Tweet
PRESS RELEASE
The ChinaHay Team
Skyline Commercial Center #1201-12F
71-77 Wing Lok Street
Sheung Wan - Hong Kong
Tel: +8675526820802
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.ChinaHay.com/
The Armenians of China Celebrate the Opening of the Jack & Julie
Maxian Hong Kong Armenian Center (Word Document of below press release
attached and link to official pictures with captions at the end of
text)
November 13, 2013
Hong Kong - On Saturday, November 9, 2013, the Armenian community of
China, known as `ChinaHay', as well as more than one hundred guests
including many from overseas gathered in Hong Kong to attend a
significant event: the official opening ceremony of the newly
established Jack & Julie Maxian Hong Kong Armenian Center.
Honorary guests included prominent Armenians: His Holiness Karekin II,
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, His Grace Bishop
Haigazoun Najarian, Primate of the Diocese of Australia and New
Zealand, His Eminence Archbishop Aram Ateshian, Patriarchal Vicar of
Constantinople, His Excellency the Armenian Ambassador to China,
Mr. Armen Sargsyan as well as the Honorary Consul of Armenia to
Thailand, Mr. Arto Artinian.
The two-day celebration began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed
by the blessing given by His Holiness at the beautiful Center altar
built specially for religious events. `Armenian couples will marry
here, and Armenian kids will be baptized in this house,' Jack Maxian
mentioned in his welcoming speech. `We will arrange Armenian meetings
in this Center, festivities devoted to Armenian culture, and
foreigners will be surprised that the Armenian people are able to
build an Armenian house outside of their own land,' said Mr. Maxian.
In that evening, His Holiness Karekin II granted a special award -
St. Nerses Shnorhali Medal of Honor - to Mr. and Mrs. Maxian for their
devotion to the nation. `We are happy to see that Armenian national
identity is so well preserved in a remote country like China, despite
the small size of the community,' said Karekin II. His Holiness also
visited the grave of Sir Paul Catchik Chater, probably the most famous
Armenian in Asia, who moved to Hong Kong in 1864 from Calcutta India
and became one of the most successful businessmen in the history of
Hong Kong with streets, parks and buildings across Hong Kong still
bearing his name.
Speaking on behalf of the Armenian Community of China, Mr. Henri
Arslanian, highlighted the symbolic importance of this event and
presented Mr. and Mrs. Maxian with a real piece from Ararat mountain,
in appreciation of their years of devotion to the community and to
celebrate their efforts in bringing the idea of creation of Armenian
Center to life in Hong Kong.
Jack Maxian, in his inauguration speech highlighted, approaching the
guests: `I am convinced that, very soon, with your personal and
collective commitment, the capacity of the Center will multiply and
the Armenian community of China will become exemplary in its patriotic
and Armenian-oriented activity.'
Jack and Julie Maxian generously donated a large collection of
paintings to adorn the walls of the Center, all of which were made
specially for this occasion.
After the official part, the guests enjoyed a wonderful Armenian
dinner prepared by Julie Maxian for the occasion.
On the second day of the great celebration, Bishop Haigazoun Najarian
held the Holy Mass, the first celebrated in the Centre. The guests
also enjoyed brunch, after which they attended a lecture by Professor
Sebouh Aslanian, Chair of Armenian Studies at UCLA, who travelled to
Hong Kong for the occasion and who described the role of Julfan
Armenian merchants in the early modern world of the Indian Ocean and
up to Manila and China.
Later, the guests learned that Armenian language, history and culture
classes would soon be offered at the new Centre in Hong Kong via the
Armenian Virtual College (AVC). Mr. Yervant Zorian, the founder of the
AVC, described how the educational institute has been helping similar
communities worldwide and the enthusiasm of the AVC's team in working
with the Armenian Community of China in the coming years.
>From now on, the Jack and Julie Hong Kong Armenian Centre will host
Armenians from China and all over the world, hold events with guest
speakers, exhibitions, invite Armenian artists to perform, but most
importantly will be a gathering venue for Armenians and their friends.
