On Sunday, October 29th, 2023, following the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received the Sunday School students of the Catholicosate of Cilicia and bestowed his pontifical blessing upon them. The children were accompanied by the director of the Christian Education department, V. Rev. Fr. Stepanos Pashayan, and the Sunday school director, Ms. Janine Tanielian.
Tanielian delivered a welcoming speech in which she expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity to commence the new academic year of the Sunday School, despite the country’s unstable situation. She also thanked His Holiness for his unwavering support and patronage of the Sunday School. Tanielian remembered the children of Artsakh who have been living in a precarious situation since 2020 and faced ethnic cleansing just a few months ago. She announced that this year’s budget for Christmas celebrations would be donated to the children of Artsakh who are seeking refuge in Armenia.
Subsequently, the Sunday school students showcased what they had learned in the Sunday school, which was followed by a heartfelt speech by His Holiness.
His Holiness commended the dedication of Sunday school teachers and students to the cause of Artsakh Armenians and emphasized the significance of Christian education for the new generation. He also underscored the roles of parents and teachers in the sacred mission of conveying the history of the Armenian church, which is interwoven with Armenian identity, to the young generation who will become the leaders of tomorrow.
