PRESS RELEASE
From: Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director
Haigazian University
Rue Mexique – Kantari
P.O. Box 11-1748
Riad El-Solh 1107 2090
Beirut – LebanonBeirut, 25/06/2006
Haigazian University Baccalaureate Service 2006.
`Egotitis is indeed a universal human condition, but Lebanese society
seems to be especially fertile soil for it. Everybody talks about
corruption and complains about it – at the root of corruption is egotitis
‘, said Dr. George Sabra, Academic Dean at the Near East School of
Theology, Beirut, to the graduating class of 2006.
Dr. George Sabra was the guest speaker at the Baccalaureate Service of
Haigazian University, which took place on Sunday, the 25th of June 2006, in
the First Armenian Evangelical Church in Beirut.
A large number of graduates and their families participated in this
ceremony, a service of dedication for the graduating class of 2006.
The graduating class walked through the church sanctuary during the
processional hymn. The service began with a call to worship by Rev. Nishan
Bakalian, the campus minister, followed by a hymn of praise, `Be Thou My
Vision’, and the prayer of invocation.
In his word of welcome, the President of Haigazian University, Rev.
Dr. Paul Haidostian, greeted the audience, among whom the President of the
Supreme Council of Evangelical Churches in Syria and Lebanon, Rev. Salim
Sahyouni, Prsesident Emeritus of Boston University, Dr. Aram Chobanian and
his wife, in addition to dignitaries of the community.
Haidostian summarized his feelings and thoughts, stating that `a
service of Thanksgiving is mostly future-oriented,’ adding, that `without
God’s guidance no destination will be safe, and without an awakened spirit
no career will be fulfilling.’
Several graduates took part in the service: Roubina Karaminassian
and Talar Agopian read biblical selections, Joyce Saddi offered a song
accompanied by Shahan Kilaghbian on the piano, while Sarine Hagopian
shared her personal testimony with the audience, explaining how Haigazian
University affected her social, academic and spiritual life positively, and
helped her change to become a better person.
`Treating Egotitis’, was the theme of the message of the day,
delivered by Dr. George Sabra, who tackled the theme of curing oneself from
the disease of egoism, called by him `egotitis’. He explained to the
graduates that graduation from a university is one of those transitions
which exposes young adults to a larger world, to society as a whole, hence,
becoming more exposed to social and spiritual viruses and infections.
`You should be well-equipped to deal with it and protect yourself
against it, if you have made the best of your stay at this university. Not
every college or university can prepare you to deal with egotitis and other
ills of society; it is only universities or colleges that have a mission, a
spiritual mission, and not just academic or technical goals. Haigazian is
such a university with a mission’, Sabra concluded.
A prayer of dedication by the Vice-Chairman of Haigazian University’s
Board of Trustees, Rev. Robert Sarkissian followed, after which Mher
Foudoulian and Lama Bendak read the pledges of the graduates to carry the
light of truth, freedom & service to the world: `We, the class of 2006 of
Haigazian University, in receiving this light, pledge to hold high the
light of truth, to defend the light of freedom, and to spread the light of
service to our communities, our country and our world’.
While the graduates shared the flame among fellow-classmates, the
President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near
East, Rev, Megrdich Karagoezian pronounced the benediction, whereupon the
class of 2006 marched out the sanctuary with the recessional, each carrying
the light out into the world.