Armenians have been traveling and living in China for centuries. In
1910, the Armenian Relief Society created the Armenian Club of
Shanghai as a station for Armenian refugees in Shanghai. The Club
evolved over the years into a social Club where the community gathered
and where Armenian weddings, baptisms and events would took place. In
1923, the 400 people strong Armenian community of Harbin in Northern
China built their first Church. Most of the Armenians in China left
China around 1949 following the communist takeover of China. The
Armenian Club of Shanghai was converted to private ownership by the
Communists in 1949 and the Armenian Church was destroyed as part of
Mao's Cultural Revolution in the late 1960s.
The Armenian community of China has been growing considerably over the
last years. It currently consists of approximately five hundred
Armenians living in the country, mainly in the cities of Hong Kong,
Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Nanjing, and Beijing.
Anyone interested to learn more about the community is encouraged to
visit www.chinahay.com or the ChinaHay Facebook group page.
ChinaHay - The Armenian Community of China
www.chinahay.com
For more information and media inquiries, please contact:
[email protected]
---------Link for the pictures can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B_uswgtpW2RjaHVsQndlbHp6WlE&usp=sha ring
Caption:
IMG 6439: The Armenian Community of China at the opening of the Jack and Julie Maxian Hong Kong Armenian Centre. (also attached)
IMG 5806: Mr. Jack Maxian, His Holiness Karekin II, Julie Maxian, His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to China, Mr. Armen Sargsyan
IMG 5932: His Holiness Karekin II blessing the altar in the new Jack and Julie Maxian Hong Kong Armenian Centre
IMG 6216: His Eminence Archbishop Aram Ateshian, Patriarchal Vicar of Constantinople, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians, His Excellency the Armenian Ambassador to China, Mr.
Armen Sargsyan
IMG 6341: His Holiness Karekin II granting a special award - St. Nerses Shnorhali Medal of Honor - to Mr. Maxian for his devotion to the nation.
IMG 6552: His Grace Bishop Haigazoun Najarian, Primate of the Diocese of
Australia and New Zealand, celebrating Mass on Sunday morning
------
The ChinaHay Team
Skyline Commercial Center #1201-12F
71-77 Wing Lok Street
Sheung Wan - Hong Kong
Tel: +8675526820802
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.ChinaHay.com/
The Armenians of China Celebrate the Opening of the Jack & Julie
Maxian Hong Kong Armenian Center (Word Document of below press release
attached and link to official pictures with captions at the end of
text)
November 13, 2013
Hong Kong - On Saturday, November 9, 2013, the Armenian community of
China, known as `ChinaHay', as well as more than one hundred guests
including many from overseas gathered in Hong Kong to attend a
significant event: the official opening ceremony of the newly
established Jack & Julie Maxian Hong Kong Armenian Center.
Honorary guests included prominent Armenians: His Holiness Karekin II,
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, His Grace Bishop
Haigazoun Najarian, Primate of the Diocese of Australia and New
Zealand, His Eminence Archbishop Aram Ateshian, Patriarchal Vicar of
Constantinople, His Excellency the Armenian Ambassador to China,
Mr. Armen Sargsyan as well as the Honorary Consul of Armenia to
Thailand, Mr. Arto Artinian.
The two-day celebration began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed
by the blessing given by His Holiness at the beautiful Center altar
built specially for religious events. `Armenian couples will marry
here, and Armenian kids will be baptized in this house,' Jack Maxian
mentioned in his welcoming speech. `We will arrange Armenian meetings
in this Center, festivities devoted to Armenian culture, and
foreigners will be surprised that the Armenian people are able to
build an Armenian house outside of their own land,' said Mr. Maxian.
In that evening, His Holiness Karekin II granted a special award -
St. Nerses Shnorhali Medal of Honor - to Mr. and Mrs. Maxian for their
devotion to the nation. `We are happy to see that Armenian national
identity is so well preserved in a remote country like China, despite
the small size of the community,' said Karekin II. His Holiness also
visited the grave of Sir Paul Catchik Chater, probably the most famous
Armenian in Asia, who moved to Hong Kong in 1864 from Calcutta India
and became one of the most successful businessmen in the history of
Hong Kong with streets, parks and buildings across Hong Kong still
bearing his name.
