Pontifical Visit to the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy of Calcutta
07.07.2023
On July 3, the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy of Calcutta was full of enthusiasm: His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; visited the oldest Armenian educational center in the world. The new students of the Academy greeted His Holiness with bread and salt, following which, in honor of His Holiness, the group of drummers of the Academy performed unique drum performances.
In the Auditorium of the Academy, the festive event began with the Lord's prayer, following which the national anthems of Armenia and India and the anthem of the Academy were played.
The event was attended by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; Rev. Fr. Archimandrite Tachat Tsaturyan, Manager of the Academy; Rev. Fr. Anania Tsaturyan, Staff-bearer of His Holiness; Rev. Fr. Artsrun Mikaelyan and Rev. Fr. Hayk Kocharyan, Deputy managers of the Academy; gracious deacons bringing their service to the Academy during those day and their wives; members of the board of the Holy Nazareth Armenian Church of Calcutta Mrs. Susan Reuben, Mr. Sunil Sobti with his wife, the Director of the Academy Mrs. Debanjali Chowdhury, teachers and students.
Rev. Fr. Archimandrite Tachat Tsaturyan, Manager of the Academy made opening remarks who first expressed gratitude to His Holiness for his surprise but expected visit to the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy of Calcutta and for giving great honor to the seminary inspectorate, teaching staff and students, following which he addressed the attendees to realize the vision and dream of His Holiness, that is, to work with new momentum and energy and to register the name of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy among the best schools operating in the world.
The Director of the Academy, Mrs. Debanjali Chowdhury also conveyed gratitude remarks, noting that with the blessings of His Holiness and Paternal care, the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy of Calcutta continues to hold up and carry forward the torch handed down to it from the previous generations in order to reach new heights and leave educated and dignified Armenians to the nation and the state.
After the Director's remarks, the artistic part of the event began: the student choir of the Academy performed the songs "Nubar, Nubar" by Tatul Altunyan, "He was a light" by Komitas Vardapet, "Girl, your name is Shushan" (choir leader: Ani Tiratsuyan). The choir consisting of teachers and students perfectly performed the Bengali songs "Anandaloke" by Rabindranath Tagor, "Kuzhn ara", "Go, go" by Komitas Vardapet, "Spring is coming" by Aleksey Hekimyan (choir leader: Vachagan Tadevosyan, accompanist: Narine Sahakyan). The song "Sareri Hovin Mernem" was performed by Ani Tiratsuyan's beautiful solo.
Senior grade students Narek Kamalyan and Avetis Sargsyan beautifully performed Gusan Haykazun's "Shushi Liberation Song". The Indian teachers of the seminary Raisang Lama, Rituparna Mukopadai and Shayoni Chocroberti presented the Indian classical dance "Katak", followed by the ethnographic dances "Echmiadzin", "Tamzara", "Dance of Princes" and "Yarkushta" military dances, which were excellently performed by the students of the seminary.
Liana Pirumyan, teacher of the "History of Armenians" and "History of the Armenian Church" subjects of the Academy, briefly presented the formation and achievements of the Indo-Armenian settlement, as well as the important events recorded in history since the foundation of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy of Calcutta and the names of famous Armenians who left their significant contribution, while making an important reference to the turning point reforms and the flourishing period of success recorded by the seminary during the reign of Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
At the conclusion of the event, His Holiness Karekin II conveyed blessing remarks. His Holiness greatly expressed gratitude to the Dean of the Academy, Rev. Fr. Archimandrite Tachat Tsaturyan, for organizing an impressive and high-level event, an event that, according to His Holiness, could easily be shown on the stages of halls in Armenia and beyond its borders and receive the loud applause of the audience.
His Holiness also thanked the Priests and Deacons serving in the Academy, the Director and teachers of the Academy, for their hard work and great contribution in educating and nurturing the students in the best possible way. The Patriarch of All Armenians also expressed his gratitude to the members of the administrative board and trustees of the Holy Nazareth Church of Calcutta, represented by Mrs. Susan Reuben and Mr. Sunil Sobti, for providing excellent care and caring attention to the Armenian churches and various Armenian structures in Calcutta.
Addressing the students of the Academy, His Holiness commanded to study well and achieve great success, because the success of the Armenian students will bring joy to the souls of the founders of the seminary, Astvatsatur Muradkhanyan and Mnatsakan Vardanyan, and will brighten their good name and memory.
According to the Patriarch of All Armenians, every Armenian of the seminary has an obligation and responsibility to justify the sacrifice of the founders of the seminary, so that it does not remain in vain.
His Holiness urged not only to be a witness and to keep and preserve the history of the glorious past of the Indo-Armenians, but also to create and strengthen the history of the new times of the Indo-Armenian colony with the same glory and proud feelings, so that the future generations, evaluating the deeds of the present times, will have the same feelings and inspiration, to pass on the inheritance handed down from the fathers to their successors more powerfully. His Holiness firmly stated that the enlightened course of the Academy will be steadily realized and will live a new, vibrant life.
The event ended with the "Protector" prayer.
Following the group photo with His Holiness, the attendees took part in the festive dinner.
ARMENIAN COLLEGE AND PHILANTROPIC ACADEMY OF CALCUTTA
