A Special Ceremony on the Centennial of the Birds’ Nest Orphanage

On Friday, April 19th, under the auspices of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, a special ceremony dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Birds’ Nest Orphanage following the Armenian Genocide was held in the ‘Armenian Genocide Orphans ‘Aram Bezikian’ Museum, located in the orphanage vicinity. During the ceremony, the publication of the proceedings from last year’s conference in Armenia marking the centennial was presented.

The event was attended by the participants of the conference titled “Reinstating the Indigenous Rights of Artsakh People: Confronting Azerbaijan’s Genocidal Policy,” which was concurrently being held at the Catholicosate in Antelias, as well as the Board of Trustees and the director of the said orphanage.

Shahan Kandaharian delivered the opening remarks, underlining the significance of this orphanage, which was overseen by Maria Jacobson—a Danish missionary and a key witness to the Armenian genocide—in facilitating the organization of survivors into a community outside of their motherland. He deemed it fitting to commence the conference with this ceremony. Kandaharian paid tribute to the recently deceased benefactor of the museum, Ms. Ani Bezikian, and assured that her husband, benefactor Alecco Bezikian, would continue his dedication to the Armenian causes.

Addresses were delivered by historians: Prof. Ashod Melkonian, Prof. Kevork Sdepanyan, and Prof. Armen Marukian.

The publication was presented by Arpine Paploumian, a candidate for a PhD in History at the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia.

A thank-you address was delivered by Chancellor V. Rev. Fr. Dajad Ashekian.

Finally, the attendees had the opportunity to tour the museum.