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During November 16-17, 2004, the Bible Society and World Vision International delegation members visited Talin, Tsaghkahovit and Aparan. The delegation was always accompanied by Very Rev. Fr. Torgom Tonikian, the Vicar General of the Diocese; Ms. Siramark Ghoukassian, the Head of the Education, Culture and Sport and her deputy Mr. Parkev Hambardzoumian. In Talin the delegation was welcomed by Mr. Mnatsakan
Mnatsakanian, the Mayor of the city.
The meetings were usually opened by the Board Secretary who in his keynote address presented the gathered people with the 200-year history of United Bible Societies and the 13-year history of the Bible Society Armenia, its mission in Armenia, and the contents of the six books to be delivered to schools.
The World Vision International representative Ms. Karine Harutunian addressed to the gathered students: `Our organization is absolutely Christian. Our main goal is supporting the Church's spiritual and educational mission. Thanks God that The Bible Society of Armenia exists, because we are able to distribute Bible to our people. By our participation we express solidarity to our churches, and I believe that every project must be conducted by the Word of God. Today, I am upset, because this is the final stage of this project. Unfortunately we did not take part in this work from the very beginning.'
The sub-region of Tsaghkahovit has mixed population; Armenians, Yezidis and Kurds. This was one of the unique meetings of the Bible Society during this project. `Let's not talk about the differences,' stated Arshavir Kapoudjian, `But think about the unifying factors: we are the same Land's Children, but above all the same God's sons and
daughters.'
On November 17, 2004, the Governor of the Region Mr Kozalian invited the delegation for a meeting at the Regional Headquarter and expressed his joy and thanks for this unique contribution and became acquainted the activities of both WVI and the BS.
Aparan was the last city in the framework of this project, which has begun in 2002. Ms. Ghoukassian expressed her gratitude to the Bible Society and to World Vision International-Armenia for their contribution and stressed the importance of the Bible, the high quality of its translation, stating that it was the culmination of the translation art.
The meetings were concluded by the words of Fr. Tonikian, a Board member of the Bible Society. On behalf of the principals, he expressed his thanks to the Bible Society and World Vision International-Armenia for this initiative. `All of us are grateful to you. This project is absolutely encouraging given our region's hard climatic conditions and lack of natural resources. We are not alone. We enjoy the support of such respected organizations.'
The project `Bringing the Bible to Schools,' which was launched by the Bible Society of Armenia two years ago, has now come to the end in the Republic of Armenia. But every end is a sign for new beginnings, as bringing the Light and the Word of God is an endless mission. The Bible Society plans to implement the same project in the Diocese of Artsakh and in the Javakheti Region. |