PRESS RELEASE
MASHDOTS COLLEGE
Contact Person: Sofi Boyle
411 E. Acacia Avenue
Glendale, CA 91205
Tel. (818) 548-9345
Fax: (818) 548-9342
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: mashdotscollege.org
MASHDOTS COLLEGE’S PILGRIMAGE TO DER ZOR AND KESSAB
Mashdots College’s Pilgrimage to Der Zor and to historically
significant Middle Eastern cities is scheduled for April 12 through
25, 2009. In addition to visiting Der Zor and Kessab, it will cover
Damascus, Aleppo, Lattakia, Palmyra, Beirut, Antelias, Ainjar and
Tripoli. The itinerary includes visits to the Catholicosate of the
Great See of Cilicia, Armenian churches, old Armenian villages, and
historic sites.
The highlight of the pilgrimage will be participating in a special
requiem service in commemoration of the 94th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide at the Armenian Apostolic Church in Der Zor, a
sacred place imbued with the blood and faith of the Armenian
people. Der Zor witnessed grim scenes as hundreds of thousands of
Armenians arrived at the end of forced marches from Anatolia and
murdered in the area. This city contains a large number of mass
graves and has become synonymous to the martyrdom of the Armenian
people, and a living testimony to their unwavering faith and to the
strong determination which has enabled them to rise from the ashes of
death.
The pilgrimage is limited to 32 first-come-first-accommodated
applicants. The registration deadline is March 1, 2009.
This unique pilgrimage will be led by Dr. Garbis Der-Yeghiayan,
president of Mashdots College and Prof. Avedis Tchaparian, a
well-known historian and professional tour guide.
For additional information on both pilgrimages, please contact
Mashdots College at (818) 548-9345, e-mail: [email protected].