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PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710 or (973) 943-8697
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.armenianchurch-ed.net
June 10, 2014
___________________
New Classrooms for St. Vartan Armenian School
By Florence Avakian
Newly refurbished classrooms for the St. Vartan Armenian School were blessed
by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), during an official opening ceremony on
Saturday, April 12. The school meets every Saturday morning at the Diocesan
Center in New York City.
Also present for the ceremony were the Very Rev. Mamigon Kiledjian, dean of
St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral; the Rev. Fr. Bedros Kadehjian; school
principal Diramayr Shakeh Kadehjian; members of the school board; teachers,
parents, and students dressed in their sparkling school uniforms.
Removing a purple drape from the dedication plaque, the Primate blessed the
generous benefactors Alvina and Dr. Kevork Niksarli, as those present sang
the hymns "Oorakh Ler" and "Hayr Mer." All then surveyed the classrooms
equipped with new desks, chairs, bookcases, computers, blackboards, and
closets.
On the walls hung paintings by youngsters of the Fund for Armenian Relief
Yerevan Children's Center-made especially for this school.
Following the opening of the classrooms, a special program and reception
were held in an adjacent hall. Treasurer of the school Arto Vorperian
related: "Today we are here to celebrate our renovated school through the
motivation and hard work of Archbishop Barsamian and Fr. Kiledjian, and the
generosity of Alvina and Kevork Niksarli, as well as all our parents who
have stood like strong columns to help us."
Glorious History
The St. Vartan Armenian School is now 81 years old, having started its noble
goal of educating young Armenians students in 1933.
The selfless and devoted teachers and principals who have worked without
any, or negligible, remuneration during those early years, included Ashkhen
Avakian (more than 30 years) , and Nubar and Anahid Kupelian (more than 10
years); other administrators and teachers included Zarmine Boghosian, George
Haroutunian, Seta Kantarjian, Alice Khachmanian, and Theresa Venedikian,
among others.
Diramayr Shakeh Kadehjian-the dedicated school principal since
1982-expressed appreciation to those who in 81 years "were responsible for
keeping our ancient language, history, and culture alive, including the
teachers and parents. We are grateful to the Niksarlis that we can continue
this glorious tradition." She also thanked Fr. Kiledjian, Arto Vorperian,
and "especially Archbishop Khajag" for their dedication.
A beautiful bouquet of flowers was presented to Mrs. Niksarli by 7th-grader
Ariana Pamoukian.
Two bright-eyed students Sarine Zeitlian and Ani Aslanian recited poems of
welcome to the Primate and to the benefactors. A special song written for
the St. Vartan School, with words composed by longtime and devoted head of
the Armenian Language Lab and Resource Center, Sylva der Stepanian, was
robustly sung by the pre-school students conducted by Anahid Boghosian, and
accompanied on the piano by Jeannette Chirikdjian.
Thanking Archbishop Barsamian for blessing the classrooms, Dr. Kevork
Niksarli called the event "a very happy occasion" and recounted that the
renovation project had started a year earlier when Fr. Kiledjian, Arto
Vorperian, and Michael Halajian had asked him for his assistance.
"Our children have been happily coming and learning in this school for four
years," he said. "All the students needed clean and efficient classrooms,
and Alvina and I were very happy to bring it to reality."
Fr. Kiledjian, in thanking the benefactors and teachers, praised the
dedication of the teachers "who come every week and give their lives and
hearts for our children. They treat them like their own family. Today is
also your day," he said, addressing the teaching staff comprised of Fr.
Bedros Kadehjian, Sirvart Arakelian, Lucia Vorperian, Ani Essayan, Heghine
Mirzoyan, Anahid Boghosian, Arax Shamamian, Jeannette Chirikdjian, Sona
Simonyan, and Krikor Torosian.
In his address, the Primate reminded those present: "As spring is a new
beginning, this also marks a new beginning of our school."
Offering words of tribute to Diramayr Kadehjian, Fr. Kiledjian, the
Niksarlis, and the teachers, parents, and students, the Primate said that
"we must approach with a new relationship to inspire our young generation
about their Armenian religion, history, culture, and language. And we must
continue to work for our future."
###
Photos attached.
Photo 1: Archbishop Barsamian blesses one of the new classrooms.
Photo 2: Dr. Kevork and Mrs. Alvina Niksarli at the classroom dedication
ceremony.
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710 or (973) 943-8697
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.armenianchurch-ed.net
June 10, 2014
___________________
New Classrooms for St. Vartan Armenian School
By Florence Avakian
Newly refurbished classrooms for the St. Vartan Armenian School were blessed
by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), during an official opening ceremony on
Saturday, April 12. The school meets every Saturday morning at the Diocesan
Center in New York City.
Also present for the ceremony were the Very Rev. Mamigon Kiledjian, dean of
St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral; the Rev. Fr. Bedros Kadehjian; school
principal Diramayr Shakeh Kadehjian; members of the school board; teachers,
parents, and students dressed in their sparkling school uniforms.
Removing a purple drape from the dedication plaque, the Primate blessed the
generous benefactors Alvina and Dr. Kevork Niksarli, as those present sang
the hymns "Oorakh Ler" and "Hayr Mer." All then surveyed the classrooms
equipped with new desks, chairs, bookcases, computers, blackboards, and
closets.
On the walls hung paintings by youngsters of the Fund for Armenian Relief
Yerevan Children's Center-made especially for this school.
Following the opening of the classrooms, a special program and reception
were held in an adjacent hall. Treasurer of the school Arto Vorperian
related: "Today we are here to celebrate our renovated school through the
motivation and hard work of Archbishop Barsamian and Fr. Kiledjian, and the
generosity of Alvina and Kevork Niksarli, as well as all our parents who
have stood like strong columns to help us."
Glorious History
The St. Vartan Armenian School is now 81 years old, having started its noble
goal of educating young Armenians students in 1933.
The selfless and devoted teachers and principals who have worked without
any, or negligible, remuneration during those early years, included Ashkhen
Avakian (more than 30 years) , and Nubar and Anahid Kupelian (more than 10
years); other administrators and teachers included Zarmine Boghosian, George
Haroutunian, Seta Kantarjian, Alice Khachmanian, and Theresa Venedikian,
among others.
Diramayr Shakeh Kadehjian-the dedicated school principal since
1982-expressed appreciation to those who in 81 years "were responsible for
keeping our ancient language, history, and culture alive, including the
teachers and parents. We are grateful to the Niksarlis that we can continue
this glorious tradition." She also thanked Fr. Kiledjian, Arto Vorperian,
and "especially Archbishop Khajag" for their dedication.
A beautiful bouquet of flowers was presented to Mrs. Niksarli by 7th-grader
Ariana Pamoukian.
Two bright-eyed students Sarine Zeitlian and Ani Aslanian recited poems of
welcome to the Primate and to the benefactors. A special song written for
the St. Vartan School, with words composed by longtime and devoted head of
the Armenian Language Lab and Resource Center, Sylva der Stepanian, was
robustly sung by the pre-school students conducted by Anahid Boghosian, and
accompanied on the piano by Jeannette Chirikdjian.
Thanking Archbishop Barsamian for blessing the classrooms, Dr. Kevork
Niksarli called the event "a very happy occasion" and recounted that the
renovation project had started a year earlier when Fr. Kiledjian, Arto
Vorperian, and Michael Halajian had asked him for his assistance.
"Our children have been happily coming and learning in this school for four
years," he said. "All the students needed clean and efficient classrooms,
and Alvina and I were very happy to bring it to reality."
Fr. Kiledjian, in thanking the benefactors and teachers, praised the
dedication of the teachers "who come every week and give their lives and
hearts for our children. They treat them like their own family. Today is
also your day," he said, addressing the teaching staff comprised of Fr.
Bedros Kadehjian, Sirvart Arakelian, Lucia Vorperian, Ani Essayan, Heghine
Mirzoyan, Anahid Boghosian, Arax Shamamian, Jeannette Chirikdjian, Sona
Simonyan, and Krikor Torosian.
In his address, the Primate reminded those present: "As spring is a new
beginning, this also marks a new beginning of our school."
Offering words of tribute to Diramayr Kadehjian, Fr. Kiledjian, the
Niksarlis, and the teachers, parents, and students, the Primate said that
"we must approach with a new relationship to inspire our young generation
about their Armenian religion, history, culture, and language. And we must
continue to work for our future."
###
Photos attached.
Photo 1: Archbishop Barsamian blesses one of the new classrooms.
Photo 2: Dr. Kevork and Mrs. Alvina Niksarli at the classroom dedication
ceremony.