On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the United States, warmly welcomed the 8th-grade students of Holy Martyrs Ferrahian Armenian School of Encino. The students were accompanied by Mrs. Sossi Shanlian, Principal of Holy Martyrs Ferrahian Armenian School, along with faculty and staff.
In celebration of the Feast of St. Vartanants, 68 enthusiastic students presented a cultural program in the newly renovated Dikran and Zarouhi Der Ghazarian Hall of the Western Prelacy. Through group recitations, songs, and dances, the students paid tribute to the legacy of St. Vartan and his brave warriors.
Speaking on behalf of the school community, Mrs. Sossi Shanlian congratulated H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian and commended the dedication of the 8th-grade students. As a token of appreciation, the students presented H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian with a beautifully arranged assortment of traditional Armenian sweets, prepared with great care by the students
In his address to the students, H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian shared words of wisdom with the students, encouraging them to always strive for excellence in all their endeavors. The Prelate reflected on their transition into young adulthood, emphasizing the importance of their current stage in life as a time for acquiring knowledge. H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian urged the students to realize the value of Armenian education provided by Armenian Schools, highlighting its role in shaping and preserving their national identity and setting them apart from students in other educational institutions.
Speaking on the significance of the Feast of St. Vartanants, H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian elaborated on three pivotal dates in Armenian history, the adoption of Christianity as the state religion in 301 AD, the invention of the Armenian alphabet by Mesrob Mashdots in 405 AD, marking a cultural and linguistic milestone, and the Battle of Vartanants in 451 AD, where the Armenian nation defended its Christian faith and national identity under the leadership of Vartan Mamigonian.
“These three historic dates we remember to this day and remain embedded in our national consciousness because they reflect the spiritual essence of our people,” stated H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian. Quoting the famous motto, For Christ and for the Homeland, H.E. Archbishop Khacherian stated, “nations, like individuals, possess collective memories that shape their identity and aspirations. While the first two of these three dates symbolize the foundation of Christian Armenia’s faith, language, and culture, the third, 451 AD, stands as a timeless testament to the defense of Armenia’s Christian statehood, serving as a centuries-old milestone and representation for the preservation of Christian Armenia’s existence, which links this legacy to the heroism displayed in the Battle of Sardarabad and Artsakh’s struggle for justice.”
Following his address, H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the school’s administration, faculty, and students, recognizing them as part of a united Armenian educational family. Alongside his fatherly blessings, and as a gesture of encouragement, H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian presented the students with copies of Jacques Hagopian’s poetry book, Golden Fountain, along with wooden cross pendants.
The visit concluded with a prayer service inside the St. Dertad and St. Ashkhen Chapel of the Western Prelacy. As students observed the chapel’s beautifully painted depictions of Armenia’s three pivotal historical dates, they immersed themselves in a solemn and spiritually uplifting atmosphere, experiencing a profound sense of faith and national pride.
