PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; [email protected] Website;
Saint Sahag and Saint Mesrob Armenian School students visited His
Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians
Reporting: Ashkhen Shishmanian from Armenia
On Sunday, July 18, 2004 the students of St Sahag and St Mesrob
Saturday school of Toronto visited the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
and had a formal meeting with His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of
All Armenians. The meeting was arranged by His Eminence Bishop Bagrat
Galstanian, Primate of the Canadian Armenian Church Diocese. The
students then visited the Museum of Etchmiadzin at the
Veharan. Canadian Youth Mission to Armenia participants joined the
Holy Badarak, where Serpazan Bagrat had arranged special seats at both
sides of the altar. They received Holy Communion and also had the
chance to see the Treasures at the Holy Etchmiadzin and the remains of
the Pagan Temple under the Altar.
The children were inspired and so amazed that they asked to visit Holy
Etchmiadzin again. You could see and feel from their expressions that
they felt at home as they belonged to the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin.
We thank the Primate of the Canadian Diocese His Eminence Bishop
Bagrat Galstanian for making Sunday a memorable day for all of us. We
thank him for his attention and care that he has shown to us for the
past several days.
Hereby we present some of the thoughts of our students:
Coming Back Home
Aida Knadjian
After I left Armenia last year, I wanted to come back right away. I
kept thinking about wonderful experiences we had shared and the warm
people we had met everyday. I would never have thought that I would be
given the chance to revisit my homeland.
When in Armenia, I felt at home and going back to Canada made me feel
like I was going on vacation. I had experienced something here that I
never had in Canada: The people treat you like family – from David,
our bus driver, to Ara and Zabelle, our tour guides, and from Nigol
and Zabelle to strangers in the streets. This feeling is something you
will never experience in any other country.
I visited Armenia last year to see all the churches, monuments that I
had learned about. It was only then that I realized that I belong
somewhere in the world. The statues and churches motivated me to come
back and try to help my country in any way I could. Now I see Armenia
in a positive light. Althoughwe have been massacred and
underestimated, I see a wonderful livelihood everywhere: Armenians
working hard and rebuilding their country. That reflects our history
and character.
I just hope to help as many people as I can in my short stay here
until I return to my homeland to have a greater input. Not being able
to touch Ararat is encouraging me to become an entrepreneur like Nigol
and Zabelle and try to help Armenia and its people in any possible way
that is in my power.
I loved my homeland Armenia.
First Impressions
My name is Vanch Boghoumian, a graduate of St Sahag St Mesrob Saturday
school in Toronto. This summer we came to our homeland Armenia. It was
a long journey, but when we finally arrived, we no more felt tired and
agitated. Ifelt as though there was a relief inside of me, because I
finally came to a place where all Armenians can call HOME.
Until this day, we have visited Sartarabad, Lake Sevan, Dilijan, Garni
and Geghart, the Zeitun Orphanage and Yerablur, where Armenian
soldiers have been buried. Armenia has surprised me in so many ways:
its beauty, culture, heritage and all sorts of rituals and
traditions. The first time I laid my eyes on Mount Ararat, I was in
shock. Surprisingly my eyes seemed unable to move, and I thought to
myself that one day Mount Ararat will be ours again. I would love
waking up early, climb to the upper balcony and just stare at the
mountain.Now I am extremely proud of being an Armenian, convinced that
I have to speak my mother tongue.
When I go back to Toronto, I will tell my family and friends about
Armenia and make sure that we visit our homeland as often as possible.
In two weeks I will go home a better Armenian and a proud one as well.
Seeing is believing and Living
My name is Christopher Yeretsian and I have been attending St Sahag-St
Mesrob Saturday School in Toronto for the past eight years. Following
the commendable tradition already established for the past four years,
I am in Armenia now, along with my fellow graduates (a group of 19
students plus our teachers.)
Guess where I’m writing this from? Correct!
My friends and I have been here for only a few days and seen a lot of
important land- marks of Armenian history: Garni, Geghart, Sevan,
Dilijan, the world-renowned Matenadaran and Waterworld (one of my
personal favorites). It may seem as though we have seen a lot over the
past four days, but there are still many sights we have not yet
visited.
Along with the beauty and cultural atmosphere of Armenia, there are
many areas in different sectors of the economy that are being
improved.
My current feelings toward my Armenian heritage have drastically
changed over the days that we have been here. Three days ago our group
visited Zeitun Orphanage. We brought toys and clothes to comfort the
children. I handed out my toys, explaining how each worked and spent
time with most of the children. We played together and colored. It was
very special moment for me to see how these children coped with no
parents or family. It made me feel fortunate to have parents that love
me dearly. Every toy we played with and every word we exchanged, put a
smile on their faces.
I feel that I have contributed now to a very good cause.
I look forward to the rest of the trip, that will include visits to
Khor Virap, Spitak, Gumri and most of all, Karabagh.
Rev Fr Vazgen Boyadjyan and Deacon Hagop Arslanian attended a luncheon
hosted by the Consul General of Lebanon in Montreal H. E Khalil el
Habre
On Wednesday, July 21 2004 Rev. Fr Vazgen Boyajian Pastor of St
Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral of Montreal and Deacon Hagop
Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate attended a luncheon hosted by the
Consul General of the Republic of Lebanon in Montreal H. E Khalil El
Habre in Outremont.
