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:

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I INAUGURATES THE NEW BUILDING OF HAIGAZIAN ARMENIAN
SCHOOL

His Holiness Aram I inaugurated the new building of Haigazian School in
Aleppo on May 20 adding further popular excitement to his Pontifical visit
to the Syrian Armenian community.

The old building of Haigazian School which for decades served as an
important center for the formation of new Armenian generations, is today
being replaced by a new building thanks to the commitment and will of the
Armenians of Aleppo. On the outskirts of the historic city of Aleppo in a
relatively new neighborhood, His Holiness conducted a ceremonious
groundbreaking service.

The mayor of Aleppo, government officials and official guests attended the
ceremony, even in addition to a large crowd of community members. Among the
speakers were the mayor, the Primate of the Diocese of Aleppo and the school’s
principal, who emphasized the importance of the school for a country and a
nation particularly in the life of Armenians. The school was presented as an
irreplaceable institution for the formation of new generations as exemplary
humans, citizens and Armenians. In this respect, the important future role
of Haigazian was emphasized.

Highlighting the unique role of the Armenian school in our national life,
His Holiness called on the people to support and preserve it for the
achievement of Armenians’ national vision, goals and dreams. His Holiness
highly praised the project of building the school planned by the community’s
National Authority as a means to develop the communal life and the education
of new generations.

In this context, the Pontiff stressed that in addition to its spiritual and
religious mission the Catholicosate of Cilicia demonstrates special care
towards the Armenian school. "The Armenian School has a special place on the
agenda of the Catholicosate’s activities. In all our Dioceses, our prelacies
are active initiators and supporters of the Armenian school’s progress and
development," he said.

The Catholicos concluded by calling on the Armenian nation and its donors to
participate in all the initiatives for the development of the life of
Armenian schools and their mission as a means to support the preservation of
Armenian identity in the Diaspora.

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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 dioceses 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.