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AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.agbu.org
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, October 25, 2010
AGBU and Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Children's Center Opens in
Vanadzor Through the Beneficence of Sarkis and Ruth Bedevian
On September 23, the opening ceremony of the "St. Gregory of Narek"
Children's Center was held in Vanadzor, Armenia under the auspices of
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians. Accompanying His Holiness were benefactors Mr. and Mrs.
Sarkis and Ruth Bedevian of the United States. AGBU and Holy Etchmiadzin
Children's Centers operate in Yerevan (Arabkir, Nor Nork, and Malatia)
and the regions (Ashtarak, Vanadzor, and Etchmiadzin).
For more than 20 years, the Vanadzor Children's Center was housed in
cabins. Today, the new 3500-square-meter building caters to 400 students
and includes 16 classrooms, two event halls, a gym, open-air basketball
and tennis courts, and a boiler-house.
The Pontifical retinue and regional authorities traveled to the St.
Gregory of Narek Diocesan Cathedral, which was also built through the
benefaction of the Bedevian family. Following the service in the
Cathedral, His Holiness went to the St. Gregory of Narek Children's
Center, where he was welcomed by the students of the youth center and
residents of Vanadzor. The Armenian Pontiff and Mr. and Mrs. Bedevian
cut a red ribbon at the entrance of the center, marking the official
opening. They, along with the guests, entered the new building and
toured the facilities.
Among the speakers at the day's event were Rev. Fr. Komitas Hovnanian,
Dean of the Children's Centers, His Grace Bishop Sepuh Chuljian, Primate
of the Diocese of Gougark, Aram Kocharian, Governor of Lori, and Hranush
Hakobian, The Republic of Armenia's Diaspora Minister, all of whom
offered their appreciation and gratitude to His Holiness and the
Bedevian family for their support in establishing such an institution.
The Bedevians also expressed their heartfelt feelings to the attendants
of the events. Addressing the students of the center, Mr. Bedevian
remarked, "Be joyous; preserve and enjoy this house like a jewel."
Upon the conclusion of the ceremony, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos
of All Armenians, conveyed his blessings and gratitude to those present.
Following His Pontifical message, the students of the St. Gregory of
Narek Children's Center in Vanadzor and the youth from the Nork Youth
Center in Yerevan performed a concert in honor of the event.
Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world's largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian program, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.
For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit
www.agbu.org.
From: A. Papazian
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.agbu.org
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, October 25, 2010
AGBU and Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Children's Center Opens in
Vanadzor Through the Beneficence of Sarkis and Ruth Bedevian
On September 23, the opening ceremony of the "St. Gregory of Narek"
Children's Center was held in Vanadzor, Armenia under the auspices of
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians. Accompanying His Holiness were benefactors Mr. and Mrs.
Sarkis and Ruth Bedevian of the United States. AGBU and Holy Etchmiadzin
Children's Centers operate in Yerevan (Arabkir, Nor Nork, and Malatia)
and the regions (Ashtarak, Vanadzor, and Etchmiadzin).
For more than 20 years, the Vanadzor Children's Center was housed in
cabins. Today, the new 3500-square-meter building caters to 400 students
and includes 16 classrooms, two event halls, a gym, open-air basketball
and tennis courts, and a boiler-house.
The Pontifical retinue and regional authorities traveled to the St.
Gregory of Narek Diocesan Cathedral, which was also built through the
benefaction of the Bedevian family. Following the service in the
Cathedral, His Holiness went to the St. Gregory of Narek Children's
Center, where he was welcomed by the students of the youth center and
residents of Vanadzor. The Armenian Pontiff and Mr. and Mrs. Bedevian
cut a red ribbon at the entrance of the center, marking the official
opening. They, along with the guests, entered the new building and
toured the facilities.
Among the speakers at the day's event were Rev. Fr. Komitas Hovnanian,
Dean of the Children's Centers, His Grace Bishop Sepuh Chuljian, Primate
of the Diocese of Gougark, Aram Kocharian, Governor of Lori, and Hranush
Hakobian, The Republic of Armenia's Diaspora Minister, all of whom
offered their appreciation and gratitude to His Holiness and the
Bedevian family for their support in establishing such an institution.
The Bedevians also expressed their heartfelt feelings to the attendants
of the events. Addressing the students of the center, Mr. Bedevian
remarked, "Be joyous; preserve and enjoy this house like a jewel."
Upon the conclusion of the ceremony, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos
of All Armenians, conveyed his blessings and gratitude to those present.
Following His Pontifical message, the students of the St. Gregory of
Narek Children's Center in Vanadzor and the youth from the Nork Youth
Center in Yerevan performed a concert in honor of the event.
Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world's largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian program, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.
For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit
www.agbu.org.
From: A. Papazian