“LET US LOVE ARMENIA, THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE AND THE ARMENIAN” STATED THE PRELATE
On Wednesday, April 21, 2021, H.G. Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Prelate, welcomed the 79 students from the graduating class of V. and A. Chamlian Armenian School, led by the school principal Dr. Talin Kargodorian, accompanied by school representatives and staff members.
In memory of the 1.5 million innocent victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire, the students gathered around the Prelacy’s Genocide monument, and as tradition, and paid their tribute to the immortal spirit of our holy martyrs by placing fresh flowers at the Genocide memorial monument. On behalf of the student body, some students conveyed their heartfelt remarks in Armenian, which according to their expressions of renewed vow to keep the legacy of the martyrs alive; to remain faithful to our church, and our nation and to continue pursuing justice. the Genocide monument transformed into a rediscovered small Western Armenia in the Diaspora. At the end of the speeches, they offered souvenirs to the Prelate and wished him uninterrupted service in his mission.
The Prelate greeted this moment by acknowledging the principal, faculty, students, parents and benefactors of the Chamlian School. Before the Prelate’s benediction, students received mementos of wooden cross bracelets and a pin with the words “Genocide denied, genocide repeated.” The Prelate stated; “Dear students, today you are called to love three things above everything; first, love the Armenian nation, which needs your love to become stronger, because by loving Armenia you will dedicate your attention and capabilities to our homeland and will strengthen it with your own strength as well. Secondly, love the Armenian language. The language is part of both our nation and all of us. Therefore by loving our language, you will continue to speak Armenian and will give new life to it so that it may continue to live in your lives and in the lives of future generations. Lastly, love the Armenian people. An Armenian cannot stop loving another Armenian, hence we must all love each other, come together, hold hands, pray for each other, work with each other and always raise each other so that we can all reach our goals and take the Armenian nation towards a better and more beautiful future. In summary, let us always love Armenia, the Armenian language and the Armenian people and love these three sacred things in unity.”
At the behest of the Prelate, the students placed the bracelets on their right hands and raised their arms in the name of the Armenian people and beseeched the Lord the strengthen the Armenian nation.