translators and Armenian Culture Month.
The day began with a prayer service, during which the hymn dedicated to the Holy Translators was sung, after which a spiritual meditation was offered by Mr. Raffi Torossian, St. Garabed Church Sunday School Director and organizing committee Co-Chair.
The seminar convened with the Sunday School anthem. Welcoming remarks were delivered by Mr. Hagop Tchagaspanian, St. Mary’s Church Sunday School Director and organizing committee Co-Chair.
The program featured two lectures. Very Rev. Fr. Torkom Donoyan, Vicar General, presented the first lecture, titled “The Feast of the Holy Translators and Sunday Schools,” in which he related the mission of our Holy Translators to the calling of Sunday School teachers and highlighted the responsibilities of Sunday School teachers. Fr. Torkom highlighted two points; first, that the Word of God must take precedence in Sunday Schools, and second, the importance of teaching the Word of God to children in a comprehensible manner. Christapor Mikayelian presented the second lecture, titled “The message of the Feast of the Holy Translators,” in which he spoke of the work and legacy of our Holy Translators in the formation of our religious and cultural heritage. Finally, Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian presented Sunday School textbooks and stressed the importance of modern techniques and subjects in advancing the mission of our Sunday Schools.
The program concluded with the Prelate’s message and blessings. His Eminence first commended the Sunday Schools’ Directorate and all the directors and teachers for their dedicated service. Next, the Prelate highlighted the necessity of renewal and keeping abreast with the times, stating, “all aspects of human life, internal and external, are in need of renewal, progress, and modernization,” and urged the teachers to continue their valuable service with renewed drive and spirits, faith, devotion, and close collaboration. Touching on the legacy of our Holy Translators, the Prelate concluded by stressing that we must not merely celebrate and be proud of their legacy, rather we should continue their legacy and keep it alive from generation to generation.
The seminar concluded with the benediction and “Cilicia.” Participants received copies of “I Confess with Faith” and the “Spiritual Spectrum.”
