PRESS RELEASE
A.R.F. Shant Student Association
104 N. Belmont Street, Suite 306 Glendale, CA 91204
Tel: 818-462-3006
Fax: 866-578-1056
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Chris Minassian
October 17, 2005
CATHOLICOS ARAM I MEETS WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS IN LOS ANGELES; STRESSES
IMPORTANCE OF KNOWLEDGE, FAITH, AND IDENTITY
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, met
with Los Angeles area college students on Thursday, October 13, at
Glendale Community College (GCC). The Special Student Forum with the
Catholicos was organized by a coalition of local student organizations
chaired by the ARF Shant Student Association (ARF SSA) and comprised
of the Armenian Youth Federation and Armenian Student Associations of
University of California Los Angeles, GCC, and Loyola Marymount
University. His Holiness Aram I, who was accompanied by Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy, discussed
issues of importance to Armenian-American students in local
universities and colleges.
Opening remarks were made by Dr. Armine Hacopian, Clerk of the GCC
Board of Trustees, who greeted the Catholicos and recognized several
public figures in attendance, including Glendale Councilman Ara
Najarian and other City and College officials. ARF SSA Executive
Board Member Krikor Krikorian then made remarks in Armenian, thanking
the Catholicos for his presence and commitment to Armenian youth and
invited His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian to the podium to
introduce the Catholicos.
The Archbishop spoke about the education, accolades, and experiences
of the Catholicos. He noted that the Catholicos, who holds multiple
masters degrees and a PhD, is not only a spiritual leader but a
tremendous intellectual. He went on to congratulate the Catholicos
for becoming the first person to be re-elected to the position of
Moderator of the World Council of Churches and welcomed the Catholicos
to the podium.
In his pontifical address to those in attendance, His Holiness Aram I
spoke of the importance of knowledge, faith, and preservation of
identity in society. He stressed the significance of the youth’s
active involvement and responsibility as not only the future leaders
but present leaders of the community. Additionally, the Catholicos
spoke about maintaining cultural characteristics and values in a world
increasingly homogenized by globalization and commercialization.
An open dialog ensued between the Catholicos and the attending
students, during which the Catholicos answered questions on a variety
of topics ranging from spirituality to materialism.
On behalf of the event’s organizing coalition, Levon Baronian, former
president of the CSUN Armenian Student Association and administrator
of the Armenian Network of Student Clubs (), thanked the
Catholicos and Prelate for helping make the event a reality. He then
introduced Dr. Levon Marashlian, Professor of Armenian Studies at GCC,
who concluded the event with his closing remarks.
