On the occasion of the New Year and Christmas and according to its tradition, ARCL regional Board's “Vatrouhi Degirmenjian” Kitchen’s committee organized a New Year's and Christmas special celebration for the elderly who are usually served 2 meals each week. This unique gathering took place on Thursday, December 20, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. at "Araxi Boulghourjian” socio medical center's “Tejoukian Hall”.
This gathering was honored with the presence of a member of the Armenian Catholicosate of the Great House Cilicia, Father Viken Dalekjian, ARS Central Board representative Nelly Vekilian and members of the Regional Board of ARCL.
The celebration began with the collective recitation of the Lord's Prayer, and then the holy father blessed the tables with a prayer of blessing.
The day's presenter Sevan Garabedian - Atamian welcomed the audience and said that every year the “Vartuhi Degirmenjian” Kitchen’s Committee of the ARCL Regional Board organizes this gathering in order to spread happiness, and each person's happiness is everyone's happiness. She said that the ARCL Regional board worked with this committee day and night so that this initiative would be crowned with success, with an objective to cheer the attendants. Sevan Karabedian - Atamian mentioned that the smile imprinted on the faces of the attendants is the greatest appreciation for the work well done. Then she inspired the participants with popular folk songs that she performed.
With an interesting initiative, the 11th grade students of Yeghishe Manougian college arrived to the hall. The students came to share the joy of the elderly. As a result, they personally served the dishes to the elderly prepared by the kitchen’s committee, and then featured an artistic program. Gali Avakian first introduced the purpose of their visit, then Arin Markarian sang 2 Christmas hymns, Perla Laleian recited a poem dedicated to Armenia, Gali Avakian sang 3 Christmas songs. Later, all the students entertained the elderly with songs of New Year. Here it is worth mentioning that the students had prepared 40 parcels as donations or aids to be granted to the needy families of the surrounding.
At the end, father Vicken Dalekjian uttered a word from the heart. He praised and thanked God Who provided all these good things. He appreciated all the activities of the Regional Board of ARCL, this beautiful initiative, and he thanked the sponsor of that day. Then addressing his word to the elderly, he said that they are never left on the margins of history. The elderly always had a great role in the lives of the Armenian Church and people. In the Bible, the elderly are called old men or elders, and they were the ones who were wise, just, and reasonable. In the New Testament, the elders were rulers and kings. The new generation is obliged to take care of the retired elderly. The holy father then quoted the role of the elders in the church and cited the words of our church patriarchs. The holy father expressed his joy to see this phenomenon and said that the new generation has many lessons to reap from the elderly, such as sober-mindedness, prudence, kindness, and contentment. He congratulated the New Year of all the attendants, and wished that they live their lives with a new spirit, and renewed faith. At the end of his speech the holy father also conveyed the wishes of His Holiness Aram I Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia and all the members of the The Great House of Cilicia.
