PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
REQU IEM IN ANTELIAS MARKS 85TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
"HOWARD KARAGEOZIAN FOUNDATION"
The Armenian community of Lebanon celebrated the 85th anniversary of the
"Howard Karageozian" Foundation on November 26. Following the Holy Mass in
the St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, His Holiness Aram I presided over
a requiem Service dedicated to the memory of all the philanthropists and
former Board of Trustees’ members who had once supported this humanitarian
foundation and contributed to its mission.
His Holiness Aram I then met with the director of the foundation, its
current Board of Trustees, employees as well as representatives from the
Armenian community of Lebanon.
The director of the Foundation, Rev. Robert Sarkissian, highlighted the
unique support the foundation has received from the Catholicosate of Cilicia
for the last sixty years. He talked about the various services the
foundation provides to the Armenian communities in the Middle East and in
Armenia in recent years.
The secretary of the Board of Trustees, Ms. Sossi Balian, then presented a
brief report about the foundation’s activities during the last year,
mentioning its new services that also include the local Lebanese population.
She particularly mentioned the educational programs the foundation holds for
young females.
Echoing the gratitude of the Armenian Educational national committee was
chairman Dr. Sebouh Mandjian, who thanked the foundation, on behalf of the
Armenian national schools in Lebanon, for its support of and compassion for
Armenian students.
The Catholicos’ words of encouragement motivated the attendants and those
involved in national, humanitarian work.
"Christianity is not just a doctrine. It is a path we walk on. Many pass
from that path, but only a few leave their footsteps on it. The Karagoezian
family contributed a large part of its God-given earnings to the nation and
thousands of Armenians have been benefiting from its charity for the last 85
years," His Holiness said.
Addressing the foundation’s director, Board of Trustees and employees, His
Holiness Aram I said: "God-given life should be fulfilled with service. An
employee in such national humanitarian foundations is not a regular worker,
but a dedicated person, a missionary, a servant. This is how you should
approach your jobs, the nature of which is a pleasing mission for God."
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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
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.