PRESS RELEASE
From: Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director
Haigazian University
Mexique Street, Kantari, Beirut
P.O.Box. 11-1748
Riad El Solh 1107 2090
Tel: 01-353010/1/2
Email: mira@haigazian.edu.lb
Haigazian University Honors Mr. & Mrs. Garbis and Lucy Tutunjian, and
Father Antranig Granian
Beirut, 25/03/2009- On Thursday, March 19, 2009, during a Haigazian
University Gala Banquet, held at the Habtoor Grand Hotel, Beirut,
University President, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian honored Mr. & Mrs. Garbis
and Lucy Tutunjian, and Father Antranig Granian, with two
newly-established awards.
The Gala Banquet, a rousing success for itself, glittered with the
presence of around 380 guests, including the President of the Union of
the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, Rev. Meguerditch
Karageuzian, the President of the Armenian Evangelical Union of Armenia,
Rev. Rene Leonian, Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, Cabinet Ministers Jean
Oghasabian and Alan Tabourian, MPs Hagop Kassardjian, Serge
Toursarkissian, and Bassem Shabb, former ministers, members of the
Haigazian Univerity Board of Trustees, community leaders of various
sects, and a full complement of deans, professors, staff, and alumni.
The Gala Banquet formed the perfect opportunity to declare the two
newly-established awards granted in the name of Haigazian University to
a few people who have helped the University to build much quality and
morale.
The "Distinguished Supporter Award" was granted to Mr. & Mrs. Garbis and
Lucy Tutunjian, for their enduring and generous support of Haigazian
University. He, a successful businessman, and she an artist painter, had
not only established a fund, but kept supporting the University and
their fund in a most humble, unassuming, and continuous way. "Even
though the fund carries their name, it is their spirit and constant
availability that has been appreciated. How we give is what gives
meaning to what we give," noted President Haidostian while presenting
the couple with the award.
The "Distinguished Scholar Award" was granted to Monseigneur Antarnig
Granian, for his venerable devotion to Armenology and liturgical
studies, with enduring faith and nurturing grace. Father Granian’s
ecclesiastical and scholarly portfolio is as full as it could be. As a
clergyman, he has been member of the Bzoummar Patriarchal Congregation,
headmaster, organizer of the library, and head of a number of Armenian
Catholic church communities in Tehran, Damascus, and Beirut; as a
teacher/professor he has left a lasting mark in the academic lives of
the St. Joseph University, the Holy Spirit University in Kaslik, and of
course for a long time at Haigazian University, teaching classical
Armenian literature, Armenian church music, church history, classical
Armenian, and Armenian liturgy. He is an author, playwright, editor of
dictionaries, and founder of magazines, Armenian church youth movements
and Armenological volumes. His contribution to the Haigazian University
community, in particular through his leadership as editor in chief of
the prestigious Haigazian Armenological Review has been invaluable.
"But again, the reason why he deserves merit is not only the amount of
knowledge he owned and taught and continues to communicate, but his
Christ-like spirit," said President Haidostian, very emotionally touched
upon presenting the award to his professor, acknowledging the fact that
he has been blessed to disciple such great men as Father Granian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress