On Thursday, May 2, 2013, 10th grade students from Ferrahian School visited the Prelacy where they met with H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, and clergy, and became familiarized with the endeavors and mission of the Prelacy.
The class of thirty-five students began their visit at the “St. Dertad and St. Ashkhen” Chapel, where they participated in a prayer service led by the Prelate, who was joined by Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian and Rev. Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian. Easter hymns were sung given that the visit fell in the forty-day period of Eastertide.
The visit continued at the “Dikran and Zarouhie Der Ghazarian” Hall, where students read Armenian poems they had written about Armenia and life issues from a young point of view.
Fr. Muron gave an overview of the Prelacy’s activities with regards to its parishes and schools, and invited the Prelate to deliver his message.
In his address to the students, the Prelate first highly commended them for beautifully expressing themselves in their mother tongues through their personal poems, and highlighted the important role of the Armenian School and Church in developing good and productive adults. The Prelate explained to the students the hierarchy of the Church, noting that our Prelacy serves under the jurisdiction of the Holy See of Cilicia which relocated to Antelias, Lebanon after being exiled from our ancient lands during the Genocide. Going back to the value of the Armenian School, the Prelate stressed that alongside providing high quality education, the primary mission of the Armenian School is to cultivate Armenian identity in our youth. On this topic, His Eminence asked the students why they think there is an indifference towards our language, to which the students responded that they wish for more light-hearted and age-appropriate literature, that they experience difficulties with our two dialects, and that they have an interest in learning more about contemporary artists beyond the traditional curriculum and textbooks. In conclusion, noting that H.H. Catholicos Aram I has proclaimed 2013 the “Year of the Armenian Mother”, the Prelate advised the students to write poems or prayers this Mother’s Day expressing their gratitude to their mothers for their undying love and care. The Prelate blessed the students and offered prayers to God on their behalf, and the program came to a close with the Cilician and Armenian anthems.
Students then toured the headquarters and became acquainted with the staff and various departments.
