PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: cathcil@cathcil.org
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
A FORMER ANTELIAS ORPHANAGE STUDENT
VISITS CATHOLICOS ARAM I
On the occasion of his 95th birthday, Peniamin Chakmakjian, one of the
former orphans of Antelias Orphanage, visited the Catholicosate of Cilicia
with his wife Mary on May 14.
The Armenian Genocide survivor from Yozgat recounted to His Holiness
Catholicos Aram I, his life in the former orphanage in Antelias, remembering
the teachers he had, and the two clergy who had visited Antelias during the
graduation ceremony to examine the Near East Relief orphanage site which was
to become the headquarters of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in 1930.
Chakmakjian presented to His Holiness an Armenian-English dictionary he
had been awarded by the orphanage’s director Roy L. Davis for securing the
highest average among his peers.
In a very touching moment after the former orphanage student kissed the
Right hand of the Pontiff, he handed him a donation, as a show of gratitude
to the roof under which he had spent his years as a child.
"When I see Antelias today, so beautiful, so bright, my heart fills with
endless joy and I remember my childhood, my friends in destiny, my old
cottage which has now become the headquarters of the Armenian Church. On
this holy land of Antelias we received education, we learnt to remain
Armenian, live as Christians and thus take our revenge on the enemy who
deported us," he said.
The Catholicos expressed his happiness for the visit by the elderly
couple, talked about the mission of the Near East Relief in taking care of
Armenian orphans, the progress in the recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
praised Chakmakjian’s contribution to the Holy See and wished them good
health and bright days ahead.
The past and the present merged in one touching and eternal moment in
Antelias, a moment that can leave its imprint on generations to come.
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View the photos here:
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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.