On the occasion of a special event organized by the friends of the University of California, Los Angeles Armenian Studies Department, His Holiness Aram I sent a letter recognizing the contribution of Professor Richard Hovhannessian to Armenian Genocide Studies.

The letter was given to Professor Hovhannessian by Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian during a ceremony at the Prelacy. Professor Hovhannessian has been decorated by Catholicos Aram I on two previous occasions, with the medallions of ‘Knight of Cilicia’ and ‘St. Mesrob Mashdotz’.