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PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, August 16, 2007
AGBU Plovdiv Hosts Lectures, Saturday School & Summer Camp in First Half
of 2007
AGBU Plovdiv Chapter launched a series of special events for the
Armenian community in Bulgaria this year. With two book presentations, a
summer camp for kids, and an end-of-school-year event, Plovdiv for
Armenians has never been more exciting.
On January 19, 2007, more than 80 guests attended the book presentation
of the newly published book "The Successors of Atlantis" by Stepan
Parseghian in Plovdiv’s TrakArt Cultural Center. The AGBU Plovdiv
Chapter, the editorial team of "AGBU Voice" newspaper and the Plovdiv
Municipality organized the event.
Parseghian, a well-known author amongst the Armenian community of
Bulgaria, serves at the Armenian Church of St. Kevork and is the author
of several poems. "The Successors of Atlantis" is his first full-length
book of prose.
"The Successors of Atlantis" is a Bulgarian-language novel, which
combines mysticism and adventure, intriguing suspense and an absolutely
captivating interpretation of the emergence of the human race and
civilization on Earth. The event was attended by many AGBU members and
friends, artists, musicians, and writers. The Mayor of Plovdiv, Dr. Ivan
Chomakov, sent a congratulatory message to Parseghian on the occasion.
With the success of the first book reading in January, AGBU Plovdiv
Chapter and "AGBU Voice" presented the book "Love and Sacrifice" by Dr.
Toros Torosian on May 11, also at the TrakArt Cultural Center.
Torosian has a long working experience as a doctor and is the author of
a number of professional essays and articles. "Love and Sacrifice" is
his second published book, the first being "Notes from the Professional
Diary of a Doctor" in 2004. Both books are full of the author’s life
experience, beliefs, emotions, inspiration and devotion, with which he
works for the good of his nation.
Following a short introductory musical program, journalist Elena
Tamamjieva introduced Torosian and spoke about him as a representative
of a whole generation of Plovdiv Armenians, emphasizing the special role
of the Torosian family in the local community. A number of religious and
community leaders, AGBU board members and friends attended the
presentation.
On June 16, the AGBU Saturday School in Plovdiv completed its courses
for the 2006-2007 academic year. Students and parents attended the
end-of-school event in the Argos Plus educational center where Saturday
School lessons are held.
Hripsime Tovmasyan, chairwoman of AGBU Plovdiv, made the opening
remarks, emphasizing the importance of the Saturday School, which aims
at preserving and developing the Armenian language and heritage amongst
a generation of Armenians far from the traditional homeland.
To demonstrate their language skills gained during the year, the
students recited poems by well-known Armenian authors, including Paruyr
Sevak, Hamo Sahian, and Hovhannes Shiraz. In recognition of the school’s
academic excellence, it was announced at the event that two students
from the AGBU Plovdiv Saturday School would represent Bulgaria in the
Armenian Language International Olympiad, which will be held in Armenia
in September 2007.
During the formal part of the program, students received certificates
and special gifts in recognition of their work. The afternoon ended with
a light cocktail reception, especially prepared for the occasion.
On July 18, AGBU Plovdiv welcomed 32 kids to its Green School, which is
a camp for children between the ages of 5 and 12. Now in its third
season, this summer camp, specially designed for Bulgarian Armenian
youth, took place at the Balkan Hotel.
Campers from various towns, including Plovdiv, Burgas, Haskovo and
Razgrad, had a chance to participate in the camp, which is ideally
situated in the picturesque countryside. Camp’s main goals are to
preserve and develop Armenian-language skills among youth while
introducing them to the history and beliefs of the Armenian Church in
general. A mixture of educational and fun activities, the annual camp
gives participants an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with their
national heritage and identity.
Through intensive Armenian-language courses and several religious
lectures, children and teens leave the program with a larger perspective
of their Armenian identity and religion.
The weeklong camp concluded with an evening performance, which gave
campers an opportunity to put their newfound skills to the test. They
performed skits and sang popular Armenian songs to the delight of the
audience of parents and friends.
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