Present were high ranking spiritual leaders of Maronite, Assyrian,
Catholic Churches as well as the heads of Montreal Muslim
community. During the luncheon at the Consul’s resident interfaith
representatives had the chance to discuss the relations amongst their
respective communities as well as the paths for further
cooperation. In his word, Consul General Mr. el Habre thanked the
attendees and wished them continued success in their future missions
and undertakings.
Rev Fr Vazgen Boyajian presented the Consul General with an Armenian
Cross and thanked him on behalf of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat
Galstanian for sucha warm reception.
CYMA members enjoying their stay in Motherland, Armenia
“CYMA participants are doing great and enjoying every second on the
soil of the Motherland, Armenia”. That’s how CYMA Director, Very Rev
Father Ararat Kaltakjian described the Mission’s working visit to
Armenia.
“The reconstruction work is going well and the participants are in
high spirit” said Hayr Ararat in a telephone conversation on Thursday,
July 23, 2004. Very Rev Fr Ararat Kaltakjian informed that the
participants visited the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin as well as
they had the chance to visit famous sites in Armenia.
The Canadian Youth Mission departed to Armenia on Thursday July 8,
2004 under the guidance of Very Reverend Father Ararat Kaltakjian. 16
participants from all across Canada and Europe met in Prague
International Airport and then continued their way to Armenia. This
year CYMA members will achieve their mission in the kindergarten of
Saghmosavank. The team is currently working to renovate the walls,
floor and repaint the rooms and hallways of the kindergarten.
During their stay in Armenia, a day camp will give CYMA participants
the opportunity to interact with the local children by working on arts
and crafts, and engage in social activities and sports. Visitations
will be made by CYMA participants and clergy, offering spiritual and
humanitarian relief to families living in dire
circumstances. Participants will have many opportunities to visit
churches, landmarks and monuments. Under the guidance of local
professionals, participants will take part in workshops to learn the
history of the land and of the Church, as well as the culture through
singing, dancing and drawing
First Annual Armenian Youth Pilgrimage to St Catharine’s
The oldest and the first Armenian Apostolic Church in Canada,
St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church of
St. Catharine’s, On., will be hosting the first Annual Armenian Youth
Pilgrimage.
His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian will join the pilgrims from
Montreal, Laval, Toronto and Ottawa at this historic event that will
take place starting Saturday, August 14th. in the evening and continue
on Sunday, August 15th. with the 74th. Annual “Blessing of the
Grapes” Holy Badarak and traditional Picnic.
St. Vartan Summer Day Camp 2004
On the morning of July 12, 2004 a group of 25 Armenian children (aged
between 3 and 8 years old) gathered at Fogolar’s Country Club in
Oakville. They were there to participate in the week long St. Vartan
Summer Day Camp under the leadership of Reverend Father Komitas
Mirzakhanyan, Pastor of St. Vartan Armenian Church of
Mississauga. During the week the campers participated in a variety of
activities with each day having its own theme (e.g. Armenian Alphabet,
Holy Badarak, Armenia, and “I am special”). A variety of crafts were
made including a mosaic of Etchmiadzin, Pourvar, and Armenian flag
magnets amongothers. The children also participated in games like
Armenian Bingo, learned Armenian traditional shoorch bar and singing
Armenian songs. The children were also given the chance to play soccer
and swim.
The camp wrapped up on Friday with an exhibition of crafts, a slide
show from the camp and a performance for the parents. The campers sang
the beautiful Hye Menank song and Ayp ou Pen song which they had
learned over the past week. The campers also recited the Lord’s
Prayer, Hayr Mer to open the show.
A camp like this was a major undertaking for the St. Vartan
Mississauga parish and could not have been possible without the
contribution of time and money of various individuals.
Thank you to the team of eight counselors who assisted Der Komitas
during the week. The counselors were Steve Beler, Armen Dumanian,
Garen Hamblin, Nairi Kazazian, Arlaine MacClennan, Caroline
MacClennan, Christine Sevadjian, Peter Sevadjian, and Tanya
Sevadjian. A thank you also goes out to the parent volunteers who
helped during the camp: Taline Paroyan, Ani Badiani, Alessia Aivazian,
Ani Altounian, Christine Sakarya, Christine Ermarkaryan as well as the
organizing committee of the camp who included Ani Altounian, Taline
Paroyan, Houri Houldsworth, and Christine Ermar-karyan.
We would like to thank the following members of our community for
their donations towards the operating expenses of the camp: Ian & Seta
MacLennan,Loris & Julia Dumanian, Arlette Boghoskan, Mardig & Lilian
Sevadjian, Vic & Aida Sevadjian, John & Houri Houldsworth, Vazken &
Ani Altounian, Edouard & Taline Paroyan, Arno & Christine Ermarkaryan,
First Choice Haircutters, Kraft Canada, and Voortman Cookies.
Special thanks to the parents who supported the camp with the presence
of their children and made the 2nd annual St. Vartan Summer Day Camp
such a success!
Last but not least, a special thanks to Der Komitas for his leadership
and efforts to continue to make this camp a reality
Divan of the Diocese