With warm Christian love and a fatherly spirit, on the occasion of the commencement of the 2024-2025 academic year, we joyfully greet the Board of Regents, local School Boards, School Principals, Preschool Directors, teachers, staff, benefactors, supporters, friends, volunteers, students, and parents of our Prelacy Armenian Schools and Preschools from the Western Prelacy.
The commencement of a new academic year gives us an opportunity to once again remind ourselves and the children of our nation of the importance and significant role of Armenian Schools.
It is a known fact that Armenian Schools, alongside the Armenian Church, play a crucial role in preserving our Armenian identity and fulfilling its historical mission by embracing and taking ownership of their roles and national responsibilities. Throughout the world, Armenian Schools have played and continue to play an essential role in preserving the identity of Armenians in the Diaspora by providing national education to the new generations. Following in the vision of Mesrob Masdots, Armenian schools have been instilling Armenian identity in our young generations for centuries, ensuring that subsequent generations of Armenians in the Diaspora, particularly our generations living in the United States, embrace our Armenian spiritual and national values, learn Armenian history, read and write Armenian, not only as a daily exercise but as an integral part of their daily lives.
It is with this awareness, that we view the Armenian School as a second home, a true sanctuary for our children, teenagers, and young adults. Through the education our children receive at the Armenian Schools, they will grow to become the future leaders of our nation, parents, and pillars of our communities, dedicated to improving, enriching, and prospering Armenian lives in all places where the Armenian identity and culture thrives, and the resilience of Armenians is evident.
Therefore, we joyfully embrace the start of the new academic year, seeking the protection and guidance of the Almighty God so that we begin the new academic year under His guardian will, with the hope that we can effectively carry out and implement our educational programs and initiatives to the contentment of our supportive and educational-loving parents, for the satisfaction of our children, and community that strongly believes and supports the mission of Armenian Schools.
We wish our students bright, successful, and memorable days in their education days ahead. We also wish continued success and determination for the broader family of Prelacy Armenian Schools and Preschools for many years to come. May God’s blessings continuously shine upon you all. Amen.
Prayerfully,
Archbishop Kegham Khacherian, Prelate
Western Prelacy of the United States
