Lraper Church Bulletin 11/07/2005
Contact: Deacon Vagharshag Seropyan
Armenian Patriarchate
TR-34130 Kumkapi, Istanbul
T: +90 (212) 517-0970, 517-0971
F: +90 (212) 516-4833, 458-1365
patriarchate@post.com
lraper@lraper.org
<; THE PATRIARCH BLESSES THE GETRONAGAN GRADUATES On Saturday evening, 2 July 2005, His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey, participated in the Getronagan High School graduation night, which took place in the Harutyun Amira Bezciyan hall of the Holy Mother of God Patriarchal Church complex. Before the evening began, the graduating class visited the Patriarch and posed for a photograph with His Beatitude the Patriarch in the garden. Then together with the Patriarch they went to the grave of the founder of the Getronagan School, Patriarch Nerses Varjabedyan, where they paid their respects and said prayers. His Beatitude the Patriarch then spoke about the person and the deeds of Patriarch Nerses and strongly advised the students not to forget the Getronagan School, which was the vision of the late Patriarch. The graduation ceremony, which then took place, was attended by the graduates of 2005; their parents and families; the director of the Getronagan High School, Silva Margosyan; the faculty; Father John Whooley; the school's founder's locum tenens, Garbis Balmumcu; members of the parish council of the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Galata and Getronagan High School, with Migirdic Ardzivyan as the chairperson; previous graduates; and many guests. At the end of a successful programme of dance, poetry, and speeches, diplomas were awarded to the graduating class of forty students. The diploma of the most successful graduating student, Serli Medzaduryan, was given by His Beatitude the Patriarch himself, who congratulated all of the students in his speech. His Beatitude the Patriarch wished the graduates lifelong success. He also advised them to remain loyal to the heritage bequeathed by the late Patriarchs Hovhannes Golod and Nerses Varjabedyan, and always to protect our spiritual values.