Speaking on behalf of the Armenian Community of China, Mr. Henri
Arslanian, highlighted the symbolic importance of this event and
presented Mr. and Mrs. Maxian with a real piece from Ararat mountain,
in appreciation of their years of devotion to the community and to
celebrate their efforts in bringing the idea of creation of Armenian
Center to life in Hong Kong.
Jack Maxian, in his inauguration speech highlighted, approaching the
guests: `I am convinced that, very soon, with your personal and
collective commitment, the capacity of the Center will multiply and
the Armenian community of China will become exemplary in its patriotic
and Armenian-oriented activity.'
Jack and Julie Maxian generously donated a large collection of
paintings to adorn the walls of the Center, all of which were made
specially for this occasion.
After the official part, the guests enjoyed a wonderful Armenian
dinner prepared by Julie Maxian for the occasion.
On the second day of the great celebration, Bishop Haigazoun Najarian
held the Holy Mass, the first celebrated in the Centre. The guests
also enjoyed brunch, after which they attended a lecture by Professor
Sebouh Aslanian, Chair of Armenian Studies at UCLA, who travelled to
Hong Kong for the occasion and who described the role of Julfan
Armenian merchants in the early modern world of the Indian Ocean and
up to Manila and China.
Later, the guests learned that Armenian language, history and culture
classes would soon be offered at the new Centre in Hong Kong via the
Armenian Virtual College (AVC). Mr. Yervant Zorian, the founder of the
AVC, described how the educational institute has been helping similar
communities worldwide and the enthusiasm of the AVC's team in working
with the Armenian Community of China in the coming years.
>From now on, the Jack and Julie Hong Kong Armenian Centre will host
Armenians from China and all over the world, hold events with guest
speakers, exhibitions, invite Armenian artists to perform, but most
importantly will be a gathering venue for Armenians and their friends.
Armenians have been traveling and living in China for centuries. In
1910, the Armenian Relief Society created the Armenian Club of
Shanghai as a station for Armenian refugees in Shanghai. The Club
evolved over the years into a social Club where the community gathered
and where Armenian weddings, baptisms and events would took place. In
1923, the 400 people strong Armenian community of Harbin in Northern
China built their first Church. Most of the Armenians in China left
China around 1949 following the communist takeover of China. The
Armenian Club of Shanghai was converted to private ownership by the
Communists in 1949 and the Armenian Church was destroyed as part of
Mao's Cultural Revolution in the late 1960s.
The Armenian community of China has been growing considerably over the
last years. It currently consists of approximately five hundred
Armenians living in the country, mainly in the cities of Hong Kong,
Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Nanjing, and Beijing.
Anyone interested to learn more about the community is encouraged to
visit www.chinahay.com or the ChinaHay Facebook group page.
ChinaHay - The Armenian Community of China
www.chinahay.com
For more information and media inquiries, please contact:
[email protected]
---------Link for the pictures can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B_uswgtpW2RjaHVsQndlbHp6WlE&usp=sha ring
Caption:
IMG 6439: The Armenian Community of China at the opening of the Jack and Julie Maxian Hong Kong Armenian Centre. (also attached)
IMG 5806: Mr. Jack Maxian, His Holiness Karekin II, Julie Maxian, His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to China, Mr. Armen Sargsyan
IMG 5932: His Holiness Karekin II blessing the altar in the new Jack and Julie Maxian Hong Kong Armenian Centre
IMG 6216: His Eminence Archbishop Aram Ateshian, Patriarchal Vicar of Constantinople, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians, His Excellency the Armenian Ambassador to China, Mr.
Armen Sargsyan
IMG 6341: His Holiness Karekin II granting a special award - St. Nerses Shnorhali Medal of Honor - to Mr. Maxian for his devotion to the nation.
IMG 6552: His Grace Bishop Haigazoun Najarian, Primate of the Diocese of
Australia and New Zealand, celebrating Mass on Sunday morning
------