18 June 2017. On Sunday evening, His Holiness Aram I presided over the 87th Commencement, which also marked also the 65th Anniversary of the construction of St. Mary’s Church. Clergy, the faculty of the seminary, representatives of the community organizations and the public gathered at the courtyard of the church to celebrate the two events.
The Rev Karekin Shekherdemian, the Vice-Dean welcomed the guests and introduced the programme, which began with hymns and songs by the seminarians, followed by the speech of Deacon Avedis Assayan on behalf of the graduating class. Deacon Avedis thanked the Catholicosate for the knowledge and care the seminarians had received during the past eight years. The first part of the programme ended with the music of Gomitas Vartabed, played on a traditional Armenian ‘duduk,’ and songs by the Armash choir of the Catholicosate.
The Dean, Rev Boshos Tinkjian, presented the Annual Report and portrayed the 87th graduation ceremony as another volume added to the history of the Seminary. He then invited His Holiness Aram I to distribute the diplomas and give his message. His Holiness described the Seminary’s mission to educate and form persons who would serve the Diaspora communities. He said, “the Diaspora needs persons formed to sustain its Armenian character, and the Caholicosate of Cilicia’s mission is to serve this end.”
