PRESS RELEASE
Bible Society of Armenia
6/26 Zakiyan St.
Yerevan 375015, Armenia
Tel: (+374 -1) 58.55.09, 56.49.06
Fax: (+374 – 1) 54.24.39
E-mail: bible@arminco.com
October 13, 2004
BRINGING THE BIBLE TO SCHOOLS, TAVOUSH
YEREVAN — Within its two-day trip to Tavoush a delegation of Bible
Society Board members and World Vision International Organization
visited the Diocese of Gougark and met with 80 school principals,
teachers and students. This Diocese includes two regions, Lori
and Tavoush in the North of Armenia. The visit to Lori was paid in
November 2003. The region of Tavoush has four cities: Ijevan, Dilijan,
Noyemberian and Berd where the situation is grave and obviously
affects the state’s schools. Border villages mostly survive through
agriculture and farming.
The final part of the project ^ÓBringing the Bibles to Schools^Ô
which includes the regions of Tavoush, Shirak and Aragatsotn, was
realized owing to the generous support of World Vision International
Organization.
During September 15-16, 2004, the Bible Society and World Vision
International delegation members visited the regional capital Ijevan,
Noyemberian, Berd and Dilijan. The delegation was always accompanied
by Very Rev. Fr Sassoun Zemroukhtian, the newly appointed Vicar
General of the Diocese; Very Rev. Fr Vertanes Abrahamian, the parish
pastor. In Ijevan the delegation was welcomed by Ms. Svetlana Davtian,
the Chief of Staff; and Mr. Tamrazian, the Head of the Education,
Culture and Sports. By coincidence, Mr. Hrayr Jebedjian, the General
Secretary of the Bible Society of the Gulf who was paying a family
visit to Armenia, was also present. Mr. Jebedjian, who was in Armenia
for several times during 1991-1996, stated that this is his first
visit to Ijevan, which is really a beautiful city. ^ÓI remember the
hard days of this country,^Ô he added, ^Óbut I^Òm so glad to see a
noticeable development. I^Ã’m full of joy to be among you and address
to you. Both the Bible Society and we have a major goal, to bring
the Word of God.^Ô The World Vision International representative
Ms. Karine Harutyunian addressed to the gathered students: ^ÓThe
Bible Society has given us this opportunity to be with you and I
feel very proud taking part in this excellent project. Something
was lacking in our previous education process, it was the knowledge
of Bible. The Bible is the important tool which will make our state
much more stronger.^Ô The World Vision International actually has
offices in six different towns of Armenia. Ijevan is one of them.
In Noyemberian the Board members were welcomed by Vanoush Amiraghian,
the Mayor of the city. Mr. Amiraghian expressed his thanks to the
Bible Society, stating, ^ÓWe usually need a lot of things. We need
churches and such kind of solidarity.^Ô The delegation members
attended a requiem service at the thumb of martyred soldiers. By
the invitation of the Mayor, the delegation attended the final match
of football tournament between the Noyemberian and Kokhi clubs soon
after the service.
On September 16, 2004, the road to Berd, which is the last North
Eastern city of Armenia, took three hours. The school where the
delegation has met with the principals and the teachers has 134 years
of history. Before delivering the Bibles and the biblical literature
(5 different titles) to the principals, Ms. Harutyunian addressed
to the gathered principals: ^ÓA lot of people^Òs love, spirit and
devotion exist inside these gifts. We would kindly ask you to give
this love and spirit to our children. Our wish is one: every child
must have his or her own Bible.^Ô
The way back to Yerevan found its final step in Dilijan, a tourist
resort, called ^ÓThe Switzerland of Armenia.^Ô The meeting took
place with 9 principals, teachers and students. Among the meeting
participants were the parish pastor of the city and the Head of
Dilijan’s Education Department.
The meetings were usually opened by the Board Secretary who in his
keynote address presented the gathered people with the 200-year history
of United Bible Societies and the 13-year history of the Bible Society
Armenia and its mission in Armenia, and the sets of the six books to
be given to schools.
The Bible Society of Armenia was established in 1991 when the late
Catholicos Vazgen I and representatives of the United Bible Societies
signed a memorandum of understanding, regarding the translation,
publication and dissemination of the Holy Bible in Armenia. The Bible
Society of Armenia is committed to the widest possible meaningful
and effective distribution of the Holy Scriptures in languages and
media which meet the needs of people, at a price they can afford.
The Board of Trustees of The Bible Society of Armenia consists of
representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Armenian Catholic
Church and the Union of Armenian Evangelical and Baptist Churches.
For further information on Bible Society of Armenia and its
activities, call (3741) 58-55-09 or 56-49-06; fax (3741) 54-24-39;
e-mail bible@arminco.com
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