The Sts. Vartanantz Church Mourad Armenian School of Providence gathered along with the church community and families to celebrate the Armenian Christmas on Saturday, January 4th. Before the celebration, the students and family members attended the Morning Service and received Holy Communion at Sts. Vartanantz Church.
More than 120 guests, including Der Kapriel Nazarian, Sts. Vartanantz Church Board of Trustees members, representatives of the Armenian organizations, families and friends made their way to Aramian Auditorium and Fermanian Hall for the traditional Armenian Christmas Celebration. Thanks to the efforts of our parent-teacher organization (PTO), the hall was beautifully decorated, spreading cheer and a festive atmosphere.In her opening remarks, co-director Mrs. June Mangassarian thanked everyone for supporting the school. She wished all the guests a Happy New Year and Merry Christmas and commended the students and teachers for their dedication. After the remarks, Rev. Fr. Kapriel Nazarian was invited for the opening prayer.
During his remarks, Mourad School Committee Chair, Mr. Hagop Khatchadourian reflected on the Message of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, proclaiming the year 2025 as the “Year of Revitalization of Traditions,”. He mentioned that based on our core beliefs in Faith, Hope and Love, he believes that the Year 2025 will be a turning point for the Armenian people at large and Sts. Vartanantz Church community. The reorganization must become the course of our individual and collective lives, driven by purposeful vision. Khatchadourian also mentioned that in 2025, we will be celebrating the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the first Universal Council of the Churches, which adopted the Nicaean Creed (the Havadamk). “Invigorated by our Vehapar’s messages and in preparation to celebrate the Anniversary of our Creed Havadamk, he noted let’s all come together with one accord, with Providential and unified efforts, in Faith, Hope and Love, to enrich our lives here in our Providence community, revitalize our commitment to serve and prepare our children to carry on the troche for generations, starting with our Mourad Armenian School.” In conclusion, he thanked Der Hayr, BOT, ARS and Ararat Association for their support and donations towards the school.
Following Mr. Khatchadourian’s remarks, the students began their performance. They excitedly sang Mer Hayrenik, Togh Meeshd Bandza, Voghchouyn Tbrots, Pazmoutyoonk (Բազմութիւնք) and other Christmas songs, under the direction of the music teacher, Baron Raffi Rachdouni.
By beautifully narrating and the acting of the Nativity Scene, the students presented the true meaning of Christmas and wished all the guests a very Merry Christmas. After the performance, Gaghant Baba was welcomed with songs and cheer. He appeared with a bag full of gifts for the students, teachers and our young guests, prepared by our school’s PTO.
In her remarks, Co-director Mrs. Lala Attarian, referring to Aram I Vehapar’s message, said “This is the exact role and goal of Mourad Armenian School, bringing our new generation closer to our roots and traditions, hoping that in this little community of ours, we will achieve to live as ARMENIANS, without forgetting our past, but always keeping up to date with today’s developing world with a clear vision of a brighter future as Armenians. Attarian thanked everyone who has been supporting the school as we enter a new decade of achievements after celebrating the 90th anniversary of the school in 2024. “It is imperative that we build a brighter future together as a community, prioritizing our language, culture and history but also by being sensitive to the needs of the new generation. To attract the youth, it is important to stay “young” as long as we have strong roots.”
Attarian thanked the Sts. Vartanantz Church Ladies Guild and Men’s Club for their hard work and for preparing delicious meals, as well as the PTO for their dedicated work in ensuring the success of this event.
The event concluded with Der Kapriel’s appreciative remarks and the closing prayer. Der Kapriel emphasized the importance of faith and church in our lives as individuals and as a nation. Der Hayr referred to the recent Pontifical visit of his Holiness Aram I to Providence and he encouraged all the families to attend Church and keep our faith and Armenian traditions alive.
The raffle tickets were drawn at the end of the event and everyone winners or not left with big smiles!
Special thanks to the PTO members Ani Dedeyan, Alenoush Hagopian, Megan Khatchadourian, Sonia Nasr and Melanie Zeitounian, the Sts. Vartanantz Church Ladies Guild and Men’s Club.
We thank the following establishments and individuals for their help and generous donations: Edmund Nasr, PJ’s Pub, Hercules Pizza, Trilogy Fitness RI, Shore’s Market, Touch Nails, Latte Love, Mrs. Maggie Nalbandian, Mrs. Karine Arakelian, Miss Victoria Cole, the Iskenderian family, Virginia and Spanish Peanut Company, Christy’s Liquors.
We are grateful to our teachers for their dedication and hard work: Maggie Nalbandian, Zepur Donoyan, Talar Restikian, Menar Tarbinian, Araksi Sarkisian, Nora Tarbinian, Arpi Donoyan, Annie Yepremian, Stacey Khatchadourian, Anna Gevorkian, Raffi Rachdoudi, and our teacher’s aide Garo Tarbinian.
(Photo credit: Edmund Nasr)
