At the start of the 2012-2013 academic year, with Christian love and paternal blessings I greet you all, dedicated servants of the Armenian School, parents, and dear students, praying for a productive school year.
We give thanks and praise to Almighty God for having granted us yet another year to enrich and enlighten the minds and spirits of our youth within the Armenian School system. The Armenian School, an institution of immense value and importance to us all, is a place where the Armenian identity is formed in our young ones. It is where the Armenian language, culture, and spirit is celebrated and instilled in generation after generation of our youth who are being prepared to lead our nation in future years. Thanks to the devotion of our educators and the faith of our parents in the Armenian School, we have thrived over the decades and the Armenian School will certainly continue to grow and progress for years to come if we continue with the same determination.
As you know, His Holiness proclaims a special message for each year. This year’s proclamation of the “Year of the Armenian Book” is of utmost importance to our educators and students. Through the written word, a people’s values, history, traditions, and culture are transmitted from one generation to the next. The same is true of the Armenian Book. Thus, it is vital for us all, educators, parents, church and community leaders, to teach our youth the significance of books, to instill in them a love of reading, and make sure that the Armenian Book becomes a part of their daily lives, whether in school or at home.
May Almighty God continue to bless us abundantly, our schools, educators, families, and communities, and guide us in fulfillment of our duties to the proper instruction of our children and youth.
Prayerfully,
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian
Prelate, Western United States
2012-2013 School Year
