More than 120 guests—including students, alumni, and families—attended an Azkatroshm ceremony at New York’s St. Vartan Cathedral on Saturday, May 11, during which five students graduated from the Diocese’s Khrimian Lyceum.
Cathedral Vicar Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan led the service, where talented graduates Andrew Halajian, Krikor Chamessian, Alex Giritlian, Alex Sarafian, and Kayla Sakayan pledged to continue their educational journeys in the Armenian Christian tradition.
Faculty member Diramayr Shakeh Kadehjian led the formal Azkatroshm procedure, whereby each graduates, accompanied by a sponsoring azkahayr and azkamayr, was “sealed” in the Armenian national identity. The Khrimian Lyceum chorus sang sharagans conducted by Maria Sahakyan, accompanied by Jeanette Chirikdjian on the organ.
On behalf of Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel Findikyan, Fr. Parsamyan presented each graduate with special gift: a copy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Armenia! exhibition catalogue. in his accompanying remarks, Fr. Parsamyan spoke about the precious value of one’s mother tongue, and underscored the importance of the Khrimian Lyceum as a way of “immersing” young Armenians in their inherited culture and identity.
Armenian Studies department director Gilda Buchakjian Kupelian presented diplomas and awards to the graduates.
A Treasure of the Diocese
Following the ceremony, students and guests adjourned to the cathedral’s outdoor plaza, for a Dagh oo Daghant cultural program dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the births of Gomidas Vartabed and Hovannes Toumanian. Khrimian students sang songs by Gomidas and Charles Aznavour, and performed a Toumanian play directed by Vartan Garniki.
The Khrimian students also put on a dance exhibition choreographed by Naira Mkrtchyan, presented literary pieces, and displayed their artwork celebrating Armenian women artists. The program, as well as the students’ self-published yearbook, were done under the guidance of teachers Ani Essayan, Sirvart Arakelian, and Lucia Vorperian.
The day’s guest of honor, author Vehanoush Tekian, addressed the students as the heirs of Gomidas and Toumanian, and advised them to uphold their Armenian Christian identity, to continue learning, to be discerning, judicious, and well prepared to serve the community and mankind.
After congratulating the students and commending the teachers for their efforts, Gilda Kupelian spoke about the spiritually and culturally enriching mission of the Khrimian Lyceum, calling it “one of the treasures of our Diocese.” The program is designed specifically for teens, and meets once a month at the Diocesan Center.
Khrimian Lyceum’s 2019-20 academic year will begin on Saturday, September 28. For information, e-mail Gilda Kupelian at gildak@armeniandiocese.org.