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 CONGRATULATES THE UNIVERSITY GRADUATES On Monday evening, 4 July 2005, His Beatitude, His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey, met in the visitors' lounge in the garden of the Patriarchate with Kamer Toker from the YERID Group and about fifty of his friends. His Beatitude the Patriarch celebrated Kamer's graduation last week from the International Relations Department of the Business and Administrative Sciences Faculty of Koc University. In Kamer's person he praised all of the youth who graduated from the universities this year, saying, "As educated youth, you will play a major role in the future of our country, our community, and our church." Before cutting the celebratory cake, Kamer Toker made a speech. "I thank you very much for sharing the happiness of graduation with me. It is truly meaningful and a source of pride for me to celebrate such a day in this beautiful Patriarchal building, restored after much long effort. "I came to know YERID, meaning I came to know you, when I was in the preparatory class at university. Now four additional years have passed and our friendship has broadened and become more permanent. It was a smart move to found YERID, and its formation has been a first in our community. Some of the special things I remember are the gathering of about 3000 youth at the New Year reception at the Lutfi Kirdar Congress center; the New Year party at the Bezciyan Hall and the party at the Divan Hotel, which was organized without the slightest mistake; and the Antioch, Caesarea, Cilicia, Ephesus and Sirince trips from among the events organized outside of Istanbul. Most of these proceedings and others were carried out according to a standard and level of quality that is unforgettable. "In spite of the slowdown in organizing and activity that the laziness of summer brings on, I am certain that it will not last long at all among the many valuable people that are here. "In fact, I know that many of you already have ideas and projects for fund-raising in the community and for modern education. We must take many more serious and essential steps to realize these plans. "But it must not be forgotten that we cannot expect people who do not help themselves to be helpful to those around them. That is why we should complete our education, and when we apply what we have learned to our professional or academic careers, we can become useful individuals in the full sense. But when I say "education," I mean education in the modern sense. And when I say "work," I mean work that goes beyond the borders of Turkey, work of high global standard. We can blend our own ethical and cultural roots with modern forms, become world citizens, and realize the goal of becoming a society integrated with the world, as members of the fourth generation community in Istanbul. It is along these lines that I am planning to continue my education abroad, as are many of my friends here. But I love my country and my community, and I will return as soon as possible. "Friends, let us finally not forget that if we want to move to the future with hope and strength, we must never let go of each other's hands."