PRESS RELEASE

Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director
Haigazian University
Rue Mexique – Kantari
P.O. Box 11-1748
Riad El-Solh 1107 2090
Beirut – Lebanon

George Apelian presents his new book “A Life-Sentence of Martyrdom”
in a ceremony at Haigazian University

Mr. George Apelian, writer and author of two books, “Helé Helé
Kessab” and “A Bride Named Anna,” presented his most recent work,
“A Life-Sentence of Martyrdom,” during a book signing ceremony which
took place at Haigazian University, on April 3, 2005, at 6:00 p.m. in
the University Auditorium.

The University’s Public Relations Director, Mrs. Mira Yardemian,
started the ceremony with a note of welcome, and invited the audience
to consider Apelian’s work a commemoration of the Armenian Genocide
and its 1.5 million martyrs.

The President of the University, the Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian,
addressed the audience with satisfaction at the publication of this
new book, noting that the author is a Haigazian alumnus. Moreover,
Haidostian emphasized that this book could also be entitled, “A
Life-Sentence of Faith, Service and Growth,” due to its endeavor to
preserve Armenian identity.

After a reading by Mrs. Tsoler Manisadjian of some moving passages
from the book, Miss Narine Boulghourdjian then introduced the author,
highlighting his social, educational and cultural contributions to
the Armenian community.

On behalf of the “Moussa Ler” Compatriotic Union, Mr. Yessayi Havatian
delivered a short speech in which he considered the work: unique in
its kind, interesting, and written with a strong Armenian spirit.
Moreover, he emphasized that the book can be used as a documentary
source to retrieve information on survivors of the Genocide. ”
‘A Life-Sentence of Martyrdom’ is the glory of the Armenian people,
because in it Armenians don’t die; instead they meet, unite and build
new families. In the book we witness the overcoming of the Armenian
Genocide,” noted Havatian.

To close the ceremony, the author, Mr. George Apelian, shared his
heartfelt words with the audience, stating that it was a privilege for
him to return to Haigazian University, 41 years after his graduation,
and present his work to the public.

Apelian expressed his deep gratitude that the publication of his
book coincided with the Armenian Genocide’s 90th anniversary, the
1600th anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet, and the
fiftieth anniversary of Haigazian University.

Apelian concluded his speech by sharing with the audience the inner
drive that moved him to write his book: “It was in order to perpetuate
the memory of a few survivors, to reveal the pains and sorrows of a
few orphans, and to honor the struggle of a few mothers, that I wrote
this book,” Apelian modestly noted.

After the ceremony, the audience gathered in the University’s Arthur
Matossian Gallery amid animated conversation, while the author signed
copies of his new book.

–Boundary_(ID_asfZmzhjiLmEApjJHIdbqA)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress