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: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: nian.htm
THE BOOK LAUNCH FOR "ORHNERKOUTYOUN MEDZASKANTCHIN" IS HELD IN ANTELIAS
The collection of Eastern and Western Armenian literary masterpieces,
"Orhnerkoutyoun Medzaskanchin" published last year by the Catholicosate of
Cilicia, dedicated to the Armenian language, was presented on July 17 to
educational officials from around the Armenian Diaspora gathered in Antelias
to attend the second Pan-Diaspora Conference on Education.
The event, sponsored by His Holiness Aram I, was to re-evaluate the "Year of
the Armenian Language" declared by the Catholicosate of Cilicia in 2007,
during which several initiatives throughout the Diaspora brought the
Armenian Language at the center of attention. The volume was edited by
Lebanese-Armenian intellectual Sarkis Giragosian, also lecturer on the
Armenian Language and Literature at the Seminary and an intellectual. It had
been published towards the end of the year.
In his opening remarks, Deacon Father Mesrob Sarkissian talked about the
educational mission of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, which coexists side-by
side with its spiritual, religious mission. Seminary students then recited
poems praising the Armenian Language.
Lebanese Armenian poet Hagop Manoukian delivered a comprehensive account of
the content of the volume and the editorial work involved in its
preparation. Mr. Manoukian presented to the audience poetic and literary
excerpts from the volume, speaking about the uniqueness of the collection.
In his speech, His Holiness Aram I once again upheld the essential
importance of the Armenian Language. Speaking about the Catholicosate of
Cilicia’s initiatives to bring important issues to the center of public
attention, His Holiness talked about the Year of the Armenian Language in
2007. "However, for each Armenian the Armenian Language is a daily
existential struggle. The Armenian Language is one of the Holy values of our
nation and one that can not be forgotten, not only because the discovery of
the Armenian letters was made by a Saint, but because the Language acquired
a value equal to that of sanctity in Armenian life. Is there an Armenian
intellectual who has not realized the important value of our language? Is
there an Armenian clergyman, who while conveying the Word of God, does not
realize the sacred value of the Armenian Language?" wondered His Holiness.
On this occasion the Pontiff also highly praised editor Sarkis Giragossian,
the Cilician Brotherhood members who organized the conference, the Seminary
students who participated in the program and the Seminary’s management.
The cultural entertainment program continued with performances by Seminary
students and a reception by the Seminary’s management.
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View the photos here:
tos/Photos287.htm
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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.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
